GameStop: Digital Distribution not a sig ...

[QUOTE=''GameStop'']''We've done some internal studies, really looking at the bandwidth of the internet in the U.S. as it is now, and, I mean, it's years before you would be able to take a larger game and timely download that within the current configuration of the internet,'' McKenzie said.

McKenzie stressed that, in the current climate, digital delivery is an option for consumers, but not the only one. GameStop's done studies, he said, on the topic, and come up with a projected time frame for when downloadable games could be fully and easily supported for everyone.

''So again, there is a percentage of the consumers that are going to want to have that type of distribution choice, but as far as it turning into a significant threat, I think is several years -- from the study we had, it is out to 2020 or beyond, before the bandwidth of the current internet configuration would allow that,'' McKenzie said.[/QUOTE]http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20205In the past year, we've seen PC retail sales drop, despite PC software sales as a whole increasing dramatically. Clearly, DD has already had an effect on GameStop's PC sales. 5 years from now, I suspect the majority of PC games will be sold digitally. Even some console games have started to be sold digitally, like Warhawk. Next generation, I'm willing to bet that DD will be a significant factor in console retail sales.Then again, GameStop claims to have done ''studies'' and think it won't be a factor for another 12 years. I think they're either crazy, or just trying to sugarcoat it for investors.How does everyone else feel about this? Is DD becoming mainstream a long way off? Is it already here? GameStop: Digital Distribution not a sig ...
they're damage controlling because they know when DD becomes mainstream there will be no more used game services.GameStop: Digital Distribution not a sig ...
[QUOTE=''Hewkii'']they're damage controlling because they know when DD becomes mainstream there will be no more used game services.[/QUOTE] But if they had said that, their stock price would have plummeted. Thus, they tell everyone they're doing fine, and there is no need to worry. I'll believe them when there isn't a conflict of interest.
Well it will become mainstream eventually but right now i see it pretty impossible for DD to become mainstream for gaming.Game's File sizes are getting pretty high. I don't have the room for a 20 gig game here another there nonetheless the bandwidth to support it. Plus i'd rather have the physical copy than the digital copy and i'm sure theres plenty of people like me.
DD is really only starting to become popular for PC's. If you factor in most console games can't be downloaded and that a lot of PC gamers still buy their games off the shelves (some people do like hard copies), I can see that they really don't have to worry for a while. However I think it'll be sooner then 2020.
iwish this didn't realy happen. i like having boxes and manual and like 3 disc to install. also because of anti paricy things. u can only install the game for a certain amount of computers. lets say sombody has a virus decides to reinstall windows. consoles can't realy do this yet because of the size of hardrives; 360 arcade 256mb, pro 20gig (10gig) elite maybe 120gig. ps3 40 or 80 gig maybe depending on how many games. wii idk the hard drive space but not in the gigs.
Take 12 years off of that date and you have an accurate date. DD is relevent today. I don't care about it on the PC side of having boxes because they never look nice, since they are all asymetrical or they only give you paper cases or whatever crap like that. For console games thats a different story because they look nice since they are all symetrical, I couldn't care less about manuals since every game I get I know exactly what i'm getting into.
[QUOTE=''Hewkii'']they're damage controlling because they know when DD becomes mainstream there will be no more used game services.[/QUOTE]excellent point
[QUOTE=''SolidGame_basic''] [QUOTE=''Hewkii'']they're damage controlling because they know when DD becomes mainstream there will be no more used game services.[/QUOTE]excellent point [/QUOTE]How would we buy our game systems? :ohm...too easy of a question I think.
[QUOTE=''Hewkii'']they're damage controlling because they know when DD becomes mainstream there will be no more used game services.[/QUOTE] There's a good chance that you're right. 2020 seems like a rediculously long way off, and i think DD has been progressing much faster than they think.
I personally can't wait for DD to really take off. What could be better then DL'ing a game before it's actual release and having it unlock itself at midnight so you can play it immediately without having to go to a store? Besides, it'll keep me from selling off my games that I eventually end up buying back again because I later think about how much I want to play them again. :)
[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
[QUOTE=''FF6fan''] Well it will become mainstream eventually but right now i see it pretty impossible for DD to become mainstream for gaming.Game's File sizes are getting pretty high. I don't have the room for a 20 gig game here another there nonetheless the bandwidth to support it. Plus i'd rather have the physical copy than the digital copy and i'm sure theres plenty of people like me. [/QUOTE]Next gen HD's will be in the TB range and with systems such as preloading for new releases the bandwidth problem can be minimized. I expect almost every game to be available vid DD next gen. PC is already there with most publishers using Steam or D2D or developing their own client.
[QUOTE=''Nedemis'']I personally can't wait for DD to really take off. What could be better then DL'ing a game before it's actual release and having it unlock itself at midnight so you can play it immediately without having to go to a store? Besides, it'll keep me from selling off my games that I eventually end up buying back again because I later think about how much I want to play them again. :)[/QUOTE]Hopefully you will be able to transfer game licence's like on Steam. Somehow though I can not see MS/Sony/Nintendo passing up the chance to shut down the used game market. Hopefully prices will come down quicker though since there wont be retailers that have to sell above cost to make a profit.
Most people still don't have acess to a connection fast enough with a montly limit big enough. In 6-8 years time when the majority of people can acess sucha connection the averge game will probably be 16-20GB instead of 5-8GB.
[QUOTE=''Marka1700'']Most people still don't have acess to a connection fasth enough with a montly limit big enough.[/QUOTE]Well hopefull this will force ISP's to update their damn networks. They are trying to force caps using the BS excuse that most of the trafic is illeagle p2p use. Now that users will have a legit reason to eat up the bandwidth they will have no choice or will start to fall to upstarts and competition from companies like Verison.
DD will break the barrier that small developers need to make a name for themselves. I see digital distrbution and standardization being a standard reality in the not to much coming years.
[QUOTE=''TOAO_Cyrus1''] [QUOTE=''Marka1700'']Most people still don't have acess to a connection fasth enough with a montly limit big enough.[/QUOTE]Well hopefull this will force ISP's to update their damn networks. They are trying to force caps using the BS excuse that most of the trafic is illeagle p2p use. Now that users will have a legit reason to eat up the bandwidth they will have no choice or will start to fall to upstarts and competition from companies like Verison.[/QUOTE] We all know the real reason:$$$$$$$$$$