Interplay games system builders play

California-based company Interplay OEM is to start selling games online to smaller UK system builders next month.

Under a new division, bundledirect.com, it will sell pre-packaged bundles of software titles via the Web. The company, which currently has a 350-title catalogue, will target VARs and system integrators, as well as tier III and IV system builders.

It claims the online ordering will speed up delivery times - pre-packaged bundles will be shipped within 72 hours, whereas customised orders currently take at least three or four weeks to process.

The company, which already sells in the UK through its London office, plans to have the e-business side up and running in around two weeks in the US, and by the end of June in the UK. It also aims to start operations in Australia and Japan, although no dates have yet been decided.

"We've noticed a growing interest among companies in obtaining OEM software in smaller quantities than our past standard," said David Coy, executive producer for Interplay OEM.

"For this reason we've started bundle.com. Titles from award-winning publishers will be offered to start-up companies or established companies that only need 50 plus units of software." ®