Digital Distribution discussion on IGN

[fast]

I should also add that I do not believe the same should be applied to PC digital distribution. I still dont trust it fully, but it has a much better record than console, mainly since most programs that work on xp will work on vista and 7. Also if it is released on the pc, odds are itll be cracked. Granted that opens another side to the discussion we probably should not get into.

[J T]

This is probably a blasphemous thing to say on a website full of retro gaming collectors, but I'm beginning to prefer digital distribution over hard copies. I used to care about having a box, manual, artwork, and physical media, but these days I just don't care. I have collected for a long time and as you can see I have a pretty decent collection. But I really just care about the games, not the medium.

If you read my posts, you probably know that Steam is my digital distributor of choice, so my opinion about digital distribution of videogames is mostly tied to their service. I don't know how things are done on PSN, WiiWare, or XBox Live. Here are the reasons why I prefer digital distribution.

1. Saving physical space- My games take up a lot of room and I don't have a mansion to keep them all in. I like the fact that digital copies don't take up space.

2. Damage security- Because my games are tied to my Steam account, I can always re-download them as needed. Now that more games use Steam Cloud, I can also keep my save states even if I switch computers or my hard drive crashes. Plus, I don't have to spend money on memory cards like I would for a console.

3. Insant Updates- Games have bugs. Being instantly connected to the latest updates without having to search and patch is a really nice service provided by Steam.

4. Easy access to free mods & DLC- PC gamers have always had this benefit, but a digital distributor like Steam makes it even easier to get access to mods and free additional content for your games.

5. Integrated online capabilities- Using the Steam client I'm instantly connected to friends online and can quickly find an online match or meet new gamer friends through groups, forums, and chat.

I'm a recent convert to digital distribution. 6 months ago I wouldn't touch the stuff. I only wanted physical media. Then there were a few games I wanted that I could only get through Steam (Audiosurf started it), and I have found that I so appreciate what the Steam client provides, that I haven't missed the physical media.

[Inazuma]

Have any hackers out there managed to figure out a way to preserve these games so we can share and play them after they are no longer available?

Today you can log in to Amazon's music store and buy DRM free music mp3 files, that allow you to copy/move/save with no restrictions. The price may be a little high but it's pretty damn nice how it works. Who can we thank for this? Piracy! There is no way in hell we would have this wonderful digitally downloaded music if it weren't for Napster, Pirate Bay, etc. Hopefully video games end up following suit. It may be the only hope for games such as Castle Crashers and Dr. Mario Wii.

[J T]

Have any hackers out there managed to figure out a way to preserve these games so we can share and play them after they are no longer available?

Today you can log in to Amazon's music store and buy DRM free music mp3 files, that allow you to copy/move/save with no restrictions. The price may be a little high but it's pretty damn nice how it works. Who can we thank for this? Piracy! There is no way in hell we would have this wonderful digitally downloaded music if it weren't for Napster, Pirate Bay, etc. Hopefully video games end up following suit. It may be the only hope for games such as Castle Crashers and Dr. Mario Wii.

I think so. I have a PC version of Street Fighter HD Remix that I'm not supposed to have.

[Inazuma]

This is probably a blasphemous thing to say on a website full of retro gaming collectors, but I'm beginning to prefer digital distribution over hard copies. I used to care about having a box, manual, artwork, and physical media, but these days I just don't care. I have collected for a long time and as you can see I have a pretty decent collection. But I really just care about the games, not the medium.

If you read my posts, you probably know that Steam is my digital distributor of choice, so my opinion about digital distribution of videogames is mostly tied to their service. I don't know how things are done on PSN, WiiWare, or XBox Live. Here are the reasons why I prefer digital distribution.

1. Saving physical space- My games take up a lot of room and I don't have a mansion to keep them all in. I like the fact that digital copies don't take up space.

2. Damage security- Because my games are tied to my Steam account, I can always re-download them as needed. Now that more games use Steam Cloud, I can also keep my save states even if I switch computers or my hard drive crashes. Plus, I don't have to spend money on memory cards like I would for a console.

3. Insant Updates- Games have bugs. Being instantly connected to the latest updates without having to search and patch is a really nice service provided by Steam.

