Midway Games removed from XBLA

[J T]

At first, I was totally against downloadable games in any form. I now see downloadable games definitely have a place in todays gaming market. Small niche devs can't survive anymore with the bigboys on the store shelves. Downloads are really the only way a niche or indie game can succeed today sadly.

This is a great point that I hadn't really thought much about. Part of what makes Digital Distribution cool is that you are not limited to physical shelf space. In a shop that sells PC games, they aren't going to carry small name titles or games that are several years old because they will just hog shelf space for a long time before being sold (especially since PC games carry on the ridiculous practice of oversized boxes). In the digital world, those games just sit on a server somewhere that can hold a near endless amout of games. As a retro enthusiast, this is just awesome to have this ability to easily find any old game at a good price. It is fantastic, especially if it's had the DRM pulled and been updated to work on a modern machine like the games at GOG.

[lost_within]

Thats why I don't use steam and get steamed up over nonsense ............

har har har


No seriously...that was such a low blow on a cheap level it really made me laugh lol

[darthmunky]

Wait a sec, I bought Mortal Kombat 3 on Xbox Live. Does this mean I can't play it anymore or it's just not purchasable anymore.

[CRTGAMER]

At first, I was totally against downloadable games in any form. I now see downloadable games definitely have a place in todays gaming market. Small niche devs can't survive anymore with the bigboys on the store shelves. Downloads are really the only way a niche or indie game can succeed today sadly.

This is a great point that I hadn't really thought much about. Part of what makes Digital Distribution cool is that you are not limited to physical shelf space. In a shop that sells PC games, they aren't going to carry small name titles or games that are several years old because they will just hog shelf space for a long time before being sold (especially since PC games carry on the ridiculous practice of oversized boxes). In the digital world, those games just sit on a server somewhere that can hold a near endless amout of games. As a retro enthusiast, this is just awesome to have this ability to easily find any old game at a good price. It is fantastic, especially if it's had the DRM pulled and been updated to work on a modern machine like the games at GOG.

Digital Downloads keeps packaging and operating costs down for smaller companies who create innovative Indie games. But that smaller company might not stay afloat and go away. Seeing a lot of older Retro games appear is great. Still feel better with Retro game compilations released on a disc instead of download. You have a hard copy if a company folds.

Disc also have extras. The Sega Ages for example, lots of extras, bonuses, flyers and history on the disc. Plus the game manual to enjoy and flip through. The download is basically the game and online instructions.

[Niode]

Wait a sec, I bought Mortal Kombat 3 on Xbox Live. Does this mean I can't play it anymore or it's just not purchasable anymore.

You can still play it, you just can't buy it any more. Who knows how long you'll be able to redownload it for if your data gets corrupt.

[DaGamingMonkey]

Wait a sec, I bought Mortal Kombat 3 on Xbox Live. Does this mean I can't play it anymore or it's just not purchasable anymore.

My guess is they took it down so they can re release it as an arcade game in xbox's little retro game world they have planned.
What would be nice is if you already owning the game would convert into already having the avatar arcade representation.

[GSZX1337]

Steam - Typically I would just say Half-Life but since I know this wont go away, Ill actually spend money there. It is not the same as having the disc, but when they put things on sale, they put them on sale - exactly what Digital Distribution should do.

You can also backup your game files.

[Hobie-wan]

My guess is they took it down so they can re release it as an arcade game in xbox's little retro game world they have planned.
What would be nice is if you already owning the game would convert into already having the avatar arcade representation.

More likely licensing and the bankruptcy.

[SplashChick]

Too much whining about digital distribution in this thread. Digital distribution opens up a ton of possibilities for game companies that would never have been considered before. Every game you buy, digital or not, has a chance of not working in the future. Physical games get scratched, chipped, worn, damage, stolen, or whatever else you can think of despite what your intentions and precautions are. The truth is you guys who are whining about it are just attached to the feeling of having something you can hold in your hand, it gives you more satisfaction as a collector and a sense of security because you can touch it. The fact of the matter is, despite whatever problems arise, digital distribution has been nothing but a benefit to the gaming industry. Face it, very damn few of the games you can get on XBLA or PSN or WiiWare would EVER have been considered for a physical release.

[corn619]

Too much whining about digital distribution in this thread. Digital distribution opens up a ton of possibilities for game companies that would never have been considered before. Every game you buy, digital or not, has a chance of not working in the future. Physical games get scratched, chipped, worn, damage, stolen, or whatever else you can think of despite what your intentions and precautions are. The truth is you guys who are whining about it are just attached to the feeling of having something you can hold in your hand, it gives you more satisfaction as a collector and a sense of security because you can touch it. The fact of the matter is, despite whatever problems arise, digital distribution has been nothing but a benefit to the gaming industry. Face it, very damn few of the games you can get on XBLA or PSN or WiiWare would EVER have been considered for a physical release.

I failed to see all the whining you claim to see on this thread. What I did see however was people having a civilized discussion on the pros and cons of digital distribution. There will always be some people that would prefer to buy there games in physical form. And after I lost about 20 games and 50 songs on my iPhone through a firmware upgrade error with iTunes, with no option to redownload them I don't blame them.

Some forms of digital distribution are great and there are some that suck and really need to be more customer friendly like iTunes and Nintendo. I download some small indie games on XBL and PSN and I agree that these games would have never been successful at retail but are great games, and really need to be played Like I said in my previous post.