Plymouth, MI (July 19, 2005) - Stardock, the world's leading developer of Windows enhancement software, announced DesktopX 3.1 and DesktopX Pro 3.1 today.

DesktopX is the revolutionary program that gives power users and novice users alike the ability to design their own custom Windows desktops.

DesktopX works by giving Windows its own native desktop object system. With it, users can add objects to their desktops that can do nearly anything the user imagines. Objects can be combined together to create mini-applications or used to build entire desktops. Users can then export their creations as widgets (for the mini-applications) or as entire desktops (.desktop files).

To get users started, DesktopX comes with over a dozen different widgets including a stock-monitor, RSS reader, weather monitor, Computer resource monitor, currency conversion, media player, dictionary, search engine front-end, and more.  It also comes with several .desktop files and a bunch of packaged desktop objects.

DesktopX 3.1 Pro adds a relatively new concept - gadgets. Gadgets are the same as widgets but with one key difference: They don't require the creating program to be installed on the computer. They're truly stand-alone programs except they have all the benefits of widgets (easy to create, low memory and resource requirements).

"We think gadgets are the next stage in widget evolution," said Alberto Riccio, Project Manager of DesktopX. "If a third party creates an outstanding widget, they have to tell their users to go and download the corresponding widget enabling program such as DesktopX, Konfabulator, Kapsules, etc. This results in widgets always remaining relatively simple which is why there's thousands of clocks and calendars and few more meatier things. But with gadgets, the user exports their creation and anyone running Windows 98 to Longhorn can use it. Companies and individual users are not in the position of having to buy their own license of the widget enabling program, they just get the gadget."

To encourage gadget creation, Stardock will be launching a brand-new website called DesktopGadgets.com in early August. It's a site that enables gadget creators to submit their creations, name a price (including free if they want to give it away) and distribute it. Revenue collected is split 50/50 between DesktopGadgets.com and the gadget creator.

DesktopX 3.1 improves on 3.0 through numerous usability changes to make it easier to use, along with a new, more sophisticated widget/desktop creation environment.

DesktopX comes in 3 forms:

• DesktopX Run-Time (client) for users who simply want to use widgets and desktops ($14.95)
• DesktopX Standard which includes a widget/desktop development environment ($24.95)
• DesktopX Pro which allows users to export their widgets as gadgets -- stand-alone programs ($69.95).

A shareware version of DesktopX Standard is also available for download on the DesktopX website. DesktopX's home page is http://www.desktopx.net . The standard version of DesktopX also comes with Stardock's Object Desktop suite of desktop enhancement utilities.

[What's New List]

Developer:
Stardock Corp. (www.stardock.com)
15090 Beck Rd., Suite 300
Plymouth, MI 48170
Website: www.desktopx.net
Media Contact: Kristin Hatcher ([email protected]) 734-927-0677 x105

Requires:
Windows 2000 or Windows XP
(exported gadgets should work on Windows 98, ME, 2000, XP, Longhorn)

# # #
About Stardock:
Stardock is a Midwestern Windows software development company. It is best known for creating software that extends and enhances to functionality of Microsoft Windows. Its principle product is a suite of desktop enhancements called Object Desktop (www.objectdesktop.com)  which includes its popular utilities WindowBlinds, DesktopX, ObjectBar, IconPackager, SkinStudio, RightClick, Keyboard LaunchPad, and much more. It is a Microsoft gold partner ISV.

It also runs the worlds most popular desktop customization website called WinCustomize.com (www.wincustomize.com) which receives over 3 million unique visitors each month.

Stardock has also developed popular PC strategy games such as the award winning Galactic Civilizations (www.galciv.com)  and The Political Machine (www.politicalmachine.com) . Its game software is available at retail as well as through its innovative electronic distribution network TotalGaming.net (www.totalgaming.net).

Screenshots (objects, widgets, desktops):

TotalGaming.net delivers PC games electronically

Popular no-DRM gaming service enters new phase

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Brian Clair ([email protected])
Phone: 734-927-0677 X 129

Livonia MI – July 19, 2005. Stardock Entertainment, best known for its award-winning PC strategy games such as The Political Machine and Galactic Civilizations has released TotalGaming.net: Phase 2. TotalGaming.net is an electronic distribution network in which users can pick a game, press a button to buy it, and then immediately download it. Users download their games through Stardock’s Secure Software Delivery system, Stardock Central.

