So from what I've gathered it sounds like most games will be available for download day one on either system. Anyone know if there is going to be any incentives to do this? Pre-ordering bonuses or anything?
So its possible? I don't really care about all they physical stuff you get sometimes, but a hardened edition of ghosts with the digital goodies and season pass included would be cool. I just hope they don't throw in achievements or something for buying games online. That and the exclusive dlc for every different seller is bogus.
I prefer physical copies, I plan on staying with those for a long time.
'Sup. I can't wait to get rid of the physical media.
Same. Unless you are a seller of old games or buyer of LONG used games, there's not much benefit to discs. However with digital it's like every game is an XBLA game - no spinning/buzzing, shorter load times - instant switching! Any console has all your games all in one box.
That's me. My perpetual gaming ADD has me rarely playing a game for over four to six weeks in time. At that point, trade in values are still usually high on AAA games, so I'm usually netting out with a month of gaming for somewhere in the $10-15 range.
I'll stick to the physical media for the time being...
It will be rough not chatting with the wonderful staff of Lamestop but somehow I'll manage. I'm already doing that with PC games. It's just so much easier.
I have heard chatter that they are looking into making sure download customers get the same bonuses as physical copy pre-orders as well so you won't miss out.
My biggest issue with going all download is that the games SHOULD be cheaper. They don't need to manufacture the disc, print sleeves/booklets, mould DVD cases, ship the product to the reseller and they also essentially cut out the reseller which they would sell the product too at wholesale cost not full retail. So my question is why is none of that savings being passed onto gamers? Seems to me the only thing being passed on to me is the negative of not being able to recoop some of my expenses by reselling my copy for 20-25 bucks to put towards a new purchase. Sell me the download version at 45 bucks vs the retail price of 59 and then i'm interested, until then, the download sales can shove it.
I have heard chatter that they are looking into making sure download customers get the same bonuses as physical copy pre-orders as well so you won't miss out.
My biggest issue with going all download is that the games SHOULD be cheaper. They don't need to manufacture the disc, print sleeves/booklets, mould DVD cases, ship the product to the reseller and they also essentially cut out the reseller which they would sell the product too at wholesale cost not full retail. So my question is why is none of that savings being passed onto gamers? Seems to me the only thing being passed on to me is the negative of not being able to recoop some of my expenses by reselling my copy for 20-25 bucks to put towards a new purchase. Sell me the download version at 45 bucks vs the retail price of 59 and then i'm interested, until then, the download sales can shove it.
I read an article somewhere that stated that contracts with retailers will dictate that the price be the same (to keep brick and mortar relevant)...And therefore, adoption of digitial will be slow and very gradual since it will only appeal to those that like the convenience.
I have to believe those terms on prices are not in perpetuity...So maybe we'll see downloads get cheaper after a certain time period?
I have heard chatter that they are looking into making sure download customers get the same bonuses as physical copy pre-orders as well so you won't miss out.
My biggest issue with going all download is that the games SHOULD be cheaper. They don't need to manufacture the disc, print sleeves/booklets, mould DVD cases, ship the product to the reseller and they also essentially cut out the reseller which they would sell the product too at wholesale cost not full retail. So my question is why is none of that savings being passed onto gamers? Seems to me the only thing being passed on to me is the negative of not being able to recoop some of my expenses by reselling my copy for 20-25 bucks to put towards a new purchase. Sell me the download version at 45 bucks vs the retail price of 59 and then i'm interested, until then, the download sales can shove it.
I read an article somewhere that stated that contracts with retailers will dictate that the price be the same (to keep brick and mortar relevant)...And therefore, adoption of digitial will be slow and very gradual since it will only appeal to those that like the convenience.
I have to believe those terms on prices are not in perpetuity...So maybe we'll see downloads get cheaper after a certain time period?
I have heard chatter that they are looking into making sure download customers get the same bonuses as physical copy pre-orders as well so you won't miss out.
