Digital Distribution discussion on IGN

[Jrecee]

I usually don't bother posting much on ign. It's mostly 14 year olds fighting over whether ps3 or xbox is better. But I post on some discussions like this one:

http://boards.ign.com/nintendo_wii_lobb ... 183478096/

The article was about miyamoto commenting that digital distribution will never be 100% of videogame sales. I posted:

I'm frustrated by the amount of digital only content already. I see lots of downloadable games that I'd be interested in buying, if only they were on the shelf of a store with a box and disc.

What happens if my wii or xbox harddrive gets wiped? Or my system dies in 5 or 6 years? I can still go back and play all my snes and sega genesis games. Can the same be said for Pacman CE or my download of Alien Soldier?

Not to mention the basic human attraction to collecting doesn't work with Ones and Zeros.

And this other guy posted in reply:

Jregork; You DO realize that all your online purchases are attached to your Live/PSN account, right? If something happens to your hard drive and you have to get a new system, you just use your account again, dude.

And the basic human attraction to collecting is a myth. Just 'cuz you're a pack rat, and probably an achievement whore too, doesn't mean everyone else is that vapid. What matters is content, not collecting stuff and showing it off.

Feel free to read my reply to him and post in response if you have something to add and an ign account.

[Inazuma]

What you posted is exactly how I feel about it. XBL and PSN may not be up and running 20 years from now, so we could be fucked. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the games were no longer available when the next generation of consoles starts.

[Jrecee]

Exactly. Look to Nintendo to get an idea of how many times a company can rerelease a game for a new system. Or Sega. Oh you deleted your download of Sonic 2: Rehashed? Well you can download Sonic 2: Re-Rehashed on Xbox 720 for only $10! Yes we know it's basically the same thing you bought for $5 4 years ago but this version has new achievements!

[Dakinggamer87]

Digital Distribution I think is great for new gamers to experience classic gaming but I prefer physical media over a digital copy of any form of entertainment..

[Dylan]

Yep, I'm with you guys. The real problem I have though are games like Castle Crashers or the Street Fighter 2 HD Remix, what's going to happen to them? If they don't get released outside of XBL or PSN they're just going to disappear down the line.

[fast]

I just view it as unrecoverable funds. Which is why I only purchase titles I cannot play any other way and offer significant playvalue for myself and my friends.

While it is not the best version, Dr Mario Wii has been played to death and we have made it through Castle Crashers enough times to justify the price many times over (I did chip in $5 for Castle Crashers, I do not own a 360). So if I cannot transfer Dr Mario Wii over, well thats ok. That said I will not be rebuying it, unless I can get the same value out of it a second time.

I hope that made sense.

[V3rtigo]

i dont have a ps3 so forgive this stupid question, but can you play your PSN games offline? what about storing them on an SD card?

[Luke]

I usually don't bother posting much on ign. It's mostly 14 year olds fighting over whether ps3 or xbox is better. But I post on some discussions like this one:

http://boards.ign.com/nintendo_wii_lobb ... 183478096/

The article was about miyamoto commenting that digital distribution will never be 100% of videogame sales. I posted:

I'm frustrated by the amount of digital only content already. I see lots of downloadable games that I'd be interested in buying, if only they were on the shelf of a store with a box and disc.

What happens if my wii or xbox harddrive gets wiped? Or my system dies in 5 or 6 years? I can still go back and play all my snes and sega genesis games. Can the same be said for Pacman CE or my download of Alien Soldier?

Not to mention the basic human attraction to collecting doesn't work with Ones and Zeros.

And this other guy posted in reply:

Jregork; You DO realize that all your online purchases are attached to your Live/PSN account, right? If something happens to your hard drive and you have to get a new system, you just use your account again, dude.

And the basic human attraction to collecting is a myth. Just 'cuz you're a pack rat, and probably an achievement whore too, doesn't mean everyone else is that vapid. What matters is content, not collecting stuff and showing it off.

Feel free to read my reply to him and post in response if you have something to add and an ign account.

Wow.
As soon as someone starts calling names, they've already lost the discussion. The guy calling you an "achievement whore" overstepped his boundaries. Plus, I don't think the guy knows the definition of vapid. That said, I have no intent on creating an IGN account.

I have to agree with Fast though. When you purchase digital copies, you purchase them with the knowledge that they are finite in keeping. It's a buyer beware deal.

[Jrecee]

Wow.
As soon as someone starts calling names, they've already lost the discussion. The guy calling you an "achievement whore" overstepped his boundaries. Plus, I don't think the guy knows the definition of vapid. That said, I have no intent on creating an IGN account.

I have to agree with Fast though. When you purchase digital copies, you purchase them with the knowledge that they are finite in keeping. It's a buyer beware deal.

Haha yeah I was confused about the achievement comment. Considering I was arguing in the defense of physical media and that I don't like the concept of "owning 1s and 0s" I don't understand why he would think I would care about some digital points that will be meaningless the day Xbox 3 comes out (if they aren't meaningless already).

[Erik_Twice]

I do not like digital distribution at all. Gives the customer less and the price is still the same.

I do not think Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will keep their online services up when the next generation comes. It's expensive and they don't care anyways. Even if they do 4 years later the next next generation appears and they will surely remove it.

Also most of the games are not developed by big players and they can die pretty easily. Wolrd of Goo is an example. The studio is unknown and could perfectly dissapear tomorrow leaving the rights stuck nowhere.

And we know that the big players will not release it beucase we are still waiting for Earthbound. Imagine what would happen with World of Goo if the company dissapears, no thanks.