DesktopGames

bladeolsonbladeolson Member Posts: 295
edited November -1 in Working with GS (Mac)
Hey has anyone sold a desktop game? What is stopping anyone from just distributing it all over the net for free? Any idea how to make it require some kind of game unlock code or something?

blade

Comments

  • firemaplegamesfiremaplegames Member Posts: 3,211
    My main business is selling Desktop games. I haven't tried to make a gameSalad one yet though. You need to have some sort of DRM system (the unlock code system).

    There are a few for the PC market, like Armadillo, but they don't work on the Mac.

    I am a Flash Programmer, and I just wrote my own DRM in Flash.

    I don't think it is possible to roll your own with GameSalad just yet, as you need to be able to write to the File System.

    However, you could try to sell your games through a publisher like www.macgamestore.com. I sell my games through them as well. They split the profits 50/50 and use their own DRM system.

    Another thing to keep in mind is that Desktop games usually use the shareware model. With the first hour of play being free. Which means you need to have at least an hours worth of content just for the demo period. So your game needs to have a few hours worth of content to be viable. You don't want the player to be able to win the game/see all the content in under an hour - or they won't have a reason to purchase it.
  • JamesZeppelinJamesZeppelin Member Posts: 1,927
    I know big fish games takes submissions for mac.

    I dont know much about the DRM as i'm not a vet like FMG but, i have come across some info on various forms about software to bundle your game for distribution if thats needed.

    I have also heard plenty people on the the torque forms say they dont even worry about hiding their code since if someone really wants to hack it they will. Its a pretty hot subject on a lot of desktop publishers forums but the general consensus is most don't seem worried. Easy to google around

    ALso i think big fish puts your bundle into something of theirs that plays the first 20min for free or something like that.

    They have all the info on their site
  • firemaplegamesfiremaplegames Member Posts: 3,211
    Yes, BFG will wrap your game as well. They generally take 75/25 though, and the game usually has to be cross-platform. (Mac/PC)

    And the hour demo still applies to them as well.
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