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[Teppic]

It might happen, but not anytime soon. When people have faster internet and better storage solutions, then maybe. But as games will take more and more disk space it will have to be something that allows data transfers to be a lot quicker, and a good cheap way to storage all that data.

 

[Sentenza]

What about all that extra bandwidth cost? That electricity ain't free.

No, it isn't. And it isn't even 100% "clean". But its environmental footprint is almost irrelevant compared to the alternative.

 

[Zaventem]

NO NO NO.You're not going to kill off my physical collection of media.I live in USA and we don't even have decent download speed unless it's overpriced by a crazy margin.

 

[entremet]

No, it isn't. And it isn't even 100% "clean". But its environmental footprint is almost irrelevant compared to the alternative.

Yep. You physical media fetishists are killing the Earth!

 

[Tellaerin]

I wonder if EA's still going to be around in another ten years.

 

[Alligatorjandro]

I cant see myself ever going completely digital.

 

[ThatStupidLion]

but but but how do i get a CE box?!

if retail boxes go bye bye collectors prices go sky high.

 

[Silly.Mikey]

Well, no retail box means that the price of games will definitely go down...right? Right?

 

[Roo]

Pretty much. All publishers will be doing this eventually, even Nintendo. Though they will probably be the last ones to ditch physical media.

In this matter, I'm totally happy they're behind lol

 

[Oxigen_Waste]

I for one fully embrace the concept of digital ownership. If I suddenly had the powers of a god, I'd create an ownership association web service, through which you could buy anything that is not physical in nature (ie, films, video games, music, ebooks, etc etc) and which you would then associate with platforms (like a PS3 or an XBOX360 or a PC via Steam) that would allow you to effectively use your possessions. Having boxes just for the sake of having them when you clearly do not actually use them, in other words, the whole collector mentality is borderline hoarding, in my opinion. Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

[Starbuck2907]

Right now, we have hundreds of retailers that sell games. If things were to go totally digital, we would be down to 4 or 5 major distributors of games (Xbox Live, Playstation network, Steam, Origin, and Amazon?) and that would be about it so far as the "major distributors" go. We would go from having 100's of retailers selling games to less than a dozen.

In other words, if the distribution channels were to go totally digital, there would be MUCH less price competition, which is bad for consumers. Right now, I can compare prices on Xbox Live, Steam, Walmart, Best Buy, Gamestop, Target, Toys R Us, etc. As a consumer I win out because I have a lot of options to find sales and discounts. However, when the channels of distribution go from several hundred retailers to about ten, your choices and options for looking for discounts are suddenly limited. This is another reason that I fear digital distribution. Digital distribution would mean much, much less price competition. With less price competition or the need to clear out physical inventory on store shelves, I can see prices staying high and very rarely going on sale.

 

[milanbaros]

Well that's the thing, hes saying that for everyone in the world, internet connection speeds and caps will "catch up" within 10 years.... no way in hell.

That really doesn't need to happen though. Many people earn less than $2 a day and have no access to electricity and retail did ok. Stop overestimating how far internet needs to go for digital only to become viable.

 

[Blearth]

Well, no retail box means that the price of games will definitely go down...right? Right?

Prices went down when the industry transitioned from cartridges to optical media. So there is precedent.

 

[Sentenza]

Well, no retail box means that the price of games will definitely go down...right? Right?

Nooope. But it means that it CAN go down more easily at some point after release, and that's because a retail copy sold too low can be at loss compared to its costs for production, boxing, transport, distribution, etc. while every single copy sold through digital delivery after you break even means more money with virtually no upfront cost, even sold for a dollar.

 

[GungHo]

I'm fine with this, but I have good internet, very generous bandwidth caps, and the disposable income and technical knowledge to set myself up with on-site storage if needed. Most people aren't in that situation.

If the global bandwidth/internet availablity problem is addressed, I honestly think Gaikai or some other remote hosting service might beat them to the punch and take the whole thing out of everyone's hands.

 

[Quixz]

Full price rentals yay!

 

[Silly.Mikey]

That really doesn't need to happen though. Many people earn less than $2 a day and have no access to electricity and retail did ok. Stop overestimating how far internet needs to go for digital only to become viable.

The internet needs to get better there's no doubt in my mind. If next gen games are 8-9 gigs like they are now on xbox360, then i could understand your argument. Bluray is only getting bigger which means games are getting bigger. From 20 to 50 gigs. And if your talking about 20-50 gigs digital downloads, i don't see how you argument holds with internet prices and caps as they are now around the world. I pay around 55$ Canadian, and get 90 gigs a month. Thats not gonna cut it for digital only games at 20 to 50 gigs plain and simple.

 

[ecurbj]

Fuck you EA. I will buy physical copies of my media till I die. I'm a collector and like to hold what I bought in my hands.

Got it? Obviously not. So if I catch your products online DLC only best believe my credit card will not be issued for your item purchases. Got that.

Now can you DIG THAT!?