Indra was here (20752) on 1/21/2014 1:54 AM · Permalink · Report

Also, if the game can be played on the developer's own website, does the developer also become the publisher, distributor, or none?

Sciere (930912) on 1/21/2014 6:09 PM · Permalink · Report

It's a thin line, but if they fund development they are usually referred to as sponsors (Armor Games is a famous one), but that generally does not limit them to a single portal.

Indra was here (20752) on 1/21/2014 11:41 PM · Permalink · Report

[Q --start Rola wrote--]Remember how those games are made. Developer finds one of those portals to fund game development in exchange for exclusive period after the game is launched. This makes them publisher. [/Q --end Rola wrote--] I originally thought that it should be the publisher, but I forgot one thing. In MobyGames, Publisher actual means Publisher+Producer. We still don't distinguish the difference between:

1. Traditional publisher i.e. company that publishes (mass manufactures) a product.
   
2. Traditional producer i.e. company that funds and markets the product.
   
3. Traditional distributor i.e. company hired by the publisher (not the developer) to distribute the mass product.

Based on this analysis, if we were to use the traditional interpretation, the role of publisher would be redundant for downloadable games. Their role would be strictly as producers.