# RealArcade

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RealArcade
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/RealArcade.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealArcade
> Source revision: 1354248878
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Defunct gaming service

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (October 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Launched in 2001, **RealArcade** (formerly **RealOne Arcade**) was a gaming service operated by [RealNetworks](/source/RealNetworks) that sold casual computer games.[1] The platform allowed users to download [demo versions of games](/source/Game_demo) before purchasing full titles.[2] RealNetworks expanded the service to mobile carriers in 2005. RealArcade ceased operations in 2009 following its merger with [GameHouse](/source/GameHouse).

## History

### First iteration of RealArcade

Prior to the development of RealArcade, RealNetworks had been offering downloadable games as Real.com Games since April 2000,[3][4][5] amassing three million downloads by May 2001.[6] Development on RealArcade would begin in 1999 under [Ted Woolsey.](/source/Ted_Woolsey)[7] The service was announced for developers in March 2001, with a consumer launch set for the second quarter.[8] Over 30 developers were involved, including [GameHouse.](/source/GameHouse)[4]

On May 14, 2001, RealNetworks launched the beta version[9] of RealArcade in an attempt to diversify its core business assets. The service was created to capitalize on the growth of the videogame industry, and would be used as a platform to boost PC game sales, in a market dominated by console games. Games were set to be priced between $10 and $20.[6] RealNetworks was not the first company to do so, as [Shockwave.com](/source/Shockwave_(game_portal)) had started selling games the week before. RealArcade was set to launch with 120 games.[6] By October, there were 170 games available. An e-commerce version, RealArcade Gold, was released on October 10, 2001, with subscribers receiving a $100 credit towards purchases made on the platform.[10] RealArcade Gold also launched with a [video game rental service](/source/Video_game_rental); on launch, eleven titles were available, with plans to add three to four new titles per month.[11] The company predicted a potential European user base of approximately 30 million users, which was the same amount of users [RealPlayer](/source/RealPlayer) had.[12]

On March 1, 2002, [StarHub](/source/StarHub) Internet became the first ISP in [Singapore](/source/Singapore) to distribute the service.[13] On March 20, 2002, six new language editions of RealArcade's website launched in French, Italian, German, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese in a move to increase its international user base. At the time, the program had been downloaded 4.5 million times, with a total of 15 million game downloads and 450,000 purchases. The company had teamed up with [Telstra](/source/Telstra), [StarHub](/source/StarHub), [Tiscali](/source/Tessellis) and [Rede Brasil Sul](/source/Grupo_RBS) to distribute its games using their portals or CDs.[14]

### RealONE Arcade

On July 1, 2002, coinciding with the rebrand of RealPlayer to RealONE Player, RealArcade was renamed RealONE Arcade and added the Game Pass service[15] In October, it entered an agreement with Vivendi Universal's Flipside, enabling access of its competitive games for its user base.[16] An agreement with [Sega](/source/Sega) followed in November 2002 to provide ten emulated [Sega Genesis](/source/Sega_Genesis) games for download.[17] The games were made available in January 2003,[18] while the Sega game catalog increased during 2003, with the addition of new titles.[19][20] The service launched the RealOne Arcade Game Developer Showdown in March 2003, with the winner receiving both the game on RealOne Arcade and a prize of $100,000, with a prize of $25,000 for the two runners-up.[21] The winning title was *Jammed Again!*[22]

The success of RealOne Arcade in 2003 led to profits for shareware game developers such as [PopCap Games](/source/PopCap_Games) and [GarageGames](/source/GarageGames).[23] Revenue of RealNetworks' games unit skyrocketed in the third quarter of the year.[24]

### Second iteration of RealArcade and closure

With the acquisition of [GameHouse](/source/GameHouse) (one of its first providers)[25] in January 2004, the software reverted to its initial name RealArcade.[26] The following month, it announced a deal with [Cablevision](/source/Cablevision)'s [Optimum](/source/Optimum_(brand)) to provide free access to RealArcade to its Optimum Online subscribers.[27] It also launched a [Japanese](/source/Japan) version shortly before Ted Woolsey departed.[7] That year, its strategy and puzzle games were attracting a substantial number of female visitors.[28] New broadband deals in [France](/source/France), [Belgium](/source/Belgium) and the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands) were announced on October 17, 2005.[29] The mobile version launched in the same month on the O2 carrier in the [United Kingdom](/source/United_Kingdom), using the [I-mode](/source/I-mode) mobile internet service.[30] An American launch on [Cingular](/source/Cingular) followed suit.[31] A new version, in association with [Playphone](/source/Playphone), was released the following year.[32]

