European gamers get to download the most recent of releases a day after it hits retail, a step in the right direction for digital downloading full games?
(Prototype 2, PS3, Xbox 360)
I wish this was more common on the Xbox. As someone who once lived in a small town, you don't always have a game store within reasonable driving distance, meaning getting a new game when it releases simply isn't always feasible, even if you really want to support it. You could order it online, but it's one degree of extra effort people aren't always in the mood to put up with, plus the wait until it arrives.
I would perhaps download more games digitally if they marked the price correctly. Iv seen some games go for about £50 while I could go on the internet and get them for £30.
Thought the whole point of Digital Distribution was to cut on manufacturing costs and passing them savings onto the customer ?
well... one of the driving forces behind retail is competition. Stores offering the same item at competitive prices to bring in customers. Unfortunately the digital distribution somewhat removes that competition from the picture.
MS/Sony servers host the files and therefore it isnt like you could download a 360 game from gamestop or walmart. That may work for PC titles but not console titles. At best the way to get the digital copies for less would be to get the download cards from retailers.
As an example, I picked up alan wake for $8 from Amazon. The card was mailed to me and I used the code to download the game from xbox live while at the same time that game was still selling for over $15 at retail as well as live.
Some retailers are able to buy up the digital download cards and sell them cheap if need be. You just need to know where to look. Its no different than retailers offering live memberships for less than what MS is asking.
Because they can't afford to alienate retailers by having digital copies cost half of a retail copy. Granted, there are plenty of people who would rather have a physical copy, but it's hard to argue against paying $30 for a digital version of a game while the hard copy is still $60.
Your reason and the reason MS provides theirs 6 months down the road only seems to clarify my belief that these two companies are not going to cut out used games for their next systems. They're bending over trying to please retailers when they could stomp out a large portion of retail buyers by offering the games the day they come out at a reduced price.
I rather have a physical copy of my games. Only reason I care about DD is for my PC gaming. Because retail stores most don't stock up on PC games forcing me to buy games from steam,D2D,GOG,ect. But if I could get a physical copy instead, I would be happy
Digital game prices will not go down as long as retailers are there. Sony would not risk undermining retailers because they might not sell their games. Going digital only for games would be difficult because of the bandwidth involve.
It's £49.99 on the PSN store. At launch ME3 was around £40 on Amazon.
I was off work the week after it launched and decided i was going to buy it (before i had it completely ruined by spoilers all over the place). I could either a: buy it from Amazon with free delivery and wait a couple of days b: buy it and get it next day for an additional postage charge. c: DL it from the PSN store and wake up to find it sat ready to play. d: go to a store (outside!)
I don't think there are any technical limitations to doing this on either PSN or Live Networks. It probably has more to do with the console vendor's relationship with traditional retailers.
Sure you can provide day 1 or 2 downloads of games, but will traditional retailer stores give you much shelf space in that scenario as they no longer are getting the cut on game sales?
It was funny, I bought a Vita about a month ago and was wondering why the space in stores was very small for Vita. Then, I found out I could download everything digitally. Now, I don't visit the Vita section of any store and just download.
Retail is where many consoles are sold. Console vendors have to continue to find ways to give retailers a share of the pie, otherwise, retailers will stop carrying their product, because there is nothing in it for them.
If they really want to fight used games they could formulate their own pricing strategy via these digital sales. They just don't need to continue to keep them at full price when they are considered old... nor do they need to have them above what they are worth when they are old and used (cough... Microsoft). Both Sony and Microsoft should take Steams approach offer pop up sales at random times for digital purchases. As far as day one retail releases also available on PSN (SEN) and XBL I'm all for that... saves a trip to the store, pre orders, shipping and all that stuff. I'm sure they will also eventually incorporate their own exclusive content for buying it digitally
love digital. 2 words "Load times" so quick. Do away with disk imo. I love having every game on vita digital. no clutter in my game room. touch a game it loads. pow
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Below: Nope, because I'll have a Wii-U...try harder, lol.
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Legendary $20.00??? Pfffftt
Thought the whole point of Digital Distribution was to cut on manufacturing costs and passing them savings onto the customer ?
one of the driving forces behind retail is competition. Stores offering the same item at competitive prices to bring in customers. Unfortunately the digital distribution somewhat removes that competition from the picture.
MS/Sony servers host the files and therefore it isnt like you could download a 360 game from gamestop or walmart. That may work for PC titles but not console titles. At best the way to get the digital copies for less would be to get the download cards from retailers.
As an example, I picked up alan wake for $8 from Amazon. The card was mailed to me and I used the code to download the game from xbox live while at the same time that game was still selling for over $15 at retail as well as live.
Some retailers are able to buy up the digital download cards and sell them cheap if need be. You just need to know where to look. Its no different than retailers offering live memberships for less than what MS is asking.
Its good to see Sony doing this though...but at 60 bux a pop still? Why is that?
Your reason and the reason MS provides theirs 6 months down the road only seems to clarify my belief that these two companies are not going to cut out used games for their next systems. They're bending over trying to please retailers when they could stomp out a large portion of retail buyers by offering the games the day they come out at a reduced price.
Mass Effect 3 - £22.75 Amazon
Who wins.
It's good that the games are available but i won't buy them since they are way too expensive
At launch ME3 was around £40 on Amazon.
I was off work the week after it launched and decided i was going to buy it (before i had it completely ruined by spoilers all over the place).
I could either
a: buy it from Amazon with free delivery and wait a couple of days
b: buy it and get it next day for an additional postage charge.
c: DL it from the PSN store and wake up to find it sat ready to play.
d: go to a store (outside!)
I chose C.
Sure you can provide day 1 or 2 downloads of games, but will traditional retailer stores give you much shelf space in that scenario as they no longer are getting the cut on game sales?
It was funny, I bought a Vita about a month ago and was wondering why the space in stores was very small for Vita. Then, I found out I could download everything digitally. Now, I don't visit the Vita section of any store and just download.
Retail is where many consoles are sold. Console vendors have to continue to find ways to give retailers a share of the pie, otherwise, retailers will stop carrying their product, because there is nothing in it for them.