Almost a year ago on December 17th we unveiled Desura for the first time and invited a small amount of people into the beta. Though the beta was basic with little content, it was well received by the press, game magazines and users and even won a spot on the Gamesbeat best startup GDC panel. With our confidence boosted we set our sights on adding the final polish to Desura and getting it released early 2010.
We expected this would take 4 to 6 weeks, so we locked down the beta and told those keen to sit tight...
...however as the old 90/90 saying goes "the first 90% of the work takes 90% of the time, and the remaining 10% takes the other 90%". So here we are in October and whilst we still have a lot of improvements and big changes to come, Desura is ready to enter into the final stage of the beta and open up to new users and games!
So without further delay, if you would like early access to Desura simply post a comment here and we shall make it happen (just keep in mind that Desura is still light on the content department - we are working on that now!). So more importantly if you are working on an indie game or mod which is released (or near release), polished and bug free WE WANT to hear from you! We've got a slidedeck to send your way which shows just what Desura is capable of for you devs (its all automated and we believe pretty darn cool).
At least we are going to beat DNF to release...
UPDATE #1: 115 invites just sent
Awesome news! It would be cool to gain early access :)
Lets have a look see!
Well, since I'm supposed to make a post in order to gain beta access, here it is!
...oh, and I honestly think that providing a ModDB-like digital distribution platform is a BRILLIANT idea! If only you'd thought to do this sooner!
We only support a handful of games, but aim to support most of the new releases coming out. Hopefully soon all it will take is a click to get a mod running.
Invites will be sent roughly every 8 hours to the email address in your profile - so look out for a message.
Desura is pretty good, I love the interface.
we've actually got a lot of changes coming in that area (in the next 3 months) to focus more on the playing of games
interesting, certainly wouldn't mind having a look at what you've got :) sounds like you've got a winner in the works...
I´m in!!
If you let me, of course :D
I'm glad to hear your making good progress on it and I hope Desura does well in the wild and it should from what I have seen in the beta so far.
Mods really need this expansion, I remember days of old when the only way to find out about mods was word of mouth from other players and visits to a game specific site, with the changes in the PC community where the modders have begun supplementing the commercial side. Having a collective showing what all is out there it helps the consumers and producers find each other.
Mean wile you have "gaming" websites touting that PC gaming is dead except for causal games and MMOs... I think not. The community that stands behind pc games has always been here, and will continue as long was we want it to. hardcore supporters you find here are not your casual xbox only players or people playing farm-ville.. We're dedicated, and passionate. If we weren't, would the gaming industry really have become what it is today without the hard core supporters?
I remember a few years ago when I asked INtense if he had plans for supporting Homebrew developers on Moddb. He delivered and great dual platform games have risen to the call serious projects for hijacked hardware become popular and thrive.
Very nice.
I'd love early access if possible :)
Desura Beta has been really good, it just needs much more content. And I am sure there will be.
Yeah, when I had the Desura client on my laptop (have since reformatted) it was a great system, just lacked in content.
Content is becoming our focus now, we are looking for someone full time to work on this: Moddb.com
Sounds nice, I'd like to try.
I would love to participate in the early stages of Desura :)
I would love to see how it is coming and see Desura. I've been thinking about it lately...
I'd like in to this.
We would love to participate in the Desura adventure! It looks like it could become an excellent download and community platform.
Woohoo!
Awesome, I really want to check this out.
Let's have a lookyloo...
I love the idea of Desura and am interested in seeing it in action.
But...
Oh, ok then.
This stuff seems really cool. I wish i had early access ;)
Seems like a great concept would love to see how it works. =D
Cant wait to try it out :D
Ah, this sounds good. :)
Digital distribution for specifically indie games? Or is it for indie and mainstream? Either way, I would like to try it out. May I have an invite please? :D
Hehehe.... those jokes will never end^^
dont count me out, I spectacularly spectate
Wow it's been almost a year? Feels like a few weeks ago that I started reading about this! How time flies :D Love to get a spot anyway :) And no more DNF digs, it's being done! D:
Early access? Yes, please!
Wow, awesome. Count me in :D
Count me in. Thank you!
Id like to try it :)
Oo I´d love to get an access to Desura!
And maybe someday I can get a hl2 mod or two from me in there..
MrTambourineMan wants to use Desura!
Count me in ^^
I'd like to see a mobile version. For iOS and Android. Like OpenFient.
Already have an account, and loving Desura. Keep up the great work!
id love to use desura sign me up XD
I want to release my mod on this.
Going to be interesting to see how desura evolves, not exacly sure what it is yet other then a buy and sell site?.
Nice to read that the progress on Desura goes well.
Would love to take a look at Desura if you let me. ;)
um... id like to use desura
dont know what else to say
This is the best thing since sliced bread, literally!
Beta access would pleasure me in more ways than one.
yey i want a go :D
I'd like to try it.
I would love to participate in the beta, but without Steam-Desura support/sync/"insert something technical here", having 2 digital platforms on the same PC seems kinda odd to me. Of coarse, this is only a beta, but all Source games requires Steam, so you cannot play through Desura... I mean ya sure, that's basicly ModDB, but in digitalized version, and it have been greatly improved for developper-gamers relations. But still:
1) It would use up RAM of your PC, so if you have an old PC you are likely to lag (except if the platform is light-weight, not like Steam with it's 190 MB)
2) Most important issue: How would you support Source games and mods work? They require Steam, and cannot be launched without it. I am mostly a Source gamer, so I simply cannot pass without Steam. If you add Steam-Desura mod integration in the future, I will join without a doubt!
All right, I was maybe a bit too negative up there, so I would give my opinion about the positive points of Desura.
1) Instantenious updates for mods and pain-free installations
2) Beta testing only option
3) DLC support for mods (like a mod supporter skin, etc...)
4) Mod page customization options
5) Spotlight for awesome mods!
6) Rating system!
7) Lots of more, I simply cannot think of anything else out of my head
5 limit time limit passes, and I totally forgot about:
MOD ACHIEVMENTS!
Hooray!