Guide:Distribution: Difference between revisions
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==Snags== | ==Snags== | ||
* | * Apparently if you're on Windows and trying to ZIP up a .APP folder for Mac users it can get messed up. There's a Python script here to do it properly though: https://gist.github.com/Draknek/3ce889860cea4f59838386a79cc11a85 | ||
* Similarly, Linux (and Mac?) games exported from Windows systems aren't able to run without a little fiddling (open a terminal and <code>chmod +x [game.exe]</code>). But [https://cheesetalks.net/cheese/ Cheeseness] made a little program that Windows users can run to help, called [https://cheeseness.itch.io/plus-x plus-X]. | |||
==Services== | ==Services== | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Itch.io|Itch.io]] in kinda like [https://bandcamp.com/ Bandcamp] for videogames. It's really easy to put stuff up and get stats on downloads, but you have more control over how your pages look. You have good control over how much and if you want people to pay for things too. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Game Jolt|Game Jolt]] is another popular distribution site, where you can upload games to be played online or downloaded. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Glorious Trainwrecks|Glorious Trainwrecks]] is a small, friendly, encouraging community of people dedicated to ignoring principles of good design. They hold regular events: mostly super-short game jam events. It's the best. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Internet Archive|Internet Archive]] has built-in emulation for [[:Category:DOS|DOS]] and [[:Category:Windows|Windows]] 3.x games. | ||
<hr> | <hr> | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:GOG|GOG]] ??? | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Humble|Humble]] ??? | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Steam|Steam]] charges you $100 to become a 'Steam Developer' — a one-time fee to enable you to put games on Steam Greenlight. | ||
==Space== | ==Space== | ||
===Free=== | ===Free=== | ||
* <del>[[ | Often have a fee if you want to use your own domain name. | ||
* [[ | |||
* [[ | * <del>[[Guide:Dropbox|Dropbox]] can be used to host pages, including [[Unity]] games.</del> - Ability to serve HTML was about to be disabled :( | ||
* [[Guide:Neocities|Neocities]] provides 1GB of free web hosting. It's pricey if you want to use your own domain though. No {{jargon|WYSIWYG|WYSIWYG}} editor. Fun place to surf. Facilitates donations. Add a blog with [https://zonelets.net/ Zonelets]. | |||
* [[Guide:HOTGLUE|HOTGLUE]] is an easy, {{jargon|WYSIWYG|WYSIWYG}}, webpage creation tool. You can either host it yourself, or make an account on [https://hotglue.me/ hotglue.me]. You can pay a fee to use your own domain name. | |||
* In a similar vein to HOTGLUE is [[Guide:mmm.page|mmm.page]], though it's not open-source, and feels a bit more... webdesignery. You can draw straight on your page though, that's neat. | |||
* [[Guide:Git#Github|Github]] can also be used to host pages, and domains can be linked for free. Owned my Microsoft. | |||
===Not free=== | ===Not free=== | ||
| Line 28: | Line 33: | ||
==Open-Source== | ==Open-Source== | ||
Useful places for distributing [[:Category:Open-Source|Open-Source]] projects. You can of course also distribute the code in other ways, such as your own website. | Useful places for distributing [[:Category:Open-Source|Open-Source]] projects. You can of course also distribute the code in other ways, such as your own website. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Git|Git]] is a popular way to host, distribute, and contribute to codebases. Github is free and super popular, but there are some self-hosted options too such as Gitlab, Gitblit and Gitea. These are becoming increasingly popular since Microsoft bought took-over Github. | ||
==Payment== | ==Payment== | ||
* [https://www.humblebundle.com/developer/widget The Humble Widget] - Doodad you can stick on your site to handle taking payments. | * [https://www.humblebundle.com/developer/widget The Humble Widget] - Doodad you can stick on your site to handle taking payments. | ||
* Itch widget | * Itch widget | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Neocities|Neocities]] lets you link your [[Guide:PayPal|PayPal]] account, and has an easy interface for page visitors to send you tips. | ||
* [[Guide:PayPal|PayPal]] and paypal.me (donations have to be done through '.me' I think now?) | |||
* Crypto wallets? | * Crypto wallets? | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Patreon|Patreon]] is the most popular service to collecting donations. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Liberapay|Liberapay]] is a Patreon-like subscription service with better rates (it's funded through donations, not fees) and less shady practices. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Kofi|Kofi]] is for one-off / non-subscription payments. | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Retribute|Retribute]] is a web-based tool for people to find people to give money to. It works by loading a person's [[Wikipedia:Fediverse|Fediverse]] account ([[Wikipedia:Funkwhale|Funkwhale]], [[Wikipedia:Mastodon_(software)|Mastodon]], [[Wikipedia:Peertube|Peertube]]), looks for people you've made connections with, and suggests ways to give them money based on info. in their profile. | ||
==Licensing== | ==Licensing== | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:Licensing|General licensing information]] | ||
* [[ | * [[Guide:creative commons|Creative Commons]] | ||
==Other Resources== | ==Other Resources== | ||
Latest revision as of 00:37, 19 May 2022
Sites, tools, article, and any other resources to help you distribute your game.
