Thanks for all your opinions, but all I really wanted to know was how the downloadable games were handled, just so I could have a heads up, I don't need a lecture from any of you on how to run a company or be it the definition of 'niche' I have a clear understanding of both and I'm sorry if I led you to believe otherwise or/and that I needed help in anything other than a, seemingly, light piece of information - I just want to keep my niche confidential.

I simply want to know - how the downloadable games are generally handled - who's server hosts the download files for the game, how would the developers keep track of downloads etc, although it's really not worth the bother now as it seems none of your are able to answer me as Obscure pointed out.

Thanks for all your opinions, but all I really wanted to know was how the downloadable games were handled, just so I could have a heads up, I don't need a lecture from any of you on how to run a company or be it the definition of 'niche' I have a clear understanding of both and I'm sorry if I led you to believe I didn't or/and that I needed help in anything other than a light piece of information - I just want to keep my niche confidential.

I simply want to know - how the downloadable games are generally handled - who's server hosts the download files for the game, how would the developers keep track of downloads etc, although it's really not worth the bother now as it seems none of your are able to answer me.

You negotiate a separate deal with each publisher. The details of those deals are very different. You can't just sell a game online without explicit permission from the owner of the "digital distribution rights" (this is generally the publisher). So it's a business deal specific to each devs. You can have a standard deal that you offer or not. Generally your ability to have a standard deal is based on how big of a player you are: i.e. Steam probably have a standard deal that you can take or leave. A startup would generally have little to no leverage. So they would distribute pretty much at the whim of the respective devs who are willing/able to grant you digital distribution rights.

The developers keep track of the downloads through whatever system you develop to allow them to track them.

As it stands digital distribution rights for most games are often exclusive and/or prohibited with deals the developer made with the specific publisher. So whether or not they even have the rights to sell you is another question entirely.

-me

who's server hosts the download files for the game

You do.

how would the developers keep track of downloads

Via software and/or an interface that you provide. For example, IIRC everybody that sells a game on Steam has an account that they can log into to view how many times the demo has been downloaded, how many copies have been sold over a period of time etc. Apple's App store has something similar.

The problem you will face is dealing with piracy and DRM. Usually game developers integrate a system/code from the digital retailer that deals with this (at I think that is how Steam does it) and you host an authentication server.

Thank you both for the information, it was exactly what I was looking for, I now feel I am ready to start contacting game developers, or at least planning to.

Thanks again.

Adam.