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Is Cloud Gaming the future?

Obviously one of the most talked about topics for the next-generation of consoles and beyond, is the subject of Cloud Gaming and digital downloads. Cloud gaming allows devices to stream video games from a remote server that perform heavy-duty processing before sending compressed audio and video back to the users device. Digital downloads are pretty self-explanatory as we’ve already been witness to it this generation with things like Games OnDemand for the Xbox 360 and PSN Day 1 Digital on Playstation 3.

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masonicgamer.com
MultiConsoleGamer4985d ago

The future is in the clouds.

Just need to get past the bandwidth problems.

BDSE4985d ago

No, the future isn't a cloud and/or digital only future. It's been over 10 years since the 'death of cd's' and cd album sales still out pace digital albums.

Catoplepas4985d ago

That's only because 95% of music downloaded is done so illegally, and therefore not tracked.

sly-Famous4984d ago

Far from it, its no doubt part of the future but consumers still want to be able to handle their software/hardware.

Bladesfist4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

PC has chosen digital, I give it 2 gens till consoles follow suit. Here is a little pros vs cons.

Pros
- Free to manufacture
- The above opens up the industry to small independent developers which leads to more games.
- Savings can be passed on to consumers.
- Good for the environment.
- Developers can work up until launch and then pass the updated build to the distributors.
- No damaged discs.
- No used game sales (Publishers are pushing for this already).
- HDDs read faster than DVD or Blu Ray drives so less loading / texture pop in.

Cons
- No selling your game (excluding Europe if that new law gets enforced).
- No physical item (This is only a con if you like collecting discs).

Feel free to expand it if you like but this is all I could think of. In my opinion digital is inevitable. Cloud is too new for me to decide.

AtomicGerbil4984d ago

Major con: At the mercy of extortionate publisher pricing. Look at some of the digital prices that Activision and EA are putting out there, £59.99 (that's $96.97 to our U.S brethren) for games I can buy new in the shops for less than half that.

I understand that publishers right now want to avoid rocking the boat with retailers who are selling disc based games, but these prices are a joke and certainly not a sign that savings will be passed on to the consumer. In fact I fear it will be quite the reverse with the greedier of publishers.

Bladesfist4984d ago (Edited 4984d ago )

Good point, but most games on steam are priced well and there are a lot of sales. It just seems like consoles need a good service. Most new releases on steam (dishonored and xcom for example) release at £30. Take a look at what competition does for digital sales here: www.cheapshark.com

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50°

44% of games industry professionals have considered leaving the industry as a result of redundancies

New report from Skillsearch found that 22% of those surveyed had been laid off within the past 12 months.

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gamesindustry.biz
Cockney53d ago

Well if that 44% left im sure there would be a lot less redundancies

40°

Stop Killing Games on the latest European Commission public hearing

It's a step forward for Stop Killing Games.

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rockpapershotgun.com
50°

"Be creative 99% of the time" – Glen Schofield on how creativity can help fix AAA industry woes

The Callisto Protocol director thinks the solution involves the right people, the right timing, and perhaps a little bit of AI

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gamesindustry.biz
lodossrage54d ago

I don't agree with that. I WISH I could agree with that. But buying habits and customer opinions prove otherwise

We've seen developers in the AAA space try new things and ideas. More often than not, the customers aren't willing to give things a chance, or not enough people buy into the project for it to grow.

Creativity works better in the indie space because the budgets, pressures, and expectations aren't the same.

Scissorman53d ago

it's a nice idea and it worked during the PS2/PS3-era when AAA didn't cost hundreds of millions of dollars. smaller budgets and shorter development time left room for more creativity and more risk. a game didn't need to sell 4 million+ copies to break even. things are different now.

__y2jb53d ago

This is the guy who bragged about crunching his staff and having them work through the night. Crunch culture has lost more talent and done more damage to the industry than any other factor. Screw him.