Stardock's Digital Distrubtion Platform
Published on August 27, 2008 By Island Dog In Demigod Journals

Stardock is excited to announce that “phase two” of its digital download platform, Impulse, has begun and all updates, new games and software applications will soon be live.  Concurrent with the new games and software applications, Impulse additions now see a refreshed user interface and a major new set of developer features called ImpulseReactor. Stardock’s recent release, The Political Machine 2008 will be the first game to utilize features of ImpulseReactor, and the upcoming Demigod will incorporate the features which consist of the highly anticipated match-making feature, cloud computing, rankings, achievements, multiplayer, NAT negotiation, and more.

Phase two of Impulse also adds the ability for users to install and update third-party and freeware programs that are available via Impulse. This makes the transfer of the catalogue of programs installed on a user’s machine extraordinarily simple from machine to machine as it’s all centrally located on Impulse. Phase two has already addressed user feedback and incorporates significantly faster load times, downloads, a smart queue option and a smarter updating process which exponentially decreases processing time for updates.

All new titles and software applications are now available at www.impulsedriven.com

 


Comments (Page 2)
2 Pages1 2 
on Aug 28, 2008

why haven't you looked at integrating Gecko instead of using IE to render?
Stardock is a Windows company.  Every build of Windows has IE installed as default.  Why make it any harder?

on Aug 28, 2008

Can we have some details on ImpulseReactor?

 

Sammual

on Aug 28, 2008

Gecko is cross-platform.  Windows is losing market share.  Making Impulse compatible on clients other than Windows would open up markets to linux, OS X, etc.

I totally understand why you use IE, I'm just looking into the future and wonder if other platforms will become viable gaming platforms and would hate Stardock to miss out.

on Aug 29, 2008

Making Impulse compatible on clients other than Windows would open up markets to linux, OS X
Linux and Mac is a VERY small market.  And with the linux market there are issues trying to sell any software (the money is in support of free software).

on Aug 29, 2008

Also, IE 8 will be coming out in November.  I assume that would mean people will need to update Impulse, right?

Not especailly. Impulse uses an embedded version of IE--which version that is is up to the machine it's on. AFAIK the v7 requirement is mostly based on the websites dropping IE6 compatibility since it's such a pain to do. Some people have even already used IE8 with Impulse.

 

Gecko has been looked into and dismissed as not being a viable option due to the work involved (and other issues) vs minimal benefits. For one, we still have to support IE on the sites either way and the program itself is still in .NET anyway.

 

on Aug 29, 2008

Don't see what's wrong with IE7. Sure, FireFox beats it by a mile, but M$phobia is actually the main cause why people dislike it. In the browser sense it's really quite alright.

on Aug 29, 2008

IE8 actually looks pretty nice.

on Aug 29, 2008

Did you guys put in the just for Kitkun?

on Aug 29, 2008

 Doubt it. I think these icons were decided upon (Or at least made) long before I started posting. Besides, it just says : fox : if you hover the pointer over it.

 

 

on Aug 31, 2008

Im a little unsure about this whole thing cus I've never been interested in a Stardock game, but is this "impulse" program like Steam?  I use steam for almost all my PC games.

on Aug 31, 2008

is this "impulse" program like Steam?
Better, I say. Impulse allows you to buy/download/update any program that works with it (There's more than just games). And they're adding more features.

 

on Aug 31, 2008

Kitkun
is this "impulse" program like Steam?Better, I say. Impulse allows you to buy/download/update any program that works with it (There's more than just games). And they're adding more features.
 

 

it doesnt crap up your computer unlike steam as well

on Aug 31, 2008

mOoEyThEcOw
Did you guys put in the just for Kitkun?

Kitkun
 Doubt it. I think these icons were decided upon (Or at least made) long before I started posting. Besides, it just says : fox : if you hover the pointer over it.

   

heh... actually the fox came out of the design for Wulfn1's smilie: 

Steph & I had a ball of fun coming up with them and we're really glad they've finally been implemented on the sites.  Thanks Andrew! 
Now we just have to convince him to add sorting options. 


Anyways, back on topic.  I'm not a big fan of the orange either, and can't wait until the skinnable version is finally released.  But I much prefer Impulse to SDC by a loooooooong stretch.

Great work guys!   

2 Pages1 2