Atari, Inc., a leader in interactive entertainment, today announced the launch of the Company"s first online software service that delivers its back-catalog titles over the Internet to Atari fans worldwide. The service will distribute the software to personal computers in pure digital form, bypassing the need to install from a disk. Unlimited access to Atari"s growing e-catalog of games, productivity software, and kids" software is available at www.atariondemand.com for a monthly fee of $14.95. The "Atari On Demand" service uses the EXEtender(TM) Turnkey technology solution from Exent Technologies Inc., which powers leading online game services in North America, Europe and Asia.
"Atari is delighted to work with Exent in offering this exciting new category of digital entertainment," said Wim Stocks, Atari"s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Atari on Demand is the next logical step in building on the unprecedented successes we"ve had in digital distribution. The service creates a market-expanding channel that is great for Atari, its partners, and for Atari fans."
The "Atari On Demand" subscription service, powered and operated by Exent, opens up Internet access to a large and growing selection of Atari"s back catalog, offering value packages for the Atari gaming enthusiast and casual user alike. With a broadband connection, Microsoft Windows operating system, and an international credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover), customers can join the service from any place on the globe. The Atari software is delivered using Exent"s innovative streaming technology, which ensures that bandwidth utilization is kept to a minimum and that the customer"s computer can handle application-specific requirements prior to delivering the software.
"Exent is proud to be Atari"s partner in pursuing this high-margin growth opportunity for on-line, on-demand gaming and software services", said Zvi Levgoren, Exent"s CEO. "Both consumers and publishers stand to benefit from the tremendous value that digital distribution brings - our technology and solutions serve to strengthen and energize the relationship between consumer and publisher."