Not every game will be available for download, Nintendo of America revealed.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/29998
New Super Mario Bros. 2 and only the majority (not all) of first-party 3DS and Wii U games will debut simultaneously as a retail and download game, Nintendo of America confirmed today in a statement.
Nintendo Co., Ltd., the main Japanese branch of the company, announced yesterday during an investor's briefing that retail games will also be available for download. Nintendo of America echoed many of the same points, such as the fact that retailers will offer games as both a download code and as a packaged game to "give shoppers more options." See below for Nintendo of America's full statement:
Nintendo is aiming to significantly expand its digital business. In August, New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Nintendo 3DS system will launch both as a packaged game at retail stores and as a digital download in the Nintendo eShop. The majority of Nintendo-published Nintendo 3DS games will have the same dual-distribution strategy. Likewise, the majority of Nintendo-published Wii U games will be available both as packaged products and as digital downloads starting on launch day.
These downloadable games will also be available for purchase at participating retail stores and on retailers’ websites. Our customers can visit retail outlets or their online shopping sites, look for the products they want and pay for the product there. The retailers will then provide shoppers with a 16-digit code that can be exchanged in the Nintendo eShop for the game. This will give shoppers more options to find and purchase their favorite games.
Likewise, the majority of Nintendo-published Wii U games will be available both as packaged products and as digital downloads starting on launch day.Taking the Digital Experience by the horns. Now if they want to do this right registering the Physical one with your system should get you the download as well on that system. Also in the Physical Retailer Digital download ones NFC read card instead of plugging in a code. I know on the web you really have no choice.
but if a registered physical copy gets you a digital one, what is to stop holder of the disk to resell it? and then what happens when the 2nd owner tries to get a digital one?
but if a registered physical copy gets you a digital one, what is to stop holder of the disk to resell it? and then what happens when the 2nd owner tries to get a digital one?Who says a physical copy gets you a digital one in the first place? Unless I'm misinterpreting it, this article doesn't say that. What it says is, at retail you will have the option of buying either a code for a digital copy or a physical copy. The two won't be together.
CD-key-like DRM
This could possibly be a horrible sign of the death of video games. I much rather always have a physical copy that last forever of a game (and rip it myself with homebrew to have a personal use only software copy). DLC last only as long as Nintendo or its lawyers feel like, robbing the world of is existence.QuoteCD-key-like DRM
Good bye video game world, I hardly knew ya... (even if Nintendo not doing it yet, sony and MS are heading full steam in that direction)
Hopefully, Nintendo see the light and implements a better system like physical game downloads that expire every 10 day without reinserting the original game disc/cart.
This could possibly be a horrible sign of the death of video games. I much rather always have a physical copy that last forever of a game (and rip it myself with homebrew to have a personal use only software copy). DLC last only as long as Nintendo or its lawyers feel like, robbing the world of is existence.QuoteCD-key-like DRM
Good bye video game world, I hardly knew ya... (even if Nintendo not doing it yet, sony and MS are heading full steam in that direction)
Hopefully, Nintendo see the light and implements a better system like physical game downloads that expire every 10 day without reinserting the original game disc/cart.
+1
Yes, the fact that there are more options is clearly a sign that gaming as we know it is about to come to an end. Never mind that this doesn't affect people who want a physical copy in the slightest; the mere chance that this might possibly lead to a future without any physical media years and years from now is a horrible thing and must be fought against.
It helps save on fuel costs.Except that shipping is free if you purchase most places on the internet. Or odds are that you go grocery shopping once a week at either a place that sells games or is a 5 minute walk from the place you buy groceries. Not to mention sales make physical media much cheaper than the cost of fuel in most instances. At least a couple buy 2, get 1 free sales each year. When's the last time you saw that for digital media? Maybe Steam does it, but Nintendo certainly doesn't.
1. A system was already released that was download only, PSPGo.
2. PSN/XBox Live/WiiWare already have a bunch of games that are not available in a physical form of any time.
2. Can't take games with you to enjoy with friends. Sure, carrying a 3DS is probably not that big of a deal. But if I want to play Mega Man 9/10 with my friends? No problem. Either rebuy the game on their system, or lug my 20 pound PS3 over to their house, set it up with their system, enjoy, and then move the system back. Sure a Wii weighs less, but it's not any less of a pain, and I don't really want to get my systems scratched up.
As for the price point, I've been looking into buying a Vita recently, and at least on Amazon the digital download versions of retail Vita games are usually $5 cheaper than the physical products, so they are passing on some of the savings to the consumer.But this is Nintendo so I seriously doubt there be a price change.
As for the price point, I've been looking into buying a Vita recently, and at least on Amazon the digital download versions of retail Vita games are usually $5 cheaper than the physical products, so they are passing on some of the savings to the consumer.But this is Nintendo so I seriously doubt there be a price change.
True except Sony does have sales and if the PSPGo was a reasonable success Vita wouldn't have physical games. They would sell the memory cards and units in store. Sony wants you to buy all Digital. Nintendo seems to see it as nothing other than an alternative medium.As for the price point, I've been looking into buying a Vita recently, and at least on Amazon the digital download versions of retail Vita games are usually $5 cheaper than the physical products, so they are passing on some of the savings to the consumer.But this is Nintendo so I seriously doubt there be a price change.
That may be true, but I wouldn't have expected it from Sony either. I was kind of shocked when I saw that.
I don't get how you can say that publishers don't feel like they're making enough on $60 retail games, but think it's unfair to release digital games at that price level. The supply chain costs are probably equal to increasing server costs. Then you get to cut out retailers, but their cut is only about 5 to 15% max. That retail piece they get back is what's pushing the profitability up.
If we're talking retail console games, which can be upwards of 5-10 GB in size, the server and bandwidth costs are going to be quite substantial. And for right now, when everything is still going to be available in physical form as well, I can't see the manufacturing/shipping costs decreasing that much, since a lot of that's probably fixed costs.I have posted here before Bandwidth cost in regards to MS going fully digital. Make no mistake those costs are not negligible but, I would be lieing to say that I think they are on parity with the cost to manufacture, store, and ship physical games. I believe that in the end once everything is accounted for (Server, Electricity, Bandwidth, maintenance, etc.) that the costs would max out at 50% of what it take to go physical.
Right, that's what I'm saying. Making a retail game available for download doesn't slash costs just because it there's no middleman. So, pricing downloads at the same level as retail makes sense.
If Nintendo is also selling the Digital versions of the game at retailers, which they have indicated, that $8 will still be paid. You wouldn't want to have disparity between the methods of buying digital.Right, that's what I'm saying. Making a retail game available for download doesn't slash costs just because it there's no middleman. So, pricing downloads at the same level as retail makes sense.
Retailers get like $8 per $60 game, there is also the cost to manufacture and ship the game, so digital downloads ARE cheaper for the publisher and they should pass those savings (or at least some of them) onto consumers.
Right, that's what I'm saying. Making a retail game available for download doesn't slash costs just because it there's no middleman. So, pricing downloads at the same level as retail makes sense.
Retailers get like $8 per $60 game, there is also the cost to manufacture and ship the game, so digital downloads ARE cheaper for the publisher and they should pass those savings (or at least some of them) onto consumers.
