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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."
With trips going twice, even three times a month for a family, I am avoiding spending up to $600 a month just by shopping there. I'm sorry, but $600 a month is more value to me (and just about everyone else) than feeling good that I didn't indirectly support some sweat shop.
Gee, how enlightened. Just think how much more money you could save if you just got some slaves yourself then and took out the middle man.
But me, its not even about the sweatshops. I won't shop there because more often than not the 'walmart' version of something is lower quality than the product somewhere else - even of the same brand.
I am also disgusted at how they treat their own employees. If ever a company deserved to have its workforce unionize its Walmart... of course walmart is on guard for that, and will do (and does do) anything to avoid it.
They appeal to the lowest common denominator which kills speciality shops because every shop relies on some idiots. Yes, I can still go online but some people like to get off their ass, unlike the fat inbreds that shop at wal-mart.
The thing is though people aren't saving time by going to one shop. The amount of walking and waiting to be done in a wal-mart is the same as going up and down the street browsing speciality shops. But fat people like to be air conditioned and Wal-Mart has that.