Rather than make an attempt to rewrite Rob Fahey's article with my own words and opinions, I'll just refer you to his article on this subject. He makes many good points that are, in my opinion, well thought out and relevant to this discussion. You can find it here: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-trader-s-dilemma_7
Publishers are not in complete control of this. As an example, Sony is trying very hard to create incentives and games that are digital only; but they just aren't hitting the mass market numbers that a publisher would need in order to make it worthwhile. Wipeout has not sold anywhere near the numbers as it would have if it were available at retail on disk. And my understanding is that Socom has had much larger sales numbers on disk at retail than from PSN as a download.
Publishers can talk all they want about the future being all digital; but until they come up with a compelling way to give us more value from a digital copy of a game over a physical copy, that future will remain a an ideal instead of a reality.
Digital distribution works for music and the music industry because they came up with a way to allow consumers to use their purchases on any and all of the devices that we want. I buy a song once and use it on any and all of my MP3 playing devices. Easy. I can even share that MP3 with a friend if I'd like and let them decide if they want to purchase that song or the whole album. Until games offer this kind of flexibility, I don't see it becoming the dominant distribution method; nor do I want it to be until this kind of value is available to us gamers.
I think they're right on the money with this. I would never buy a Nascar game prior to this; but after watching the video, I'm certainly wondering if this would be fun to sit and play with my kids. Looks like it could finally give Mario Kart a reason to make some real improvements instead of retreading the same formula they keep putting out there for us.
I'm not even a big EA fan; but these sports games from EA that take a more fun (less realistic) approach are definitely starting to get my attention. Bring back the fun baseball games with crazy power-ups, fireball pitches and towering fly-ball leaps! I'm all for it.
I have neices and nephews that grew up with digital music. All of them still prefer to buy their games on physical media and often avoid digital only releases. The problem is that they have limited access to money and use the trade-in value of their older games to be able to afford the new ones. Without the trade-in value offset; they wouldn't be able to afford gaming as a hobby and would find something else to do and spend their time with.
There are a couple things that keep them from trading up to the next latest game. Firstly, if the game offers lasting online entertainment that continues to appeal to them, they are more than happy to continue to play a game they already have. Secondly, they are willing to figure out how to get online points to purchase the latest add-ons, map packs and expansions to games they thoroughly enjoy playing. However, in both cases, they usually aren't buying the next new game; again, because they don't have the capitol to spend on new games without the trade-in value incentive.
I believe if the publishers forced their hand and decided to distribute exclusively through the internet; my nieces and nephews would simply find another way to keep themselves busy and entertained. They just wouldn't be able to afford it.
Personally, I don't trade in games; but I also don't have any interest in buying digitally distributed games. Being a collector (I still have my 2600 and games), I see no value in downloading games. How would I be able to play my games 10 or 20 years from now, when those companies have long since ended their network services to be able to update and redownload a piece of software I bought on a system that is no longer manufactured? No thank you. I'll keep my catridges and disks in my closet and entertainment center so I can use them whenever and however I like. Heck, I might even share one with a friend. How am I supposed to do that with a digital download?
Ha! I would guess that they think they already have. Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Soccer and soon Animal Crossing are all online. It makes me chuckle when I think about how they believe they've already achieved success with Game 2.0.
I'm sure people will strongly disagree with me; but from a consumer's perspective, I can't help but feel that Nintendo is keeping itself from true greatness. They keep trying to contain and control the explosion instead of setting it off and riding it until they can find or build another.
It wont be long before the other corporate players take Nintendo's ideas (again) and evolve them into something more consumer friendly than Nintendo ever allowed themselves to release.
This is just stupid. For the same reasons I avoid purchasing downloadable games, I will avoid Wii Speak. This restriction is like restricting my controllers to only work on a single console. How am I going to be able to bring the fun to my friends' house? Sure I could bring my whole system along with me as well, but I just want to bring my game, an extra controller, and my Wii Speak to my parents house to show them what it's all about. As it is, this will never happen and they'll never be interested enough to get it.
Way to go to kill your sales Nintendo. Not only are you going to lose the sales from the people we would have shared this device with, but you've already lost the initial sale from myself and many others because of your silly restrictions on use.
