Iwata: Digital retail 20 years away

The digital revolution is upon, but the speed at which the transition from retail to broadband will happen is certainly a matter of debate – and heavyweight industry figure Satoru Iwata reckons that we’re still some way off ditching retail.

“Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time,” the Nintendo president told investors. “But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time.

“In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in five years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then. Habits of life do not change such radically and quickly.”

The claims come in stark contrast to those made by games analyst Nick Parker, who told attendees at the recent London Games Conference that gaming’s “iTunes moment” will occur in 2014.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/36395/Iwata-Digital-retail-20-years-away#after_ad

Is Iwata right about this? I kind of hope so because I enjoy having physical media.

So here goes another "GC and GBA do not need online".

Until there are high download speeds (such like 20GB in 2 hours) probably there won't be a total digital distribution...imagine a full PS3 game to download! A DS game should be easier to digitalize, but Handhelds are improving as well, and in 20 years probably will be more powerfull than current PCs (I think).

Games this gen is pretty big and getting even bigger as time progress I don't even know if we will see a standard game next gen that would be under 10gb at minimum unless it's sum PSN or xbox live game or a very low budget and short game so unless a super fast cable like net connection becomes the standard thing soon I don't think DD is such a gr8 idea.

Iwata didn't say DD would "have to wait" 20 years, he said he didn't think it was likely it would replace retailers before that time. Of course Nintendo will still offer DD in many forms, though he seemed cautious about the prospect of Nintendo moving their main console titles over to the digital realm.