http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/ Engadget Comments for Physical and digital distribution sales for games nearly equal, GameStop CEO thinks people like boxes http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 12:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 12:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Wow you're a pompous ass]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
You can buy a 1 TB HDD on Newegg for about $70, so much for spending hundreds on HDDs for the space of a bluray................

@VanNorden

He is a pompous ass for making a good point?

In fact I like the idea that no matter what I can go on steam and just redownload the game. It sure as hell beats your little brother stepping on the disc and destroying your $50 game forever.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
I love boxes too, the eco friendly non getting up guys just don't understand! ]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/What happens when the drm makes you have an internet connection to play. ]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:23AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
You know they invented this thing called a PC you can download games to it and play them. Clearly I was not referencing 2.5" drives for the PS3, watch who you call dumb.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/ physical, while on consoles physical > download because of the lack of CD-keys and nagging DRM. But alas, I am also guilty of not supporting my own cause, as I could not resist the collector's edition of Starcraft II (which is only physical, obviously).]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Did I say that I would have left it on the floor? There are many things that could happen and no matter what if it is your fault it is gone and there is nothing you can do about it. Humor me if a game fell on the floor off your cabinet and someone stepped on it you are SOL.

Get off your high horse and understand that other people are allowed opinions too. BTW I own many physical games but lots of the games I play are digital.

Also while you are arguing about HDD space remember that most physical games today are installed on their platforms and even on Xbox 360 to improve performance. Just like a physical game a digital game can be uninstalled and deleted until you want to redownload and play it. Now take your i'll tempered butt back to N4G.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Don't apologize to him you made a clear and good point until these guys came in and insulted both you and your opinion just because their opinion is different. ]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/No to boxes... I like to get my games minutes after I click a purchase button.. I never look at the damn box after I install it, and it's a pain in the ass to have to put a disc in to play the game.

There's probably a good reason digital distribution is equal to boxed at this still somewhat early stage of digital distribution..]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 2:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
totally agree with you. its too bad everything is mostly digital now]]>Jul 23rd 2010 2:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 3:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Steam's DRM is better than no DRM

Just kidding, DRM should goto hell and Ubisoft (especially after AC2) with it. But seriously Steam is an awesome platform and one hell of a place to get your [well priced] games.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 4:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 9:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
I won't pay the same price for a digital download which is usually the case. They can go to hell since they're saving money.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 10:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Nah, he's just a fat bastard]]>Jul 23rd 2010 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 2:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 6:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 7:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
You can't sell a game downloaded to your HDD. Boxed games have resale value.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 11:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 24th 2010 3:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 26th 2010 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
BLOCKBUSTER Video is expected to go Bankrupt this year. Ya know why? Because pay-per-view, on-demand channels, bootlegg DVD's, inexpensive DVD's at walmart and Best Buy and improving movie theater expenses have caused people to rethink going to the video store to rent movies.

How long will it be before high bandwidth internet connections kill off Gamestop?

The only reason I think people even still go there is because they always have exclusive codes for downloadable content with pre-orders (yes - I got my Splinter Cell: Convictions Silenced Shotgun)

Thing is, Gamestop is no match for downloadable games and larger hard drives.

its also in the companies interest to make content downloadable because selling us a game image is a helluva lot cheaper than selling us a physical product.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
I don't play a lot of video games, but some of them are usually with a portable gaming console. Things like Steam and Valve are great for playing the games on a computer, but you're SOL if you want to actually play on the portable console.

Maybe if blank rewritable cartridges were available, the trend to just download the content would be more widely accepted. Better still, you could just design the next-gen portable consoles with micro-USB ports and just copy the games to an internal storage.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 3:03AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
However, as long as they insist on charging the same price for a digital download as the physical game, and DRM prevents me from reselling the digital download once I've grown tired of it, they can kiss my ass. ]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
As much as I like the idea of downloading games, I'm limited to 95GB a month for bandwidth (paying more, default is 60GB), some of these games are getting close to 10GB. I know I'm not alone with this issue, so I think there is going to be a market for "boxes" for quite some time, until ISPs can get their bandwidth situation sorted out.

Heck, with Netflix hitting Canada I'll need every ounce of bandwidth available to me, it makes the idea of download these huge games a lot less attractive.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Those games require at least nearly 50 hours of continuous playtime. So you're complaining that while you're playing the games you just downloaded (and are downloading additional games at the same time), that you'll still have time in the same month to NOT play new games? Even if this is true, then your argument is actually a call for faster internet, not disc-based storage.

Do you spend nearly every waking moment playing games? Even if you did burn through 10 games a month and max out your internet, then the only other problem is storage space. Since 1 TB drives (~980 GB) can hold 10 months of games (and I doubt that 10 good games are released every month), that's still only around $100/TB.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
>Bandwidth will get cheaper per GB over time, that's nearly a given and not that we shouldn't take for granted (since prices will go up as well)
>These games *should* be cheaper than the box form. Therefore, if you save *hopefully* $10 a box (only on a full-priced 50-60 game) at 5 of those a month (seems high) you save $50...that might pay for the 50GB in todays internet costs, perhaps the economics will be there in the future.

They definitely need to it to economically friendly to entice the consumers, especially those who will get throttled, charged overages and/or cut off from service. ]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
I live with multiple people, all sharing the same monthly bandwidth.

@juanvaldez

I definitely agree that bandwidth should get cheaper over time. As it stands right now, every major ISP has very recently begun imposing bandwidth caps. In the short term I see things getting worse, not better. Keep in mind however that files, on average, are getting bigger at an alarming rate. Games are huge now, videos are in HD, MP3s are all 320KBPS. This is all happening while my ISP is reducing my monthly bandwidth allowance.

This is also going to be an issue for Netflix as well. It would be great if commercial companies could set up some sort of deal with ISPs that would allow us to download games/movies/music without getting dinged on our monthly bandwidth.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 9:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/I'm with you here man, I'm on Bell and they gave me 50GB bandwidth. I had to pay $5 more to get it increased to 90GB. Downloading Mass Effect on Steam was torture, because I had to save a lot of bandwidth for it (the game is around 10GB). I find that I regularly hit ~88GB/90GB each month, and this is after I carefully monitor my bandwidth. There has to be a big reform with respect to bandwidth here in Canada. I think when it comes to PC gaming, Steam is the best choice because it has friendly DRM and great portability.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 12:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 24th 2010 12:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 1:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Valve rocks. Dont have to worry about stupid cd keys either. Or drm keeping me from installing when I replace a harddrive]]>Jul 23rd 2010 1:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/Jul 23rd 2010 2:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/23/physical-and-digital-distribution-sales-for-games-nearly-equal/
Agreed. I've got 120+ games on my Steam account and I don't think it'll be going away any time soon.]]>Jul 23rd 2010 2:20AM