Using software distribution services

[hodo]

I have read most of the posts in this area and would like some help on a decision about distribution of my game. I am a programmer and have no experience in the distribution and sales end of things. I have been looking over all the companies at www.regshare.com and it's a bit confusing.

Does anyone know of a service that will handle downloading the demo version for a reasonable cost? Or do I get a sales service and try to get all the demo downloads done through downloads.com or others like it?

[luggage]

We use BMT Micro and couldn't be happier with them. We also use seperate downloads for demo and full version. BMT host the full version downloads and we use a download service for the demo hosting (downloadhosting.com but it's become cachefly now apparently).

[hodo]

I looked at BMT, for the comprehensive plan they offer demo hosting why arent you using that service?

[Escotia]

BMT hosting requires that they are the sole point of purchase. I've never bothered querying the actual semantics of that statement to see whether the game's availability on portals etc. falls outside the terms.

From the BMT site:

**Provided BMT Micro is your sole point of purchase, we will host your demo on our publically available FTP site at no charge for the first 7 gigabytes transferred per month and $5.00 per gigabyte after 7 gigabytes of transfers. If you would like us to host your demo, and BMT is not the sole point of sale for your product we will gladly host your demo at the nominal rate of $7.00 per gigabyte transferred.


There are also times when we would have exceeded their download limit and the cost per gig is very high.

[Backov]

That's an insane rate. I pay <25c per gigabyte. That's just plain extortion.

[papillon]

That rate is pretty ridiculous. Even a tiny bit of searching can easily hook you up with $1/GB, and plenty of better are out there. (Some of the best rates, of course, only apply if you use large amounts.)

I can't imagine who would let them host their demo at that price...

[DFG]

They are really penalizing you for going over that 7 gig limit. I agree - ripoff. Even $1 a gig, which used to be the average, is on the expensive side now.

[Jack Norton]

Yes the rate is high, but consider that as far as I know, NONE of the other vendor host your demos, whenever you go exclusive with them or not... :)

[hodo]

Well we are looking at BMT and Emetrix for the sale. How about all those "free" demo download sites? Are they really Free or do you have to pay for the service?
What is the best way to get the demo out there?