Growth in the digital distribution of video games is expected to be strong and constant from now until 2010, predicts a new report from market research group Screen Digest.

The researchers forecasts that the Western World digital distribution market download and streaming of PC games and console add-on content is likely to reach over 350m by 2010. Small when compared to retail sales, but sizeable enough for publishers to take this sales channel very seriously.

Piers Harding-Rolls, author of the report, states: 'Towards the end of the 1990s, when the world was gripped in internet-based business fever, industry commentators were heralding the potential of digital distribution for games, and estimating that within a few years it would have a significant impact on the make up of the industry's supply chain. Fast forward to the mid-point of 2005 and although these predictions have yet to materialise, over the last 12 months the market has shown signs of getting into its stride, and has produced a number of noteworthy success stories in both the download and Games on Demand sectors.'

The digital distribution market is made up of two key segments, digital download and streaming, also known as games on demand (GoD). Whereas digital download is the direct, retailer-to-consumer distribution of games via the Internet under an outright (or, occasionally, subscription) purchase model, GoD is a broadband-only service where games application data is downloaded to a user's PC on a continual basis as and when needed. Games are never downloaded in their entirety although depending on the technology used significant portions of the game tend to be cached (pre-loaded) on the user's PC to improve the efficiency of the application streaming process. GoD offerings are normally subscription-based.

There are a few major trends which characterise the market at the mid-point of 2005.
Significantly, most available premium game content is PC-based and appeals to a narrower consumer segment than mainstream console platforms. Aside from Microsoft's premium content downloads via its Live service - which accounted for a significant 11 per cent of Western World core download sales in 2004 - console content downloads have yet to emerge. In addition Sony and Microsoft have already dismissed the idea of offering full premium game downloads via their next generation consoles, although add-on content on these platforms is predicted to make a considerable impact in 2006 and onwards.

Another key trend the lack of publisher and developer support for the sales channel with regards to content availability has started to dissipate during the last 12-18 months. Although there remains a general reticence to compete with the retail channel, more premium and up-to-date PC titles are available via download and GoD services than ever before.

Edinburgh, UK, September 27, 2005: Newcastle City Council, a metropolitan authority representing 26 wards, is using Tadpole Technology's GO! SyncTM for ArcPad software to automate the transfer of data to and from its officers in the field.

In preparation of the new powers over traffic contraventions, being sought under the Traffic Management Act 2004, Newcastle City Council is in the process of surveying, rationalising and reconsolidating its Traffic Regulation Orders. As part of this exercise, the council is gathering real-world information about the driving and parking restrictions within its civil enforcement area to ensure that its legal record of traffic regulations is consistent with the existing roadside controls, traffic signs and road markings.

Information Officers, equipped with state of the art GPS handheld devices and a customised ArcPad application, are visiting each ward to collect and verify the necessary data. This information then needs to be passed to the Traffic Management System.

The data transfer, which is key to the automation of the audit process, is provided by Tadpole Technology's GO! SyncTM for ArcPad product. GO! Sync seamlessly integrates with Newcastle City Council's Traffic Management application to manage the transfer of information between the handheld devices and the enterprise database. At the end of each day the Information Officers simply dock their handheld devices and GO! SyncTM for ArcPad automatically uploads the captured data from the handheld PC to the enterprise database. As part of this data transfer process, GO! SyncTM for ArcPad sends the background mapping data of the next ward to be audited to the handheld device so that it is ready to be taken back out to the field the next day.

"We are delighted to be working with Newcastle City Council to help them meet their network management duties." says Carl Gericke, UK Sales Manager at Tadpole Technology "This is a perfect example of deploying our GO! Sync data management and synchronisation software to meet real-world problems."

"The first step for us is to be working with accurate and timely information" explains Peter Wightman, Group Manager of the Traffic and Project Management department at Newcastle City Council. "Not only does GO! SyncTM for ArcPad ensure that accurate information is readily uploaded to the office, but it automatically provides the council's remote workers with the necessary data required to commence each new audit, thereby eliminating the need to manually configure and select data at the start of each working day."

Bill Taylor, ICT Application Team Manager at Newcastle City Council, confirms the importance of GO! SyncTM for ArcPad within the Traffic Management System, "IT Newcastle provide services to all five of the Council's directorates and by streamlining the process of data transfer between the field and the office, GO! SyncTM for ArcPad eliminates the need for us to get involved in daily back-end operations and consequently reduces the overall cost of the system"

Once the council has gathered and validated its traffic restriction information it intends to publish the information in a GIS that will allow the public to view traffic management information according to location.

ends

No offence moneylender but you have been cutting and pasting
articles on Tadpole for as long as i can remember and that's years
yet nothing seems to change for Tadpole, they lose money and they
go to GEM to get more and dilute the shares.
Penny shares that do not come up with decent figures at present are getting
murdered by the mm's, just today Moi, Tou, Pty and Yoo all suffered
and there's plenty more, Tadpole still seems to command a high market
cap yet they have yet to deliver, if they fail this time and in this market
i dont think they'll once again get away with it....1p or 10p soon methinks !

I dont think i would settle for 10p!
But i agree TAD has let us down time and time again, but who knows this time it
may be different, LOL!!!!

