Online Distribution of Games...

[kaos]

Hello,

Recently I've taken a break from hobbyist game programming and focused all of my attention on learning ASP.NET. At first I started learning PHP, but then I realized that web development isn't really my thing so a simplier route is more suited for me. I've already acquired the skills of HTML/CSS long ago and hope to combine them with my newly acquired ASP.NET skills to make a website where aspiring game developers could upload their games onto a site.

My real goal is to make an online game publishing websites because I believe that online distribution is a rapidly growing market that any smart business person should take advantage of. However, I can't just wake up one morning and become a game publisher, Although I'm dreaming big, I have to deal with reality, with that said, subsequent plans are currently in rotation. I'd first like to establish a growing gaming community which comprises of gamers and aspiring game developers. The site will allow people to upload textual and visual information pertinent to their game project (i.e. game demo, alpha, beta, or completed) but not executables (need the bandwidth for that).

So I'm somewhat close to implemented the first stage of my plan. I just wanted to know, what do you guys think about the online game distribution market? Is it something an up and coming game developer should pay attention to? And what do you think of my plan?

Thank you.

[TheNut]

The site will allow people to upload textual and visual information pertinent to their game project but not executables.

I can tell you right now that if people can't download the game off you, your site will be an automatic failure. Even redirecting to problematic sites like File Planet or 3D News will only aggravate your users as they find broken links, line-ups, etc... As a game distributer, you have to fork the costs of bandwidth or face extinction.

You're also going to have to find some reason why game developers should chose you as a distributor. There's already hundreds of companies out there, so you need to find a selling point. Just doing a website in my opinion is not a selling point because anyone and their dog could do that. You need to provide statistics, tracking data, marketing tools and the like to help the developers better understand how their products are doing. It also helps to provide them with game servicing, such as hosting servers, chat lobbies, etc... Package deals like this would be a bonus.

I believe online distribution is the future, I've known that ever since Valve worked hard to get Steam up an running. It definitely had pitfalls with bandwidth, but that will no longer be a problem when fiber optic becomes the norm a couple years down the road. People waiting in long line-ups at EB are a thing of the past, though a couple die-hards will continue the tradition ;)

[Sol_HSA]

I'd first like to establish a growing gaming community which comprises of gamers and aspiring game developers. The site will allow people to upload textual and visual information pertinent to their game project (i.e. game demo, alpha, beta, or completed) but not executables (need the bandwidth for that).

http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com

ps and off topic, I had the "pleasure" of watching ballistic (2002) by the director 'kaos' last night. What an extreme waste of potential..

[inigo07]

I say go for it. Keep it free for developers though or it'll die quick. Support yourself with Google Ads.

Also if you host the site on your own server you don't have to worry so much about bandwidth. You gotta have darn fast broadband though.

[kaos]

I can tell you right now that if people can't download the game off you, your site will be an automatic failure. Even redirecting to problematic sites like File Planet or 3D News will only aggravate your users as they find broken links, line-ups, etc... As a game distributer, you have to fork the costs of bandwidth or face extinction.

You're also going to have to find some reason why game developers should chose you as a distributor. There's already hundreds of companies out there, so you need to find a selling point. Just doing a website in my opinion is not a selling point because anyone and their dog could do that. You need to provide statistics, tracking data, marketing tools and the like to help the developers better understand how their products are doing. It also helps to provide them with game servicing, such as hosting servers, chat lobbies, etc... Package deals like this would be a bonus.

I believe online distribution is the future, I've known that ever since Valve worked hard to get Steam up an running. It definitely had pitfalls with bandwidth, but that will no longer be a problem when fiber optic becomes the norm a couple years down the road. People waiting in long line-ups at EB are a thing of the past, though a couple die-hards will continue the tradition ;)

For now I'm going to start small (very small) by offering a free service for hobbyist game developers (as opposed to indie companies with thousands of dollars in their banks) to upload screenshots and other information about their game(s).

Once the initial plan of allowing hobbyist developers to use my software succeeds (high traffic on the website) I'll move onto the next phase. One small step at a time. Like I said, I can't wake up one morning and decide to make a publishing company; that's just absurd.

I say go for it. Keep it free for developers though or it'll die quick. Support yourself with Google Ads.

Also if you host the site on your own server you don't have to worry so much about bandwidth. You gotta have darn fast broadband though.

I'm actualling going to use a typical windows web hosting service to host my site. I don't own a server, however I do own a small amount of web space; a small piece of a friend's server up in Canada (it uses PHP/mySQL so asp.net scripts won't work on there).

[inigo07]

Of course, that's great and doesn't require constant maintenance. If you're going to host games themselves, then is the time for your own server.

Be sure and post a link to your site once it's up: my team has a project that'll be just right for inclusion.