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sethnintendo on 20 August 2011
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Ail said:
sethnintendo said:
While digital distribution will no doubt grow in the coming year for the video game industry it still has more limitation than music and books. Music and books aren't very large in data when compared to games. I only have about 10 gigs in music yet that is probably almost 100 albums. 1 video game (especially the main titles) can reach past 25 gigs now and usually average at least 5-7 gigs. With tons of countries that have data caps on internet I don't see digital distribution of video games taking off. Sure there will be the WiiWare, XBL, PSN titles that are smaller in space but for a regular title I see many issues with just going all digital. Nintendo won't go digital anytime soon for their main titles. Perhaps Sony and Microsoft will offer older titles (titles released early on the console) for purchase in the future. I just don't see it coming to fruition anytime soon for the major titles.


I'm not sure you understand my point.

Digital distribution just had to grow to the point where it takes 20% or even less of console games sales and a lot of retailers will go out of business...

As for it being older titles you might want to check what is up on the PSN these days.

Infamous 2 was on the PSN the day of it's release.

I've bought Borderlands, Infamous, Record of Agarest War there.

 

Assassin's Creed brotherhood and Dragon Age origins are on the PSN too...

And while they may be big ( Borderlands and all 4 DLCs is 9Gig) I just watched the HD version of Priest and it was close to 4 Gig...

Sure not everyone has the bandwith but enough do to make the switch and then your retailers will go the way of the Dodo and you will only find the latest AAA releases at your local Wall Mart or will have to order your physical copies online... So no physical media won't disappear ( the same way physical books aren't disappearing either) but you won't be able to find any store selling the games you want close by...

I see your points.  I might have not worded my sentences the best.  I know Sony and Microsoft are pushing it more than Nintendo at the moment.  I believe the major stores like GameStop probably won't start closing stores till middle or end of next generation.  I believe digital distribution will eventually take off (especially if companies remove the data caps).  USA game stores will probably be affected first due to more broadband with most companies not having caps.  I believe digital distribution of games is about where Netflix was when it first started off.  Now that Netflix is a serious contender cable companies, movie rental stores, etc.. are now dealing with loss of consumers.  Basically GameStop is trying to get into the online store but most people probably find better deals on Amazon, Ebay, etc..  I believe GameStop will fall the way of Blockbuster (not able to adapt to changing times and when trying to adapt fail at it).