Why digital distribution needs to take over.

[tmujir955]

The problem with having games on hard copies is pretty obvious: it gets scratched. But did anyone think about the fact that digital distribution could significantly improve the quality of games? Think about it. When a hard copy of a game is put out, it is final. The company does not improve it (except for patches to get the game running well), but other than that, no changes to the actual game play are made. But with digital distribution, companies can freely update their software. For example, “Pocket God”, a game on the IPhone, is a game where you play God for a bunch of little people, and you can kill them in many ways. But the company allows people to suggest to them more ways of killing, and every update has something new added to it. (The game has had 27-ish updates).
Why not make all games like this? It seems only obvious.

 

[Emphraim]

Don't most games already get constantly updated, regardless of if it's digital distribution or not? I know all my PC games have been updated multiple times.

 

[Sassafrass]

I will tell you why.

Not everyone can afford it or have a decent download speed, like me, to doe this on a regular basis.

/thread, really.

 

[ZeroMachine]

I will tell you why.

Not everyone can afford it or have a decent download speed, like me, to doe this on a regular basis.

/thread, really.

I second that /thread

Besides, it feels much better to have a physical copy in your hand when you buy a new game.

 

[SomethingUnrelated]

I will tell you why.

Not everyone can afford it or have a decent download speed, like me, to doe this on a regular basis.

/thread, really.

Yeah, i'm fully with you on the download speed thing. Some people's internet just doesn't cut it for 5GB downloads.

 

[Sassafrass]

I will tell you why.

Not everyone can afford it or have a decent download speed, like me, to doe this on a regular basis.

/thread, really.

I second that /thread

Besides, it feels much better to have a physical copy in your hand when you buy a new game.

I'm the same.

I just love the new game smell, too.

 

[tmujir955]

I see... well what about the whole "Internet being a right" thing?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.149760

Maybe we're just not ready for this sort of thing?

Or why not have the option of digital downloading(on consoles).

 

[Thingo]

Well, you see, if the company that sold you the game digitally goes kaputt, your game is gone. Forever. Hell, your game is gone if their servers get a big enough crash. Imagine having bought 10 normal priced games with your hard earned money, only to have them dissapear forever because of a server crash or because the company couldnt handle it's economics. And besides, it's better to have a hard copy that will last forever (if you take care of it properly).

I think it's better keeping things like they are now. Almost all games can be bought digitally, and all games can be bought on disc.

 

[tmujir955]

I give up. But when the world runs out out of plastic, don't come running to me!

Seriously, don't.

 

[Gigano]

I prefer hard copies of games, not only because of a relatively slow connection, but also because in addition to the game they provide an asset which can be resold/traded in if I get bored of the game - unlike those without physical discs.

 

[Clashero]

1) Hard copy games get updates all the time as well.
2) Several games which can be bought as hard copies aren't affected by scratches. Guild Wars, for example, allows you to redownload the client should anything happen to it. Same thing with every single game on Steam (and that's a lot of games).
3) It's better to have all the knicknacks that come with a hard copy: manuals, maps, artbooks, etc
4) Not everyone can afford the download speed to download, say, Empire: Total War, a 15gb game. I have a 3M connection, which allows, at most, 360kbps of download speed.

 

[Sassafrass]

I see... well what about the whole "Internet being a right" thing?

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.149760

Maybe we're just not ready for this sort of thing?

Or why not have the option of digital downloading(on consoles).

I still guide you to my point.

Seriously, it's a good idea on paper, but it just wouldn't be practical for me and many others.

 

[Trivun]

I will tell you why.

Not everyone can afford it or have a decent download speed, like me, to doe this on a regular basis.

/thread, really.

I second that /thread

Besides, it feels much better to have a physical copy in your hand when you buy a new game.

Exactly. Although I trust Steam and use it for downloading smaller, indie games and so on, after a bad experience with L4D (I need to get it on Xbox 360 now since my Steam activated PC version doesn't run fast enough thanks to my dodgy graphics card) I'm a bit wary of buying newer games through Steam and using digital distribution in general. Plus, what happens if I accidentally delete the game files, for example? At least with an actual CD I can just reinstall and be on my merry way...

 

[Simalacrum]

Despite what everyone says, I still firmly think that digital distribution is the way of the future. Sure, people are sceptical about it, but then people are alway sceptical about new media and whatnot. Internet speeds are improving, and at one point or another most people will have a decent download speed, similar to digital TV, DVD players, etc.

It takes up a lot less space (physically), easy to do, upgradable, and much more environmentally friendly (due to lack of packaging, disk, etc). People can get used to a lack of physical object - it never bothered me in the first place. Its also more reliable, as even if your hard drive gets fried or whatever, you can re-download the stuff easily.

