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The Downsides to Digital Distribution
The gaming industry's ongoing shift from physical media to direct downloads has made buying new titles much more convenient, and in some cases cheaper. However, as this article in The Escapist notes, there are downsides as well, such as an increased dependence on console makers and the inability to sell your used games. Quoting:
"Microsoft and Sony might end up charging publishers an arm and a leg to enable game downloads, especially as they gain more and more control over distribution. Think about it: What if, 10 years from now, 50 percent of software sales for Microsoft's latest console come through Xbox Live? Or, in an even scarier scenario for consumers, what if there is no physical media drive at all, and everything goes through Xbox Live? Sony's marriage to the Blu-ray format ensures its continued support of game discs, but Microsoft has no such restrictions. They could cut console production costs and take control over the entire supply chain in one fell swoop. There would be zero room for publishers to negotiate anything in such a de facto monopoly. The perfect comparison is Wal-Mart. As the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart is able to demand pretty much whatever it wants of suppliers because it grants access to such large numbers of consumers."
I declare: 2015 will be the year of the Linux video game console!
With games like networked FreeCiv, custom content versions based on the open source Quake II engine, and Snake who needs the evil, proprietary XBox Live?
On the other hand... for anybody who didn't realize that Microsoft *invested* $4-8 Billion on the original Xbox to claim the $40-80 Billion "home entertainment market" in the future... shame on you.
Support the 30 Hour Work Week!!!
Microsoft commandeer a market, forcing developers to use their proprietary tools and to cater only to their platform?
Yeah, like that will ever happen...
Funny may not give karma, but +5 Informative never made anyone snort coffee out their nose.
STFU.
Fixed that for you :)
Fixed that for you :)
Fixed that for you :)
Who can't get satellite Internet?
North Korea. They're so poor and backwards, even electromagnetic waves don't propagate properly.
Kwisatz Haderach
Sell the spice to CHOAM
This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
Do you know what the word "or" means?
Rob
Wal-mart isn't stupid enough to keep tossing competitors back a sword by lowering their prices. They've found something that works and seem to be sticking with it.
Didn't you mean raising?
This comment is worded exactly as intended. Any application of lame "Fixed that for you" jokes will be "dealt with".
Irony bleeds.