Impulse Phase 2

In June, Impulse was initially launched and in the 6 months since then, it has evolved and changed dramatically for the better. 

In our development schedule, we came up with 3 phases for it. Phase 2 was released last Fall and introduced a server side platform called Impulse Reactor which provides multiplayer matchmaking and an updated UI.

Impulse: Phase 1

So what’s in store for Phase 3?

The next major iteration of Impulse is due April 7th. And it will include the following new features:

Impulse Client updates:

• Player Rankings. Players will be able to see how they rank in a variety of games initially those that make use of Impulse Reactor. Demigod will be the first game to make full use of these new features.
• Achievements. Games for Windows Live integration will probably not be ready for Phase 3 but per game achievements will begin to show.
• Community Enhancements.
• My Impulse. This new default page for the community tab will let players manage friends lists, events, etc.

Impulse Anywhere:

A new web-based edition of Impulse is going to be created. PC software can be huge in size and downloading to your home PC is not always a viable option. Impulse Anywhere will allow users to download a .Impulse file from a website and take it home to install via Impulse on their home PC.

Impulse NOW:

A tiny new tray application will be able to be optionally used to keep users up to date on updates and let them quickly and easily access Impulse features. Best of all, it’ll be tiny in memory so users will be able to manage to keep up to date more easily than ever without having to have a client loaded.

Impulse Builder:

This new program will allow developers to start to easily submit their software to Impulse.  You have a game? An application? And want to share it with the world? Impulse Builder will let you submit it.  Our moderators will evaluate it and as long as it meets our quality threshold, it’ll be available to the public.  This will open up Impulse to thousands of freeware, shareware, and commercial programs that they can manage through Impulse (hence easy updating, etc.).

Impulse Reactor Phase 3:

Impulse is a server based solution. What this means is that its functionality is provided via dozens of data centers distributed throughout the world. The features of Impulse do not come from the client.  This is a big deal for developers because they can make use of features of Impulse without having to distribute the client.

One of the areas Stardock has been working on is in developing IP protection for publishers that also adheres to the Gamers Bill of Rights.

For game developers, Impulse Reactor Phase 3 provides features like multiplayer match-making that eliminates the need for players opening specific ports (if you’ve ever had to mess with your router to do port forwarding, you should insist to developers that they start using Impulse Reactor).  It also supports achievements, rankings, tournaments, etc.  And it’s free.

But for publishers, it also supports IP protection. A developer merely had to run the Impulse Reactor wrapper and then the game or application will make use of the IP protection that Stardock has been using for years. The reason this is a big deal is that it doesn’t require developers to alter source code or have different versions of their programs. One version, good protection, consumer friendly (no hassles), platform neutral (doesn’t force anyone to install a client, store, or even become a user of Impulse), and incredibly easy to use.

Beyond

Impulse Phase 3 launches just before Demigod.  Demigod will really help show off some of the cool stuff that Impulse can do.

I think when Impulse’s first birthday comes up in June, people will be shocked at how much it’s changed and improved in such a short amount of time.  And then we can start talking about Phase 4 which we have some really exciting things planned for.