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[SouthernDragon]

A wonderful idea. I'm just wondering how they will manage downloads; these games are supposed to be GB in size. Sucks for those with middling connections.

I also have to question the wisdom of this move at the moment, though, considering their stance on the 360's harddrive. If it were like the PS3, or even the Wii model (think attachable format-able harddrive instead of SD), I think it'd be a minor concern. Many still have the 20 GB model, which allows for relatively few games.

I personally think that 120 GB would be enough for most people, but the price to upgrade from 20 to 120 is far too much, and whatever Microsoft would gain from this service is lost from people simply not buying games due to the cost of the harddrive.

If they drop the price of the harddrive to a reasonable level, I'm sure whatever lost profit (and I think they will still incur a profit at, say, 50$) can be made up with increased game sales.

 

[ElNino]

Me too. When will they get it. If it's digital, I want it cheaper than physical. I don't care if you think I'm wrong, it should be cheaper or no sale.

Unfortunately, there's not really much precedent for them to do that (make it cheaper than a physical retail copy). Just like renting a DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD from my local video store is the same price (or less) than me paying for it from my On-Demand service, but I'll still pay the same or more for the On-Demand movie because it is more convenient.

 

[bloodforge]

Huh? The only game I have ever seen close to retail price (actually over retail) on Aussie Steam was COD4, mostly every other game sells considerably cheaper than retail.

Older games, sure, they may not be the same as retail, but new games almost always come out at the same price for retail or DD.

 

[tekumseh]

IF the 360 HD wasn't proprietary and, therefore un-upgradeable like the PS3, this would be interesting to me. Since it is; it's not....

 

[Hellraizah]

Why do people fear evolution?

 

[blame space]

Why do people fear evolution?

:lol Condescending bullshit.

There are many, many reasons to not want to download games other than "fearing evolution".

 

[Proc]

:lol Condescending bullshit.

There are many, many reasons to not want to download other games other than "fearing evolution".

Yeah, with one reason being after your 360 rrod's outside of warranty, you are left with a bunch of property that you can't sell.

I'm all for this though, but somehow I doubt we'll see the bigger releases day and date with retail but who knows.

 

[bigswords]

$9.99 USD or bust! That's what I bought my Mass Effect for on Steam! :lol

 

[tokkun]

Would be pretty nice to be able to rapidly swap between Rock Band, SF4, and other party games without having to get up and change discs or worry about your friends scratching them. Also good if you have children in the house who might damage the discs.

 

[PSGames]

Unfortunately, there's not really much precedent for them to do that (make it cheaper than a physical retail copy). Just like renting a DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD from my local video store is the same price (or less) than me paying for it from my On-Demand service, but I'll still pay the same or more for the On-Demand movie because it is more convenient.

Fuck that, they aren't having to pay for packaging, shipping or retailers. Plus you can't resale so they don't have to worry about a Used game market taking away sales. DD should be cheaper by atleast $10. Otherwise it's a complete ripoff. Publishers would be making more money from the transaction while we the consumers would getting far LESS.

 

[PapiShasho]

Fuck that, they aren't having to pay for packaging, shipping or retailers. Plus you can't resale so they don't have to worry about a Used game market taking away sales. DD should be cheaper by atleast $10. Otherwise it's a complete ripoff.

Don't care, naninanibooboo. I like this feature.

 

[PSGames]

Don't care, naninanibooboo. I like this feature.

By all means. You're doing nothing but screwing yourself.

 

[hgplayer1]

I think pricing will be very important with this service but I know there will be times when I see a game that I just havent gotten around to playing and Ill buy it on the spot.

It will be nice if new releases are DDed but I have my doubts. I hate hunting for new games when they are in high demand.

Im guessing the purchase will be as easy as buying MS points is with the credit card on file? No need to actually type in all the info.

 

[Unregistered007]

This is really bullshit in my opinion. MS is going to keep the price at 2400 points or 29.99 US but we all know that we can get old games from bargain bins here and there for 9.99 too.

 

[Loxley]

Yea it certainly hasn't been working for Valve.

Oh those silly console-only gamers. So pessimistic.

 

[stressboy]

Why do people fear evolution?

Some of us see being prevented from lending games to friends or borrowing them as taking a step back.