In 2006, RealArcade had about 700,000 game demos downloaded per day.[33] A new developer service launched in May that year.[34] On July 26, it inked deals with three [German](/source/Germany) ISPs and websites, [T-Online](/source/T-Online) ([Deutsche Telekom](/source/Deutsche_Telekom)), Freenet and RTL. At the time, Germany had the largest PC game market.[35] It published a mobile game based on the *[South Park](/source/South_Park)* Imaginationland trilogy in July 2008.[36][37] That same month, it signed an agreement with Topics Entertainment to distribute some of RealArcade's published titles in the North American retail market.[38] Its mobile games were the highest-scored in the second quarter of 2008 by the quality index of mobile game news website Pocket Gamer, ahead of [Gameloft](/source/Gameloft).[39]

RealNetworks announced in 2008 that it would spin off its casual games unit.[40] In December 2008, it started developing six games for iOS platforms, among the first of which was *[Tiki Towers](/source/Tiki_Towers)*.[41] The game was also the first title to be ported to [WiiWare](/source/WiiWare) on December 22.[42] On November 3, 2009, it was announced that RealArcade would merge with GameHouse, forming a single game portal. The corporate rationale suggested that RealArcade was running on "substantially older technology" than GameHouse's website.[43] The mobile service withdrew the name RealArcade in March 2010.[44] The last game published under the brand for mobile services was a licensed game based on the [2010 Winter Olympic Games](/source/2010_Winter_Olympic_Games).[45]

## Software

Consumers downloaded a free RealArcade software, which worked like [RealPlayer](/source/RealPlayer), here, acting as a portal to download the games. Game files were sped up thanks to a data compression service, which RealNetworks acquired in January 2000 (NetZip).[6] Users of anti-virus programs would have to frequently update the software in order to limit computer slowdowns.[46] A custom version of [LithTech](/source/LithTech) was used, which was used in its first game published on the service, *Tex Atomic's Big Bot Battles*.[47]

The main section was the Game Guide, which featured recommendations and new releases. The Web Games section provided free online games. The Game Channels section provided commercial titles by company.[48] The program had a "Scan for Games" function which automatically recognized all of the games installed on the user's PC. RealArcade also featured forums, which were often related to the games available.[49]

## Sales model

RealArcade distributes games on a time-limited demo basis.[50] Each game downloaded has a trial time of 60 minutes unless differently specified by each publisher. Once the trial time expired, users are required either to uninstall the game from their computer or to purchase the full version of the game.[51] Users can also subscribe to a RealNetworks service called GamePass, introduced in 2002.[52] For a monthly fee, it offers a free ownership of a single game of their choice per month at no additional fees and $5.00 off each game purchase.[53]

## Winners of its Game of the Year awards

### General

- 2004: [*Zuma*](/source/Zuma_(video_game))[54]

