| Shadow1980 said: If the console market becomes the first entertainment sector to go all-digital, it'd be the first. And they would have to force it because most console gamers clearly aren't demanding it. And we saw what happened last time a console maker tried forcing radical shifts in the status quo in regards to the relationship between consumer and product. Most music consumers chose to go mostly or completely digital, but most book readers did not. But they had and still have a choice. If the game industry decides that we just don't get to make that choice, I think we'll see a repeat of the Crash of '83, and it'll be entirely deserved. Not only would tens of millions of potential customers be shut out entirely, but also many millions more would give the industry a big middle finger. I know I for one would cease supporting the industry if they tried forcing digital on me. |
The console market isn't like any other market in one crutial way - there are only three platforms. The reason books can still do physical is because books aren't tied to a platform. Music isn't tied to a platform. Games are. It only takes three to kill digital on consoles, and it would benefit those three to do so. People wouldn't suddenly stop playing games if consoles went all digital, just like they wouldn't stop reading books under the same circumstances. For most consumers, their love for their hobby is not based around the format the games come in. It will be a non issue. When push comes to shove, they'll just get digital, because no one but a select and insignificant few are so passionate that they'd boycott a platform with games they want because they have to download them.
