GameStop vice president Tony Bartel doesn’t see downloadable glames as a “threat” – especially the full games available on consoles. In an interview with Gamespot, Bartel said that 95 percent of games downloaded on PCs are casual games, while only “about 2 percent of the entire console market is downloaded today.” He also added that the digital sales on consoles are growing at a lesser rate than boxed product.
In short, Bartel is convinced that GameStop can survive this latest publisher-to-consumer fad. Especially if one considers that the vast majority of transactions via Xbox Live or PlayStation Network are things like Horse Armor or map packs, not games.
The thing that has always gotten me about digital distribution is that there still aren’t many valid portability options. Physical is always nice because there’s a possibility that you may want to take it somewhere, or use it as commemoration of your 60 dollar purchase.
[via Kotaku]
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
16 comments | showing # 1 to 16
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
5:18 PM on 11.27.2008
| 
Personally I prefer DD via Steam because it gives me access to a whole lot of good stuff at once, while being a cheaper optio in Australia ($70 for Left 4 Dead via Steam, $100 via retail, lolwot).
DD on a console is just stupid though. What happens when the hardware cycle ends? No backwards compatibility with your downloaded games? No ability to transfer them to the next console?
Sucks.
As far as I'm concerned, digital distribution has won me over with Steam. I see absolutely no advantage to buying at retail - have unnecessary physical garbage (box, disc, etc.), it's often more expensive (Steam has fantastic deals, no online sales tax in my state, and no shipping/gas to travel costs), and just way less convenient.
Now all I need is MS to start committing to digital distribution on 360 (and release some decent priced hard drives or release their stranglehold and let third party drives work)and I'd be more than willing to switch over on consoles too. I could care less about "having a physical box," I'll I want is to be able to enjoy the game.