### Strategy

- 2007: *[Build-a-lot](/source/Build-a-lot)*[55]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Mossberg, Walter (September 11, 2003). ["Gore-Free PC Games Can Help While Away Those Senior Moments"](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB106323038086874500). *[The Wall Street Journal](/source/The_Wall_Street_Journal)*. Retrieved January 30, 2024.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ryan, Michael E. (January 8, 2001). ["PC Magazine Reviews: RealArcade"](https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,33221,00.asp). Retrieved December 14, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Real.Com Gets Into Games](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/realcom-gets-into-games/1100-2541955/)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Variety1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Variety1_4-1) [RealNetworks bows platform](https://variety.com/2001/digital/news/realnetworks-bows-platform-1117795761/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Real.com Games Site Growing](https://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=62864)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-available_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-available_6-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-available_6-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-available_6-3) [RealArcade makes online games available](http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/fun.games/05/15/realarcade.games.idg/index.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Gamasutra_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Gamasutra_7-1) Cifaldi, Frank (August 29, 2005). ["Playing Catch-Up: Ted Woolsey"](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/playing-catch-up-ted-woolsey). *Gamasutra.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20121007150612/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6361) from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved 2007-09-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** [RealNetworks Launches RealArcade](https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/22/realnetworks-launches-realarcade)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [RealNetworks Debuts RealArcade Beta](https://betanews.com/2001/05/15/realnetworks-debuts-realarcade-beta/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [RealArcade goes gold](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/realarcade-goes-gold/1100-2817216/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [*RealNetworks to rent online video games*](https://books.google.com/books?id=WSwhAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA61). New Straits Times.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [RealNetworks lance RealArcade en Europe](https://www.clubic.com/actualite-42873-.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [StarHub Internet Introduces RealArcade In Singapore](https://corporate.starhub.com/about-us/newsroom/2002/march/01032002_starhubinternetintroducesrealarcadeinsingapore.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** [RealArcade goes after international players](https://edition.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/03/21/real.arcade.idg/index.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** [Real issues GamePass in sub battle](https://variety.com/2002/digital/news/real-issues-gamepass-in-sub-battle-1117869284/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Deals stream for top techs](https://variety.com/2002/digital/markets-festivals/deals-stream-for-top-techs-1117875249/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** [Sega on the PC](https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/sega-on-the-pc)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** [[https://www.eurogamer.net/article-47178](https://www.eurogamer.net/article-47178) Sega launches pay-to-play 'classics' ]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Sega.com"](https://web.archive.org/web/20031208162509/http://www.sega.com/games/pc/segaclassics.jhtml). 2003-12-08. Archived from [the original](http://www.sega.com/games/pc/segaclassics.jhtml) on 2003-12-08. Retrieved 2024-09-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** [Sonic & Knuckles Lands on RealOne Arcade, Sonic Spinball Coming Soon](https://www.sonicstadium.org/news/games/sonic-knuckles-lands-on-realone-arcade-sonic-spinball-coming-soon-r1001/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** [Real Networks Announces $100k Downloadable Game Development Contest](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/real-networks-announces-100k-downloadable-game-development-contest)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** [Game Developer - October 2006](https://ubm-twvideo01.s3.amazonaws.com/o1/vault/GD_Mag_Archives/GDM_October_2006.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [The return of shareware](https://web.archive.org/web/20030806082129/http://money.cnn.com/2003/06/18/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** [RealArcade, GameHouse 250 Million Downloads. But Who's Counting?](https://www.animationmagazine.net/2005/03/realarcade-gamehouse-250-million-downloads-but-whos-counting/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** [RealNetworks to Acquire Gamehouse](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB107515827155412127)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** [Game-Maker Gets Real With Web Streamer](https://www.animationmagazine.net/2004/01/game-maker-gets-real-with-web-streamer/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-27)** [Cablevision users get RealArcade](https://www.networkworld.com/article/922620/data-center-cablevision-users-get-realarcade.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** [*Move over boys*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NMFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15). The Vindicator.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** [RealArcade Continues European Expansion With Distribution To Leading Media Companies](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/realarcade-continues-european-expansion-with-distribution-to-leading-media-companies)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** [Netsize powers RealArcade for O2's i-mode](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/netsize-powers-realarcade-for-o2-s-i-mode)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** [RealNetworks, Cingular back casual games](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/realnetworks-cingular-back-casual-games/1100-6134687/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Playphone_32-0)** ["RealNetworks Launches RealArcade Mobile Content Site with PlayPhone"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070902144740/http://www.realnetworks.com/company/press/releases/2006/real_playphone.html). *real.com*. RealNetworks. September 13, 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.realnetworks.com/company/press/releases/2006/real_playphone.html) on September 2, 2007. Retrieved September 9, 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** [RealArcade head talks casual game growth](https://www.engadget.com/2006-08-18-realarcade-head-talks-casual-game-growth.html?_fsig=d4aI_Ho0NgKzkhUzXi4Ulg--%7EA)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** [RealNetworks introduces RealArcade](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/realnetworks-introduces-realarcade/1100-2699712/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** [RealNetworks continues European expansion of RealArcade and Zylom casual games with distribution to leading media companies](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/realnetworks-continues-european-expansion-of-realarcade-and-zylom-casual-games-with-distribution-to-leading-media-companies)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** [South Park Imaginationland heads to mobile](https://www.pocketgamer.com/south-park-imaginationland/south-park-imaginationland-heads-to-mobile/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** [South Park Imaginationland hits iPhone](https://www.pocketgamer.com/south-park-imaginationland/south-park-imaginationland-hits-iphone/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** [RealNetworks selects Topics Entertainment as Exclusive Distributor RealArcade Games in North America - Quick Facts](https://www.rttnews.com/661979/realnetworks-selects-topics-entertainment-as-exclusive-distributor-realarcade-games-in-north-america-quick-facts.aspx)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** [RealArcade tops PG.biz Quality Index for Q2 2008](https://www.pocketgamer.biz/realarcade-tops-pgbiz-quality-index-for-q2-2008/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** ["RealNetworks spins off games"](https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/RealNetworks-spins-off-games-1272883.php). 9 May 2008. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150222044210/https://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/RealNetworks-spins-off-games-1272883.php) from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-02-22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** [Tiki Towers heralds iPhone expansion for RealArcade](https://www.pocketgamer.biz/tiki-towers-heralds-iphone-expansion-for-realarcade/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** [RealArcade Interview - Tiki Towers](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/12/realarcade_interview_tiki_towers)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** [RealArcade and GameHouse to merge into one online game portal](https://www.gamezebo.com/news/realarcade-and-gamehouse-to-merge-into-one-online-game-portal/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-44)** [RealArcade Mobile rebranded as GameHouse on carrier decks](https://www.pocketgamer.biz/realarcade-mobile-rebranded-as-gamehouse-on-carrier-decks/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** [RealArcade Releases Vancouver 2010 iPhone Game](https://www.iclarified.com/7711/realarcade-releases-vancouver-2010-iphone-game)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** [*Check out online card and board games*](https://books.google.com/books?id=aacpAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA57). Gainesville Sun.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** [LithTech, RealNetworks Combine Technologies For New RealArcade Distribution Platform](https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/lithtech-realnetworks-combine-technologies-for-new-realarcade-distribution-platform)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-48)** [XPress Yourself - Windows XP and games - Darren Lock](https://www.darrenlock.com/writing/winxpme.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** [RealArcade (beta)](https://uk.pcmag.com/first-looks/31491/realarcade-beta)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** [Review: RealArcade for PC gamers](https://edition.cnn.com/2002/TECH/internet/05/23/net.real.arcade/index.html?related)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** [Fantasy worlds and foreign lands](https://st.japantimes.co.jp/writer/computer_english/2003/ew20030829/ew20030829textframe.htm)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-52)** [Real issues GamePass in sub battle](https://variety.com/2002/digital/news/real-issues-gamepass-in-sub-battle-1117869284/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-53)** ["GamePass by RealArcade"](https://web.archive.org/web/20081010160539/http://www.realarcade.com/gamepass). Archived from [the original](http://www.realarcade.com/gamepass) on October 10, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** ["Zuma"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070524061521/http://www.popcap.com:80/games/zuma/). *PopCap.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.popcap.com/games/zuma) on 24 May 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-55)** ["*Build-a-lot*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110715161357/http://www.realarcade.com/game?gameid=buildalot&src=gmpg). *realarcade.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.realarcade.com/game?gameid=buildalot&src=gmpg) on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2007-12-15.

