InstantAction
From TradeWars Museum
Company
|
| Notes | edit... |
Contents |
[edit] History
InstantAction was a web gaming site and digital distribution platform that operated between 2007 and 2010. The platform aimed to deliver console-quality gaming experiences directly through web browsers, representing an early attempt at browser-based game streaming technology.
[edit] Formation and Launch
InstantAction was formed in 2007 when GarageGames was acquired by Barry Diller's InterActive Corporation (IAC). Following this acquisition, GarageGames was renamed InstantAction, though the platform did not immediately launch to the public. After a development period, InstantAction.com officially entered open beta on March 31, 2008.
The company's ambitious mission was to enable publishers and developers to embed sophisticated games across the internet using InstantAction's proprietary embed technology. This approach allowed users to play advanced 3D games directly in their web browsers without requiring extensive downloads or installations, which was considered revolutionary for its time.
[edit] Shutdown
InstantAction's lifespan was relatively brief. On November 11, 2010, the company announced it would be "winding down operations." While the InstantAction.com website and Instant Jam game were shut down, the Torquepowered.com site continued to operate while the company explored potential buyers for the Torque game engine.
The company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and by November 12, 2010, approximately 24 staff members from the Portland studios were laid off. According to former executives, despite being close to securing several partnerships for its game-streaming platform, InstantAction struggled to monetize its products and technologies effectively.
[edit] Technology and Platform
InstantAction's core innovation was its browser-based game delivery system that allowed users to play sophisticated 3D games with minimal download requirements. The platform utilized a combination of browser plugins and streaming technology to deliver gaming experiences that were typically only available through dedicated game consoles or PC installations.
The company's embed technology was particularly notable, as it allowed games to be integrated into various websites, potentially turning any site into a game distribution platform. This was an early precursor to the game streaming and cloud gaming services that would become more prominent years later.
[edit] Games and Content
During its operation, InstantAction hosted eight games featuring multiplayer capabilities and social features. These titles spanned various genres and demonstrated the platform's ability to deliver different types of gaming experiences through a web browser.
The company also developed "Instant Jam," an original music game that showcased the platform's capabilities but was discontinued when the service shut down.
[edit] Legacy
While InstantAction was commercially unsuccessful and short-lived, it represented an important early attempt at browser-based game streaming technology. The concepts it pioneered—embedding games across the web, reducing friction in game access, and delivering high-quality gaming experiences through browsers—would later become more common in the gaming industry.
Today, many of InstantAction's core concepts have been realized through various cloud gaming services, browser-based gaming platforms, and HTML5 game technologies. The company's vision of making games more accessible through web technology has become increasingly mainstream in the years since its closure.