My biggest issue with going all download is that the games SHOULD be cheaper. They don't need to manufacture the disc, print sleeves/booklets, mould DVD cases, ship the product to the reseller and they also essentially cut out the reseller which they would sell the product too at wholesale cost not full retail. So my question is why is none of that savings being passed onto gamers? Seems to me the only thing being passed on to me is the negative of not being able to recoop some of my expenses by reselling my copy for 20-25 bucks to put towards a new purchase. Sell me the download version at 45 bucks vs the retail price of 59 and then i'm interested, until then, the download sales can shove it.
I used to think that way too. But really if you think about it, the case and shipping is a one time cost, in bulk. The digital version has to be kept up and available to download as many times as you want, forever.
I used to think that way too. But really if you think about it, the case and shipping is a one time cost, in bulk. The digital version has to be kept up and available to download as many times as you want, forever.
The doesn't really cost anything though. Someone needs to upload it to a storage array someplace, and the storage space it occupies does have a value but it's dimes and also a one time cost.
One could argue the bandwidth to provide the download costs but a company the size of microsoft i'm sure pays a fixed amount per month for unlimited bandwidth so it doesn't matter if the game is downloaded or not, microsoft pays the same for bandwidth for xbox live in general.
So i'm still sticking with, there's probably 15-20 in savings being put in someones pocket (and probalby not the developers either) and not being passed on or even shared with the consumers who save them that money.
Here's the thing with the 'convenience' argument too... when games start pushing 40 GB to download, it's FASTER for me to driv eto gamestop, buy the disc and drive home than it is for me to wait for a download that size to finish. I imagine it would be that way for the majority of people. The only thing that would make downloads more convenient is if they let you pre-load it at least 24 hours in advance. There's no part of downloading 40GB of data that's convenient in my opinion, not with the crappy over priced slow interent speeds we have to deal with here in the US.
Here's the thing with the 'convenience' argument too... when games start pushing 40 GB to download, it's FASTER for me to driv eto gamestop, buy the disc and drive home than it is for me to wait for a download that size to finish. I imagine it would be that way for the majority of people. The only thing that would make downloads more convenient is if they let you pre-load it at least 24 hours in advance. There's no part of downloading 40GB of data that's convenient in my opinion, not with the crappy over priced slow interent speeds we have to deal with here in the US.
I'm not worried about downloads. Games are super compressed - you can download full bluray games for PS3 in like 7GB. And my internet - middle of the road Comcast - can download 5GB in like 30 minutes as proven by my wife downloading the latest mac update this week. it's not really an issue now and definitely won't be in the future.
There are only 2 reasons I am hesitant on full digital media on console.
1) Memory: You have to have expandable memory to accommodate the increase in memory requirements. So when you have a 250 gb internal drive for lets say the x1, you will burn that quick by downloading full games.
2) Release Day Issues: While I know there are usual issues on release days with servers, but not being able to get the game would be real annoying. The consoles will need to do the pre download process, which I have not seen as a feature yet. If I have the disc, at least I can play the shitty SP.
There are only 2 reasons I am hesitant on full digital media on console.
1) Memory: You have to have expandable memory to accommodate the increase in memory requirements. So when you have a 250 gb internal drive for lets say the x1, you will burn that quick by downloading full games.
2) Release Day Issues: While I know there are usual issues on release days with servers, but not being able to get the game would be real annoying. The consoles will need to do the pre download process, which I have not seen as a feature yet. If I have the disc, at least I can play the shitty SP.
1) Luckily you'll be able to plug in an external to expand that by the time you'll need the space. And there's always delete/download if you really have to. You'll own the game either way. Save files you can upload to the cloud.
2) I don't think it'll be a problem, but we'll see. Apple puts out an iPhone update and EVERYONE has to get it digitally, and everyone seems to download it just fine same day. Right now only maybe 1/3 will buy digitally anyway and the rest will get discs. Considering MS is much larger than Apple and they have professed they are adding 10x the servers, I'm not worried.
