Iwata: No Digital Distribution for at least 20 Years #1 at Nintendo Cubed3

SuperLink on 07.11.2009 at 02:08#1

This would kill many businesses, as well as isolate a large group of gamers (many of which "discovered" by Nintendo!) who would not get the right type of advertisement online, and may not purchase games online either.

Without window shopping, these people would stop buying games. They would have no instore professionals to seek advice from about which games would be suitable for them or their kids, and etc etc.

I'm hoping atleast 20 years Mr Iwata, I don't think gaming should ever go down that path. I love my physical copies, thanks.

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PMD on 07.11.2009 at 06:53#2

I prefer retail to digital distribution (I am very fond of going through the packages and cartridges of all my old games) and retail stores provide some sort of safety buffer to the consumer because there is not a monopoly and there will always be sales.

More and more content will go digital, especially small games made by smaller developers, but AAA titles will be physically released for at least 3 more console generations.

Phoenom on 07.11.2009 at 07:19#3

I'd like both to co-exist, if only for those budget ideas that could never make it to store shelves, and of course the secondhand market that I rely on for most of my purchases.

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Cheesing it up on 07.11.2009 at 10:17#4

It's going to happen within 10 years or so surely? I think the next generation of handhelds may well include the ability to download full titles, along with physical releases. There may even be a version released a for years later that can only play digital downloads to shave a few bob off the retail price.

Don't forget people, if digital downloads do take over, it doesn't mean the end of physical releases. I can still go into HMV and buy the latest music album, after all.

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RudyC3 on 07.11.2009 at 11:24#5

I still don't buy my music online and i won't buy my games online either. The day i can't touch my game boxes and see them perfectly lined on a shelf will be the day i stop buying new games. (I'll continue buying old games to complete my collection though)

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Marzy on 07.11.2009 at 12:37#6

I cannot stress how much I hate this idea. In my opinion, this is one of the worst directions videogames could ever go in. If, by 20 years time it's all digital distribution, then I won't be buying any new games or hardly any at all.

I hope iPod, PSP Go and any other device that offers digital distribution bombs.

jb on 07.11.2009 at 13:01#7

Really really tricky one here - I like both retail and digital and hope it stays that way for a long, long time. I love having boxes and other merchandise on the shelf, but I\'m lazy and like things to be accessible from one place.

Like DVDs and tv shows I\'ve ripped *ahem* to my PC, and have it linked up to a TV for easier viewing of shows, streaming stuff etc. Games - I love reading through the manual (even though half of them are pointless crap) and having the boxes on display. On the other hand if I can get it quicker, as soon as it\'s paid for I\'d like that route too.

Digital distribution is good, and I can see people storing things on external drives if they want to take games to friends - infact you can already do this with Wii homebrew, but just don\'t want to see boxes and booklets hit the dust.

Wish there was some teleportation chute where goods would just appear there in seconds!

( Edited 07.11.2009 12:02 by jb )

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EdEN on 07.11.2009 at 18:02#8

They CAN and HAVE to co-exist. No retail would kill many developers since 70% of their sales come from brick and mortar stores.

Digital is great to have as an OPTION but should not be the only way (ask Sony how they're doing with the PSP GO). For example, I haven't been able to download any Wiiware games since I haven't updated to the new system version because I don't want to risk briking my launch Wii. I'll wait for it to come with New Super Mario Bros Wii and then restart purchasing games. It's also helpful for smaller games and/or smaller developers and publishers since having a game available at retail for $5 at launch is pretty much impossible.

Trepe on 07.11.2009 at 18:10#9

I don\'t think it\'ll be a very long before digital distribution only. I\'m not happy about it though.

Games companies will love it because it means they can control the sales of their products. Wiping out second hand sales which eat into their profit, and stopping people importing too. The games companies can also claim that they\'re helping the environment too (with no manufacturing, no waste materials and no transportation causing polution).

And while I think most of the public will be aprehensive about it, they\'ll still buy into it.

( Edited 07.11.2009 17:10 by Trepe )

Guest on 07.11.2009 at 18:45#10

Well surely it\'s the same with books now? You can download them on that book read computer thingy, or you can still buy a book.
In that case I like to buy a book, since it feels nice to have it in your hand, the pages feel nice too, and a major plus point is that it\'s not a screen for once.
But playing a digitally distributed game compared to a retail one? It doesn\'t make a difference.
And that is what this hobby is about right? People who smell the manuals every weekend, if there really is that big a market for that they\'ll probably release an aftershave for you.
And that \'looking at my collection\' argument, if your living on your own in a few years you\'ll quickly realise how much shit you have in your house. You can never start too early with throwing stuff away, especially if you\'re moving. It is quite odd how attached people get to essentially useless goods, just for the sake of \'having them\'.