4. Easy access to free mods & DLC- PC gamers have always had this benefit, but a digital distributor like Steam makes it even easier to get access to mods and free additional content for your games.

5. Integrated online capabilities- Using the Steam client I'm instantly connected to friends online and can quickly find an online match or meet new gamer friends through groups, forums, and chat.

I'm a recent convert to digital distribution. 6 months ago I wouldn't touch the stuff. I only wanted physical media. Then there were a few games I wanted that I could only get through Steam (Audiosurf started it), and I have found that I so appreciate what the Steam client provides, that I haven't missed the physical media.

That's all very nice but what if you could no longer play those games anymore? I see you are currently playing Parappa the Rapper 2 on PS2. How would you feel if it was no longer available? Actually, why don't you throw away everything you own gaming related that came out before the PS2, then tell me again how much you love your digital distribution.

*Inazuma goes to play Hoshi no Kirby on the Game Boy*

[Jrecee]

This is probably a blasphemous thing to say on a website full of retro gaming collectors, but I'm beginning to prefer digital distribution over hard copies. I used to care about having a box, manual, artwork, and physical media, but these days I just don't care. I have collected for a long time and as you can see I have a pretty decent collection. But I really just care about the games, not the medium.

If you read my posts, you probably know that Steam is my digital distributor of choice, so my opinion about digital distribution of videogames is mostly tied to their service. I don't know how things are done on PSN, WiiWare, or XBox Live. Here are the reasons why I prefer digital distribution.

1. Saving physical space- My games take up a lot of room and I don't have a mansion to keep them all in. I like the fact that digital copies don't take up space.

2. Damage security- Because my games are tied to my Steam account, I can always re-download them as needed. Now that more games use Steam Cloud, I can also keep my save states even if I switch computers or my hard drive crashes. Plus, I don't have to spend money on memory cards like I would for a console.

3. Insant Updates- Games have bugs. Being instantly connected to the latest updates without having to search and patch is a really nice service provided by Steam.

4. Easy access to free mods & DLC- PC gamers have always had this benefit, but a digital distributor like Steam makes it even easier to get access to mods and free additional content for your games.

5. Integrated online capabilities- Using the Steam client I'm instantly connected to friends online and can quickly find an online match or meet new gamer friends through groups, forums, and chat.

I'm a recent convert to digital distribution. 6 months ago I wouldn't touch the stuff. I only wanted physical media. Then there were a few games I wanted that I could only get through Steam (Audiosurf started it), and I have found that I so appreciate what the Steam client provides, that I haven't missed the physical media.

There are of course positives to Digital distribution. And if all those things work for you that's good, but I still see problems with a lot of that.

1. Saving space is good if you have a need for that. Personally I'd have games in my bathroom cabinets and my fridge before I'd replace them with digital versions. I also don't think space is a huge issue for 90% of people. If you're a serious collector or you live in a very small space it may make a difference.

2. This is the one I still don't agree with. The security. Nothing is secure, especially not something digital. Even if the xbox servers are backed up a million times over, that won't make a difference if they decide to bolt from the games industry. I also don't think they're above trying to make a quick buck from people by ditching their 360 data when they move onto the xbox 720.

3. Bug fixes. This is great. . . maybe. But I want choice. When I turn on my system I want to play my game, not hear that I have to download a patch if I want to continue, or logon to live. I think this also paves the way for developers to rush products out the door not fully tested. "We can make the christmas holiday. . . it'll be buggy as hell but we'll just fix all that in febuary".

4 and 5. I'm not much into playing games online but these things seem to be available even if you buy a packaged product. Downloadable content to extend the initial game is fine with me. . . if you want that sort of thing. That said if I really wanted to buy horse armor I'd still prefer to buy an expansion pack from the store, but I see the appeal of this as an individual downloadable product, it wouldn't work as well in a physical form.

I also think that the PC world is a lot different than the console world. Things are a lot more controlled on an xbox or ps3. The tools to copy games or make them work on another computer are readily available on a computer, that type of stuff is much more complicated on a closed system console.

