Only 10 days after the game’s launch date, already half a million people had downloaded the game. During the months after that, another million people obtained a copy of the game via BitTorrent. According to our estimates, Spore was downloaded 1.7 million times since early September, a record breaking figure for a game.

When we posted about the impressive download rate on Spore – inflated due to the DRM that was put into the game – EA doubted our statistics. EA’s Mariam Sughayer said that every BitTorrent download was not a successful copy, and that several downloads didn’t work, were buggy, or contained viruses. We wont deny that on badly moderated torrent sites, malicious torrents probably can be found. However, this constitutes less than 1% of the available torrents, and they are not added to our statistics.

Below is the list of the 10 most downloaded (PC) games on BitTorrent in 2008, with an estimated download count for each. In second place we see The Sims 2, also from the hands of Spore creator Will Wright. Assassins Creed completes the top 3 with just over a million downloads.

Article from: TorrentFreak, check out our new blog at FreakBits.

Today, BitTorrent Inc. has announced that it will use its DNA service to distribute clients and patches for Aeria and IAHGames, known for EA’s FIFA Online 2. BitTorrent DNA is used to stream and download content efficiently via BitTorrent, without interfering with VoIP calls and Internet browsing.

Eric Klinker, chief technology officer at BitTorrent Inc. said “BitTorrent is proud to be working with leaders in the massively multiplayer online gaming space such as Aeria and IAHGames. BitTorrent DNA thrives in this environment by giving online game distributors an ability to manage user-contributed bandwidth, boost delivery performance and enhance the end-user experience.”

“With BitTorrent’s advanced congestion control technology and game-play detection features, DNA ensures that gamers won’t have to suffer any delays or breaks in their game play while simultaneously downloading the latest software patch,” Klinker added.

Video streaming is another area where P2P content delivery might play a significant role in the future. NewTeeVee reports that YouTube might get on the P2P bandwagon, as the makers of PPLive are experimenting with a P2P accelerator for Flash streams. If it works, YouTube could save millions of dollars in bandwidth costs.

Finding an efficient way to use BitTorrent or P2P based video streams is one of the most difficult, but revolutionizing challenges for P2P developers. But we’re getting there, as early tests indicate that it is possible to stream video, even live feeds, with BitTorrent.

Article from: TorrentFreak, check out our new blog at FreakBits.

It’s interesting how companies are starting to realise the potential of BitTorrent as a promotional platform for their content. Distributing demos of games is a great way to build up hype around an upcoming, or even slightly old (Disciples II, for example) title, and what better way to do it than share it over BitTorrent?

From BitTorrent.com:

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy returns gamers to the magical realm of the Sacred Lands where four races – the Empire, the Mountain Clans, the Legions of the Damned and the Undead Hordes – continue the battle for the destiny of their Gods. A decade after the First Great War, the final prophecy continues to unfold. Deep within the crevices of the Sacred Lands, the Chosen One has emerged, fated to bring salvation to some and destruction to others. Braced with renewed faith and newfound conviction, each race must once again take up the sword for the sake of their people and the glory of their God.

As a kid, I used to be a total strategy game buff. I not only played all the RTSes like Command & Conquer and Age of Empires, but also many turn-based ones like Age of Wonders and Disciples. Even though I only had the demo of Disciples I: Sacred Lands, me and this friend were crazy about it and spent more hours on it than is healthy. So when I finally got my hands on Disciples II, I played it constantly for days, until I finished the game.

Disciples II: Dark Prophecy is truly one of my favourite games, and I highly recommend it to anyone remotely interested in strategy games. The only drawback is that it’s Windows-only. Check out some screenshots below.

Article from: TorrentFreak, check out our new blog at FreakBits.

We’re used to copyright infringement letters form the RIAA and MPAA because it’s their core business, but letters from game developers are quite exceptional.

A Destructoid reader reported that he was accused of downloading a copy of NHL 07 and wrote:

“I’m not sure if this has been shown anywhere else, I certainly wasn’t aware of it. I had thought it was just giant organizations like RIAA and MPAA that were watching BitTorrent. But if it was going to be any game company, it was going to be EA. I got a letter from my ISP this morning (Comcast) informing me that EA had sent them the IP address of my network as downloading a torrent of NHL 07. I haven’t heard of them suing anyone yet, but they’re keeping an eye on it apparently.”

It’s in the game…

Article from: TorrentFreak, check out our new blog at FreakBits.

He said:

“The version of Gangs Of London that you have brought our attention to here is a pre-production ‘preview’ version,” he revealed. “It is not the complete game and it has anomalies in the code since it hasn’t been through our QA process yet.”

This reaction makes you wonder.. Is this some new form of a advertising? Piracy or promotion? What’s wrong with the good old “trial/preview version”.

The full version is scheduled to appear by the end of 2006.

Article from: TorrentFreak, check out our new blog at FreakBits.