But, I am guilty of that myself too, although I have no problem with games going digital. I don\'t see the price policy changing majorly though. They\'ll set a price on a game which will make them the most money; too high and not many people will buy it. Because I think that\'s what some people forget, the consumer has the \'power\' to say fuck you to such a company. If you\'re willing to pay a ridiculous amount for a game you \'need\' to play, it\'s really your own fault. It already happens with people who buy their games on launch day; just wait and the price will decrease. I really don\'t see this changing when all goes digital. Think about it: if you\'re a company and you want to sell your game, you\'ll just try a couple of things like more advertisments or price reduction. No executive sits around; \"Hey my game isn\'t selling! Oh well, I\'ll just let everything stay the same and see what happens.\"

A good thing that might happen is the amount of games available through digital distribution, since shelf space is limited and biased towards the big sellers. But we\'ll just have to wait and see.

( Edited 07.11.2009 18:00 by Josef )

Edit this post:

Well surely it's the same with books now? You can download them on that book read computer thingy, or you can still buy a book.
In that case I like to buy a book, since it feels nice to have it in your hand, the pages feel nice too, and a major plus point is that it's not a screen for once.
But playing a digitally distributed game compared to a retail one? It doesn't make a difference.
And that is what this hobby is about right? People who smell the manuals every weekend, if there really is that big a market for that they'll probably release an aftershave for you.
And that 'looking at my collection' argument, if your living on your own in a few years you'll quickly realise how much shit you have in your house. You can never start too early with throwing stuff away, especially if you're moving. It is quite odd how attached people get to essentially useless goods, just for the sake of 'having them'.

But, I am guilty of that myself too, although I have no problem with games going digital. I don't see the price policy changing majorly though. They'll set a price on a game which will make them the most money; too high and not many people will buy it. Because I think that's what some people forget, the consumer has the 'power' to say fuck you to such a company. If you're willing to pay a ridiculous amount for a game you 'need' to play, it's really your own fault. It already happens with people who buy their games on launch day; just wait and the price will decrease. I really don't see this changing when all goes digital. Think about it: if you're a company and you want to sell your game, you'll just try a couple of things like more advertisments or price reduction. No executive sits around; "Hey my game isn't selling! Oh well, I'll just let everything stay the same and see what happens."

[edit]A good thing that might happen is the amount of games available through digital distribution, since shelf space is limited and biased towards the big sellers. But we'll just have to wait and see.

Save Changes Cancel Full Edit

Trepe on 08.11.2009 at 00:25#11

Josef said:
Well surely it\'s the same with books now? You can download them on that book read computer thingy, or you can still buy a book.
In that case I like to buy a book, since it feels nice to have it in your hand, the pages feel nice too, and a major plus point is that it\'s not a screen for once.
But playing a digitally distributed game compared to a retail one? It doesn\'t make a difference.
And that is what this hobby is about right? People who smell the manuals every weekend, if there really is that big a market for that they\'ll probably release an aftershave for you.
And that \'looking at my collection\' argument, if your living on your own in a few years you\'ll quickly realise how much shit you have in your house. You can never start too early with throwing stuff away, especially if you\'re moving. It is quite odd how attached people get to essentially useless goods, just for the sake of \'having them\'.
But, I am guilty of that myself too, although I have no problem with games going digital. I don\'t see the price policy changing majorly though. They\'ll set a price on a game which will make them the most money; too high and not many people will buy it. Because I think that\'s what some people forget, the consumer has the \'power\' to say fuck you to such a company. If you\'re willing to pay a ridiculous amount for a game you \'need\' to play, it\'s really your own fault. It already happens with people who buy their games on launch day; just wait and the price will decrease. I really don\'t see this changing when all goes digital. Think about it: if you\'re a company and you want to sell your game, you\'ll just try a couple of things like more advertisments or price reduction. No executive sits around; \"Hey my game isn\'t selling! Oh well, I\'ll just let everything stay the same and see what happens.\"

A good thing that might happen is the amount of games available through digital distribution, since shelf space is limited and biased towards the big sellers. But we\'ll just have to wait and see.

The only thing I like about digital distribution is you have equal access to all the games released for a console, unlike shops who just have recent and popular releases.

I\'m guilty of buying digitaly distributed goods. I dont mind Nintendo\'s way of doing things so far because you can download what you\'ve bought as many times as you want. But other companies such as Apple charge you to download once and if you loose it you have to pay to download it again.

