GameStop just announced (in a mail to its customers) that they will update the Impulse client. Now, we all know that Gamestop doesn't have such a good name in the gaming community and that its acquisition of Impulse was met with a lot of skepticism. So perhaps they are trying to improve their reputation by adding useful functionality to the client?

Let's see. The first (and only) announced update to the client is:

"To optimize the experience for PC gamers, the new App will no longer support updates or reinstallation of non-gaming related Stardock software that previously appeared in the "My Software" section."

Wow. So they are actually removing functionality from the client, and changing it into a closed system. And they even tell me that this will "optimize" my experience. How stupid and gullible do they think I am? Is their marketing director thinking that they are talking to 10-year olds?

I really hope that that Stardock comes to GOG eventually. I would buy both GalCiv games again just to get away from Gamestop. I never asked to be a member of Gamestop; they bought the successor of the successor of a service that I once subscribed to because I wanted to get GalCiv. Gah.

Impulse is the reason I have yet to buy Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal. I do hope someon manages to convince Funatics/THQ (whoever owns it now) to release the game here.

How dare they, I have a handful of non-gaming related software from impulse!
Where the hell am I supposed to go if I want to reinstall them?
Are my purchases gone forever?!

I got cursorfx for free from impulse via twitter, and I'LL BE DAMNED IF I'LL LET THEM TAKE AN ANCILLARY PROGRAM THAT I DON'T OFTEN USE AWAY FROM ME!

Acoustic Bridge
BootSkin
CursorFX
DesktopX
DeskScapes
Fences Pro
IconDeveloper
IconPackager
KeepSafe
Keyboard Launchpad
Multiplicity Pro
Object Desktop
ObjectDock
Premium Themes
SkinStudio
SoundPackager
Start8
Tiles
Tweak7
Theme Manager
WindowBlinds
WindowFX

So, I guess the first question is if Psyringe actually uses those programs that ne_zavarj listed. I'm not seeing a whole lot of things that I really need there and they're probably available somewhere else on the web anyway.

No, the first question is where can I find suitable installers!?

Want me to start hunting for you?

Actually, this change will be welcomed. For one thing, I'll no longer be constantly annoyed by the "your Object Desktop subscription has expired" message which pops up every time the client is opened. That sub can't even be renewed as Stardock don't sell those apps anymore via Impulse. They do that via their new Impulse like client instead.

Further to that, once your sub expires you can't reinstall any of the software they are removing support for (even the backups apparently don't work since Stardock stopped selling them via Impulse), so this move makes perfect sense and will help to clear up confusion in that area.

So yes, it's removing a (currently broken) feature, and while you may see that as a bad thing, it certainly isn't.

They don't have a new client . They are providing a serial number and an exe to the software / game .

They do have a new client. Read their forums. It's currently in beta.

It appears that ne_zavarj has that covered, but otherwise, knowing for certain I can get backups at stardock would be welcomed.

No, I don't use those programs. I can even see why Gamestop has little interest in continuing a part of the service that was implemented as a way for Stardock's gaming department and accessory department to benefit from each other. Since many people were customers of both departments, there will probably be people who regret losing this functionality, but I don't, that's not my point.

My point is that Gamestop treats me like a child by trying to sell me a removal of functionality as something that will "optimize my experience". Of course it won't, this much should be obvious. Either I was using this functionality, in which case I will regret its removal. Or I wasn't, in which case my experience will be unchanged.

Telling the customers "we will improve your experience by removing this functionality" is simple (and quite stupid) marketspeak of someone who apparently thinks that his customers will believe everything.

Did TheEnigmaticT say that GOG was "improving its catalogue" when they had to remove some games due to licensing issues? No. He knew that this wasn't good news for his customers, but he _does_ see them as grown-ups who can deal with bad news. Gamestop apparently thinks that I'm utterly stupid. And this disregard for the customer is what irks me most in this case. There are probably people to whom the removal of the functionality is the bigger issue, but for me its the treatment of one's customers.

I didn't know about that . When i renewed my Object Desktop Ultimate subscription i just downloaded the programs separately .

As I say, you're not entirely correct. The removal of that feature *will* enhance the experience with the Impulse client that previous subscribers to that feature currently have. With the removal, we won't have to deal with the annoyances we currently have - the aforementioned pop-up being one, the constant notices of updates that cannot be applied, being another one and so forth.


Apparently, it's only mentioned on the forums. I haven't tried it yet as I haven't gotten around to renewing my sub through them yet. Will probably do so in June.