snappy
I don't have a problem with the deal itself with what we know, I do have a problem with the delay in getting the circular out and If I assume who the large shareholder you are talking about wants to put pressure on the board then they have my backing.
Personally at this price and with the info in the public domain they are a hold imo, share mags have no more info than anyone else currently and judging by the recent volumes their article has had little affect.
Obviously the lack of info to the deal is more -ve than +ve, but I wouldn't be confident to sell a % of my holding in the hope of buying back cheaper later and the details could come out at any time, so wouldn't want to be out when they do.
ML
I have no idea on the delay but you could be right, it would not be too hard for the company to issue a statement detailing how things are moving forward, it would certainly remove some of the speculation, wither way.

Substitute Stream Theory for Exent and you get the picture!

http://www.etoychest.org/content.php?article.264


Gaming on Demand
by Eric McGregor on Wednesday 11 August 2004

There were a lot of amazing new technologies at E3 this year. And those technologies support one of the largest and fastest growing businesses in the world. Video Games are big bucks now, but the business behind them has stayed more or less the same for over a decade. But things are starting to change. I saw a lot of effort being put into developing new markets and companies are thinking of new ways to get at those markets. On that note, the most interesting thing that I saw at E3 was a little known technology company called Exent. Exent has the potential to change the way a lot of people play, and more importantly pay, for video games.



We've all heard the rap from Infinium about games on demand and how the Phantom Game Console will allow users to download games over the Internet instead of purchasing them on CD. But that's impossible. Games today are hundreds of Megs and can take up an entire DVD. It would take hours to download something like that. Right?

It would, unless you didn't need to download the whole thing.

I talked with Joe Helfrich, the Vice President of Sales and Operations at a company called Exent. Exent can effectively stream an entire video game over a broadband connection, live, without any effect on the end user experience. It does this by using a proprietary software package that "wraps" the game and sequences how the game is played. Then the user makes a small initial download, only a few minutes, and can begin playing the game in all of its DirectX glory.

"The game itself is played on the end user machine, as if it was locally installed and as if a CD of the game is locally available. All standard game features as well as improved usability features are fully available in both online and offline modes."

"Games can be delivered as a fully downloaded executable or via the streaming platform, which requires no installation and enables the user to enjoy the game without fully downloading it, providing faster time-to-play and an easier and friendlier user experience."

Joe showed me a demonstration on his laptop. I wanted to see Prince of Persia, a brand new game that has all the fancy bells and whistles that gamers want. He booted up his laptop, opened up his account, and began to play Prince of Persia live over the internet. I felt like I was watching Houdini escape from the water torture; it just seemed impossible.

But it's real. And the implications are incredible.



Exent, is going to sell a complete "Turnkey" solution to ISP's and in turn, the ISP's are going to host the games that have been sequenced and wrapped by Exent while you, the user, are going to purchase a special Broadband Gaming Account from your ISP for access to this service. The entire idea is to create a new revenue stream for cable and DSL companies that leverages Online Gaming as "a highly addictive service that creates a strong bond between the user and the service provider, as users typically do not want to forfeit their 'library' and 'achievements' when switching an access provider."

You see, Broadband service providers are currently selling packages with "ever-increasing download and upload speeds that stretch their margins to lower levels, to win the precious customer base, and are losing money on each customer they sell to." By basically leasing out the games that use this bandwidth, these companies are going to try and get some of that money back. The games will be protected with several layers of Digital Rights Management that I was told would be nearly impossible to break into. As we all know, piracy is a huge concern for the game industry and I think the promise of a perfect quality game experience with a air tight DRM and no distribution costs might push this technology along much faster than we would otherwise think.

But is this going to be good for the consumer? Personally, I think it will. In fact, I think this is going to be huge. Being able to play any game you want on demand, any time you want, for a flat monthly fee or even for a nominal rental fee, could be a really big deal for the industry. As the consumer we are trading physical ownership of a particular game for the ability to sample and play more content than we would otherwise have access to. All in a safe and legal environment. And let's be honest; we only play these games for a few months before they get old. I know I go though games like a baby goes though diapers. It may not appeal to the hardest of the hard core gamers, but it looks like a pretty good deal for the casual gamer who wants to play a lot of games with little or no risk of wasting his or her whole paycheck on a game he or she didn't like. Apparently a whole host of top game companies are signing on. Atari has already signed on with Exent and is currently offering games on demand at http://www.atariondemand.com. Joe didn't get into which other companies were going to be working with Exent, but he said there would be a major announcement in the next few weeks.

Nobody from Exent would comment on the Phantom Game Console. Yoav Tzruya, the VP for Products and markets Strategy said they were looking at the Phantom right now, but wouldn't say whether or not Exent's technology was being leased to Infinium. From what I saw at the Infinium demonstration, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that these companies had more to do with each other than they would like to say right now, but nothing official as of yet.

