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Didn't he once say that online gaming wouldn't work that great with consoles as well? But I hope his right about digital distribution. I like to have a balance between both physical and digital media.
Obviously, larger games are better in physical form, else they would take up too much space on the HD.
Smaller games, like off xbox Arcade and PSN are ideal as downloads.
Simples. This is the first time that i've agreed with Miyamoto in a long time. It does make you feel more secure having physical media. Also, internet speeds are not good enough yet for everything to be based on downloads. Perhaps in Japan, where a wireless dongle can get you 40mb and the standard household gets 50mb, but not here where the best we get is 50mb. The average here in Britain is 8mb, but you're lucky if you have that. Here in rural Yorkshire we get 2mb and it goes down all the time. Even if we get better speeds, we will see AOL/Tiscali/BT introducing 'gamer plans' that allow you uncapped speeds, but they will probably cost three times as much. Living in Britain p**ses me off. Weren't Nintendo also the last to cling on to the cartridge and embrace optical technology Digital distribution will replace most physical methods for the simple reason that there is more money for publishers and developers that way.
Consoles always tend to lag behind the PC market in terms of technology by a year or two (ie CDROMs, internet gaming etc) and you can see by success of Steam, D2D and GoG that it's not going to take long before consoles catch up.
Personally I love digital platforms, I haven't bought a physical game in about a year thanks to my Steam addiction (just bought company of heroes gold for 8 quid, yay :D) and it's great being able to use my steam account anywhere in the world and have access to my games.
The other pro is it gives a medium for the "little guy" who has a really good idea but no medium to send it across. The success of Xbox arcarde, steam and even wiiware to a certain extent show that more and more small developers will favour this over shipping a CD out across the world.
As always, Nintendo will be the last to join the party (like how the N64 still used carts rather than CD's :P) but it will get there eventually.
Personally, I'm all for not stacking my room up with games and faff around with CD keys etc :P
Long live Steam :P Yeah this digital hocus pokus is all well and good but as the chap above (LordIronGut from the mighty Yorkshire) says in the UK at least we get bum shuffled with the internet, does anyone actually get 8mb?? Can you imagine downloading Final Fantasy online? geez you could have gone to the shops to get a hard copy and then sat down in Starbucks to marvel at the instruction book over a fancy coffee before returning home to play whilst the download would have stopped twice and the Xbox would have melted under the strain. You say that now, but I'd like to know how many people would still prefer cartridges.
Cartridges made gaming more fun because you never had to wait for loading.
As time has progressed, gaming has become more complicated and cumbersome. Along with digital downloads, came patches. Patches only came through developers rushing games to retailers.
Now every game gets updated, tweaked and poked to within an inch of it's life.
My take on it all? Well, changes don't happen for the benefit of the consumer, that's for sure.
Before digital media, we never had to pay for DLC because every game was complete We never had to wait for patches and updates and 99% of the time received a thoroughly play-tested game.
Horray for digital downloads!!! Thing is, that the Point Of Sale in the High street drives sales and why companies spend big amounts to have their product at eye level and so on. HDD’s size will continue to grow, but so will games. The average person doesn’t wan to download things and wants the physical product.
Its hard to give someone a present digitally too. Based on the fact the biggest part of the industry is the run up to Christmas and now just after too.
Not mentioning download speeds and averages.
Yes the Publisher has an interest to do it digitally, but they would still have to pay the likes of Steam, MS, Nintendo or Sony distribution costs. Good lord the whole gaming landscpae would be a hell of a lot different if they hadn't.
Cost em big that one did.
However here i think Miyamoto has a point. If Gaming went digital download only, it'd destroy a large part of said industry, I can see myself getting behind downloads 100%, as I don't sell my games or lend them out. Waiting for a game to download doesn't bother me either, as I could do plenty of other things during that time (Football Manager or Reason 4!).
But I still believe we need hard copies due to reasons you guys have stated. I think digital only gaming will happen, but not in the next 5 years at least.
Plus the biggest reason I don't use it that often is the cost. At times (especially with Steam in my experience) it's cheaper to buy a boxed copy than via Steam. when the cost comes down a bit, I'll embrace it, until then I'll just stick with my DVD sized box. completely agree with you there. who is to say back in the day of cartridges the games were thoroughly play tested? no software is bug free and there is no hope of any game being 100% tested, it just isnt possible.
games these days are a lot more complicated than the 80's or even 90's so i'd expect more issues. having said that i cant think of that many buggy games i own.
dlc is a funny topic as some dlc is legit but some is blatantly held back from the full release. i think the fallout 3 and gta 4 dlc is legit but i'm not sure about map packs for mutliplayer and extra models or skins.
