| 15 SEP 2006 at 11:39pm |
KAPIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 64
Joined: 25 AUG 2004
Status : Online | well...first off....on a technical note....the bandwidth needed to support downloaded adventure games would be enourmous (basically because in the last few years I think I have bought 2 games that came on 1 CD about 650- 700 megs of data...and tons of games that are on multiple cds or DVD format1.5 GIG+) .. therefore...because adventure games are basically played by fewer people (not a popular thought but true) the sites that publish would have to charge a bit more to make it profitable to do... So from a $$$ standpoint its not the time so much as the cost....will we see it more in the future....You bet....
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 12:40am |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | And, having said that, Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon and Law & Order: Justice is Served are now available as downloads from Big Fish Games. Change is coming.
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 5:40am |
honeycombIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 31
Joined: 31 DEC 2004
Status : Online | Only a matter of time really as bandwidth improves.
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 6:31am |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Yep, from the consumer perspective, average web connection speeds in most developed countries around the world have risen dramatically in the past five years and it's virtually impossible to find a new Windows-based PC that doesn't have a built-in ethernet card, a big hard drive, a fast CPU with plenty of DDR system RAM and at least a CD-RW with a DVD player. Even the bargain basement pre-mades have all those features these days and broadband gets cheaper every day for more and more people.
Soon, the time factor for most users will not be a major concern. Nor will the storage space or the ability to make back-up copies on CD / DVD. So the path is pretty much clear for a big increase in direct download availability. The only aspect I don't like about this distribution model is giving up a proper printed manual for certain types of games (ie; complex RPGs, strategies and sims) as well as printed maps and other goodies that still make the old fashioned retail boxes attractive. Otherwise I too would prefer to simply pay direct online and download games on demand, burn my own safety discs and get on with the fun asap - all without spending a dime on delivery fees or gas.
Cheers, Terry
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 2:22pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | One issue that needs resolution if downloading becomes the norm is copy control. Whatever methods publishers decide to use to keep the hordes of pirates at bay must not be as ill-behaved as some of the recent efforts.
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 5:26pm |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1464
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Psychonauts is coming to Steam , that's one pseudo adventure game I'll be buying online.
Also Telltale games are able to be bought via download (bone, and the upcoming Sam and max series).
I do wish more adventure games came online, espcially older ones that were re-developed to work on XP/Vista and such.
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 7:19pm |
RecklessJourneyman
Posts : 962
Joined: 14 NOV 2002
Status : Online | Originally Posted By Stiler (16 SEP 2006 5:25pm)
Psychonauts is coming to Steam , that's one pseudo adventure game I'll be buying online. What's a pseudo adventure? :
[url=http://leisuresuitlarry.dyndns.org/]Leisure Suit Larry Archive Site[/url]&&[url=http://www.adamhearn.co.uk]Hearn Garage[/url]
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| 16 SEP 2006 at 11:39pm |
jamarchandSchattenjger
Posts : 1665
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By mrsbwayne (15 SEP 2006 11:13pm)
Why, oh why, can't we download games? Would it take too long or something?
Lily
Well.........this is currently possible, Lily. [highlight]e-mule[/highlight]
 &&&&[move]Actually playing SHIVERS and Rhem 2[/move]&&
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| 17 SEP 2006 at 4:41am |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (16 SEP 2006 6:31am)
. Nor will the storage space or the ability to make back-up copies on CD / DVD.
You still have to buy the CDs and DVDs for backups. Why not just buy the game already on a CD in the first place?
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 17 SEP 2006 at 5:20am |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Originally Posted By Susan (17 SEP 2006 4:41am)
Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (16 SEP 2006 6:31am)
.
Nor will the storage space or the ability to make back-up copies on CD / DVD.
You still have to buy the CDs and DVDs for backups. Why not just buy the game already on a CD in the first place?
I almost always do buy retail boxed games on CD or DVD.
But as broadband has become much cheaper and millions more people around the world are getting it along with much bigger / faster PCs, this new model for distribution is now viable. It also goes to the whole idea of a true global economy. There will still be language barriers, local laws, etc. as stumbling blocks for game publishers. However, direct online sales and on-demand downloads would solve one set of major problem for worldwide distribution (physical manufacturing, shipping, storage and retail display) plus it could really help small developer studios and indies who simply cannot afford to compete for shelf space or pay high packaging / marketing costs.
Regarding blank CDs and DVDs, they have gotten so cheap it hardly matters. The newer burners are super fast too. So the only real problem I have is with large printed manuals, maps, etc. for certain types of games that really need them.
Cheers, Terry
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| 17 SEP 2006 at 3:14pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Susan (17 SEP 2006 4:41am)
You still have to buy the CDs and DVDs for backups. Why not just buy the game already on a CD in the first place?
Assuming, of course, the game is released on CD. Picked up a copy of Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects lately?
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| 17 SEP 2006 at 11:40pm |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By MrLipid (17 SEP 2006 3:14pm)
Assuming, of course, the game is released on CD. Picked up a copy of Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects lately?
Oh yeah ~ the box is in all the the local stores!