 

[Gowans]

I'm behind this but I want thw option to also use points (buy cards instead of credit card)

 

[The Faceless Master]

Why do people fear evolution?

doesn't evolution mean getting better, not worse? or do you mean the evolution of videogame companies, by them transforming a physical product into an easily revokable virtual license?

 

[EternalGamer]

not allowing you to use points is just asinine.

Where did this come from? Everything else on Live is points.

 

[EternalGamer]

doesn't evolution mean getting better, not worse? or do you mean the evolution of videogame companies, by them transforming a physical product into an easily revokable virtual license?

They aren't going to take away your right to play it. And, aside from coming to your house and deleting it from your HardDrive, they couldn't anyway. You can play 360 downloads OFFLINE on the console you downloaded them to and you can transfer that licenses to a different box if it breaks.

As far as not being able to transfer them to new consoles, um, that is the way it has ALWAYS worked. Backwards compatibility is a relatively new (and seems to be quickly fading) concept. You couldn't play your Nes games on your SNES either. And you wouldn't be any more or less likely to be able to play your physical dics 360 games on the 720 than you could these.

There is no reason for the absurd paranoia in this thread. MS is not making an evil plot to get you to buy things and take them away from you 10 years from now. Don't worry, you can keep your horde, physical or download.

 

[jaydogg691]

If I can get Street Fighter IV for less than $60, I'll bite.

 

[Ashour]

I like the idea, but matching the same prices as retail makes it not worth it, I know they don't want to upset their retail partners but still.

 

[Chrange]

They use points on Live, people bitch. They don't use points for game downloads, people bitch...

 

[MacBosse]

Some of us see being prevented from lending games to friends or borrowing them as taking a step back.

You know that you still have the CHOICE to buy it retail right?

 

[Brashnir]

I don't see myself buying any new releases through something like this, but I could see myself picking up some back catalog stuff assuming prices come down over time.

I picked up a couple XBO titles that I missed the first time around. I don't think this should be any different. Hopefully the games you download will be compatible with future Xbox systems.

 

[Quasar]

IF the 360 HD wasn't proprietary and, therefore un-upgradeable like the PS3, this would be interesting to me. Since it is; it's not....

Yeah. That's pretty much me. The MS hard drive decision was a big mistake when you look at it from the POV of a downloadable content system.

And have they sorted out the DRM issues around downloadable content and moving between consoles or hard drives yet?

 

[xbhaskarx]

They use points on Live, people bitch. They don't use points for game downloads, people bitch...

That's inevitable, we're talking about people who bitch over FREE shit...

 

[Zyzyxxz]

You know that you still have the CHOICE to buy it retail right?

then why bother buying it DD?

Direct downloads have to offer incentives to make it worth not buying the retail copies.

As of now I see no reason to buy DD over retail when the prices are the same.

 

[Hesemonni]

You forgot

- Your Xbox won't sound like a fighter jet
- No need to drag your ass to the console
- No lost or scratched games
- No DVD drive related bugs in GoW2 or ME anymore
- Easy and fast launch of any game you have when invited in Live
- No disc swapping in multi-disc games
- Less crap in your pad
- Less console failures

LOL TOTAL

I see your points and raise 20Gb.

LOL TOTAL

 

[SIP YEK NOD]

then why bother buying it DD?

Direct downloads have to offer incentives to make it worth not buying the retail copies.

As of now I see no reason to buy DD over retail when the prices are the same.

-never scratching a disk
-play on demand
-guaranteed availability
-Day 0 availability(when the time comes)
-1 box, 2 cords, 1 controller to travel.

It has it's advantages that will appeal to some people. It obviously doesn't appeal to you, so keep buying your disks, don't try to discredit the ideal wholly.

 

[Ashhong]

Unfortunately, there's not really much precedent for them to do that (make it cheaper than a physical retail copy). Just like renting a DVD/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD from my local video store is the same price (or less) than me paying for it from my On-Demand service, but I'll still pay the same or more for the On-Demand movie because it is more convenient.

a full album on itunes is 10$. many cds are 10$ for maybe the first couple days then go up to like 13-15

 

[Opus Angelorum]

I think a lot of people don't understand how successful Valve are currently doing the exact same thing.

This functionality will no doubt evolve into brand new releases, one you can pre-load and unlock the second it is released. That is awesome, period.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

then why bother buying it DD?

Direct downloads have to offer incentives to make it worth not buying the retail copies.

