The Future of Gaming

[Decider-VT]

Digital download only is gonna happen. They've just been testing us with this PSN and Live thing. No manufacturing costs and complete eradication of used games. Only gonna be one winner here and it isn't us, but given that we have no other choice, we'll do what they say.

... and the PSPgo, which is slightly turning against them in quite an ironic way given how many posters here are using theirs. But yes, content control and the used game market are the real issue here. Publishers must be looking at the success of the pay-to-play model on PC in places like Korea and salivating.

[Neon Ignition]

If games were available for ?20 as download version in conjunction with physical ?35-?40 releases I'd probably get some stuff but the majority of releases would still be better value from disc as the vast majority of releases aren't worth keeping once complete and trade in values more than offeset any potential savings download releases would come out at. If I did really want to keep the game it'd probably be something like MGS or Uncharted etc in which case I find the physical nature even more important. Then again, it's like I've said before, until the big companies can completely irradicate CD's and DVD/Blu-Ray films talking about download only gaming is phenomenally premature.

[J0e Musashi]

Downloadable-only games are surely a world away from CD's and DVD/Blu-Ray films? You have to have a console to play games, whereas you can either listen to a CD player or use your PC for digital music.

[Neon Ignition]

Not really, the main problem digital media companies never seem to get their heads around is that humans aren't as simple creatures as 'Ooo, I can download it? Goodbye physical media!'. It's all about percieved value, people can download films at a variety of prices to use of a wise array of devices and yet DVD's and Blu-Rays doggedly survive as people are more than happy to pay a few quid to cheaply download a film and watch it but when it comes to the films we love most are intent on still owning a physical copy of the film. That's not because the company bod's have yet to crack some distribution mystery, simply that we love owning things and the more expensive that thing is the more we cling to the physical version. Major games are far too expensive to go digital only and it's a pipe dream to think they're ever going to come down low enough. Games really aren't that different a situation to the other media industries (except more outdated in structure).

Hearing about digital distribution with games as the future reminds me of the late 90's when the media world was convinced the rise in online shoppers would spell the end of physical supermarkets and clothes shops as everyone can get cheaper deals online. What happened? A crash followed by the real situation which is a comfortable marriage of the two. I'd fully agree that the world is a changing place and that digital distribution has a big part in that future however it isn't THE future of the industry just like the countless other faddy ideas that are claimed to be the future. The only reason there is a push for it is so publishers etc can maximise their profits, a 100% online model would in all likelyhood would spell a massive loss for the consumer.

[J0e Musashi]

But, but OnLive. It's happening right now.

[Neon Ignition]

I see OnLive as being like the 3DO back in the day. Someone will make it work... but it won't be them

With streaming, I expect the big companies to come in when the start ups have done the work and push them out the market. Streamed games threaten not just Nintendo, Sony and MS but also the mobile phone makers and Apple's gaming app empire as it creates a one stop. It won't go away but those 'big' companies will crush it into submission at some point and then probably systematically remove its good value

[EvilBoris]

Indeedm who you think has more Pulling power, the console makers as a whole entity or OnLive.

I'm sure that if OnLive was deemed as a threat, Sony or MS would have a word with EA or Activision or whatever and ask for them to not support that format.

[J0e Musashi]

That's irrelevant. The point is, is that a digital-only platform is out there right now.

The future it seems is now.

[kryss]

For the sake of importing, I would like both. Being able to download the latest niche stuff without having to worry about postage and the pain of waiting would be awesome, although I would still get my limited edition SRWs posted over.

Being able to transfer points from one country profile/account to another would be very nice in that respect.

['Press Start']

Nope I'd pay ?38 at Cex I don't want a game with a 3 year time limit (sure I heard that somewhere)

REALLY!!! 3 year limited! sell by date on a game?!?! better not be! Not that I have any 360 game downloads but does that apply to arcade titles too?

[EvilBoris]

I know film purchases say they will be available to download until 2016, I presume it's the same for games. They guarentee they will be on live for a specific time, so when that ends you just need to make sure it's downloaded

[Digfox]

Oops looks like I'm the only indecisive one :-/

On one hand I don't mind digital downloads (saving space, convenience etc.). But equally I love the arrival of new games, particularly the SE's from time to time; roll on ME3. However the sheer scale of abuse on secondhand games by all retailers makes me realise something has to change.

[Brad]

Well I hope DLC isn't the future of gaming. I'm still playing Dragon Age (already the worst use of DLC in any game ever made) and just came across another horrendous one:

So I see a guy get stabbed, I recognise him, I kill the baddies, click on the guy I recognise and:

1. [Purchase DLC] Attempt to revive him?
2. Ignore him

So, maybe this guy can be saved but to find out I have to buy some bioware points.

Seriously, this makes horse armour look like quality DLC. Bioware need a punch in the face for tainting such a brilliant game with this ****.

[randombs]

Is that serious or a joke?

It sounds like a joke but something tells me it's real, so I made this:



God help us when tellies no longer have scart cables. I bet it's already begun...

[J0e Musashi]

Tellies have never had scart cables, only scart sockets.