Download Only Gaming...The Future..?

[The_Deleted]

There has been much discussion about games becoming available through DL only. And as we all know games companies are not the most gregarious of businesses and could well become just another way to rape gamers of cash, games being the same price or more expensive than ever regardless of a lack of overheads re: packaging and distribution. Game content being ever more prevalent and the lazy developers knowing you can't get a refund or a trade in if it sucks.

So, regardless of a huge back log of games, (we all want to move ever onward and see what comes next after all) will you continue to game if DL is the only way play? Or has your trust in publishers become so low that you just know it won't work in our favour.


Disclaimer: I realise A): This won't happen for some time connection speeds etc. and B) may not be as definite as the press claims it will be.

 

[ChocoFace]

i wouldn't like it. I'd want something physical to prove i have the product.

 

[DM.]

Download only gaming would mean more piracy, Which means most people definitely won't be buying crappy games.

Also people say that they'd want to have a physical copy so they can prove they own it.

People who download it have proof they brought it on their bank statements.

 

[The_Deleted]

Download only gaming would mean more piracy, Which means most people definitely won't be buying crappy games.

I'm sure publishers will get around that by then. Hopefully it won't be as bad as all the shite that came with Spore.

 

[AmrasCalmacil]

Ugh, I would hate it.
I love tearing away that annoying cellophane to get to the game within, I enjoy leafing through the manual and familiarising myself with the controls as it installs, I like examining the disk and wondering why Altair has such silly bumfluff.

Maybe I'm just weird, but it's nice to look at something and think "Yup, that's mine."

Besides, packaging costs means they can charge us more.

 

[VicunaBlue]

I don't know anout anyone else here, but I never buy my games new. I usually end up buying a $60 dollar game for around $20. By-by more than 3 games a year!

 

[Irridium]

I hope not, I won't be able to get anything due to my crappy connection, which means I wouldn't be able to buy games

So hopefully not.

 

[NeutralDrow]

That would suck much, I think...

 

[WaffleTron]

Personally, I think its going to happen, but I don't like it, personally I like being able to bring my game or movie over my friends house without lugging an entire system.

 

[Low Key]

The only reason consoles still exist is to quell all of the pirating, and even then, it doesn't stop. Game developers just need to realize they will never win the war and have faith in humanity that if they put out a decent game, people will actually buy it.

I do that with music. If it's an artist I really want to support, I'll go out and buy the album. That's the only way they will stick around to make more music for me to listen to.

 

[Teachingaddict]

im not sure - I was against it, but find myself only buying from Steam or GoG these days

 

[EMFCRACKSHOT]

It will probably happen, but i would prefer itnot to. Having a disk is much better if you ask me. Problems with disks are much easier to solve, you just get a new one. and you can do the whole trade in thing. I can't see pre-owned downloadable games

 

[The_Deleted]

"Besides, packaging costs means they can charge us more.

But they will regardless, because there won't be any store competition.

...and you can do the whole trade in thing. I can't see pre-owned downloadable games

It's well documented that publishers HATE the pre-owned market. To the extent they have actually been trying to get back some profits from pre-owned sales. It's huge business and keeps a lot of game stores in business. Buy cheap sell high.

 

[Laura.]

I don't really have a problem with it. Steam is pretty neat for downloading and updating games, and my room is already a mess, so I don't need another 30 boxes lying around

 

[E-Z]

If the downloadable game is burnable to disc then I wouldn't mind. Hopefully this won't happen for a long time as my current connection is 1.5mb. After a fresh XP install, it takes hours to update CS:S, DoD:S and HL2DM after I've installed them from disc

 

[Andy_Panthro]

It would be a terrible idea.

How many gamers have unreliable, slow or otherwise poor internet connections? Or no home internet at all?

These people rely on being able to buy a disc.

Besides, I don't want to get into a steam situation where you're locked in to a provider.

 

[StigmataDiaboli]

I hope not. I'd rather have a physcial entity with my game on. Why? Meh.

 

[BakaMick]

I'm sure this is allredy happening, you can download games XBox games on the XBox 360, i have a few myself they just stay on the HDD, and i dont know anyone who dosen't have an internet connection.

But, I think this will come into effect in the next few years, and then maybe streaming games instead of downloading them and having a one off/monthly payment, kinda like World of Warcraft but without the installation packages you need.

 

[Nmil-ek]

No and I would never support a company or industry that does not give me the choice to own the product, I dont want to own a contract that lets me use a thrid party program that allows me ot borrow the bloody game.

Disc in, installation, file directory stored done - its not that fucking hard worked for years and most of us like it that way.

And all this its stops piracy shit, yes it does but what do you think is a bigger hit on revenue piracy or second hand trading? take a guess.

 

[Slash Dementia]

It would be a terrible idea.

How many gamers have unreliable, slow or otherwise poor internet connections? Or no home internet at all?

These people rely on being able to buy a disc.

Besides, I don't want to get into a steam situation where you're locked in to a provider.

This.
It would cost a lot less money to sell games also (no packaging, shipping, collector's edition, ect.) The companies hopefully won't turn into a download only sales system. Also it would really kill store sales... Like really kill them. Game stores like GameSpot, Game Crazy and EB Games would be finished.