Lara Croft GOL & Digital Distribution Done Right

Downloaded LC:GOL last night.  I only got to play the first level, but all I can say is "Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times, yes!".

I got to thinking about this after playing - is this the start of the true console digital distribution era?  We get a competent game at $15, it's about 5-6 hours long by many accounts.  However, there are 5 DLC packs coming for it.  I'm going to assume a $10 price point (the first is free, that's how they get ya) on them.  This brings the all in price of the game to $55.  Digitally distributed. Middle man retail chain reduced significantly.  This is a great model.  So, first, you get to play the trial for free.  Then, you can drop $15, which is small enough a price to take a bit of a chance.  Then, if you like it, you can expand it as you see fit.  This is what I've heard from industry talking heads for years, but so far, nobody's really done it effectively.  Is LC:GOL the catalyst?

From an industry perspective, there is a great upside here.  Digital distribution curbs piracy, eliminates used game sales, and saves money on packaging and distribution.  The customer has some benefit as they don't necessarily have to plunk down $60 to discover they just bit into a lemon.  If it's run like Steam, with frequent sales and significant weekly specials, then the customer isn't beholden to the "company store" mentality.  If it's run like EA DLC, then forget I wrote this.

XBLA has done an okay job with their specials, but really, there is enough content in XBLA now that the special offerings need to be expanded.  I can't tell you how many Steam games I've bought on a whim just because they had an attractive special.  As we're talking digital, there is no supply/demand curve to worry about.  Put the game or content out, once it's run it's course, drop the price.  Offer bundles.  There can be some good stuff for both publisher and consumer if done right.

Fable 2 has tried the digital distribution chapter route, which I think was a good enough idea to let people taste the game at their pace.  I'd like to see more of this.  I don't think the industry is ready to get away from physical media immediately, but I think we're getting there.  I will miss my boxed copy and leaflet (formerly known as instruction manual), but I'm doing okay with music, so I imagine it will be a minor shift to games.