Sony: Moving Towards Digital Distribution Is A "Natural Progression"
Hope you're ready for a future where digital distribution is the primary model of video game delivery. It's a-comin'. SCEA Senior Vice President Scott Rohde considers this a "natural progression" and although he does say that traditional retail products won't disappear entirely, the trend is obvious and clear. In speaking to The Interactive, Rohde said in regards to moving towards a digital distribution model- "It's something we want to do, and it's inevitable." "I think this is a natural progression. You’ll start to see more and more digital offerings across the board. And this is not just a Sony thing, you’re obviously going to see it across the board. It’s the way the world is progressing, not just Sony." Rohde talked about a new initiative for PlayStation Plus subscribers, multiple top-quality free downloads, and the fact that games are shifting towards online services. As examples, he mentioned Call of Duty Elite,Diablo III (the game has an "always-on" Internet requirement), and MMOs like Free Realms. He added that Sony is experimenting with new stuff for the future, and finished: "There is no definitive answer about where we will go or where the whole industry will go… the whole industry is in an experimental phase to understand what consumers want and what makes them happy." It probably is "inevitable." But it'll be interesting to see how the long-time hardcore gamers respond.
http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/11411.html