There are only 2 reasons I am hesitant on full digital media on console.
1) Memory: You have to have expandable memory to accommodate the increase in memory requirements. So when you have a 250 gb internal drive for lets say the x1, you will burn that quick by downloading full games.
2) Release Day Issues: While I know there are usual issues on release days with servers, but not being able to get the game would be real annoying. The consoles will need to do the pre download process, which I have not seen as a feature yet. If I have the disc, at least I can play the shitty SP.
1) Luckily you'll be able to plug in an external to expand that by the time you'll need the space. And there's always delete/download if you really have to. You'll own the game either way. Save files you can upload to the cloud.
2) I don't think it'll be a problem, but we'll see. Apple puts out an iPhone update and EVERYONE has to get it digitally, and everyone seems to download it just fine same day. Right now only maybe 1/3 will buy digitally anyway and the rest will get discs. Considering MS is much larger than Apple and they have professed they are adding 10x the servers, I'm not worried.
Predownload after you buy. It unlocks at release time.
Games will be getting bigger in size as developers add more textures, ai processing, etc. Just compare ME1 and ME3. ME1 came with one disc. ME3, and many other games, come with 2. Add that to Hulu, Netflix, internet, etc, I'll be exceeding my limit by the end of the month. An additional 30gb could increase my bill and have me throttled to near dial-up speeds.
They've already announced that Killzone on PS4 is going to be a 40GB download. Since this will be the first generation of 'next gen' games, I imagine most of them are pretty much going to be just up-rezed current gen games so most won't be much larger than then DVD9 versions. But Killzone Shadowfall is an exclusive next-gen game built from the ground up only for the PS4. So that's where we could see things heading as devs go onto their 2nd or 3rd + releases on the new systems.
Someone mentioned data caps as well, ya, that's a reality for broadband now. My WA ISP is charter and I think i have a 100GB cap per month on a 15meg service and my CA ISP is ATT and I have a 200GB cap on 12meg service.
So ya, there's some real issues to contenend with for a lot of people before going all download. I'll still be ordering my games physical media for the forseeable future. Only download stuff ill be getting are the free ones that come with Live or Playstation Online subscriptions or if they start doing steam-like sales and offer them at deep discounts if it's a game i didn't pick up when it came out.
The reason digital games cost the same as disks is because MS and Sony need to maintain a good relationship with physical retailers. For example if MS start selling digital copies on Xbox Live much cheaper then no one goes to Gamestop. Gamestop gets pissed off and stops selling MS consoles. Theres a symbiotic relationship there for now.
Partially, yes. But I do think that they don't want to cut prices because they're not sure how much it'll cost them in the long run for bandwidth and server upkeep.
Partially, yes. But I do think that they don't want to cut prices because they're not sure how much it'll cost them in the long run for bandwidth and server upkeep.
This is really not that hard of information to figure out...Ops guys that work in network businesses can calculate this shit on the back of a napkin. At least the ones I work with.
It's more about the brick and mortars fighting to stay relevant. Look at Barnes and Noble and Borders decline vis-a-vis eBooks? Look at Target, Best Buy, Walmart fighting over online sales tax for Amazon. Look at the the latest price matches the brick and mortar is willing to give to win back share from Amazon. That is where the money is.
I personally will buy both physical and digital. Digital for games I hold onto for a long time. And physical for games we think we'll burn through and sell back.
I am not an economist but the price not changing for digital downloads could be a one time price bump to reflect inflation. Game prices haven't changed in the last 8 years. If you factor in inflation since 2005 the price of games should be 72 dollars today. Anyway, competition will drive prices down eventually specially if the middle man is removed.
Also, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc will be fine. They sell way more than video game discs, and you can't download systems or peripherals.
I'm not saying it's immediate business closing for big box (it will eventually for Gamestop someday). But to casually dismiss them as a stakeholder when the video game footprint in these stores is sizable... is naive at best.
