A Question About Today's Video Game Consoles...

[Skintaster]

I didn't want to derail the other thread, but this is a question I've had for awhile.

It seems reasonable to expect that in another console generation or two, that the manufacturers are going to go to machines that download the games entirely without a physical copy existing. We won't have a collection of game disks, but games we've paid to download, and play for a limited amount of time before they "expire".

Now, I don't like this model, but I figure that it's the way things will be.

I'm curious what the longevity will be for the current games that are still on disk. Every one seems to download updates almost every time I fire up my system.

Will these updates be stored indefinitely on some giant server so that a person owning a functional PS3 and the games will be able to play them... Say, in 20 or 30 years?

I own vintage game systems that old, and since the game data is stored on cartridges, they still are playable.

I have no idea how this will work, or if it will in regards to the console games being made now. Will they be completely non functional?

Enlighten me, I'm not a tech head at all.

 

[Sinmastah]

It seems reasonable to expect that in another console generation or two, that the manufacturers are going to go to machines that download the games entirely without a physical copy existing. We won't have a collection of game disks, but games we've paid to download, and play for a limited amount of time before they "expire".

This won't happen, because game producers don't like this idea, first off.

Second off, I don't get your question...

Downloading updated will only be to your hardrive, otherwise it will take a long time to load because of slow internet. But still, I don't understand what your question is. If you can refine it I hopefully can answer it sir

The longevity of games on disc is only relevant to the quality of games. Look at Super Mario Bros for the NES. People still play the games, and have fun. That will happen for awesome games. Like Super Mario 64, Halo, etc. If your question is asking if you should buy a 360, PS3, or wii, wait till the next thing comes out. Might be 2 years. If you want one, buy one used. If you have something more specific, I can try to answer it as best I can.

 

[Skintaster]

This won't happen, because game producers don't like this idea, first off.

Second off, I don't get your question...

Downloading updated will only be to your hardrive, otherwise it will take a long time to load because of slow internet. But still, I don't understand what your question is. If you can refine it I hopefully can answer it sir

From what I've read, it's the game industry that wants to move in that direction - They see absolutely no profit from the sales of used games. It seems reasonable that they'd like to control how game content is sold, and they have (Or will shortly have) the technology to do this.

I just meant that many games on the PS3 and XBox 360 get updates, sometimes "fixes" for problems... I don't know if in a few years some of these games will be playable without the updates, if those updates are no longer available. I really don't know how it works.

For instance, I've had a couple of games that had issues that made them unplayable, until the fix was updated.

How about optional downloadable content? Will that stuff still be around somewhere? If I buy a used game years down the road, and want that downloadable content, will it be available?

I may be completely mistaken as to how this stuff works.

 

[Zenzeypher]

The problem is predicting how companies fare in the next 20 years. There's a model in place sure.

For example I believe you're correct and in 10 years or so everything will be digital download, the reason it isn't so far is 40% of Americans and 30% of Britains are not on the intetorwebs (this is a rough figure I read very recently)

So for it to be digital distribution now they would risk cutting out a minority of their sales, a large minority none the less.

Also episodic content is slowly creeping in, take RAGE for example, comes with a whole section built in but you have to activate either with a code that was later included but had to be purchased initially.

No say in 10 -20 years the world gets 90% of people in 1st world countries on the internets.. Then digitial distribution would be the norm, why?

Digital distribution removes the follow from the equation;
1, thieves and stock shrinkage,
2, manual distribution via piracy
3, better maintenance of digital pirates

and # FOUR. biggest one that always gets over looked;

4, no more 2nd hand shops - EVER.

now digital distribution is the norm you would be charged for rental or purchase of games regardless of system etc, also places like Game/Gamestation purchase retro games and destroy them and keep a few thus increasing the price...same with most formats PS1 is next.

making these games rare and expensive will make them a better target for digital distro as you can buy them for £9.99 as opposed to £150.00 like say, Castlevania: sothn on PS1.

Now say if today you own a ton of SONY digital downloads and they get sued into oblivion or they fold due to bankruptcy in a few years time....you will no longer have access to redownloading those games....you have trouble with it now if your console is faulty and you buy a new one...transferring ownership of games isn't always as simple as redownloading them XBOX 360 showed that.

