The Top-Level Domain (TLD) .GAME is an Internet extension that recognizes the growth and relevance of online games. It symbolizes a specific aspect of digital space specifically tailored to gamers, game developers and any related affiliation incorporating the use of electronic devices for games.
Introduced by Uniregistry Corp., .GAME was delegated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) on December 23, 2015, as stated in the IANA’s delegation Report. Uniregistry Corp., managed by Frank Schilling, a well-known figure in the domain industry, oversees more than 20 TLDs including .GAME.
The .GAME domain extension offers a unique area for game developers, software creators, competitive players, reviewers, and fans to interact. Technically, it uses a DNS (Domain Name System) infrastructure to convert human-friendly domain names into IP addresses that identify and locate web servers and devices on the Internet, like all TLDs.
One of the major advantages of using a .GAME domain is its expressiveness and accuracy in describing the nature of the content on the website. For instance, a game development studio could display their newest titles on www.studiocode.game, making the nature of their business immediately clear to potential visitors. Another example could be a gamer or a gaming community owning the domain such as www.nameofgame.game that could be used as a platform to share game reviews, tournaments, and tips.
However, there are certain technical restrictions. For example, as per the ICANN policy, protected names such as specific geographic indicators, certain curated names and Two-character labels are reserved in the context of a .GAME domain.
In terms of implementing a .GAME domain, it operates the same as any other TLDs. For example, the typical process involves domain name registration through a registrar accredited by the ICANN. Once registered, the .GAME domain can be connected to a web hosting account, email server, or other online services, just like a .com or .net domain.
Public sources like IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority), ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), and Uniregistry’s knowledge base provide ample resources in order to extract information about TLDs such as .GAME.
As more consumers flock to digital spaces for gaming experiences, the .GAME domain plays an integral role in reinforcing the digital footprint of the burgeoning gaming industry.
Sources used:
1. [IANA — .game Domain Delegation Data](https://data.iana.org/TLD/tlds-alpha-by-domain.txt)
2. [Domain Name System (DNS) Parameters](https://www.iana.org/assignments/dns-parameters/dns-parameters.xhtml)
3. [ICANNWiki](https://icannwiki.org/.game)
4. [Uniregistry](https://uniregistry.com)
5. [ICANN](https://icann.org)