I think there will be. The last game I bought, FFXIV:ARR there was pre order bonuses. They included in-game items and early release game time.
we know that the digital X1 games that you buy near launch will include the "Day One" bonuses, but that's all we know for sure yet.
So its possible? I don't really care about all they physical stuff you get sometimes, but a hardened edition of ghosts with the digital goodies and season pass included would be cool. I just hope they don't throw in achievements or something for buying games online. That and the exclusive dlc for every different seller is bogus.
'Sup. I can't wait to get rid of the physical media.
Same. Unless you are a seller of old games or buyer of LONG used games, there's not much benefit to discs. However with digital it's like every game is an XBLA game - no spinning/buzzing, shorter load times - instant switching! Any console has all your games all in one box.
That's me. My perpetual gaming ADD has me rarely playing a game for over four to six weeks in time. At that point, trade in values are still usually high on AAA games, so I'm usually netting out with a month of gaming for somewhere in the $10-15 range.
I'll stick to the physical media for the time being...
It will be rough not chatting with the wonderful staff of Lamestop but somehow I'll manage. I'm already doing that with PC games. It's just so much easier.
I have heard chatter that they are looking into making sure download customers get the same bonuses as physical copy pre-orders as well so you won't miss out.
My biggest issue with going all download is that the games SHOULD be cheaper. They don't need to manufacture the disc, print sleeves/booklets, mould DVD cases, ship the product to the reseller and they also essentially cut out the reseller which they would sell the product too at wholesale cost not full retail. So my question is why is none of that savings being passed onto gamers? Seems to me the only thing being passed on to me is the negative of not being able to recoop some of my expenses by reselling my copy for 20-25 bucks to put towards a new purchase. Sell me the download version at 45 bucks vs the retail price of 59 and then i'm interested, until then, the download sales can shove it.
I read an article somewhere that stated that contracts with retailers will dictate that the price be the same (to keep brick and mortar relevant)...And therefore, adoption of digitial will be slow and very gradual since it will only appeal to those that like the convenience.
I have to believe those terms on prices are not in perpetuity...So maybe we'll see downloads get cheaper after a certain time period?
That seems perfectly cromulent to me.
I used to think that way too. But really if you think about it, the case and shipping is a one time cost, in bulk. The digital version has to be kept up and available to download as many times as you want, forever.
The doesn't really cost anything though. Someone needs to upload it to a storage array someplace, and the storage space it occupies does have a value but it's dimes and also a one time cost.
One could argue the bandwidth to provide the download costs but a company the size of microsoft i'm sure pays a fixed amount per month for unlimited bandwidth so it doesn't matter if the game is downloaded or not, microsoft pays the same for bandwidth for xbox live in general.
So i'm still sticking with, there's probably 15-20 in savings being put in someones pocket (and probalby not the developers either) and not being passed on or even shared with the consumers who save them that money.
Here's the thing with the 'convenience' argument too... when games start pushing 40 GB to download, it's FASTER for me to driv eto gamestop, buy the disc and drive home than it is for me to wait for a download that size to finish. I imagine it would be that way for the majority of people. The only thing that would make downloads more convenient is if they let you pre-load it at least 24 hours in advance. There's no part of downloading 40GB of data that's convenient in my opinion, not with the crappy over priced slow interent speeds we have to deal with here in the US.
I'm not worried about downloads. Games are super compressed - you can download full bluray games for PS3 in like 7GB. And my internet - middle of the road Comcast - can download 5GB in like 30 minutes as proven by my wife downloading the latest mac update this week. it's not really an issue now and definitely won't be in the future.
Apples n oranges. Production, manufacturing, labor, transportation, materials, all blow that idea right out of the water.
There are only 2 reasons I am hesitant on full digital media on console.
1) Memory: You have to have expandable memory to accommodate the increase in memory requirements. So when you have a 250 gb internal drive for lets say the x1, you will burn that quick by downloading full games.
