E3: Verizon revamps broadband gaming portal

LOS ANGELES--Verizon Communications said today it is launching a new set of community and online gaming features for its Verizon Gaming Network portal, using a new investment in Super Computer International to create a broadband gaming client it plans to distribute to all of its DSL and FiOS customers.

While VGN has existed for more than a year as a subscription-based game session hosting and casual game storefront, Verizon is completely revamping the site, making it a central repository for all things gaming, integrating AIM instant messaging directly into the portal and offering services a la carte instead through a monthly subscription—a business model that is prohibitive to a lot of perspective gamers, Verizon Broadband Solutions director of new product development Colson Hillier said at the E3 Expo today.

“The whole concept around this client is all about distribution,” Hillier said. “We intend to distribute it as widely as possible. We want to build a community, and we want to build relationships with all types of customers beyond casual gamers.”

The client also signals Verizon’s first move into a complete services-based environment in which it will be network agnostic. Subscribers on any other broadband network can download the client and access the network, though they will be billed separately for services, instead of being charged on monthly bills. The service allows a customer to create a virtual gaming server on Verizon’s network, invite friends through IM and manage sessions normally available through pricey community portals, Hillier said. The client will recognize any game in customers home network and provide a central portal to access and launch them. Customers can also buy games through Verizon’s gaming storefront, either on a full purchase or rental model. Exact pricing for the different component services hasn’t yet been determined but will finalized by the time of launch this summer, Hillier said.