Miyamoto Denounces Digital Distribution

A HiFi6170d ago

You know, I was talking about this very subject with a few others on here. Digital distribution is neat, but it's not for everyone. I love my boxed copies too. That sense of ownership cannot be matched by digital downloads.

I understand it's cost-effective for smaller games. I don't mind that. But I like a boxed copy of full-priced games.

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evrfighter6170d ago

Nothings as convenient then startin up your pc and being able to choose what you wanna play without having to switch a disc.

ExcelKnight6170d ago

That's for people who prefer convenience over physical ownership.

I prefer the latter, since convenience is usually gained later anyway.

FarEastOrient6170d ago

I love the feeling of knowing that my physical media will not be destroyed at the same time as if a hard drive dies. I do have to say though that as much as possible I try to get get both a digital version and a physical version.

Megaton6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

As someone who just sold off 2 PS3 games and 13 PS2 games for $187, I will always go for the physical when I can.

A HiFi6170d ago

Again, another good point - physical copies have a re-sell value.

Elimin86170d ago

But I sure as hell like the option of booting up my ps3 or pc and heading right to the game I want or switching Back and forth without having to switch cd. Goes both ways I guess...

My 2cents

Lich1206170d ago

I can see how people like owning the boxed games, I do myself. But I will say things like steam (which initially I hated) really have some worth to them.

For example, I wanted to go back and play half-life 2 again about a year ago. Unfortunately in all my moving I was missing disk 4 and could not install it. I logged into my old steam account after guessing at the forgotten password since i hadn't been on in like three years and much to my enjoyment, it told me I owned the game and allowed me to download it.

N4g_null6170d ago

You know digital distribution is cool but I like having stuff on some thing physical also. What could be a possible solution? SD cards with a full game on it and room for games that use the same engine or enough room to save updates or sequels to your game or even user created content.

I like they way they where thinking when they made the N64 DD yet we now have the tech to hold 32 gigs and more of game data. The media would be much cooler if it was a "living package". Then people would not trade games in.

badz1496170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

but DD is cool plus it cost less than its physical counterpart which almost always temp me into buying them! but miyamoto's opinion cannot be taken seriously considering this matter just because he's an old-timer which is always not up to the trend! or maybe he's saying this because the wii is not capable for DD because the lack of HDD!

A HiFi6170d ago

Lich & Scissor - Great points.

Oh, and badz - your avatar suggests that you definitely like seeing non-physical things busted. ;)

Mini Mario6170d ago

I love box art. Would hate to see it go. I still own every game ive ever bought. Most are in mint cond. Some of them are worth quite on a bit on ebay as well (chrono trigger for example)...in fact I still buy old games off ebay.

Catridge only ebay auctions sell for waaayyyy less than something that has instructions and the box intact. But digital download is good for people who could care less about a box i guess lol.

badz1496170d ago

haha LOL...I'm in no way against DD but that thing about my avatar is good! +bubbles

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user8586216170d ago

I prefer seeing my collection in my living room :) rather then it showin up on a t.v screen (hows that supposed 2 make ur mates go WOW when they see ur game collection??) :S

A HiFi6170d ago

I guess it's possible with Gamercards and stuff now. But your point is valid.

solsub6170d ago

I also like owning the tangible, physical media version of software I choose to purchase.

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Nihilism6170d ago

agreed

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Redempteur6170d ago

For little games like wiiware , or small psn game i can accept not having a box ...but for everything else there is MASTERC... euh
For everything else i want my box .. i still enjoy limited edition of some of my games and i still want it that way ...

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A HiFi6170d ago

Good point. 'Limited Edition' or 'Collector's Edition'. Perfect examples of why physical media can still attract us.

-Mezzo-6170d ago

Much like waseem335 i like my collection shinning in my Bedroom.

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A HiFi6170d ago

Yeah, I do too. It's a bit egotistical, but I like it. =p

Saaking6170d ago

I agree, I also like having a hard copy of everything. One thing goes wrong and you loose everything with digital distribution but at least a hard copy is safer.

A HiFi6170d ago

I don't think that's the case today. A few years ago, definitely. But as long as you have a receipt, you're fine.

ChickeyCantor6170d ago

Not just that, basically you have your stuff connected to an account.
If you format your pc in the end you could still re-download them..
Like Steam does...aren't PS3/360 doing the same thing btw?

Saaking6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

Yea your right, but it's still better to have a hard copy. I mean, PSN games are good and all but if I want full game I'd rather have the actual disk. Both have their pros/cons so it's up to each individual to make up their minds.

PirateThom6170d ago

It's not often I agree with Miyamoto these days, but I agree 100% on this.

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6170d ago

xg-ei8ht6170d ago

I got bf1943.

