Is This Good or Bad?

[mariocaseman]

There appears to be some interesting news from Nintendo..  Before you read the article, keep in mind I HATE digital downloading games!  I like tangible copies.  Do you think this is Nintendo's way of transitioning us into all digital 3DS and Wii U titles in the near future?  Or just a cool option? 

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2012/04/nintendo-3ds-wii-u-download-games/

[Deadpool]

not sure if good or bad, but its a predictable movement from nintendo.

it would be bad if they only sell the digital copy.

[Seraph Man]

Actually, it would have been predictable if Sony or Microsoft did it. I wasn't expecting Nintendo to make that leap, especially with their small storage capacity.

I don't like it. This is a transition into digital-only games. I will never buy recent retail games as digital for as long as I can help it. I don't mind a digital Genesis or N64 game as those are old and I don't own either. But this? No, I want my physical copies.

[Quazimoto]

In in the same camp as you guys with loving the physical games.  Just doesn't feel quite right to have a game and not be able to pick-up and touch the pretty cases, look at the artwork, and slide a cartridge or disc into a system.  And there's something that's a bit thrilling about opening peeling off the plastic wrap and opening that new game for the first time or crusing used games stores.  Digital games are alright in some instance (I have about 10 from PSN myself).  Unfortunately, digital only games are something we gamers need to get used to if we plan on continuing to play the new ones because it's the wave of the future.  Eventually they just won't exist and places like Gamestop will be gone for good.  Don't know about the next generation of game systems, but it's pretty clear to me that video games are heading towards being all downloaded (just like movies and music).  Physical copies might still exist for new games in the future, but it's likely that it'll be something you have to special order and pay a bunch extra for.

[wiggy]

I think that the companies producing digital media think that "it's the way of the future", but if the PSP Go! is is any indication, they should know that people aren't ready for it right now as the only means by which to make game purchases. 

Plus, I imagine that'll put some hurt on holiday game purchases.  That's when retail makes at LEAST 50% of their sales. What Grandma is going to want to buy their grandchild a card that has a redemption code for Xmas?  If they can't buy the game in physical form at retail, then it's likely that they won't buy the game at all.  Again, I refer back to the PSP Go!

I understand that vapor software is much more eco-friendly than their physical counterparts, but it's not like the vast majority of games end up in the trash.  People keep games because, in general, they don't stop working.  And even if the original owner doesn't, there's a really strong likelihood that games will end up with another owner, then possibly another, and so on.  Not like our planned-obsolescence appliances.  Microwaves that last 2 years then end up in a landfill.  That's super awesome.  I better stop before I go too far off topic.

[Deadpool]

another problem would be the hard drive storage capacity, the bandwidth and the game itself in the next generation a game can fill a blueray i guess.

[Arseen]

BAD

[wiggy]

LOL!  That sums it up about as easily and perfectly possible.

[Harp00nX]

If they wont sell me something physical i will simply pirate it to play it, having something available in download form only is the same as pirating it to me except i didn't part with money to get it if i do the latter

[Moviefan2k4]

I don't advocate piracy, but I do agree that physical media should always be the standard, because otherwise, there's no tangible "ownership" of it.

[Arseen]

I don't advocate piracy, but I do agree that physical media should always be the standard, because otherwise, there's no tangible "ownership" of it.

I think that's the plan with the game makers.

No hard copies -> no secondhand game.

I also predict that eventually we are not allowed to buy games, only rent online. -> when the game makers think one game has been played enough it will be simply removed from renting and replaced with newer game.

[wiggy]

It's pretty shitty, because the laws/regulations are written to favor everyone but the consumer.  When you "buy" a game/DVD/CD, you're really only buying a license to use that media, not the actual media, and that license may be revoked whenever for pretty much whatever reason.  We only now realize how true that is with the advent of non-physical media.  Whereas the owners of any given piece of media would have no way to revoke that license if you owned a physical copy, issuing a license for something that is dependent upon some excessive DRM/predetermined license periods/etc. affords them all the ability in the world to revoke without notice.

Anyone remember the whole Amazon Kindle & Fahrenheit 451 fiasco?  How perfect is it that the 1st book to be automatically removed from users' Kindles was F451?  Fucked up.  No thanks.

[Maben]

It's pretty shitty, because the laws/regulations are written to favor everyone but the consumer.  When you "buy" a game/DVD/CD, you're really only buying a license to use that media, not the actual media, and that license may be revoked whenever for pretty much whatever reason.  We only now realize how true that is with the advent of non-physical media.  Whereas the owners of any given piece of media would have no way to revoke that license if you owned a physical copy, issuing a license for something that is dependent upon some excessive DRM/predetermined license periods/etc. affords them all the ability in the world to revoke without notice.

Anyone remember the whole Amazon Kindle & Fahrenheit 451 fiasco?  How perfect is it that the 1st book to be automatically removed from users' Kindles was F451?  Fucked up.  No thanks.

Can you post something to back up your Fahrenheit story?  I wanted to read about it and all I can find is that they removed "1984" and "Animal Farm" which seemed to spur the whole DRM debate when Amazon can just delete stuff from your Kindle.  The only thing I can find on Fahrenheit 451 is that the author Ray Bradbury held out allowing it to be published digitally, relenting only November of last year.

Edit: On topic- it's bad.  It's the next step towards removing our ownership and rights to use our purchased media more freely.  I'd urge anyone to buy physical copies in virtually (no pun intended) all scenarios.

[wiggy]

It's pretty shitty, because the laws/regulations are written to favor everyone but the consumer.  When you "buy" a game/DVD/CD, you're really only buying a license to use that media, not the actual media, and that license may be revoked whenever for pretty much whatever reason.  We only now realize how true that is with the advent of non-physical media.  Whereas the owners of any given piece of media would have no way to revoke that license if you owned a physical copy, issuing a license for something that is dependent upon some excessive DRM/predetermined license periods/etc. affords them all the ability in the world to revoke without notice.

Anyone remember the whole Amazon Kindle & Fahrenheit 451 fiasco?  How perfect is it that the 1st book to be automatically removed from users' Kindles was F451?  Fucked up.  No thanks.

Can you post something to back up your Fahrenheit story?  I wanted to read about it and all I can find is that they removed "1984" and "Animal Farm" which seemed to spur the whole DRM debate when Amazon can just delete stuff from your Kindle.  The only thing I can find on Fahrenheit 451 is that the author Ray Bradbury held out allowing it to be published digitally, relenting only November of last year.

Edit: On topic- it's bad.  It's the next step towards removing our ownership and rights to use our purchased media more freely.  I'd urge anyone to buy physical copies in virtually (no pun intended) all scenarios.

My apologies, I did indeed confuse F451 with 1984, which is even more disturbing...