With the growth of broadband internet and sheer convenience and cost of downloading instead of publishing discs, manuals, boxes, and cases has sparked a rising usage of digital distribution services. Some games and companies have already embraced this technology such as Half-Life and Virtual Programming. File Rush has posted an article looking into the horizon of game distribution. The article highlights several companies who have decided to or plan to use digital download services to distribute their games, updates, and other software. In addition, the article offers two interviews with Valve Software and 3D Realms over the changing landscape of game distribution.

Digital Distribution (also known as Online Delivery) is the next step for game developers to get their games into your hands. Digital Distribution consists of the end user downloading and registering a developer created program to pay for and download games to their computer. This eliminates the middle man (i.e. publisher), maximizing profits for the game developers. In turn, this gives the developer the capacity to keep design control and...

...Two other companies have recently announced plans to distribute their titles digitally. Microsoft Game Studios has stated that they have tapped the company Exent Technologies for their Games-on-Demand services. Electronic Arts has also mentioned...

...In the end, will Digital Distribution work? In time, it will. The more money that developers get into their hands, the more freedom they will have to create innovative titles. Digital Distribution in the coming years will aid in shifting control from the publishing executives to the game designers...

Filerush: Article

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