History MediaNotes / DigitalDistribution

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the Platform/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]Platform/{{PlayStation 4}}, Platform/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]Platform/XboxOne, and Platform/{{Wii}}[=/=]Platform/WiiU[=/=]Platform/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Corporation}}'s Platform/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft Connect]], and Creator/EpicGames's [[Platform/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Corporation}}'s Platform/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft Connect]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Corporation}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft Connect]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft Connect]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft's Launcher]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/Journey2012'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as Website/GOGDotCom, [[Creator/{{Ubisoft}} Ubisoft's Launcher]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The [[UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork PlayStation Network's Store]], [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is Creator/{{Valve|Software}}'s UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} service, with alternatives such as [[Website/GOGDotCom GOG.com]], [[Creator/Ubisoft Ubisoft's Launcher]], and [[Creator/EpicGames Epic Games's]] [[UsefulNotes/EpicGamesStore own storefront]]. Larger publishers also have their own services, such as EA having Origin, and Blizzard having the Blizzard Launcher (formerly [=Battle.net=]), while Creator/HumbleBundle, Green Man Gaming and Fanatical are marketplaces that sell keys that are activated on the above storefronts. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have also found success under this model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), while there are alternatives such as [[Website/GOGDotCom GOG.com]], and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA, Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft, Epic Games and Humble Bundle). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free, and Creator/{{Netflix}} and Amazon Video (which charge a fixed feed for access to all the content available). Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

'''The Honesty Model''' - This is the simplest of the models. Just set up a website and some sort of payment system, have the consumers download the product (possibly with some copy protection, if you can afford it) and send you the money. Some creators still prefer to make their work free to anyone who wants it, and simply set up a donation box, or Website/{{Patreon}} to fund their next project. ''VideoGame/WorldOfGoo'' was successfully released using this method. The Creator/HumbleBundle, with a user-specified amount going to charity organizations as well as indie developers, is another successful take on the model.

'''The Honesty Model''' - This is the simplest of the models. Just set up a website and some sort of payment system, have the consumers download the product (possibly with some copy protection, if you can afford it) and send you the money. Some creators still prefer to make their work free to anyone who wants it, and simply set up a donation box, or Website/Patreon to fund their next project. ''VideoGame/WorldOfGoo'' was successfully released using this method. The Creator/HumbleBundle, with a user-specified amount going to charity organizations as well as indie developers, is another successful take on the model.

'''The Razor Blade Model''' - A model which rarely works for non-VideoGame media (the industry standard term being '''Games as '''[a]''' Service'''). The name for this comes from the popular analogy of a shaving company giving away their razors and making money selling disposable blades and shaving cream. The principle is the same: Rather than selling the software itself, the publisher makes money by having the user pay to ''use'' the software. Examples include subscription-based models (as used with many {{MMORPG}}s such as ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''), which have the user pay a flat rate to keep playing, and "microtransaction" based [[AllegedlyFreeGame Free-To-Play]] models (as used with ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHeroes'') where the user may purchase additional content (such as extra maps or weapons).

Take care to note the difference between this and {{Digital Piracy|IsEvil}}.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), while the alternatives is such as [[Website/GOGDotCom GOG.com]], and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA, Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft, Epic Games and Humble Bundle). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free, and Creator/{{Netflix}} and Amazon Video (which charge a fixed feed for access to all the content available). Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), while the alternatives is such as Website/GOGDotCom, and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA, Blizzard Entertainment, Ubisoft, Epic Games and Humble Bundle). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free, and Creator/{{Netflix}} and Amazon Video (which charge a fixed feed for access to all the content available). Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free, and Creator/{{Netflix}} and Amazon Video (which charge a fixed feed for access to all the content available). Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

'''The Razor Blade Model''' - A model which rarely works for non-VideoGame media. The name for this comes from the popular analogy of a shaving company giving away their razors and making money selling disposable blades and shaving cream. The principle is the same: Rather than selling the software itself, the publisher makes money by having the user pay to ''use'' the software. Examples include subscription-based models (as used with many {{MMORPG}}s such as ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''), which have the user pay a flat rate to keep playing, and "microtransaction" based [[AllegedlyFreeGame Free-To-Play]] models (as used with ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHeroes'') where the user may purchase additional content (such as extra maps or weapons).