As of now I see no reason to buy DD over retail when the prices are the same.

Convenience. No hassle. Look at a game like Dirt. I haven't seen it a local retailer in ages. Sure, if I did, it might be cheap as hell. So I can hop from store to store with my fingers crossed. Or I could order it from Amazonk, but they have it listed, mysteriously for $69.99. So that seems a bit exorbitant.

Or I could wake up for a midnight snack, turn on my Xbox, and just buy it.

 

[Ashhong]

i get your point, but what retailers are you going to? ive seen it everywhere, both new and used.

 

[Iknos]

I see your points and raise 20Gb.

LOL TOTAL

Lots of new 360 owners over last Xmas got 60Gb models. Lots upgraded to 120. Some still have 20Gb, and some have 0Gb (Arcade). The point you're attempting to make is weak when you consider those facts. A better point is that it is COSTLY to upgrade because of MS's high peripheral pricing.

 

[D3VI0US]

If they had the games that I always played like Rock Band, Halo, L4D, SF4, I'd be down for it but older crap that I already played, no thanks.

 

[Rewrite]

No thank you.

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

Microsoft's E3 keynote was so jam-packed the company decided to wait until afterwards to announce what might be the biggest new feature of them all: on-demand access to full retail games. The service will launch in fall with 30 titles to start, and new games will be added weekly, with pricing to match retail. The best part? Purchases can be made directly with a credit card, no pesky Xbox points required. Developing...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/xbox-360-getting-full-retail-games-delivered-on-demand/


Looks like all older games, but it is a start.

Sounds like a good idea, but the pricing is disappointing and IMO, it takes the incentive away for DD. Ok, it can save you a trip to the game store, but still. Also, sometimes games are on sale in stores and they can be purchased used to save money. I doubt these will go on sale on a regular basis. Not to mention that we will have to make the plunge and purchase that expensive bigger hard drive if you want to hold some of these games.

 

[ZeoVGM]

Neat idea, but I'm still not a fan of digital distribution.

I like owning physical games. I like handing it to a friend to borrow and borrowing games. And I buy lots of cheap used games, games on clearance, etc.

 

[Cdammen]

We fear change.

Spoiler

 

[JimmyRustler]

Just don't expect this to work as it should. My Max Payne 1 I downloaded still isn't working and M$ had no idea how to help. Just told me a bunch of shitty tipps I've already tried out at that time.....

 

[Rhazer Fusion]

It is a nice option, but I am afraid to ask how much a memory the games will be taking up on someones 20GB hard drive.

 

[Metal Gear?!]

It's a good idea but it's a slap in the face as long as they are ripping their customers off over proprietary hard drive prices.

 

[navii]

I equate downloading games to pirating games. I pay money to get something physical, I'm not gonna pay full price for downloadable games.

 

[Diablohead]

Does gears 2 still have hickups when you finish a MP round or hit a campaign check point while installed to HDD? I use a launch HDD and it's fucking annoying every few minutes.

I equate downloading games to pirating games. I pay money to get something physical, I'm not gonna pay full price for downloadable games.

When you are paying a legit service you treat it as pirating? good luck next gen.

 

[SIP YEK NOD]

I equate downloading games to pirating games. I pay money to get something physical, I'm not gonna pay full price for downloadable games.

well the new PSP is apparently download only. get ready to equate the PSP with piracy!

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

Fuck this. I can only imagine how they'll control this given how they control saves.

 

[suffah]

I equate downloading games to pirating games. I pay money to get something physical, I'm not gonna pay full price for downloadable games.

XBLA/PSN - Home of the pirates.

 

[6.8]

This is broken until they fix their hard drive upgrade prices.

If they do though, I'm totally there.

 

[ElNino]

a full album on itunes is 10$. many cds are 10$ for maybe the first couple days then go up to like 13-15

Ok, so on iTunes you can save a few bucks buying an album, but I think it's a bit different for music where it is overwhelmingly commonplace to download anyways (illegally). If the prices for those weren't low then no one would ever do it. Games are different, there isn't a large percentage of people downloading (console) games.

I would imagine that this is relatively easy feature for MS to implement, since they already have playing from the HDD working all they would need to do is get the DRM check and marketplace implemented. If few people use it then it's no big loss, but I have a feeling that it will be relatively popular.