superchunk said:
Many big retails sell PC games via digital download now. I just saw an article here where Gamestop is selling 3DS digital games. Basically, you buy a code to put into the consoles store to download the game. This way store fronts can still offer the games, make bigger profit with less space taken up. Digital delivery is really where everyone (non consumer) wants to go as it drastically cuts down on the expenses of putting out software, thus increasing the margin at the same price. Additionally, since the costs are down so low, Steam and others have proven that they can offer more frequent and far cheaper sales. In the long run, it should be a win-win scenario for all of us. Only downsides are not being able to share hard copy of the game with others as in parties and such. But, non-consumers want to end that as well, so for them its a benefit. While I'd personally have to give up used game market (NOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo..............), I am a patient person and always wait for sales. So, I'd be content waiting for a digital sale for the same price area I generally buy used $20-$25. My only real fear is the loss of all competition with stores like EAs Origin where the publisher/developer only allows one store to sell the item. That is a monopoly and will make sales harder to come by. But, I'd like to think that this wouldn't be allowed due to anti-competitive regulations. |
But retailers are still selling physical copies and that's not going to change anytime soon. Do you think the future is Gamestop or Best Buy with racks of paper slips with codes on them and nothing else? The only way this would work is if MS, Sony, and Nintendo kill their sales through retailers and opt to sell everything through the consoles themselves. But like I said, retailers won't like that and will make sure this doesn't happen.
Yeah, I understand that digital only would benefit both us and the company. But we're not there yet. Realistically, people won't go out to stores so they can buy things digital only. There would also be the problem of returning your games back as all sales would be final. That's why I think retailers will continue to fight for the option of physical copies. And again, the only viable solution for digial only would be through your actual console like Steam does with PC or the App store, which retailers would be fully against.