for me the biggest decision is cost, if the cheapest way to get a game is digital download via steam i'll do that or if i want it early. if the high street or internet is cheaper i'll use that to get a physical copy. I'm really interested to see just how far Nintendo take games on SD memory cards,if they could squeeze enough memory on them at a cheap enough price i think they would make excellent alternatives to disc based games.(i know i'm mad :lol: ) Well, I'm perfectly fine with CDs and Cartridges, but do feel there will be a time where all videogames are downloaded from the internet (which, is quite discriminatory against those who can't get their consoles connected to the internet - I know many). You can see it starting already with things like WiiWare, XBox Arcade and PSN, how long before everything is downloaded off of them? Mind you, I like DLC, it saves the hefty release of expansion packages, or trying to bundle it all into a new game- I reckon that'll become an even bigger feature of gaming in the future too I was very reluctant to change from carts as well, because of the load times, but if you look at stuff like the bigger DS games, you find that load times aren't actually that much faster than DVDs anyway.
But I do prefer physical media over downloads. We have a really good 16Mb connection which is reliable and we get at least 12Mb most of the time, so I can get stuff fast. The problem is when something breaks and you need to download it all again. Even on my connection I can install a handful of games from DVD in the time it takes to download a single title. I'd hate to have to do that to my entire collection. There is a theory that has been around for a while that it could go full circle. I.E. Flash SD cards at about 8GB can be picked up at retail now for about £6-7, (I got mine for £4.99 from ebuyer the other week) which after vat retail margins etc are taken off its almost cheap enough to use them as a storage medium (8GB is just a little less than a DD DVD can take 8.7GB). This would provide quick loading times again and would also be writable for saves & updates/dlc etc. And as times passes big capacity would become available at affordable prices allow more space for bigger better games. IT probably won't happen but interesting thought though. My take?
People will always want to wrap things up at Christmas and birthdays. any game i care abt i will buy the physical copy. you know, a special edition of shadow of the colossus doesnt really feel special when its all just 1's and 0's.
digital dl will really take off on consoles but i dont think it will overtake retail sales for a very, very long time, if ever. You can wrap up a gift card with a download code on it. Not much to look at though. @Osiris25
SD cards would mean been able to have a multi media based games console (minus the DVD disc player) built into all LCD teles.
Games been delivered through a simple card reader and DLC or even streaming them via a "onlive "style cloud based server.
You only have to look at the slimness of solid state laptops to see how easily once the price comes down this tech will just be another circuit board in the belly of a standard 40in LCD/OLED tale . I disagree. I hate that shit and leave it to my lady whenever possible! 8) @lawless,
Yep i think that backs up my post even more. I have to say i'm suprised that console companies (Sony in particluar) Haven't built there hardware in to TV's yet. What better way to get games consoles into people's houses without having to convince them to buy one. With wireless pad and so on reducing clutter and as you say Slimline technology(like the new range of plasma, LCD,LED's, SED's etc. it would all make sense. Maybe we should patent the idea wait til one of them does and sue them when they do use it like all these tech companies do rofl!! There have always been buggy, incomplete games; just there was no way of patching them. But I do like the rose-tinted spectacles. They're very you. The average gamer, yes, a member of my family (and 85% of others family probably as well) .....NO.
There are many things that will stop 100% digital media, ISP's coverage/Speeds, Retail costs, Presents, People losing data, Backup funcionality, people wanting hard copy and so on.
Id rather have the DVD, Blu ray than digital anyway. Okay some smaller cheaper games not so fussed about, but GTA IV download only? No thanks @Osiris25
lol
Here some interesting reading about what Sony have planned
(quote)
It's a rare day that Sony reveals much information about its intentions. Nonetheless, in an interview with Laptop Mag, Mike Abary, Senior Vice President of Sony's Information Technology Products Division, seemed more than happy to talk about the direction that his domain within the Sony empire will be taking over the coming months.
The bluntest of Abary's revelations is that there will be touchscreen Vaio products launched once Windows 7 - with its native touch support - launches. You don't get much clearer than saying: "You will see touch capabilities introduced on Vaio products that take advantage of Windows 7."
Abary also mentioned that, thanks to a recent reshuffle within Sony the Playstation, Vaio, Walkman and Reader electronics groups are now part of the same chain of command, meaning collaboration between the four should continue to improve. The main likely positive outcome of this? The PlayStation Network being made available to a wider number of product lines, including Vaio PCs (and PCs in general) with a focus on the video-on-demand side of PSN, rather than the games library.
That Sony wishes to extend the PlayStation Network infrastructure to non-PlayStation devices is hardly news. Hearing it confirmed that the divisions within Sony (traditionally a very segregated company) are all teaming together to make this happen is definitely positive and some more details as to how PlayStation Network will look and work away from the PS3 and PSP are more than welcome.