And if i somehow deleted it, i'll just d/l it again.

If you take a game home and it gets damaged, your fked.

I don't mind physical media, but DD is sweet imo.

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FantasyStar6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

What happens when you're without internet? Also what if your friend wanted to borrow your copy of BF1943 to test it out? You can take care of phyiscal discs, but you can't let your friend borrow your copy because of stupid DRM. DD will become more accepted when publishers take off the noose around our necks. But the reason DD existed to begin with is because of piracy. So....it's a Catch 22.

sunil6170d ago

You backup your disks to physical media that you buy (external HDDs, USBs etc...)... If you deleted, you restore the backup.

On the other hand - I hate DRM and I am pretty sure digital distribution will kill used game sales !

RockmanII76170d ago

If your w/o internet, then get connected to the internet (In DD, it's as important as the input cable).

If your friend wants to play 1943, he can download the trial/demo.

Also, Why is Miyamoto disapproving DD? In the end, it makes him more money (He gets the $$$ that would have been given to Gamestop if the person bought it used).

MelaDarkwood6170d ago

I feel both ways... As much as I like having a physical disc for my full games, I really like just jumping into a game. On my PS3, for example, I love playing games that I've downloaded because I just have to open the folder and pick one, as opposed to going through my stack to find the game I want. Even better on the PC, when I just open the game and start playing, rather than find the game in my games box. I'll even download a no-cd patch, like I did for Age of Empires III, after buying the game from Fry's. Makes it easier to play when I want to. =) Plus the hard copies just take up space in my room... All my games sit in a box in my room next to some other boxes... Even my box of Left 4 Dead just floats around. My room is messy enough, I feel better with a digital version.

Though I do understand the idea of security. While all my Steam games and PSN games are on my account, I do worry about my other games, if I sit and think about it. Fortunately I do have hard copies of most of my games. I just would rather not, I guess.

SixTwoTwo6170d ago

I prefer physical media too. I like the cases and manuals. I have no problem at all paying 5, 10, or 15 bucks to download a game but if I have to pay 60 then I want a disc.

RockmanII76170d ago

What if its $45 for a game using DD or $60 for the same game to also get the box/ manual? It would be like buy 3 games, get 1 free all the time.

sunil6170d ago

“Entertainment is something that will not just become digital. If I look at Wii MotionPlus, this is something that you’re not doing via digital distribution.”

Is it just me or is he comparing hardware to software download...

v1c1ous6170d ago

for example, if ur friend wants to borrow a game, u can lend the physical media to him. cant do that with DD.

however, should your physical media ever get scratched/destroyed, with DD you can quickly redownload it, and it will work anywhere since its tied to your account.

PLAYINB3YOND6170d ago

me and miyamoto may disagree on many things, like sticking your finger ,or any other part of your anatomy,in a heartbeat sensor for fun. But for once I will agree, whereas some things like Fat princess and pain on the psn are better if bought via digital distribution, full priced games shouldn't be, i will always like having a physical copy and all the perks of it. Like actually being able to send it back if i'm unhappy with it and also being able to sell it on if i can no longer get any value from playing it. BD FTW

Shnazzyone6170d ago

my feelings exactly. Which is why i really worry about sony's decision to go pure DD on the PSP go. I just don't think the market is quite ready for it. I really feel like sony is really losing touch with what the general public wants. I think sony just might be assuming they can do what apple is doing with only an 1/8th of the support.

here's to another 300million down the drain.

1111116170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

I strongly associate downloads with the four letters; f r e e.
Also i dont feel like paying hard cash for a couple of "ones and zeros".
In othr words i want a cover, manual and storage medium that i can hold in my hands. Somebody give that nintendo dude a cigar please. Kthxbai.

Magna Farta6170d ago

Go physical media!!

I will never, ever buy a system that does DD only!! You got that, Sony? I love your PS3, no doubt about it, but if you do to the Playstation what you did to the PSP, I will never buy from you ever again.

The same goes for all the other brands that pull that crap too.

RockmanII76170d ago

What if everyone goes DD? Would you go back to your SNES?

Baka-akaB6170d ago

then prepare to give up videogames in a not so distant future , i'm afraid .

Quadrix6170d ago

I think digital distribution can defeat physical media at some point, but digital distributed games need to have some form of resell value. That shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. One idea is that you can return a digital game and get a certain amount of money back that's determined by how long it's been since you downloaded the game. If it's a day-one return, you'll get most of your money back. If you wait to return a game until after you beat it or later, than you'll only get a small percentage of your money back.

kesvalk6170d ago

strange, i think digital distribution is way better than retail...
you own the game, not the physical media in witch the game is contained, if your DVD get's messed up, it's gone... with digital distribution, you only need to download again...

and as the bad-luck kind of person... this works wonders for me...