'''The Honesty Model''' - This is the simplest of the models. Just set up a website and some sort of payment system, have the consumers download the product (possibly with some copy protection, if you can afford it) and send you the money. Some creators still prefer to make their work free to anyone who wants it, and simply set up a donation box, or Website/Patreon to fund their next project. ''VideoGame/WorldOfGoo'' was successfully released using this method. The UsefulNotes/HumbleBundle, with a user-specified amount going to charity organizations as well as indie developers, is another successful take on the model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free, and Creator/{{Netflix}} and Amazon Video (which charge a fixed feed for access to all the content available). Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/HalfLife''), and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free. Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.

* The client/software system makes piracy difficult, ensuring everyone pays for the products.

'''The Honesty Model''' - This is the simplest of the models. Just set up a website and some sort of payment system, have the consumers download the product (possibly with some copy protection, if you can afford it), and then send you the money (or simply request donations, rather than a fixed fee). ''VideoGame/WorldOfGoo'' was successfully released using this method. The UsefulNotes/HumbleBundle, with a user-specified amount going to charity organizations as well as indie developers, is another successful take on the model.

* There's an increasing amount of scrutiny being applied to media that's constantly changed by being updated, and in the future issues like nerfs to paid-for content in games (e.g. trading cards in ''VideoGame/{{Hearthstone}}''), or films being retroactively censored or deleted have become the subject of debate.

This is how traditional broadcasting works, and is generally used with broadcast-style one-way content like online streaming of TV shows, movies and music. The VideoGame industry has not gotten into it as much, beyond ProductPlacement as an additional income stream; however, this method of distribution is catching on with {{MobilePhoneGame mobile phone}} games, which often have separate "free" and "paid" versions, or otherwise allow the user to pay to remove the ads.

This is how traditional broadcasting works, and is generally used with broadcast-style one-way content like online streaming of TV shows, movies and music. The VideoGame industry has not gotten into it as much, beyond ProductPlacement as an additional income stream; however, this method of distribution is catching on with {{iOS}}/smartphone games, which often have separate "free" and "paid" versions, or otherwise allow the user to pay to remove the ads.

'''The Honesty Model''' - This is the simplest of the models. Just set up a website and some sort of payment system, have the consumers download the product (possibly with some copy protection, if you can afford it), and then send you the money (or simply request donations, rather than a fixed fee). ''VideoGame/WorldOfGoo'' was successfully released using this method. The HumbleBundle, with a user-specified amount going to charity organizations as well as indie developers, is another successful take on the model.

'''Client/Server Model''' - The consumer is given a piece of software (the "client") which interfaces with the vendor's server. The client allows the user to purchase and download the media, and verifies that the user's copy is legitimate. All three of the 7th generation consoles and their 8th generation successors, the UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 3}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{PlayStation 4}}, UsefulNotes/{{Xbox 360}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/WiiU, have a built-in client, and a server: The UsefulNotes/PlayStationNetwork's Store, [[UsefulNotes/XboxLiveArcade XBox Live's]] Games Store (formerly Marketplace), and Wii Shop Channel (and its successor the Nintendo [=eShop=]) respectively. The most popular service for computer users is UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} (owned by Creator/{{Valve|Software}}, the creators of ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life}}''), and larger publishers also have their own services (such as EA). These specialize in games. Some IndieGame[=s=] like ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'' have had found success under this model. There are also services such as the BBC iPlayer which use a similar system to distribute TV shows, although in this case for free. Also becoming popular are things like the Amazon Kindle (eBooks), where a piece of hardware is mostly a client and has little else on it at first. If the user wishes to uninstall or delete the media, they are typically allowed to download it again at a later date.