Abary also hopes to see a better integration of Sony's Reader products with the rest of its range. A side effect of that may be the availability of Sony's Book store away from its dedicated readers - although there's no confirmation of that.
In a nutshell: don't underestimate Sony's ability or intention to innovate just yet.
(end)
I really think they wont just stop at the vaio laptops but roll out this TECH to there Bravia range of teles ,just my opinion
Then my business head takes over and says making you buy two pieces of Tech against one piece of Tech ,which one make more money? Personally I wouldn't believe anything Nintendo says about were tech will be going.
They are ALWAYS behind times when it comes to hardware and tech...
And after N64 and GC I thought they would have learned by now.. Nintendo can't be that far behind in terms of tech when they are leading the way in motion tech.Somthing that all of a sudden the other two big players are now interested in. Yes, because like many other actually have REAL broadband. Infact I get an actual download speed of about 10 meg a second.
Thats cable broadband if you didnt know. Stop being cheap and using your old phone line for internet. It wasnt designed for that. Fibre Optic is designed for internet and is already years ahead of any speeds you will ever see from BT, Talktalk, etc.
Again yes. I used to play FFXI on the 360. Then I moved to WoW on the PC and I downloaded the whole game via the internet as I started with the 10day trial first. As long as the high street still exists videogames will probably still be available in the shops. Clothes, electronics, etc. aren't likely to be digitally distributed any time soon (at least until we have replicator technology) and the opportunity presented by all those people walking around with money in their pockets is too great to miss. yes Nintendo are always behind in tech. The company that were the first company to use d pads, joypads, analogue sticks, motion control,
designed the pad that the Sony have lampooned since they started making game machines.
untill the wii nintendo have always had the machine with the superior graphic and sound boards. and have generally made console gaming what it is today.
The first comapny to have DECENT interconnectivity between a home console and portable
Yes they have always been behind the times.
Go do your homework and then come back and tell me Nintendo are behind the times. I'm sorry young'un but gaming as we know today is the result of the inginuity of two companies really. Nintendo and SEGA. everything else is just built on the foundations they laid. Well considering that this very same theory emerged for books at the dawn of the internet I believe that this is pretty much close to as far down the download road we'll be going. Everyone said e-books were the way of the future, but last I checked the book industry was in extremely good health. As things currently stand I'd say that a nice balance of bigger games released on disk with all the smaller games along with retro games being downloadable is the path ahead. @ Wheresmymonkey
I'm glad someone else pointed out the obvious in regards to Nintendo and technology. Regardless of whether you love, hate or are indifferent to them you cannot accuse them of not being innovative. I work for a publishing company and got a free e-reader, and can say that I prefer them now (although I can see why people hate them). The main reasons they haven't taken of is pricing of the devices and e-books. Plus the average person on the street doesn't know about them yet, as I still get people peering over my shoulder when I'm on the bus! There's something about print thats just better than a gizmo with the words on the screen.
I also like the smell and feel of books, its odd. also theres nothing better than trauling through 2nd hand bookshops looking for something new. Wheresmymonkey is right on the nose, Nintendo and Sega paved the way for Microsoft, Sony and all the rest (Atari anyone?) They even saw that a straight head to head with XBox and Playstation was probably not as viable as developing down a innovative path hence the release of the Wii, Ninendo now effectively fish in the same pond but use different bait to the other 2.
Back to the digital thing, the book anaology is good but perhaps even better is music, I use i-tunes all the time but when a real fave comes out I buy the CD, been in HMV lately it is still mainly CDs and Films both commonly found online to download and this has been the case for how long? 5 years?
Humans love tech and fancy stuff that appears to save time and space but they also have an undying urge (in a general sense) to collect and have physical objects to promote their interests and justify their purchases.
The one thing that may break the back of it is price though in knowing the games industry for over 20 years I doubt very much that games will be offered cheap, you will get your virtual instructions, the game and pretty much nothing else for perhaps £30, anyone expecting less will be disappointed I think. I-tunes still flog albums at £7.99 most of the time even though you can get the physical copy for a few quid more. Its about convenience and I feel that due to age and demographic nature of gamers, convenience is not perhaps very high on their list of priorities. Same for me with records. Much nicer finding something trawling through the racks than downloading off itunes (something I will never ever do) and having the sleeve, lyrics sheet etc.
Ltd editions, box sets etc... what's not to love?? there are many industries music, film etc that lend themselves far better to a complete digital distribution and that hasn't happened. Why? well people still go out to the shops so presence in-store is still a massive part of marketing of a product.