Stardock has already lined up agreements with companies such as Ubi Soft, Take 2, Strategy First, and others to put their games on to TotalGaming.net. In addition, Stardock is working with numerous independent game developers to get the best Indie titles onto the service. Phase 2 of TotalGaming.net represents the latest expansion of the gaming network to include a host of new indie game titles and additional purchase options.

"We have two distinct goals for TotalGaming.net," said Brian Clair, Director of TotalGaming.net at Stardock. "First, we want to provide a proven electronic distribution channel for publishers who want to leverage their classic game assets. Second, we want to provide an outlet to independent game developers to get their games out there."

In addition to having titles developed by Stardock such as Galactic Civilizations, The Political Machine, LightWeight Ninja, and others, better known offerings such as Robin Hood, O-R-B, and Disciples II: Ultimate Edition are also available. Independent games such as Chronic Logic’s Gish, BreakQuest by Nurium, Jets‘n’Guns by Rake in Grass, Astral Masters by Apus Software, Xeno Assault II by Jagged Blade Software and more have been added as well.

Users can either purchase games individually or they can purchase a TotalGaming.net membership which provides them with tokens that can be used buy the available titles at a discounted rate.

What makes TotalGaming.net stand out is that rather than relying on Digital Rights Management (DRM), it has a model that is more akin to iTunes. Customers use a secure client called Stardock Central to download the games where they are "activated" via the program at the server. The technology, called Secure Software Delivery (SSD), was developed and used for Stardock’s corporate software products for several years. Once the game is downloaded, gamers can burn their titles to CD for use on all their personal computers (similar to how users can burn their iTunes purchased music to CD). Stardock believes that this increased convenience to users far outweighs any theoretical benefit that the heavy use of DRM provides.

"As game developers, we are intimately familiar with software piracy," said BradWardell, President & CEO of Stardock. "Over the years, we have concluded that the best way to combat piracy is to reward your customers with greater value. Our system makes it more convenient to play by the rules than to pirate the games."

Stardock hopes the comb    ination of server-side security and client side convenience will give TotalGaming.net a technological edge over other electronic distribution networks. The system was used during 2003's launch of Galactic Civilizations. The game was released simultaneously at retail outlets world-wide as well as electronically, the first major PC game to do so.

"Gamers want to know that when they purchase a game, it’s theirs – forever. They don’t want to have to worry whether the company they purchased the game from is still around 3 years from now. They don’t want to have to worry about losing serial numbers or whether they can install it on their new computer," said Wardell. "We believe that electronic distribution of games can be a great boon to first-tier publishers and Indies alike if gamers feel secure in what they are buying."

Individual games on TotalGaming.net vary in price and can be purchased individually. Alternatively, users can purchase a TotalGaming.net membership for $69.95 and receive tokens to purchase games at a substantial discount.
TotalGaming.net’s website is http://www.totalgaming.net. It also provides forums, daily news on the game industry, game-related articles and help for independent game developers.

# # #
About Stardock: Stardock is the world’s leading developer of Windows enhancement utilities. Its software is used by over 10 million people worldwide, as well as major companies like nVidia, ATI, Alienware and Microsoft. It runs the website www.WinCustomize.com that is visited by over 3 million different users monthly.
Its software can be found on the machines of end users, corporate desktops, and even in movies and TV. Stardock also develops PC games such as the award-winning Galactic Civilizations and 2004’s popular political strategy game, The Political Machine. Stardock’s home page is www.stardock.com.

TotalGaming.net
Individual games sell for between $5 and $50 on their own
TotalGaming.net membership is $69.95 which provides additional discounts to the aforementioned games.

Home page: http://www.totalgaming.net

Trademark Notices:
Total Gaming™, Stardock®, and Stardock Entertainment are trademarks of Stardock Corporation.

All other trademarks are held by their respective owners.

Sample Screenshots:

 

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