As we all know, digital distribution is on the rise. What we don’t know is the consequences of this development. Is digital distribution really a threat to brick-and-mortar stores? Will PC games be available solely via the internet in the future? And which is better, digital or physical distribution?
No question about it, digital distribution is gaining ground. According to an article on
Be Very Afraid, the two distribution methods are now nearly equal when it comes to sales numbers. In 2009, 21.3 million PC games were purchased online in the U.S., while 23.5 million copies were purchased at retail stores. The largest digital retailer, Valve’s
Steam, now has 25 million user accounts and 1.100 titles available for purchase.
How do gamers feel about the shift towards digital distribution? As with most issues, there are those who are for and those who are against. Some swear by physical discs, some like it digital. Judging by the sales numbers, many gamers have discovered the advantages of the digital format, the most important one being that no disc is needed. This removes the hassle of having to change discs. There is also no risk of the game disc being lost, broken or stolen. Plus, the condition of your copy doesn’t deteriorate with time and frequent use and there are no game boxes cluttering your living space.
Moreover, buying a digital copy is fast and easy. You can browse at home, find a game you like and be playing it in 10 minutes. Small games studios are particularly fond of internet distribution, since there are no costs of manufacturing, printing and shipping. For these reasons, the profit margin is normally higher than that of physical copies.
On the other hand, physical copies do have merits. For example, there is no requirement of a fast and reliable internet connection. Many gamers don’t have access to such connections and cannot download anything the size of a game. Also, as computers have a tendency to crash, many gamers trust discs more than digital files. Furthermore, there often is a feeling of nostalgia and collector’s pride connected with game boxes. In a
blog post, Sydney Morning Herald journalist Corey Lee asks himself a question. “Would I rather want a file on my console or PC or instead a tangible copy that I can see, smell and touch with my own hands?” Lee chooses the latter. A
poll on The Escapist’s forums suggests many agree with him; over 45 % say they prefer physical copies for all their games.
There is also the matter of second-hand sales. The reselling of a physical copy means that a game box and some bills change hands; it’s a very straightforward operation. Sadly, only a few digital retailers allow resells, for instance Stardock’s
Impulse. Some people argue that, with second-hand sales not allowed, we are moving towards a market where games are not sold, but rented.
Furthermore, used games are a huge market, although this business is admittedly bigger for console games. In an
interview, Gamestop’s digital-busines manager Shawn Freeman told IGN that physical media will remain important in the future. "Our core business is still very strong and we're still very excited about the advances in that side of the business," Freeman said. It seems the physical copy still has a strong ally in Gamestop, the world’s largest retailer of videogames.
Any way you look at it, it is digital distribution that is the wave of the future. As new technologies improve it, it will no doubt gain even more in popularity and importance. However, physical distribution is unlikely to disappear entirely. The traditional disc still has many supporters and is certainly not defeated. As both systems have their pros and cons, which is better depends on what qualities you value. For now, let’s just enjoy having different options and play whatever way we like.
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