After seeing a demonstration, hearing Exent's business plan, and getting a feel for where the gaming industry is trying to head in the next few years, I think it its safe to say that Exent is going to be a major player in the future of Games on Demand. They've got a great business model and it looks like this type of plan could really appeal to a large and diverse market of gamers. If I were you, I'd call my stockbroker.

im getting bored. only a few quids worth traded all week. still worth getting up early?

Hi Rod

Its my guess that we will get the details of the deal sometime
next week, with the EGM early Sept.
Otherwise we will run into next years figures. So starting Monday
its up early again for a couple of days at least!!

Good luck

M

ML
Aren't you irriatated that we are left to guess about something so important from a timing point of view?

Yuff

Irritated yes, but we pay the directors to run the Co for us
and I think what they have lined up is going to be good for
all us holders.
Sit tight mate, the game is not over!
We will all be laughing or crying by the end of the month.


M

So it back to earlys again then?

i get up early every day. i go to work early every day. i go home late every day. i get paid 500 quid a week for 100 hours. plus my work is using extremely carcinogenic materials. no wonder my only contractor wont let me on the books. it would cost him at least double. shares like tad are my ongoing lottery punts. i would love to see 2.00 but im afraid im going to die early......a day before tad hits the big time knowing my luck.

:o(

off to waste yet another fiver on the lottery. might rape someone on the way.

( poor taste )

superrod
Lets hope it pays off this time and tad don't co*k it up.

:-)

Posted on another BB this morning by Newly Rich.

Conversation with Hugh Patterson,
Which I had this morning.

The gist of which is: The document is with UK listing and it's complex; long and exhaustive. Theirs no delay at all as it's going through in the normal way for such a document although delays can occur for various reasons and usually due to certain wording or some other legal aspect. None of this is applicable here and it'll be issued as soon as it's been given permission to enter the public domain and then the EGM will be called. Personally, i'm a bit puzzled by some posters calling for an EGM now. It can't be called until the document is released.

Theirs no change to the terms of acquisition or the strike rate and both companies are quite excited by the proposed deal as they are complementary to each other but I think most of us know that anyway.

Presently, theirs five streaming companies which will become four if the deal goes ahead and of those four, only two are likely to be serious competition and even that is not a serious consideration as Tad intends to be the World industry standard for both the corporate and gaming market.

Why hasn't the company issued an update? What is their to update? RNS giving the bones of the deal was issued; The meat is the document when released in the public domain. In between what's happened to drop the share price? Absolutely nothing and I agree with that. Market manipulation and spreading of uncertainty springs to mind but I think we all know that too.

In a nutshell; the acquisition of Stream theory is the biggest move in Tads history and could pave the way for Tad to be the world leader in streaming technology and we all know the ramifications of that.

The unrest on this board is understandable. However, if your also trying to ensure that your striving to be a World leader in technology, isn't it important to get everything right? You can't argue with that.

I'm quite happy and quite honestly, I think we could see a sharp re-adjustment of the share price, once the document is released. Just my own private thoughts and as a long term investor rather than a jonny-come-lately with their own particular agenda's. I wont be selling my shares and likewise wont be responding to questions concerning this post. You can all make up your minds.

Hi ML
Do you really buy all that?

Hi Yuff

Well I bought some more last Friday,today and I will probably go in for another lot shortly, so I guess, yes is the word.
I have no doubt the deal will go through. Any one that has done the research into TAD and the games market will realise the enormous growth potential here. With ST we will have the ability to become the Industry Standard, its not a forgone conclusion but my money is on us suceeding.
In addition we have deals with 3 or 4 of the worlds biggest Co's. OK we dont know what revenue is being generated yet, but its revenue and that means we are moving in the right direction.
Then we have Cartesia, by all accounts is in profit.
So where is the problem?
Communication or patience? Patience will be rewarded Yuff.

M

so what is your price target if all goes through?

Moneylender, TA share price still looks bad but, small shares like Tad could turn overnight & TA goes though the window. Have you got any info on when Tad might say how things are going? recent acquisition sound good to me.

Hi Goal

I have no idea exactly when the details will be announced, but
i do expect them this week, any later and we will be at year end by the time the EGM is set.
Like everyone I am frustrated by the time delay but having done as much research as i can i am happy that this deal is a major step
forward for TAD and will accelerate our growth.

M

ML
It needs to be soon otherwise everyone will be knackered with these early mornings.
:-)

Moneylender/yuff, thankyou for the reply & good posts on this thread. I see snappy"s TA, is right but it may have hit the bottom & looks like a very good buy now.(dyor).

sold a few yesterday for 9.66p. ( another gordon brown enforced stop loss )

Rod

If you earn it you you've got to pay tax on it mate!!


M

Holding in hope but the graph says it all. Will it ever sprout legs let alone turn into a frog!!