Snags
- Apparently if you're on Windows and trying to ZIP up a .APP folder for Mac users it can get messed up. There's a Python script here to do it properly though: https://gist.github.com/Draknek/3ce889860cea4f59838386a79cc11a85
- Similarly, Linux (and Mac?) games exported from Windows systems aren't able to run without a little fiddling (open a terminal and
chmod +x [game.exe]). But Cheeseness made a little program that Windows users can run to help, called plus-X.
Services
- Itch.io in kinda like Bandcamp for videogames. It's really easy to put stuff up and get stats on downloads, but you have more control over how your pages look. You have good control over how much and if you want people to pay for things too.
- Game Jolt is another popular distribution site, where you can upload games to be played online or downloaded.
- Glorious Trainwrecks is a small, friendly, encouraging community of people dedicated to ignoring principles of good design. They hold regular events: mostly super-short game jam events. It's the best.
- Internet Archive has built-in emulation for DOS and Windows 3.x games.
- GOG ???
- Humble ???
- Steam charges you $100 to become a 'Steam Developer' — a one-time fee to enable you to put games on Steam Greenlight.
Space
Free
Often have a fee if you want to use your own domain name.
Dropbox can be used to host pages, including Unity games.- Ability to serve HTML was about to be disabled :(- Neocities provides 1GB of free web hosting. It's pricey if you want to use your own domain though. No WYSIWYG editor. Fun place to surf. Facilitates donations. Add a blog with Zonelets.
- HOTGLUE is an easy, WYSIWYG, webpage creation tool. You can either host it yourself, or make an account on hotglue.me. You can pay a fee to use your own domain name.
- In a similar vein to HOTGLUE is mmm.page, though it's not open-source, and feels a bit more... webdesignery. You can draw straight on your page though, that's neat.
- Github can also be used to host pages, and domains can be linked for free. Owned my Microsoft.
Not free
Here are a few of the most reasonably-priced + reliable hosts
- Namecheap - easy to get coupons for.
- NearlyFreeSpeech.NET - only pay for what you use.
- Stablehosting - also easy to get coupons for.
Open-Source
Useful places for distributing Open-Source projects. You can of course also distribute the code in other ways, such as your own website.
- Git is a popular way to host, distribute, and contribute to codebases. Github is free and super popular, but there are some self-hosted options too such as Gitlab, Gitblit and Gitea. These are becoming increasingly popular since Microsoft bought took-over Github.
Payment
- The Humble Widget - Doodad you can stick on your site to handle taking payments.
- Itch widget
- Neocities lets you link your PayPal account, and has an easy interface for page visitors to send you tips.
- PayPal and paypal.me (donations have to be done through '.me' I think now?)
- Crypto wallets?
- Patreon is the most popular service to collecting donations.
- Liberapay is a Patreon-like subscription service with better rates (it's funded through donations, not fees) and less shady practices.
- Kofi is for one-off / non-subscription payments.
- Retribute is a web-based tool for people to find people to give money to. It works by loading a person's Fediverse account (Funkwhale, Mastodon, Peertube), looks for people you've made connections with, and suggests ways to give them money based on info. in their profile.
Licensing
Other Resources
Things beyond the scope of this wiki.
- dotoolkit.com - Home of some frameworks for writing presskits, contracts, and aiding distribution; if you're into that kinda thing. By Adriaan de Jongh and Rami Ismail.
- vlambeer.com/toolkit is a related page, with links to the things above and more.
