Today I will be discussing an article from the Statesman.com. Although from 2011, this article introduces many ideas still relevant in the industry today. It discusses the new era of digital distribution that the video game industry has entered. Digital distribution is the reception of a video game without the purchase of a physical copy of the game.
Although this idea of video game delivery has been around since the 1980's, it has only grown widely in recent years. This is thanks to mostly the popularity of internet capabilities over the last few years. The thought of downloading a several gigabyte game using the internet possibilities is not a pleasant one. However, another big contributor to this new age is the companies that make it possible. Steam by Valve revolutionized the online market for digital games by bringing the convenience of buying from the home possible all on your personal computer. This came with all the variety of your local Gamestop.
The popularity of Steam brought many competitors for the pc market. Uplay and Origin are just two of several examples that also bring big name titles right to your computer. This idea was spread in the form of the App Store and Google Play that bring games digitally to your device. Now even consoles that previously only dealt with physical copies are taking this route. The Xbox Marketplace and Playstation Store have been more popular than ever as consoles move towards downloads over discs.
Is digital distribution the way of the future? Developer Rodney Gibbs from Ricochet Labs seems to believe so. What do you prefer? In a post soon I will discuss the pros and cons of digital distribution.
Until next time,
David Rutner