Software companies should like the idea of digital only distribution as a game that only exists digitally and is downloaded will obviously make piracy more difficult and also cuts out the middle man... trouble is cutting out the middleman also cuts out a significant amount of leverage with consumers ... how will they (casual gamer, parent, impulse buyer) know the product is available? I assume through more marketing spend... prob the amount you just saved cutting out that middle man.. there are many industries music, film etc that lend themselves far better to a complete digital distribution and that hasn't happened. Why? well people still go out to the shops so presence in-store is still a massive part of marketing of a product.
Software companies should like the idea of digital only distribution as a game that only exists digitally and is downloaded will obviously make piracy more difficult and also cuts out the middle man... trouble is cutting out the middleman also cuts out a significant amount of leverage with consumers ... how will they (casual gamer, parent, impulse buyer) know the product is available? I assume through more marketing spend... prob the amount you just saved cutting out that middle man.. Also true, consumer education, especially for games is vital. I was in Gamestation on saturday when a mum was at the counter asking for COD6 and then some other game that was not yet released.
I work with marketers all the time and the fact is that the whole advertising and experiential marketing process is with us for a long time to come. We all know you can do all your shopping online and yet still millions each week trudge through Tesco's, Asda's, Argos and the like because a chunk of a consumer experience is actually buying the item in the first place. Just as an example, the N64 and GC were more technologically advanced than the PS1 and PS2 respectively...
Now the PS3 is the more advanced.
And look which one 'won' each time there...
When it comes to digital downloads, I'm all for things staying as they are for a while yet, as I don't think we're ready for it. I prefer physical media cos its safer. I don't trust machines as they always f**k no matter what Time to show my age. The day games becoe completely digital downloads only is the day I hang up my control pad/wiimote/invisible natal steering wheel.
I love building up collections of games for consoles with something physical to hold. Miyamoto, I hope you're right.
:!: The only reason Nintendo don't want digital distribution is beacause they can't sell games these days unless they come with a crappy piece of plastic to make the consumer feel like their getting some value.
Wii Sports- Bundled with the WII
Mario Kart - Wii Wheel
Links Training - Zapper
Wii Sports 2 - Motion Plus
Wii Play - Extra Remote A true porn collection is not a porn collection if you don't have all the boxes with the full meat covers, same goes for games.
That is my slightly non-parent friendly view and I am sticking to it. The only reason Nintendo don't want digital distribution is beacause they can't sell games these days unless they come with a crappy piece of plastic to make the consumer feel like their getting some value.
Wii Sports- Bundled with the WII
Mario Kart - Wii Wheel
Links Training - Zapper
Wii Sports 2 - Motion Plus
Wii Play - Extra Remote @Jamesc8
A real intelligent point you made there not. Honestly these nintendo haters need to be a bit more clever when trying to come up with ways of putting down the Wii & Ninty. Otherwise you just end up looking silly like you just did lol. Miyamoto, I think, is right this time but I believe downloads are the future. I am so sure that downloads won't be the only medium of distribution because, as some people have pointed out, not everyone has broadband/downloads can be slow/no physical ownership/no potential for boxset and special editions/gift purchasing/holiday season sales/spur of the moment buys etc but I believe it will probably become the MAIN distribution. Where I think the rest will come from is not from Bluray or Enhanced DVD's but memory cards. I haven't heard this from any forums or news articles but I think, as a consumer myself, I know what people want and this will be the solution to all the aformentioned problems. I also believe this will be why Sony will backtrack regarding downloads only on the PSPgo.
It so simple, I'm surprised not more has been said about it. With mem card manufacturing getting cheaper day by day it's the obvious choice. No moving parts, as big a game as you want, can still have a big fancy box with all the add ons and tat that Nintendo fans love so much, can buy as a gift, still have the game shops we love so much, no need to wait for downloads to complete etc etc, the list goes on!
If this happens, you heard it first from me on this forum!!! Oh, and of course, something to hold in your hand and cherish!
Oh and no compatablity issues etc!
P.S. Oh I think Sony will be the loser in the Mem card battle too as I believe Sony Memory sticks/duos/micros etc are dead in the water, SD cards all the way! Not to mention the loss of Bluray sales etc... "Never" is a long time... I signed up to CVG just to comment that I'll fight games going soley to digital distribution to the bitter end.
I want to shop around for the cheapest deals and to sell on when I'm done. I don't want games prices to solely be at the mercy of publishers who can charge what they like because they have a total monopoly. Sorry ei8hty 5ive, i've already mentioned the mem cards option for the future earlier in the forum. i think the problem with using memory cards is that they will probably be incredibly easy to pirate games for. As has been seen with the Ds, which essentially runs on SD cards. All it'll take is someone with a bit of home software and a loader and viola all the games you want.
Thats just my take on it anyhoo. | 