 

[UberMore]

The problem with having games on hard copies is pretty obvious: it gets scratched. But did anyone think about the fact that digital distribution could significantly improve the quality of games? Think about it. When a hard copy of a game is put out, it is final. The company does not improve it (except for patches to get the game running well), but other than that, no changes to the actual game play are made. But with digital distribution, companies can freely update their software. For example, “Pocket God”, a game on the IPhone, is a game where you play God for a bunch of little people, and you can kill them in many ways. But the company allows people to suggest to them more ways of killing, and every update has something new added to it. (The game has had 27-ish updates).
Why not make all games like this? It seems only obvious.

I'm guessing you didn't read the "Experience Points" (well, I think it was Experience Points) on this actual subject.
Allow me to summerise.
Say you have a hard copy of an old game you used to play all the time, but for some reason you uninstalled it, you can easily re-install the game and play it again, just like new.
Now, say you had this same game, but only through Digital Download. If you uninstalled this game but a few years after it's release you decide to "dust it off" and play again, you can't, because the server that hosted the download has been shut down, so the money you spent on that game is now lost and you can't play it again, unless you buy yourself a hard copy, that is, if they ever made one.

 

[Uncompetative]

The problem with having games on hard copies is pretty obvious: it gets scratched. But did anyone think about the fact that digital distribution could significantly improve the quality of games? Think about it. When a hard copy of a game is put out, it is final. The company does not improve it (except for patches to get the game running well), but other than that, no changes to the actual game play are made. But with digital distribution, companies can freely update their software. For example, “Pocket God”, a game on the IPhone, is a game where you play God for a bunch of little people, and you can kill them in many ways. But the company allows people to suggest to them more ways of killing, and every update has something new added to it. (The game has had 27-ish updates).
Why not make all games like this? It seems only obvious.

I agree with this. I like the way Microsoft will track what you downloaded from them, so if you delete a game (or suffer a RROD) you can get it from them again for nothing. Your points paid for the software licence. They have that information linked to your gamertag. Excellent.

I would like to be able to post my games on DVD to Microsoft and have them message me a code to authorise the download of the digital version, rather than make me feel I have to buy Oblivion again to avoid having to swap disks. Bigger hard-drives would be nice in future.

They are apparently doing a 250 GB Elite with Forza 3 and it isn't a limited special edition like the stupid Modern Warfare 2 one with all those 'significant' numbers on the side of the box.

Bring on Superdistribution!

see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdistribution

 

[tmujir955]

Despite what everyone says, I still firmly think that digital distribution is the way of the future. Sure, people are sceptical about it, but then people are alway sceptical about new media and whatnot. Internet speeds are improving, and at one point or another most people will have a decent download speed, similar to digital TV, DVD players, etc.

It takes up a lot less space (physically), easy to do, upgradable, and much more environmentally friendly (due to lack of packaging, disk, etc). People can get used to a lack of physical object - it never bothered me in the first place. Its also more reliable, as even if your hard drive gets fried or whatever, you can re-download the stuff easily.

Actually, I never gave up. DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION FTW!

*Sits quietly with one supporter*

 

[tmujir955]

The problem with having games on hard copies is pretty obvious: it gets scratched. But did anyone think about the fact that digital distribution could significantly improve the quality of games? Think about it. When a hard copy of a game is put out, it is final. The company does not improve it (except for patches to get the game running well), but other than that, no changes to the actual game play are made. But with digital distribution, companies can freely update their software. For example, “Pocket God”, a game on the IPhone, is a game where you play God for a bunch of little people, and you can kill them in many ways. But the company allows people to suggest to them more ways of killing, and every update has something new added to it. (The game has had 27-ish updates).
Why not make all games like this? It seems only obvious.

I'm guessing you didn't read the "Experience Points" (well, I think it was Experience Points) on this actual subject.
Allow me to summerise.
Say you have a hard copy of an old game you used to play all the time, but for some reason you uninstalled it, you can easily re-install the game and play it again, just like new.
Now, say you had this same game, but only through Digital Download. If you uninstalled this game but a few years after it's release you decide to "dust it off" and play again, you can't, because the server that hosted the download has been shut down, so the money you spent on that game is now lost and you can't play it again, unless you buy yourself a hard copy, that is, if they ever made one.

Um, what the heck is Experienced Points?

And, to counter your statement: what if your disc is scratched?

 

[Jandau]

I totally agree that digital distribution is the future. However, the current incarnation of DD is crap and I refuse to participate in it.

1. There is no justification for DD games to cost the same as physical copies. Without the costs of manufacturing, shipping, etc., they should be cheaper. And yet, when a new game comes out, it's the same price.

2. A misunderstanding can cost you all your games. What if your STEAM account gets banned for any reason? You lose all your games, permanently. I don't want to risk that, even if it's unlikely.

3. Internet connectivity still isn't where it should be for this. Perhaps in several years it will be a viable option, right now it isn't.

4. It would kill rentals and second-hand games. This alone is enough for me to rant against DD till the end of time...