It’s clear that online gaming is quickly becoming much more social, with companies like Zynga reportedly bringing in nine figures and the casual gaming market continuing to skyrocket. But there’s still one major problem that’s holding everything back: it’s often impossible to monitor which games your friends are playing and when, especially when they’re playing on entirely different platforms. Today Raptr, the social network built around gaming, is releasing a multi-protocol chat client that’s looking to solve this problem.
The new client is based on AIR (which means it will run on Mac and PC) and integrates support for all major chat protocols, allowing gamers to keep in touch with their friends from a single app. Raptr isn’t anywhere near the first desktop multi-protocol chat client — I’ve been using Adium for Mac for years, and Windows has programs like Trillian available, both which support protocols like AIM, MSN, and Yahoo Messenger. But what Raptr can do that the others can’t is monitor whatever game you’re currently playing, be it a full-fledged PC game like StarCraft or one of the many casual games found on Facebook and MySpace. Overall, the service can recognize over 32,000 different games, including stand-alone Flash games that you’ll find embedded on countless sites across the web. Raptr’s client also includes support for some game-specific protocols, like Xbox Live.
This information is broadcast to your friends as your current away message/status (something like “Jason is playing Counter-Strike”), which is visible to anyone using a standard IM chat client. But the service is even more powerful if your friends are also using the Raptr client, as you’ll have the ability to automatically join whatever game they’re playing with one click, with the application handling all the relevant server settings.
Interestingly, the new application means that Raptr is competing to some degree against Xfire, the company that Raptr founder Dennis Fong co-founded and later sold to Viacom. Xfire also offers a chat service for gamers, but Fong says that Xfire is geared more towards hardcore gamers, and doesn’t offer support for other IM protocols or the ability to detect browser based games, like those that might be played on Facebook.
Alongside the new chat client, Raptr is launching a ‘Game Manager’, which brings much of the service’s social network functionality to the desktop. Using the manager, you’ll be able to access your Raptr profile, view the achievements of other players, and see which games have been recommended to you based on your past preferences. There’s also a listing of all of the games installed on your desktop (you can update them directly from the Game Manager), and a library of popular Flash games that Raptr has included with the software bundle.
Raptr can expect the new products to be adopted quickly, primarily because the service is now being heavily promoted in many popular PC games. Raptr has scored some major deals with game publishers, including Activision/Blizzard, THQ, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), NHN USA, Gamescampus, and Gala-Net. These publishers are behind some of the world’s most popular video games (Blizzard is behind a little game called World of Warcraft, along with a slew of other very highly regarded titles, and SOE made the reknowned EverQuest series).
So why are publishers so eager to integrate the service? Raptr adds a viral channel to gaming that has not previously existed before — when I go to play World of Warcraft, all of my friends know that I’m playing, which may prompt them to start playing as well. And in an age when paying for and installing a PC game can be done without leaving your desk through services like Steam, the ability for a game to go viral becomes even more powerful. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and it puts Raptr in a very good position.
These companies haven’t been partnering with the iPhone/mobile game companies. Are they going to?
So it’s a batter xfire? awesome. I’ve had an account there for a while now, never used it though. *logs in*
batter? Wow. Better*
I’ll tell you what, because they got blizzard on their band wagon, they got it made.
Basically as Samuel said, this is just xfire with the ability to detect flash games. Brilliant.
I’m rather stunned you mentioned Trillian over Digsby. Heck you even mentioned Starcraft (13 years old and counting), where the heck is my SC2 Beta?
looking forward to using this with the added benefit of AIR, I can use it on Mac or PC, nice!
Wow, a platform independent program? Like java?jay
I am a user and really big fan of Raptr! it is by far the best game site out there. I have tried others and always have hated some aspect or another about them – usually something they were lacking.
Congrats Raptr!
This is a living dead company. Another feature no one wants to use? Give me a break…
Agreed. People don’t really care, on chatting clients, what your doing. You just want to CHAT! No need for this. It is more a tiny feature a game should add not a whole new chatting platform. Way overrated.
Interesting, but I have a few questions/comments:
1) How does Raptr make money? Is this an advertising play after they get a large install base?
2) Because its an AIR application, dont you think that limits the possible install base of users? Do I really need to download a new chat app just because it tells my friends what games I’m playing? big wup.
3) How the heck does the application know which online Flash based game I’m playing? If it can know that, cant it know about my behavior on every website I visit? Sounds like a potential privacy issue.
4) The problem with these chat integrator applications is that they constantly break and need to be upgraded everytime MSN, Yahoo, or AIM makes an update.
Anyway, it was an interesting read and I think the app sounds intriguing, but I still dont see long term success unless a critical mass of players actively use it. Then, the long term success isn’t revenue based, but an Exit for the founders.
Just my 2 c
-Kenny
There are much better programs out there for gamers. Case in point: http://www.playxpert.com
Does everything raptr does (plus way more), AND it works IN your games via their overlay tech!
The last time my contacts talked to guys from OnLive, EA, etc….Dennis Fong didn’t nail his business model…maybe a ploy to change things up?
Raptr = wannabe Steam + Digsby (and maybe a plugin to update status)
OMG…i can’t wait. Raptr is awesome with a touch of dopeness. Great work!
hello people watsp