2) Release Day Issues: While I know there are usual issues on release days with servers, but not being able to get the game would be real annoying. The consoles will need to do the pre download process, which I have not seen as a feature yet. If I have the disc, at least I can play the shitty SP.
1) Luckily you'll be able to plug in an external to expand that by the time you'll need the space. And there's always delete/download if you really have to. You'll own the game either way. Save files you can upload to the cloud.
2) I don't think it'll be a problem, but we'll see. Apple puts out an iPhone update and EVERYONE has to get it digitally, and everyone seems to download it just fine same day. Right now only maybe 1/3 will buy digitally anyway and the rest will get discs. Considering MS is much larger than Apple and they have professed they are adding 10x the servers, I'm not worried.
Predownload after you buy. It unlocks at release time.
Going to have to stick with physical media. Data caps.
where do you live, Pew?
figure you won't buy more than a 3 games a month or so, you're talking MAYBE 30GB tops and that's pushing it.
Games will be getting bigger in size as developers add more textures, ai processing, etc. Just compare ME1 and ME3. ME1 came with one disc. ME3, and many other games, come with 2. Add that to Hulu, Netflix, internet, etc, I'll be exceeding my limit by the end of the month. An additional 30gb could increase my bill and have me throttled to near dial-up speeds.
They've already announced that Killzone on PS4 is going to be a 40GB download. Since this will be the first generation of 'next gen' games, I imagine most of them are pretty much going to be just up-rezed current gen games so most won't be much larger than then DVD9 versions. But Killzone Shadowfall is an exclusive next-gen game built from the ground up only for the PS4. So that's where we could see things heading as devs go onto their 2nd or 3rd + releases on the new systems.
Someone mentioned data caps as well, ya, that's a reality for broadband now. My WA ISP is charter and I think i have a 100GB cap per month on a 15meg service and my CA ISP is ATT and I have a 200GB cap on 12meg service.
So ya, there's some real issues to contenend with for a lot of people before going all download. I'll still be ordering my games physical media for the forseeable future. Only download stuff ill be getting are the free ones that come with Live or Playstation Online subscriptions or if they start doing steam-like sales and offer them at deep discounts if it's a game i didn't pick up when it came out.
yeah they also said that'll happen but not on launch day.
The reason digital games cost the same as disks is because MS and Sony need to maintain a good relationship with physical retailers. For example if MS start selling digital copies on Xbox Live much cheaper then no one goes to Gamestop. Gamestop gets pissed off and stops selling MS consoles. Theres a symbiotic relationship there for now.
Partially, yes. But I do think that they don't want to cut prices because they're not sure how much it'll cost them in the long run for bandwidth and server upkeep.
This is really not that hard of information to figure out...Ops guys that work in network businesses can calculate this shit on the back of a napkin. At least the ones I work with.
It's more about the brick and mortars fighting to stay relevant. Look at Barnes and Noble and Borders decline vis-a-vis eBooks? Look at Target, Best Buy, Walmart fighting over online sales tax for Amazon. Look at the the latest price matches the brick and mortar is willing to give to win back share from Amazon. That is where the money is.
I personally will buy both physical and digital. Digital for games I hold onto for a long time. And physical for games we think we'll burn through and sell back.
I am not an economist but the price not changing for digital downloads could be a one time price bump to reflect inflation. Game prices haven't changed in the last 8 years. If you factor in inflation since 2005 the price of games should be 72 dollars today. Anyway, competition will drive prices down eventually specially if the middle man is removed.
Agree with Jim
Also, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc will be fine. They sell way more than video game discs, and you can't download systems or peripherals.
I'm not saying it's immediate business closing for big box (it will eventually for Gamestop someday). But to casually dismiss them as a stakeholder when the video game footprint in these stores is sizable... is naive at best.
I'll buy whichever is cheaper and not inconvenient.