Hello Guys
So, my idea would basically be more innovative that i expected. I'm working on an adventure game called "Purgatory" using an HTML5 engine (Construct 3). While it's possible to distribute the game to regular Mac and Windows executables, i still think HTML5 would have so much untapped potential for premium games as well like playing a demo directly in the browser while looking at the storefront of the game, maybe watching other people playing it in realtime, etc. etc.
For some reason, when it comes to distribution models for commercial HTML5 games, every service i can find relies on either ad-revenue or selling exclusive rights. While this might be a good model for small games with 1-2 months development time, there are also quite some developers producing games with this technology, which take several years of development. While, obviously, it's fine to release them through the "classic" means of downloadable files, i think HTML5 would offer a lot of potential for premium games as well.
I don't know how hard this would be to implement, but basically what i'm proposing is to add the option to make a paywall for HTML5 games and have some sort of nice backend for the players, where they can easily access their bought games that run in the browser. Combining the premium pricing model and the convenience of playing games in a browser on any device would be hugely beneficiary for developers and players alike. I could also imagine a system, where you can play a demo of the game for free and then access the full game by paying for it, all within the itch.io storefront.
Hope this makes sense and thanks!