So unless another vendor buys the mass data farms of SONY at considerable cost...you'd be shit out of luck unless you wanna buy it again.

Digital download is a terrible idea, but it will happen - this technology is going nowhere - ever.

People will always take a hit on rights for convenience..and the problem is were getting lazier.

so unless

 

[Zenzeypher]

This won't happen, because game producers don't like this idea, first off.

It's already happening.

And it's not up game producers it's upto the hardware developers. If devs said no to digital dealership and threatened then they would forfeit rights to publish games on the platform in question.

then they would have to find a publisher - which will have to pay say SEGA rights to distro on their machine anyways ... so what's the point.

and if it's 100% digital when that happens the BAM your company is gonna fold.

It already happened to EA in the 80's/ early 90's

 

[Sinmastah]

Skin, game producers can now push out games that are not fully complete, and can update later. That is a huge advantage to them. I feel like these updates will be available for a few years, 20 years down the load might be a stretch however. I apologize man, but no one can answer this question for you.

These new games are so involved though, so many glitches can be caused by very random things that aren't tested, that's why the updates are there.

DLC will be available. For example, I plays TES Oblivion, came out in 2006. 6 years later I can still download DLC.

30 years down the road you might be SOL, but there are no video games that old currently. There are none worth playing that old, except for maybe Ocarina of time, etc. There really hasn't been a game like that for a while man. I wish I could give you the answers you want, but I can't, because I don't know the future. I'm just trying to help as much as I can let me know if you have any more confusion or questions.

 

[Sinmastah]

It's already happening.

And it's not up game producers it's upto the hardware developers. If devs said no to digital dealership and threatened then they would forfeit rights to publish games on the platform in question.

then they would have to find a publisher - which will have to pay say SEGA rights to distro on their machine anyways ... so what's the point.

and if it's 100% digital when that happens the BAM your company is gonna fold.

Every major game released ever has been via disc or cartridge. This alone proves my point. When major games that win awards are downloaded only, then talk to me. Starcraft is a download only game, but you still need the disc, and will be allowed to download it indefinitely.

 

[Skintaster]

Skin, game producers can now push out games that are not fully complete, and can update later. That is a huge advantage to them. I feel like these updates will be available for a few years, 20 years down the load might be a stretch however. I apologize man, but no one can answer this question for you.

These new games are so involved though, so many glitches can be caused by very random things that aren't tested, that's why the updates are there.

DLC will be available. For example, I plays TES Oblivion, came out in 2006. 6 years later I can still download DLC.

30 years down the road you might be SOL, but there are no video games that old currently. There are none worth playing that old, except for maybe Ocarina of time, etc. There really hasn't been a game like that for a while man. I wish I could give you the answers you want, but I can't, because I don't know the future. I'm just trying to help as much as I can let me know if you have any more confusion or questions.

It's all good. I appreciate the info and your perspective.

 

[Zenzeypher]

Every major game released ever has been via disc or cartridge. This alone proves my point. When major games that win awards are downloaded only, then talk to me. Starcraft is a download only game, but you still need the disc, and will be allowed to download it indefinitely.

But were talking about the future, not NOW. The reason it isn't now is due to enough people not being on Broadband to make it viable enough as a business model.

And you won't be able to download it indefinate, You will when it's cracked or vapourware/freeware/abandonware.

But if the company/distributor holding the rights for distribution goes down the pan then NO you won't be able to.

Licensing would step in then also, and it's not impossible to say a company will be around for ever with their expansive server farms handing out rights to their games.

gaming companies have folded and merged, so you can't state either way.

 

[Sinmastah]

It's all good. I appreciate the info and your perspective.

Thanks skin.

I really wish I could tell you what you want to know, but I can't. I can not predict the future as much as I wish I could.

I apologize again, but I don't know how to answer your question fully because I don't understand why you are asking.

 

[Sinmastah]

But were talking about the future, not NOW. The reason it isn't now is due to enough people not being on Broadband to make it viable enough as a business model.

