For this to mean anything you have to go out and do an exhaustive study on how many people who trade games in buy new games and not just other used games.
The ratio may be extremely bias towards those who just keep the used cycle of games going.
Alternative distribution to optical disks : SSD, cards, and download*
- Thread starter Cheezdoodles
- Start date
For this to mean anything you have to go out and do an exhaustive study on how many people who trade games in buy new games and not just other used games.
The ratio may be extremely bias towards those who just keep the used cycle of games going.
corduroygt
Banned
You're assuming that 2 billion spent on buying used games would instead be spent on buying new games. Guess what, gaming isn't a basic necessity in life, people will just stop buying them as much. That 2 billion from used market is going to go away, not get diverted to new games.
To complement the DD model....
I think the next media should employ some type of per disc authentication.
1. user gets disc via mail (from purchasing through a mail catalog that comes with the console)
2. user calls some phone hotline, gives their unique console id and unique game id.
3. system generates a code that the user would enter into their system.
4. user can play game
This cover all problems. If you have great internet connection, just use DD, otherwise use the mail system.
I think the next media should employ some type of per disc authentication.
1. user gets disc via mail (from purchasing through a mail catalog that comes with the console)
2. user calls some phone hotline, gives their unique console id and unique game id.
3. system generates a code that the user would enter into their system.
4. user can play game
This cover all problems. If you have great internet connection, just use DD, otherwise use the mail system.
That's a terrible inconvenience, and how well would it work with the next MW title that sells 1 million units on day one and has a million people phoning up for authentication?!
I presume also your plan is that when the disk changes hands, the new owner has to phone and pay an activation fee to enable the game. How do you handle sharing games, just simple borrowing between friends?
I presume also your plan is that when the disk changes hands, the new owner has to phone and pay an activation fee to enable the game. How do you handle sharing games, just simple borrowing between friends?
tongue_of_colicab
Veteran
Borrowing games? That is even worse than piracy and used games sales!
Want to play a game? You better just put down your 60 bucks. Bitches.
Want to play a game? You better just put down your 60 bucks. Bitches.
1. people wouldn't be getting their games at the same time.
2. an option for getting codes via SMS text message would also be implemented
3. an option for getting codes via email/web would also be implemented
4. If desired, when ordering the game, the user could request the code with it.
With options (2) and (3) and (4), the system could scale to a million people on release day.
well, i'm sure the game makers/console makers could not care less. You can't borrow DD titles and that makes game makers happy.
We can on PS3.
Silent_Buddha
Legend
Phoning shouldn't even be needed in this case except when a user has absolutely no way to connect to the internet, at which point you'd have to use a phone similar to activating a copy of Windows without an internet connection.
So when the disc changes hands, you'd have to purchase an activation code which is presumably less than the cost of a new game at which point the previous activation code gets deactivated.
As for sharing they could do something similar to the original Zune, where you could loan out a music title to someone for a limited amount of time. The thing with that is, it's completely up to the publishers whether they wish to allow that or not. And as on the Zune, while they allowed it on the first version, they made MS stop doing it in subsequent versions.
But there are certainly ways to allow loaning out a copy of your DD or online activation games.
Regards,
SB
The smart thing would be to find a wireless provider in the states and put in 3g connections and do so for every country. Activation can't be that big. It is surelly less data being sent than a novel on a nook or kindle. So they should be able to provide the conneciton for a very low cost on each console. That way they can do mandatory activation on all consoles next gen. Put in a code bundled with the game and boom. no more used market
EA CEO: Digital to Overtake Retail This Year
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/ea-ceo-digital-to-overtake-retail-this-year/
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/ea-ceo-digital-to-overtake-retail-this-year/
Silent_Buddha
Legend
F2P (free to play) and microtransactions are a bit different from digital distribution. What that article is talking about is how revenue from digital, whether it be digital distribution, DLC, or the F2P model, is set to overtake revenue from the sale of physical media.
So, if we dig into that, it's still unlikely that DD sales is going to overtake physical media revenue. However, once you throw in micro-transactions, DLC, etc. that's where they are predicting digital revenue will surpass revenue from physical media.
Regards,
SB
So, if we dig into that, it's still unlikely that DD sales is going to overtake physical media revenue. However, once you throw in micro-transactions, DLC, etc. that's where they are predicting digital revenue will surpass revenue from physical media.
Regards,
SB
I agree, but it show a general trend that more things will go digital.
Silent_Buddha
Legend
Oh no doubt about it. Especially, if like PC, consoles start to get the option to buy DD day and date with physical media.
Personally, I have absolutely no doubt that DD sales account for more then 50% of revenue on PC and a large part of that is due to being able to buy DD games day and date with physical media versions.
Regards,
SB
Personally, I have absolutely no doubt that DD sales account for more then 50% of revenue on PC and a large part of that is due to being able to buy DD games day and date with physical media versions.
Regards,
SB
corduroygt
Banned
You meant units instead of revenue, I hope:
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/...Physical_In_PC_Standalone_Game_Unit_Sales.php
Yes but the ntake into account the actual money going to the developer and steam.
http://news.bigdownload.com/2010/10...with-outerlights-co-founder-about-bloody-goo/
So even if a game is selling for $20 on steam vs $50 at gamestop the developer will make alot more on steam. They'd get $5 from retail and $14 on steam.
corduroygt
Banned
Looks like Mass Effect 2 is coming to PSN at the same time as the disc release. It'd be very interesting if we could get sales numbers comparing the two versions.
Last edited by a moderator:
Here's an interesting article showing signs that digital distribution sold at retail can overtake sales online via Gamestop...
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/01/the-world-is-moving-away.ars
Tommy McClain
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/01/the-world-is-moving-away.ars
Tommy McClain
I hope EU gets the same treatment, I was not planning on buying ME2, but if its a DD, then it will be one less disc to have around
corduroygt
Banned
It'd be utterly idiotic to buy ME2 as a DD, since it was 36.99 on Amazon (including the 20 dollar credit) vs. 59.99 on PSN.
Anyways it looks like more than half of GAME's customers trade in their old games to help buy new games. Are developers ready to lose half of their sales at premium pricing levels at launch?
Anyways it looks like more than half of GAME's customers trade in their old games to help buy new games. Are developers ready to lose half of their sales at premium pricing levels at launch?