( Edited 07.11.2009 23:27 by Trepe )

Edit this post:

[quote][b]Josef said:[/b] Well surely it's the same with books now? You can download them on that book read computer thingy, or you can still buy a book.
In that case I like to buy a book, since it feels nice to have it in your hand, the pages feel nice too, and a major plus point is that it's not a screen for once.
But playing a digitally distributed game compared to a retail one? It doesn't make a difference.
And that is what this hobby is about right? People who smell the manuals every weekend, if there really is that big a market for that they'll probably release an aftershave for you.
And that 'looking at my collection' argument, if your living on your own in a few years you'll quickly realise how much shit you have in your house. You can never start too early with throwing stuff away, especially if you're moving. It is quite odd how attached people get to essentially useless goods, just for the sake of 'having them'.

But, I am guilty of that myself too, although I have no problem with games going digital. I don't see the price policy changing majorly though. They'll set a price on a game which will make them the most money; too high and not many people will buy it. Because I think that's what some people forget, the consumer has the 'power' to say fuck you to such a company. If you're willing to pay a ridiculous amount for a game you 'need' to play, it's really your own fault. It already happens with people who buy their games on launch day; just wait and the price will decrease. I really don't see this changing when all goes digital. Think about it: if you're a company and you want to sell your game, you'll just try a couple of things like more advertisments or price reduction. No executive sits around; "Hey my game isn't selling! Oh well, I'll just let everything stay the same and see what happens."

[edit]A good thing that might happen is the amount of games available through digital distribution, since shelf space is limited and biased towards the big sellers. But we'll just have to wait and see. [/quote]

The only thing I like about digital distribution is you have equal access to all the games released for a console, unlike shops who just have recent and popular releases.

I'm guilty of buying digitaly distributed goods. I dont mind Nintendo's way of doing things so far because you can download what you've bought as many times as you want. But other companies such as Apple charge you to download once and if you loose it you have to pay to download it again.

Save Changes Cancel Full Edit

Guest on 08.11.2009 at 01:12#12

I wouldn't like that. That's a good argument against digital downloads. I'd just say fuck Apple though, I haven't felt the need to buy any of their products.

If everything goes digital there'll probably be measures to counter that Applefuckingsconsumersintheass thing though.

knighty on 10.11.2009 at 16:27#13

Marzy said:
I cannot stress how much I hate this idea. In my opinion, this is one of the worst directions videogames could ever go in. If, by 20 years time it's all digital distribution, then I won't be buying any new games or hardly any at all.
I hope iPod, PSP Go and any other device that offers digital distribution bombs.

So you'd give up on gaming because you don't get to buy boxes. Right..... I like boxes too but wake up people, it's going to happen, and it's not going to ruin gaming for Christs sake.

Marzy on 10.11.2009 at 16:36#14

knighty said:
Marzy said:
I cannot stress how much I hate this idea. In my opinion, this is one of the worst directions videogames could ever go in. If, by 20 years time it's all digital distribution, then I won't be buying any new games or hardly any at all.
I hope iPod, PSP Go and any other device that offers digital distribution bombs.
So you'd give up on gaming because you don't get to buy boxes. Right..... I like boxes too but wake up people, it's going to happen, and it's not going to ruin gaming for Christs sake.

I never said anything about boxes?

I hate the idea of digital distribution because I may want to sell or get rid of my games, if I don't like them. That means if I can't trade them in or sell them, then I've wasted my money on a game I don't like. It's already happened with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (I downloaded it off the Virtual Console). I didn't even like it, despite it's praise.

If digital distribution was now, then there'd be Madworld which I couldn't get rid of, which I hated and Red Steel. Both got good scores, yet I didn't like them.

Those are the reasons why I'd hardly buy games, because I'd be worried all the time I'd be wasting my money. I'm not rich, so I can't afford to do that and MetaCritic isn't always right.

Guest on 10.11.2009 at 17:20#15

That\'s why they should release demos, so you can try them first. Sure you still won\'t know exactly how the game will be, but getting a taste of the gameplay, polish etc is well important innit.

Oh and never trust review scores. You don\'t know the reviewer, at least with friends you share tastes and interests so you can get a clearer picture if you\'ll like a game they recommend.

( Edited 10.11.2009 16:22 by Josef )

SuperLink on 10.11.2009 at 17:52#16

That wouldn't be completely fair either. Demos often don't have a good representation of the full game, and in a world where people are more wary about what they buy, games with bad demos like Tales of Vesperia would get no sales at all, no matter how good the full game is.

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Guest on 10.11.2009 at 18:59#17

That's the developers fault. Don't make a good demo, you get fucked saleswise.
And I don't think people are more wary of what they buy. There hasn't been a time in history where more cheap AND expensive crap was sold than now. And that aint got to do with the number of people on the planet.