And you won't be able to download it indefinate, You will when it's cracked or vapourware/freeware/abandonware.

But if the company/distributor holding the rights for distribution goes down the pan then NO you won't be able to.

Licensing would step in then also, and it's not impossible to say a company will be around for ever with their expansive server farms handing out rights to their games.

gaming companies have folded and merged, so you can't state either way.

I'm aware

Read my post above.

 

[your idol]

 

[Zenzeypher]

lol if only we all could predict the future eh.

Id miss my shelf space full of crap if it went 100% digital.

 

[djwilbanks]

Renting a title, digitally, won't be the primary way of playing games. People won't put up with it. If I want to rent, I'll rent. If I want to own, I'll purchase.

You will see, however, GameStop's and places similar, business model crumble when digital downloads of games out number physical purchases. Even now EA has attempted to disrupt the sale of used games through forcing you to purchase a code to download DLC or play online if the game is purchased second hand, through a shop or private seller.

I feel that streaming games while playing them is probably the realistic future, and probably the most cost effective, but we're a long way out from this as the only current model we have is OnLive Games, which is lacking, in my opinion. That said, streaming makes the most sense as it allows more people to play your games. Charge them the price of a normal console for the right to use the service, and then they can stream their games, much like Netflix, on any compatible device, including smartphones and tablets.

It's already happening, this market shift, and I, for one, welcome our new digital distribution overlords.

 

[Zenzeypher]

What if DOG, spelt C-A-T. ?

 

[Skintaster]

Thanks guys. My take is that various issues will probably give the current crop of video games playable on today's consoles a pretty finite life.

Here's the thing - I'm older than a lot of you - At 42, I've still been playing video games of one form or another for over 30 years. I STILL play a few of those older games, although in honesty, many of them are for reasons of nostalgia, as they clearly are not as immersive an experience as today's games... Which I also play.

But I have a ton of the old ones, and a few actual coin op arcade games. I like to be "able" to play them when I like.

I have a bad feeling that in a few more years, new games won't even come on a disk - You'll basically "buy" the right to download a new game and play it for a certain amount of time before it expires and is no longer playable. I don't like the idea of this... It's not really "buying" something, it's like a form of rental.

I'm sure game companies would have liked to be able to do that from the beginning - It gives them ultimate control over how game content is bought and sold.

I figure new games that are still on disk will probably be fully playable for a few more years, and then the servers where those updates are stored will be "retired".

Anyway, that's just what I think will probably happen.

 

[Skintaster]

Guilty as charged... At least when it comes to video games.



I have seen naked women in real life that I didn't have to pay to see. Does that still grant me nerd status?

 

[Sinmastah]

=
It's already happening, this market shift, and I, for one, welcome our new digital distribution overlords.

I don't DJ. You're a smart guy, especially when it comes to tech, but cmon now. You know this won't happen. If anything it will get blocked for monopoly reasons mang. Digital downloads would ruin so many national and local businesses. It's not worth it. Plus, any normal gamer would decline to spending $60 online. They prefer the disc no matter what, just like 90% of people on this forum... I will make a poll and prove that as my point. DVD's, CD's, Blu-Ray's, and games... Same damn thing.

 

[Zenzeypher]

I agree to an extent.

My old man is near his 50's and he rambles on about digital distribution taking away property and is no longer a tangible product.

I agree and it's also another way of increased profits for game studios.

But here the sad thing on my part...Ive a PS3 ive not touched in about 2 months. Sega Megadrive (Genesis to our Uncle Sam cousins) gets fired up everyday for abit of Street fighter II and some Streets of Rage and urm *cough* castle of illusion.

 

[Skintaster]

I can see it happen. I mean, Blockbuster Video basically put all of the little mom and pop video stores out of business, and now they're going bankrupt because of services like Netflix and streaming video.

The same thing will happen to movies, although the old dvds and blurays will probably still work fine, since they don't rely on downloadable content to function correctly.

I recently read an article about this shift away from media content being sold in a physical form - Soon your only option will be to "buy" a movie download that will give you a certain amount of viewings before it expires.

At least that's what a lot of experts seem to think we're heading toward.

Not sure what I think of it all.