M

http://uk.us.biz.yahoo.com/iw/050929/096550.html

Stream Theory Joins Forces With Team6 Game Studios to Enhance Digital Distribution Network
Thursday September 29, 5:15 am ET


Leading Publisher Licenses PC Games to Stream Theory for Worldwide Games on Demand Sites


IRVINE, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Sep 29, 2005 -- Stream Theory, Inc., a division of Tadpole Technology plc (London:TAD.L - News), today announced that it has signed a worldwide content provider agreement with Dutch developer Team6 Game Studios. Team6 has created such widely played games as "Scooter War3z" and "PizzaDude." Stream Theory's patented StreamFlow Games on Demand platform enables retailers, portals, game publishers, and ISPs to securely distribute PC games to broadband consumers under a variety of payment models....ETC

This time next year Rodney ......................

lol

Snap's back i see. With only one post of his on 3i today, as well!!!!
Whats going on Snappy, no playmates?

M

Posted and researched by Carta on 3i bit i am sure he wont mind me
reposting it here.

M


for those of you who remember the ESRI U.C. presentation by SAIC using Go!Sync in a battlefield context this link below should be interesting.
For the rest it looks increasingly possible that Tadpole's Go!Sync could play a fundamental role at the very heart of the U.S. and probably NATO defense programs.
Go!Sync is likely to be used for Data Syncronization by the Military in the near future.
Take a look at the diagram on page 3 and where it say Enterprise Enabled Syncronization think Go!Sync.
Take a look at page 12 and Go!Sync is listed as the software used.

Imagine how many licences the US Department of Defence would need,
I would say clinching this contract would secure the future for Tadpole.
c.


http://gis.esri.com/library/userconf/proc05/papers/pap2518.pdf

chart doesnt look any better!!!

IRVINE, CA October 5, 2005: Stream Theory, Inc., a division of Tadpole Technology plc (LSE: TAD), today announced that it has signed a worldwide content provider agreement with Hip Interactive Europe, a leading publisher and developer of game software. Hip Interactive Europe, recently rewarded with the MCV Award for Best Industry Newcomer, has licensed to Stream Theory popular PC games including the recently released Stolen and CT Special Forces: Fire For Effect as well as the upcoming release Garfield: Saving Arlene. Stream Theorys patented StreamFlow Games on Demand platform enables retailers, portals, game publishers, and ISPs to securely distribute PC games to broadband consumers under a variety of payment models.

Stream Theory and its partners offer us the opportunity to distribute our games to broadband customers around the world, said Olivier Goulon, COO of Hip Interactive Europe. We believe a strategy that combines traditional and digital distribution will yield the most consumers for our games and revenues for our company.

We appreciate our new relationship with Hip Interactive Europe and anticipate a very positive reception to their games from our international broadband distribution partners, said Steig Westerberg, CEO of Stream Theory. By making Hip Interactive Europes PC games available to consumers throughout the world we not only please broadband users looking for great games we also provide a new revenue stream for our game publishing and distribution partners, Westerberg continued.

Games on Demand (GoD) is a broadband-only service that streams games directly to a users PC. Unlike one-time purchases at retail or through installed downloads, GoD subscriptions provide recurring revenue streams for game publishers and distribution partners. GoD has emerged as a new revenue-generating window of opportunity for a PC game after its brief sell-through period. 2004 ended with 118 million worldwide broadband subscribers according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. With Nielsen NetRatings reporting current U.S. penetration at 60% the desire for new online services from broadband users is accelerating adoption of new technologies and business models. According to Parks Associates, the number of households subscribing to GoD services will climb to more than 2 million by 2007.

About Hip Interactive Europe

Hip Interactive is a publisher and distributor of video games and accessories for interactive leisure. With its headquarters in Marseilles (France), Hip Interactive Europe publishes and distributes video games on all the European territories as well as other PAL territories. Hip Interactive Europe is present on all the main platforms: PC, Playstation 2, Xbox and Game Boy Advance. Hip Interactive Europe produces games based on its own brands such as CT Special Forces but also on licenses coming from the most important Hollywood Majors such as The Mummy. The Animated series from Universal. For more information, visit www.hip-europe.com.

Ml
You still on yahoo im?

yeah occasionally, later today/ evening.
Give you a call

M

moneylender take a look at TFC mate... WOW!!!! good news

Blue

Thanks for the tip, looks like Trafficmaster have a winner there

M

no probs...

Apologies for this ramp - it is not really my style - but I think the sp is going to be put under pressure short-term because thereafter it will rise to 7p by end of year. Someone know this and is therefore applying shorting pressure now.

still trading south of the 50 day MA

Snappy - I think your role in life is simply to put me in my place when I allow my enthusiasm to run away with me. Oh well, back to the corner to eat my plum pudding.

Hip Interactive Europe, recently rewarded with the MCV Award for Best Industry Newcomer, has licensed to Stream Theory popular PC games including

Did I read this correctly? Hip Interactive have licensed to Stream Theory?

So TAD is the buyer? Is that right? And TAD's marketing organization has to sell this stuff to make money (margin)?