Viewing Thread:
"How are computer games distributed?"

OK...after many internet searches I still can't find the answer. How do games get from the guys who develop them into places like Game and Gamestation? Anyone help me out and tell me how it works?

Yep, that's a thrilling way of spending a saturday evening.

I prefer to scratch the silver stuff off.

if you spend a little extra they can be.

Chippxero wrote:
> Osmosis

Don't be stupid, a CD isn't Semi-permeable.

Osmosis

That sounds like it.

Perhaps a more accurate question from Lukeman would be: "How do you get your game distributed?"

Games produced -> Stored in warehouse -> Transported to different warehouses -> Handled by retail outlets in warehouses -> Distributed to outlets -> You.

Pretty much, I think.

They finalise the code, then the game goes "gold", after many alpha and beta versions. The gold code then goes to the disc manufacturing plant (usually in somewhere like Germany, where more skilled workers are available for management but there are lots of unskilled immigrant labourers too). Then the code gets burned onto all the DVDs, and combined with the packaging and the leaflets and the inserts, which are all made elsewhere. Then they stick them in lorrys and transport them to the game retailers, who check that they have the right amount that they were allocated, and then they sell it to you.

Of course with stuff like Steam, you can download the game code right from the developer without any need for any processing plant or retailer at all.

OK...after many internet searches I still can't find the answer. How do games get from the guys who develop them into places like Game and Gamestation? Anyone help me out and tell me how it works?