Skype creating Game Channel, Game Developer Program

Skype intends to pursue the multi-player games market by creating a  Skype Game Channel fueled by innovations from techs it hopes will participate in its also new Game Developer Program.

"People are increasingly using Skype to interact with one another, with many choosing to play simple games like checkers or backgammon," Skype developer program director Paul Amery (at top) said at the TMCnet Communications Developer Conference yesterday. "However, the tremendous size of Skype's user base makes it an ideal environment for multi-player and community-based games in which people can play against or collaborate with one another."

Avery said the channel will supply developers with Skype-compatible SDKs, APIs, other tools and support.

Now here's the big plus for Skype game developers.  As games are developed by these developers, and then approved by Skype, well then, Skype will take care of distribution, marketing, billing and DRM.

Developers will be able to charge for these games. As only fair, Skype will get an as-yet unspecified cut.

Full disclosure: I also blog for TMCnet.