v t e Software digital distribution platforms App store Cloud gaming Content delivery network Digital library Digital distribution of video games Over-the-air update Package manager Software distribution List of mobile app distribution platforms Android Active Personal computers Amazon Digital Game Store Battle.net Big Fish Games Chrome Web Store Direct2Drive Discord DLsite Discover DMM Games EA Epic Games Store Flathub GameHouse GamersGate Gamesplanet Game Jolt GOG.com Humble Store IndieGala itch.io iWin MacGameStore MacUpdate Mac App Store Meta Horizon Store Microsoft Store MSN Games Nutaku Pogo.com Pokki PureOS Software Center Rockstar Games Social Club Snap Store Steam Ubisoft Connect Viveport WeGame WildTangent Consoles Microsoft Store Nintendo eShop PlayStation Store Mobile devices § Amazon Appstore Apple App Store Appland Aptoide Cafe Bazaar Cydia DLsite Epic Games Store F-Droid Galaxy Store GetJar Google Play Huawei AppGallery Meta Horizon Store MiKandi Nutaku OpenStore PureOS Software Center RuStore Tencent Appstore SlideME TapTap Viveport Arcade NESiCAxLive Defunct Allmyapps BlackBerry World Club Nokia Desura Digital River Download! GameAgent GameLine GameShadow GameTap Games for Windows Marketplace Handango Impulse Indie Royale Intel AppUp Kartridge Kazaa N-Gage Nokia Store Opera Mobile Store PlayCable Playism PlayNow Arena RealArcade Robot Cache Satellaview Sega Channel Sega Meganet Stardock Central Triton Ubuntu App Store Ubuntu Software Center Vodafone live! Wii Shop Channel Windows Marketplace Windows Marketplace for Mobile Windows Phone Store Xbox Games Store Xbox Live Arcade Yahoo! Games Zune Marketplace § Also includes smart TVs and standalone VR headsets Category Portal

v t e Video game retailers Africa Look & Listen Musica Asia Animate Book Off Pokémon Center Sofmap Super Potato Europe Bergsala Cash Generator CeX Digitec Galaxus Dixons Retail Fnac Darty Future Zone Game Gamestation Grainger Games HMV Micromania-Zing Music and Video Club Nedgame Smyths Toys Sony Centre That's Entertainment WOW HD Oceania Dick Smith The Gamesmen Gameswizards Gametraders JB Hi-Fi Sanity North America Best Buy EB Games FuncoLand GameCrazy GameStop Microsoft Store Nintendo New York Pink Gorilla Play N Trade Rhino Video Games Slackers CDs and Games Online Amazon Digital Software & Video Games Awomo Desura Direct2Drive EA App Epic Games Store GameAgent GameFly GameHouse GameLine GamersGate GameZnFlix GOG.com Green Man Gaming Impulse IndieGala Itch.io Lik Sang Manifesto Games Metaboli Microsoft Store Nintendo eShop Nutaku PlayCable Playism PlayStation Store RealArcade Robot Cache Sega Channel Steam Ubisoft Connect Wii Shop Channel Xbox Games Store

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [RealArcade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealArcade) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RealArcade?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.