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Belcaw's Comments
Rather than make an attempt to rewrite Rob Fahey's article with my own words and opinions, I'll just refer you to his article on this subject. He makes many good points that are, in my opinion, well thought out and relevant to this discussion. You can find it here: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/the-trader-s-dilemma_7
Publishers are not in complete control of this. As an example, Sony is trying very hard to create incentives and games that are digital only; but they just aren't hitting the mass market numbers that a publisher would need in order to make it worthwhile. Wipeout has not sold anywhere near the numbers as it would have if it were available at retail on disk. And my understanding is that Socom has had much larger sales numbers on disk at retail than from PSN as a download.
Publishers can talk all they want about the future being all digital; but until they come up with a compelling way to give us more value from a digital copy of a game over a physical copy, that future will remain a an ideal instead of a reality.
Digital distribution works for music and the music industry because they came up with a way to allow consumers to use their purchases on any and all of the devices that we want. I buy a song once and use it on any and all of my MP3 playing devices. Easy. I can even share that MP3 with a friend if I'd like and let them decide if they want to purchase that song or the whole album. Until games offer this kind of flexibility, I don't see it becoming the dominant distribution method; nor do I want it to be until this kind of value is available to us gamers.
I think they're right on the money with this. I would never buy a Nascar game prior to this; but after watching the video, I'm certainly wondering if this would be fun to sit and play with my kids. Looks like it could finally give Mario Kart a reason to make some real improvements instead of retreading the same formula they keep putting out there for us.
I'm not even a big EA fan; but these sports games from EA that take a more fun (less realistic) approach are definitely starting to get my attention. Bring back the fun baseball games with crazy power-ups, fireball pitches and towering fly-ball leaps! I'm all for it.
-belcaw
I have neices and nephews that grew up with digital music. All of them still prefer to buy their games on physical media and often avoid digital only releases. The problem is that they have limited access to money and use the trade-in value of their older games to be able to afford the new ones. Without the trade-in value offset; they wouldn't be able to afford gaming as a hobby and would find something else to do and spend their time with.
There are a couple things that keep them from trading up to the next latest game. Firstly, if the game offers lasting online entertainment that continues to appeal to them, they are more than happy to continue to play a game they already have. Secondly, they are willing to figure out how to get online points to purchase the latest add-ons, map packs and expansions to games they thoroughly enjoy playing. However, in both cases, they usually aren't buying the next new game; again, because they don't have the capitol to spend on new games without the trade-in value incentive.
I believe if the publishers forced their hand and decided to distribute exclusively through the internet; my nieces and nephews would simply find another way to keep themselves busy and entertained. They just wouldn't be able to afford it.
Personally, I don't trade in games; but I also don't have any interest in buying digitally distributed games. Being a collector (I still have my 2600 and games), I see no value in downloading games. How would I be able to play my games 10 or 20 years from now, when those companies have long since ended their network services to be able to update and redownload a piece of software I bought on a system that is no longer manufactured? No thank you. I'll keep my catridges and disks in my closet and entertainment center so I can use them whenever and however I like. Heck, I might even share one with a friend. How am I supposed to do that with a digital download?
--
belcaw
Ha! I would guess that they think they already have. Smash Bros, Mario Kart, Mario Soccer and soon Animal Crossing are all online. It makes me chuckle when I think about how they believe they've already achieved success with Game 2.0.
I'm sure people will strongly disagree with me; but from a consumer's perspective, I can't help but feel that Nintendo is keeping itself from true greatness. They keep trying to contain and control the explosion instead of setting it off and riding it until they can find or build another.
It wont be long before the other corporate players take Nintendo's ideas (again) and evolve them into something more consumer friendly than Nintendo ever allowed themselves to release.
This is just stupid. For the same reasons I avoid purchasing downloadable games, I will avoid Wii Speak. This restriction is like restricting my controllers to only work on a single console. How am I going to be able to bring the fun to my friends' house? Sure I could bring my whole system along with me as well, but I just want to bring my game, an extra controller, and my Wii Speak to my parents house to show them what it's all about. As it is, this will never happen and they'll never be interested enough to get it.
Way to go to kill your sales Nintendo. Not only are you going to lose the sales from the people we would have shared this device with, but you've already lost the initial sale from myself and many others because of your silly restrictions on use.
All Belcaw's Comments