After announcing plans to bring its full gaming service to the Macintosh in June, GameTap has announced its release for Intel-based Macs.
GameTap — owned by Turner Broadcasting Service — lets Mac and PC users play hundreds of classic arcade games from the golden era of coin-operated arcade games and earlier generations of home video game consoles. The service is subscription-based.
GameTap tested the Mac waters earlier this year with a Macintosh version of Myst Online: Uru Live, but this is the first time the company’s classic gaming service is available to Mac users. GameTap has utilized TransGaming’s “Cider” translation layer technology to enable its software to work on the Mac; Cider works specifically on Intel-based Macs.
“We’ve been looking at the Mac market for a while, waiting for the right opportunity,” said GameTap VP Ricardo Sanchez in an interview with Macworld in June. “… Intel Mac penetration is far enough along that now is the right time.”
The service works on all Intel-based Macs, including Mac minis and MacBooks — often left out of the gaming loop because of their more limited graphics processing capabilities.
GameTap debuts on the Mac with its “Lite Player,” which provides access to more than 500 titles, along with more than 600 streaming videos of original programming created for GameTap TV.
Later this summer, GameTap plans to release a Macintosh version of the “Deluxe” player, which offers added features such as full-screen gameplay, customizable control settings, the ability to download games while playing a different one and more.
Right now, Mac GameTap users can play classics including Metal Slug, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Sonic the Hedgehog, Space Invaders, Neo Turf Masters, and King of Fighters ‘95. Exclusive streaming video content includes music and interviews with bands including My Chemical Romance, Evanescence and Fall Out Boy. Mac users also get GameTap’s Digital Download, a daily news show.
GameTap costs 99 cents for the first month; you can buy subscriptions to the service in monthly, 3-month, 6-month or annual plans ranging in price from $9.95 to $6.95 per month.