Digital Distribution discussion on IGN

[corn619]

Yet one more reason why digital distribution sucks. http://kotaku.com/5330810/final-fantasy ... ng-thought The more I see these kind of crap, the more I think game companies will bury themselves with their own greed in this whole Digital Distribution scam. Hopefully people will smarten up and just stop supporting greedy companies like this.

[Inazuma]

DLC can end up bringing the final price of the game higher than your typical DVD based game, in addition to becoming completely unavailable later on. For the most part, DLC is used as a way to get more money out of the consumer. Many of us would never consider buying a game that costs over $60 but never think twice about it if it's broken up into multiple DLC payments.

It really sucks when you buy a game for $60, only to find out later that the actual price of the game is $70 because of newly released DLC.

[HellHammer]

I suppose I should note that even the Satellaview games can be found online as ROMs. But they are incomplete due to the lack of streaming audio, hence why some are unplayable(since they required auditory clues).

Exactly. All I'm saying when referring to Sega Channel and Satellaview is that these games were digitally distributed by the biggest names in the industry and now you can't play them.

Since Nintendo is already showing that Wiiware games are NOT a permanent offering by removing particular games entirely, I see Satellaview and Sega Channel both as an example of what's to come. Especially when considering that the Wiiware service isn't even two years old.

We haven't heard from a single company what's to become of our DD games and DLC come the next gen of consoles, I don't expect a great outcome. Basically, I don't want to be forced to play games that I've already paid for like Mega Man 9 or World of Goo via buggy, issue-ridden emulators 5 years from now, when Nintendo has discontinued them.

[fast]

Well Hellhammer, Dolphin is the buggy issue ridden emulator of your future, now.

[MrPopo]

I suppose I should note that even the Satellaview games can be found online as ROMs. But they are incomplete due to the lack of streaming audio, hence why some are unplayable(since they required auditory clues).

Exactly. All I'm saying when referring to Sega Channel and Satellaview is that these games were digitally distributed by the biggest names in the industry and now you can't play them.

The difference, though, is that today's DD games will always be playable. The Sega Channel and Satellaview depended on a streaming service for gameplay. Now, I agree that you won't be able to buy Mega Man 9 at some point in the future, but if your Wii is still operational you should be good to go.

[Inazuma]

The difference, though, is that today's DD games will always be playable. The Sega Channel and Satellaview depended on a streaming service for gameplay. Now, I agree that you won't be able to buy Mega Man 9 at some point in the future, but if your Wii is still operational you should be good to go.

And thats ok with you? Not being able to buy the game, or play the game you paid for because your console dies.

- MrPopo spends lots of money on download games.
- 10 years go by and MrPopo wants to play an old game he missed out on.
- MrPopo discovers that the game is no longer available and decides to settle for re-playing his old games instead.
- MrPopo can't play any of his games because the console doesn't work anymore.

Wow, sounds great, doesn't it?

[corn619]

The difference, though, is that today's DD games will always be playable. The Sega Channel and Satellaview depended on a streaming service for gameplay. Now, I agree that you won't be able to buy Mega Man 9 at some point in the future, but if your Wii is still operational you should be good to go.

And thats ok with you? Not being able to buy the game, or play the game you paid for because your console dies.

- MrPopo spends lots of money on download games.
- 10 years go by and MrPopo wants to play an old game he missed out on.
- MrPopo discovers that the game is no longer available and decides to settle for re-playing his old games instead.
- MrPopo can't play any of his games because the console doesn't work anymore.

Wow, sounds great, doesn't it?

Thats sad but funny at the same time, weird.

[SpaceBooger]

I can see both sides of the argument and agree with both.

I would be cool with DD games if they are cheaper. I was going to get SF4 from Steam, but choose to get the DVD version for the same price.

I love some of my WiiWare games and think the price and convenience is nice, but I also refuse to download any games like the SquareSoft ones that almost force me to pay for more content.

The biggest thing I don't like about downloadable games is that you cant trade or resell them. I used to buy games beat them, and then trade them to a friend for a game he beat... heck to this day a couple of friends and I just borrow games from each other. He gave me a couple good RPGs to play for when my next child is due next month. With downloadable content, I would be bored off my ass since I can't afford new games with a new baby but I can borrow a friend's hard copy (console game) for free.

[J T]

If you have a friend you REALLY trust, you can borrow each other's Steam ID and password to play one another's games on your own machine.

Still, you're right. It does annoy me that I can't sell, trade, or even give away my Steam games. This was particularly annoying when I bought the 2K Huge Pack which had a TON of games from 2K bundled together. That included Bioshock, which I already owned; however, I could not give my extra copy to a friend-- customer service said no.

You guys have valid complaints about digital distribution, it's not that I don't see that, it's just that for me, it's improved to a point now where I'm willing to buy digital, even if it is a tiny bit of a gamble.

[Jrecee]

If digital distribution works for you that's great. It has its positive aspects. I just think these people who think it will or should replace actual products are crazy.

I think the two should coexist, but I don't ever want digital distribution to take over 100%. I also think it's naive to think that it's not a serious threat. If people don't stand in the way of companies taking advantage of them the pay-per-item thing is going to go too far. The number of games that are download only are going to increase, and the whole concept of possession is going to disappear.

My point is that I want the choice. There are lots of games for xbox live that I would be interested in playing, but won't because I can't buy a packaged verison of it. People will say I'm missing out on games, but there's thousands of great games out there I haven't played yet, I'll never play them all, so unless I am EXTREMELY interested in a downloadable game, I'm going to buy retail games first.

DLC has been great for small developers to get their content out there, especially in a world where the wii aisle is packed solid with backyard baseball and barbie dance groove 6. A lot of games that wouldn't have come out otherwise have become popular. But once they do, how about offering a way to purchase an actual boxed copy, even if it's just online? I know capcom did a limited run of megaman 9 and look what it's going for:

http://cgi.ebay.com/MEGAMAN-MEGA-MAN-9- ... 286.c0.m14

How are the auctions for downloads of turtles in time reshelled going?