Flare1496170d ago

Digital downloads are good for small games, such as on the DS, PSP, or iPhone. However they are in no way a viable alternative to physical media for full console games. Currently digital downloads of full games take a large amount of time and space. This may seem trivial in that there are now TB HDDs, it is important to remember that now with Blu-Ray developers are using more than the measly 10 GB available on a standard disc and in some cases using a full 50 GB. The amount of time and space that would take up on a harddrive is something most people will not put up with. Additionally through digital downloads people might be cheated out of their money if the HDD ever got wiped or the game accidentely deleted due to DRM. Already there are issues of even physical media being tied to online DRm (through Steam) because it requires an internet connection and lengthly downloadeds and installs. A large amount of the population really does not have access to the internet, let alone broadband. With this in mind no smart company will go completely digital because they will shut out a large audience. That is why Sony and Nintendo offer physical media alongside downloads and why Apple makes the iPhone able to download apps and songs via the phone service. There are just too many issues that technology would have to beat to even think of making digital downloads for console, PC games, and true HD Blu-Ray movies. All that factored on top of the fact that most people prefer a physical copy for the assurance that they'll always have it and can probably play it even if the technology changes makes digital downloads impossible

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Baka-akaB6170d ago

It's a sound logic , however when you look at data from many trackers , whatever their speed , you dont see people giving that much a dan about downloading a 6 gb pirated game , a 6 to 15 gb blu ray rips , an equally big hd legal rental or fully paid movie , 6-8-12 gb mmo betas , more than 1 gb demo for pc or consoles , or any game on digital outlet like steam .

OF course imo the best is to have both option ready , and at the same release date .

kesvalk6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

as steam user i have to disagree with you.

there is no problem in downloading full games via net, i just brought oblivion and the orangebox(HL², ep1 and ep2, TF2 and portal)
it amass almost 20 gb on my harddisk, i see no problems with it...

you should try it yourself...

Allowen6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

Digital distribution for Nintendo is not a good idea to try to boost game's salles to kids.

Imagine children asking for their parents credit card all the time .....

A HiFi6170d ago

This is a very good point. Bubble for you.

na-no-nai6170d ago

same here too i want to keep my physical copy too. for me dd is a hassle. i like looking at my games everytime i decide what to play

A HiFi6170d ago

I don't think DD is a 'hassle', but I do agree with looking at my collection. I prefer to physically see my games and choose then. Although, funnily enough, I'm the opposite on the PC. But that's probably because the PC is such an open-format, whilst I associate discs with consoles.

The console manufacturers don't want their consoles to become too similar to PCs though...

Baka-akaB6170d ago

I'm still waiting on my overpriced physical copy of KOF XII , because some stupid clerks cant check a map and realise that while i live on a french owned island ... it's in the carribean sea , so virtually next to USA ...

But no instead , despite email response that assure they'll fix it , they'll always send it to Paris first , wich then send it back to me with additional charges ...

In short , unless it's for collector stuff (and by collector i mean stuff like what usually atlus or japanese publishers do , not just poster and a audio soundtrack) , give me digital copy anyday .

I also happens to not care about used copy and reselling my stuff . To each their own , but i dont see the point of buying it in the first place , if it's to get rid of it later .
You could always pirate it (i know i know , but let's be honest here , it's a common habit) or rent it , if you dont feel like holding on to your game .

Quadrix6170d ago

I wouldn't mind seeing a home console that's solely digital distribution. However, assuming said console aims for PS3 quality, you'd need something along the lines of a 1 TB hard-drive, which is still relatively expensive. Of course, since a console based solely on digital distribution wouldn't need an HD DVD or Blu-Ray player, that might counteract the high cost of a large hard-drive.

While I'm at it, I may as well point out a few pros that digital media has over physical media:

1: Unlike physical media, digital media does need to be mass produced on CDs, meaning digital games will be somewhat cheaper than their physical counterparts.

2: Digital media cannot be lost or broken.

3. Digital games aren't bound by memory limitations in HD DVD/Blu-Ray disks.

A HiFi6170d ago

1TB wouldn't be enough, you'd need much more or, at least, the option for multiple 1TB hard drives that can be bought and connected by users as an 'upgrade'.

A HiFi6170d ago (Edited 6170d ago )

@joe75 - It is online though...

kraze076170d ago

Digital distribution is cool, but I still prefer having a physical copy of my video games.

xg-ei8ht6170d ago

FantasyStar that's fine, but honestly if i wanted to buy a game i'd buy the game, unless of course there is a demo. Where the 360 is concerned you can just d/l it anyway.

But 5 disagrees for saying i like both.

Doh, idiot defence force.