Amazon Buys Casual Developer Reflexive

[lost]

From the blog over at Reflexive.com (http://www.reflexive.com) we find out that Amazon is looking to enter the casual game download market with a purchase of one of it's biggest players.

Here at Reflexive we've got some really big news - and I wanted you to hear it directly from me, Lars Brubaker, CEO of Reflexive.

Reflexive Entertainment Inc. has been acquired by Amazon.com!

As I'm sure you can all imagine this is a very exciting day for us at Reflexive. It means we'll be able to expand our distribution network to include Amazon's amazing distribution channel. With Amazon we will bring a huge new group of customers into play.

At Reflexive we have always prided ourselves on maintaining good relationships with everyone in the industry, and are excited that Amazon shares that philosophy. We intend to provide the best distribution platform anywhere, and to continue working openly with all the participants of the casual games space. Together it is our priority to continue this inclusive attitude going forward.


Full article right here. (http://www.reflexive.com/index.php?PAGE=Blog&BID=169)

Do we expect them to expand further, perhaps launching a Steam-like service?

[modeps]

Do we expect them to expand further, perhaps launching a Steam-like service?

I sure as hell hope not. The last thing the PC needs is yet another digital distribution service. Developers need to just drink the kool-aid and get with Steam.

[Emabulator]

I sure as hell hope not. The last thing the PC needs is yet another digital distribution service. Developers need to just drink the kool-aid and get with Steam.Agreed. I'm happy with Steam and Impulse. On the other hand it would be worth it if we could cut out the colluding and get a price war going.

Reflexive is on Steam now though. I just purchased one of their games (Ricochet Infinity (http://store.steampowered.com/app/7450/)) on sale for $5 about a week ago.

[AlwaysOn222]

More competition is always good no matter what buisness it is. I for one would love to see Amazone fighting it out with the other biggies in this area. Hopefully that would lead to some really big price cuts on new releases. As it is now the price on new released games is not big enough of a difference compared to bought in a shop IRL or over the Internet through Steam. Hopefully Amazon can change that.

[toranaga]

More competition is always good no matter what buisness it is.

word! what people might forget is the other side of the coin, the developers. Hopefully not only selling prices will compete but the royalty amount those services take from the developer.

Online distribution has such great potential for small indy devs to cut out the whole ass raping publisher bullshit. But as long as you get similar treatment (by almost monopolized) online distributors, that want an unproportionally large chunk of the cake, the situation isn't what it has the potential to be.

If you walk into a normal store and buy an item, the store doesn't (normally) get 60-90% of the money the product costs, and they have to pay for a store, salesmen, inventory etc. It just bugs the hell outta me that online distibutors think it's okay to take that much for carrying an item in their store. Bring on the competition!

</rant>

[Froggy]

I sure as hell hope not. The last thing the PC needs is yet another digital distribution service. Developers need to just drink the kool-aid and get with Steam.

I'm not sure what good that would do. So should all small businesses just sell out to the corporations? No really, I've never heard a pro-monopoly comment on this site. I think Wal-Mart has a forum. Go post on that.

[ElektroDragon]

I wish Gamehouse had bought them instead. Now I'll never see their games on my Gamehouse "all the casual games you can eat for $20 a month" service. Amazon probably won't allow it.