[J T]

That's all very nice but what if you could no longer play those games anymore? I see you are currently playing Parappa the Rapper 2 on PS2. How would you feel if it was no longer available? Actually, why don't you throw away everything you own gaming related that came out before the PS2, then tell me again how much you love your digital distribution.

I have everything I own before the PS2 in a digital copy on emulators. I probably could get rid of it. I just have some sentimental attachment and prefer to play on the original console when possible.

Yeah, there is some worry of "what if Steam goes out of business or changes management/policies", but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying what they offer. The CEO has stated that if Steam ever goes under, they will release something ahead of time so you can retain your games. You can have your doubts about that, but I imagine it would be a huge legal battle if they didn't have that safeguard. I think it will be fine. For the convenience of digital distribution and the great deals they regularly have, I'll live with the uncertainty.

[MrPopo]

3. Bug fixes. This is great. . . maybe. But I want choice. When I turn on my system I want to play my game, not hear that I have to download a patch if I want to continue, or logon to live. I think this also paves the way for developers to rush products out the door not fully tested. "We can make the christmas holiday. . . it'll be buggy as hell but we'll just fix all that in febuary".

Welcome to the PC world circa the launch of the internet.

4 and 5. I'm not much into playing games online but these things seem to be available even if you buy a packaged product. Downloadable content to extend the initial game is fine with me. . . if you want that sort of thing. That said if I really wanted to buy horse armor I'd still prefer to buy an expansion pack from the store, but I see the appeal of this as an individual downloadable product, it wouldn't work as well in a physical form.

Steam is nice because it has the mods integrated into the platform. So using the same Steam client I can find all the Half Life 2 mods, usually with some form of score or review attached and some screenshots. It's nice to have, but certainly not a reason to prefer digital over physical.

I also think that the PC world is a lot different than the console world. Things are a lot more controlled on an xbox or ps3. The tools to copy games or make them work on another computer are readily available on a computer, that type of stuff is much more complicated on a closed system console.

I think that was JT's point. The PC world is more open, so you have less of the "service discontinued" fears. If Steam goes away there will be people to step in and let me play all my games.

[Inazuma]

That's all very nice but what if you could no longer play those games anymore? I see you are currently playing Parappa the Rapper 2 on PS2. How would you feel if it was no longer available? Actually, why don't you throw away everything you own gaming related that came out before the PS2, then tell me again how much you love your digital distribution.

I have everything I own before the PS2 in a digital copy on emulators. I probably could get rid of it. I just have some sentimental attachment and prefer to play on the original console when possible.

Yeah, there is some worry of "what if Steam goes out of business or changes management/policies", but it hasn't stopped me from enjoying what they offer. The CEO has stated that if Steam ever goes under, they will release something ahead of time so you can retain your games. You can have your doubts about that, but I imagine it would be a huge legal battle if they didn't have that safeguard. I think it will be fine. For the convenience of digital distribution and the great deals they regularly have, I'll live with the uncertainty.

I didn't know that about Steam. So they will always be available no matter what? If I decide I want to play a game that was exclusive to Steam 20 years from now, I will be able to? If the big console companies would do the same thing, that would go a long way to convince me to download from them. But if Steam was no longer in business, how would I pay them to download the 20 year old game? Or are they saying everything will become free if that were to happen?

I still want to be able to have PSN download games available on multiple PS3s I may own, and be able to play it at a friend's house though.

[J T]

I didn't know that about Steam. So they will always be available no matter what? If I decide I want to play a game that was exclusive to Steam 20 years from now, I will be able to? If the big console companies would do the same thing, that would go a long way to convince me to download from them. But if Steam was no longer in business, how would I pay them to download the 20 year old game? Or are they saying everything will become free if that were to happen?

I still want to be able to have PSN download games available on multiple PS3s I may own, and be able to play it at a friend's house though.

The way it works is that you pay to have access to a download and you cannot use that downloaded game without the Steam client and your account, which requires periodic online activation. You can even make DVD backups if you want, you just can't play the games without an active Steam account. If they go out of business, they will provide a key that will allow you to play the games you have downloaded or backed up without using the Steam account. So theoretically, yeah, you should still be able to play your Steam games 20 years from now.