Idea I had for Distribution of downloadable games...

[Segataritensoftii]

What if the company offered a way to buy them on disc? Here's how I could see it working: You could choose to buy either the download or the disc, and all the downloadable games/demos/patches/etc you bought while shopping would be shipped to you on one disc that the company would burn for you. as the total size of the files got bigger, the downloadable content would be given to you on a CD, then, maybe, a DVD, if things got too big for CD, then, a Dual Layer DVD, if things got bigger, then, a Blue Ray if things got really huge. The disc would come with a generic case and thick manual, with instructions for all the games, and a disc with all the game titles or logos. The disc would be tied to your console's serial number, so if you wanted to copy a game to something else, you would have to use your console. However, the games could be played, and their progress could be saved on other consoles, but you could only back them up on your console. This would not, of course, apply to demos and patches. And if, for some reason, your console was bricked, or some other awful thing happened to it, the company could send a spare disc of your downloadable content to you at no extra charge, with your new serial number.

 

How do you like this system? It was made to have the smallest possible impact on disc making cost as possible. This would be an especially good service to have for Virtual Console and Wiiware games. With storage space at a premium on those consoles, it would be a relief to have the games on disc, so you didn't have to waste precious memory on your machine just to play them.

[AtticGamer]

It's a good idea and if it was Nintendo/Sony/MS distributing themselves, it could end the greedy market of distributors and shops.

 

A good idea is to also provide the artwork necessary for us to make our own box and disc with art if we download a game and want to burn it.

[Lord Helmet]

I think they should let you download them and burn them to disk yourself. That way people that just have to have a piece of plastic with the game on it would still be happy, and I wouldn't have a bunch of useless disk boxes crowding my shelves.

[Kripto]

This idea is already in play to an extent. I create and sell software products by digital download. The company which I use to secure my downloads to only paying customers and handle finances will also send the customer a copy of my software burnt to disc for a small fee.

 

As for the console manufacturers, the numbers they're dealing with are so large, it's really in their best interest monetarily to eventually move the entire distribution chain over to downloads. I don't think that people who will demand physical copies are a large enough percentage of the market to be worth the hassle and cost of maintaining physical products to them.

 

Obviously, a huge issue here is the tremendous size that most disc-based games are and making them work via download. One proposed solution is to have the game playable before having downloaded completely. So, for example, you could start playing within 15 minutes of purchase, and by the time you reach the higher levels, the game would have finished downloading. This wouldn't work for all games, but could for most if the buyer's internet connection is fast enough.

[dendawg]

...,the numbers they're dealing with are so large, it's really in their best interest monetarily to eventually move the entire distribution chain over to downloads.

 

Yes, because the game companies are having such a hard time with their profit margins selling 25¢ discs for $50-$60.

[Kripto]

...,the numbers they're dealing with are so large, it's really in their best interest monetarily to eventually move the entire distribution chain over to downloads.

 

Yes, because the game companies are having such a hard time with their profit margins selling 25¢ discs for $50-$60.

 

Impulse buys of digital downloads, which have ZERO physical manufacturing AND no shipping costs, add a wee bit to the bottom line when you're talking about millions of copies. Corporations pursue every possible avenue to increase profit.