Digital downloads, which growing in popularity, are yet to have any major effect on retailers, reports Edge-Online.
"Digital distribution hasn't affected our business a great deal in 2009," said Phil Moore, sales director at Grainger Games: "[While] we're focusing our minds on the opportunity that digital distribution could present [to] retailers, we've been more intent on developing and improving our current online proposition."
Shopto owner Igor Cipolletta agreed: "We've seen with PSP Go that the market isn't ready for a digital-only game console, especially at a price point so close to the PS3." He also played down the threat of offerings like Microsoft's Games On Demand service. "DLC for 'established' consoles has increased and, in most cases, adds value to existing titles. However, this is in regard to additional content rather than what you would term 'games on demand', which gamers perceive as being overpriced compared to physical media and which cannot be traded in or sold once finished with."
HMV was similarly straightforward about 2009, with spokesperson Gennaro Castaldo noting that digital distribution "didn't have any major effect" on its business. "Like all parties in the games business, we know it's gradually coming and are working on laying foundations to prepare for this. HMV recently acquired 50 per cent of digital services provider 7digital, which will give us greater understanding and expertise and will, hopefully, enable us to build a compelling platform that will also extend to games."
Piers Harding-Rolls, head of games at media analyst Screen Digest, commented: "It's going to be a slow transition. In terms of console-specific digital games, there's been something of a retreat from the retail-equivalent downloads, and now most console download titles are made up of expansion packs and arcade download games. Spend on those types of products is increasingly strong, but it's important to note that it's nowhere near retail levels, with something like a single-digit percentage slice of the market. Certainly throughout 2009, digital distribution hasn't had much impact on the sales of digital media."
Thats not a surprise when you see how much some digital platforms such as Steam and Direct2drive charge for new releases - a lot of the time its cheaper to buy from a shop, and you can sell the game afterwards
As a PC gamer this article just shows why I am confused by other PC gamers saying the reason for less PC games at retail is the growth of digital selling.
Well, if that is indeed the case, why not get rid of annoying/draconian DRM in download titles?
You can't argue that (legal) download titles do not affect the sale of in-store sales, but illegal downloads do. Not to the extent that I have to jump through hoops in order to play a game i BOUGHT, just in case I didn't actually buy it myself.
As a PC gamer this article just shows why I am confused by other PC gamers saying the reason for less PC games at retail is the growth of digital selling.
This article is about console games. But PC games have suffered at retail, partly due to download sales increasing and the whole piracy thing.
As a PC gamer this article just shows why I am confused by other PC gamers saying the reason for less PC games at retail is the growth of digital selling.
They are confused and mistaken. This was mentioned in a recent DRM article on PCG and I pointed out that digital distribution is not outperforming retail sales yet. Not even close apparently. Maybe in time, but it would be nice if people stopped overestimating the reach and strength of online connectivity.
Also, people like having tangible goods. I would be very surprised if that trait disappears from humanity anytime soon. If it does it might be around the time we stop being materialistic (which there is little sign of occurring whatsoever at present).
And yet of the 8 games stores in my city of Glasgow Scotland All of them but one have scaled their PC games stock back to nothing.
The opposite is the case in three to four games and electronic chain stores in the city I live in. All of them have PC sections that are just as large, if not larger, than the separate console sections. Long story short: There is plenty of money in each of the console markets and the PC market.
I wish valve would release sales data for games bought on steam. The only thing we know is that it's a success. I buy most of my pc games on steam, having only bought one hard copy of a game in the past 12 months, borderlands. I'm sure I'd use digital distribution more if I had more money and an internet connection that goes over 0.75Mb/sec!
@jubbgi01, this is the oxymoron that PC gamers always say - even me.
The quote always seems to be like your's:
"I wish valve would release sales data for games bought on steam. The only thing we know is that it's a success"
How can we know it's a success, failure or anything until sales figures are given out? In any other industry there would be great suspicion about sales figures not being made public and yet we as PC gamers are so used to hype, we believe Steam to be successful when we have no proof. Hence your sentence above...!
Give me a hard copy anyday. Digital download crap, have u seen how much an album costs to download instead of buying, £1 more. How The he'll does that work out? There's no cd, no plastic case, no printed leaflet. £uck that. Digital downloads suck. For xbla games, that's fine but not full games.
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