Gamestop purchases Impulse download services

Stardock has sold Impulse to Gamestop.  Now whether this was due to Elemental failing to sell well, the problems Stardock has admitted to to getting developers to sign on or just getting out of a market that Steam holds huge sway in who knows.  Will Gamestop still keep offering the indie titles that Impulse tended to offer? 
 
http://islanddog.impulsedriven.net/article/407119/Stardock_Community_FAQ_about_Impulse_Acquisition_by_GameStop

I liked Impulse, but it lost to Steam in the long run. I only have it for Sins of a Solar Empire, but now I have even more reason to avoid Impulse... Sad.

So every time I go to play something will it keep asking me to reserve a vaguely similar game?

in b4 gamestop hate

Well steam is still around 

Wow, I'm sure their neat little Retail - Media - Digital circle isn't going to be abused at all.

" in b4 gamestop hate "

Oh well. Maybe this means they will finally put Sins of a Solar Empire on Steam now. That was the only reason I have the stupid program installed.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.  Actually that could be a great move.  Gamestop was forced to pretend steam didn't exist with their own weak ass download service.  I mean do you know anyone that ever used it?  This could give steam some competition.  Im in.

" So every time I go to play something will it keep asking me to reserve a vaguely similar game? "

" NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.  Actually that could be a great move.  Gamestop was forced to pretend steam didn't exist with their own weak ass download service.  I mean do you know anyone that ever used it?  This could give steam some competition.  Im in. "

I'm cautiously optimistic about this.  I have Impulse installed, but only for a handful of games that aren't available on Steam.  GameStop has the money to turn Impulse from a crappy version of Steam into a somewhat less crappy version of Steam.  And as long as Steam is still around, the worst possible outcome (GameStop completely ruins Impulse) isn't the worst thing in the world.

I'm hopeful that this will turn out well for PC gamers.  I've had Impulse installed for awhile, and usually start it up a couple weekends a month to see what games are on sale.  I bought RF: Guerrilla and Demigod from them and wasn't upset with the service.  I prefer it to GFW's program, but that's not saying much.  If given a choice though I prefer Steam.
 
Best-case scenario: Gamestop can use it's clout with the publishers to secure more mainstream games, while continuing to offer indie games.  If they can offer discounts competitive to Steam, I'll keep checking them out.   They could rebrand it to Gamestop HyperAwesome DL Service, I wouldn't care, as long as it's good.  I love Steam, but I would love for it to have some competition to keep Valve on their A-game. 
 
Worst-case scenario: Gamestop lets Impulse rot, adds some draconian DRM scheme, limit downloads... Steam increases it's massive lead.

Just as long as I don't lose my games or they don't limit my downloads then I'm fine. I'm just glad that I bought the boxed copies of the Stardock games.

" I'm hopeful that this will turn out well for PC gamers.  I've had Impulse installed for awhile, and usually start it up a couple weekends a month to see what games are on sale.  I bought RF: Guerrilla and Demigod from them and wasn't upset with the service.  I prefer it to GFW's program, but that's not saying much.  If given a choice though I prefer Steam.  Best-case scenario: Gamestop can use it's clout with the publishers to secure more mainstream games, while continuing to offer indie games.  If they can offer discounts competitive to Steam, I'll keep checking them out.   They could rebrand it to Gamestop HyperAwesome DL Service, I wouldn't care, as long as it's good.  I love Steam, but I would love for it to have some competition to keep Valve on their A-game.   Worst-case scenario: Gamestop lets Impulse rot, adds some draconian DRM scheme, limit downloads... Steam increases it's massive lead. "

Great move for GameStop, kind of sad to lose an independent option for PC games.

" I'm hopeful that this will turn out well for PC gamers.  I've had Impulse installed for awhile, and usually start it up a couple weekends a month to see what games are on sale.  I bought RF: Guerrilla and Demigod from them and wasn't upset with the service.  I prefer it to GFW's program, but that's not saying much.  If given a choice though I prefer Steam.  Best-case scenario: Gamestop can use it's clout with the publishers to secure more mainstream games, while continuing to offer indie games.  If they can offer discounts competitive to Steam, I'll keep checking them out.   They could rebrand it to Gamestop HyperAwesome DL Service, I wouldn't care, as long as it's good.  I love Steam, but I would love for it to have some competition to keep Valve on their A-game.   Worst-case scenario: Gamestop lets Impulse rot, adds some draconian DRM scheme, limit downloads... Steam increases it's massive lead. "

Are they gonna cut an exclusive deal with Brady Games and Prima Guides now? I can foresee them being a major player in the digital guide market and taking that from Steam.

" @kmv_007 said:

" I'm hopeful that this will turn out well for PC gamers.  I've had Impulse installed for awhile, and usually start it up a couple weekends a month to see what games are on sale.  I bought RF: Guerrilla and Demigod from them and wasn't upset with the service.  I prefer it to GFW's program, but that's not saying much.  If given a choice though I prefer Steam.  Best-case scenario: Gamestop can use it's clout with the publishers to secure more mainstream games, while continuing to offer indie games.  If they can offer discounts competitive to Steam, I'll keep checking them out.   They could rebrand it to Gamestop HyperAwesome DL Service, I wouldn't care, as long as it's good.  I love Steam, but I would love for it to have some competition to keep Valve on their A-game.   Worst-case scenario: Gamestop lets Impulse rot, adds some draconian DRM scheme, limit downloads... Steam increases it's massive lead. "

I foresee a much worse worst case scenario. One where EB Games uses it's clout with Publishers to demand they use impulse exclusively, or at the very least make them only release it on impulse for X weeks/months before they release it elsewhere. Then have them threaten to not advertise their games in store unless they do it, or to not buy a lot of stock of their games unless they play ball.  Given their already established network of warehouses and shipping system, I could see them finally being the first Digital store to be able to offer to send you a boxed copy of any game you buy with their service. Obviously you would have to pay a bit more for shipping, but that's something big that they could do that Steam wouldn't. At least not without a lot of work and expense on Steams end.  Time will tell. I know I will be keeping an eye out. "

I foresee a much worse worst case scenario. One where EB Games uses it's clout with Publishers to demand they use impulse exclusively, or at the very least make them only release it on impulse for X weeks/months before they release it elsewhere. Then have them threaten to not advertise their games in store unless they do it, or to not buy a lot of stock of their games unless they play ball.  Given their already established network of warehouses and shipping system, I could see them finally being the first Digital store to be able to offer to send you a boxed copy of any game you buy with their service. Obviously you would have to pay a bit more for shipping, but that's something big that they could do that Steam wouldn't. At least not without a lot of work and expense on Steams end.  Time will tell. I know I will be keeping an eye out. "

Some one who only buys boxed copies and doesn't trust Digital games.

• Instead of paying an extra $5-$15 for release day shipping, they pay an extra $5-$10 and they get a digital copy of their games as well as the boxed copy. This will allow them to pre-load their game so that the day it comes out it's ready to play in addition to receiving the boxed copy a few weeks later. It basically just makes the service a new online store to buy games from. 
• They now get to play their game the day it comes out, and they still get their nice shiny box to keep on the shelf, and should something ever happen to it they get to still play the game. They never have to worry about a disc breaking or losing a CD key and not being able to play that game again.

Great. Gamestop ruined Kongregate and now they're going to ruin Impulse.