With casual and indie games I get it; I'm just thinking of games (Yes, even ND:Train) that are available for d/l and on store shelves - in that hopefully the person downloading it knows enough to back it up somewhere.
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 1:35am |
StilerJourneyman
Posts : 1464
Joined: 27 SEP 2004
Location: US, TN
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Reckless (16 SEP 2006 7:19pm)
Originally Posted By Stiler (16 SEP 2006 5:25pm)
Psychonauts is coming to Steam , that's one pseudo adventure game I'll be buying online. What's a pseudo adventure? :
A lot of people classify it more as a platformer and such, I see it more of a mix of such though.
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 2:15am |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Susan (17 SEP 2006 11:39pm)
With casual and indie games I get it; I'm just thinking of games (Yes, even ND:Train) that are available for d/l and on store shelves - in that hopefully the person downloading it knows enough to back it up somewhere.
While I would never advise someone NOT to back up essential data -- and I think most of us would consider a great game essential data -- I have recently found that downloading puts an interesting spin on the process.
With downloading, you are, in effect, maintaining a backup on the servers of the company from which you purchased the game. If your game becomes corrupted, it can be downloaded again at no cost.
If, on the other hand, your CD is damaged, assuming you bought the CD and it is not just a backup, you are out of luck. Some companies will provide replacement CDs, but that's a slow and tedious process.
So, as much as I like possessing a physical copy, I have come to appreciate the advantages of downloading.
A backup is always a good idea, but I am not sure it is a good idea for that backup to take the form of a CD purchased at retail. If it is a CD purchased at retail of a game you've downloaded, you've bought the game twice. (There are other issues of whether or not a CD will allow itself to be backed up -- copy control and all -- but that's a different discussion.)
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 2:28am |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Good points but there are still some advantages to having good, old, separate physical backups for games you download. For instance, when servers go down, when developers go belly-up, for quick installs on laptops when you're on the road, etc. A CD or DVD can still be a nice thing to have and with today's price for blanks and jewel cases being so low, there really isn't any extra cost to speak of.
As for me though, I still want those nice, thick printed manuals and maps for epic RPGs and other complex games that have hundreds of rules, options, etc. I really don't want to print out 300 pages at my own expense and the larger maps simply cannot be printed on normal home printers at any cost.
Cheers, Terry
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 6:13am |
MarkGuild Master
Posts : 3803
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Location: US, Georgia
Status : Offline | Call me old-fashioned, but I think that a game in the hand is worth two on the hard drive.
Gosh, that sucked, didn't it.
I like shopping in a store, buying a game, and bringing it home - if it's commercially available.
Otherwise, I am more than happy to support independent endeavors via purchasable downloads.
Please proofread your posts carefully to see if you any words out.
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 1:17pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Mark (18 SEP 2006 6:12am)
I like shopping in a store, buying a game, and bringing it home - if it's commercially available.
I used to like shopping in a store...ten years ago. I fondly remember walking the aisles of my local Micro Center and looking at all the big colorful PC game boxes. And then, as the decade unfolded, everything started to get smaller: the boxes, the variety of games, the selection of games and finally the size of the area devoted to games.
I may well be too gloomy about all this, but for me downloadable games are beginning to look less like an alternative means of distribution and more like a last ditch attempt at survival.
But then, it's Monday and it's cold and it's raining, so take it for what it's worth.
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| 18 SEP 2006 at 8:29pm |
Terry PenrodGrand Inquisitor
Posts : 6693
Joined: 16 OCT 2004
Location: US, Texas
Status : Offline | .
Originally Posted By MrLipid (18 SEP 2006 1:17pm)
Originally Posted By Mark (18 SEP 2006 6:12am)
I like shopping in a store, buying a game, and bringing it home - if it's commercially available.
I used to like shopping in a store...ten years ago. I fondly remember walking the aisles of my local Micro Center and looking at all the big colorful PC game boxes. And then, as the decade unfolded, everything started to get smaller: the boxes, the variety of games, the selection of games and finally the size of the area devoted to games.
I may well be too gloomy about all this, but for me downloadable games are beginning to look look less like an alternative means of distribution and more like a last ditch attempt at survival.
But then, it's Monday and it's cold and it's raining, so take it for what it's worth.
It's hardly your imagination.
The exact same thing has happened over the past decade at virtually every single retail outlet in the greater Houston area including Micro Center, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Target and even the dedicated game stores like Gamestop and EB. Many now sell NO PC games at all and most have a scant few to choose from with few if any AGs. Their used PC game sections are also gone and they no longer care about special orders let alone rare titles. They have also changed their exchange / return policies to severely discourage consumer piracy and to get out from under the liability of faulty products.
However, over the same time period, all of these stores have greatly expanded their video game sections and increased related ad expenditures accordingly. They have also hired sales staff that are decidedly video game oriented and it's now very rare to find a true PC gamer behind the counter.
Sad but true.
Cheers, Terry
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 2:28am |
SusanGuild Master
Posts : 5485
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: 0
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (18 SEP 2006 8:29pm)
The exact same thing has happened over the past decade at virtually every single retail outlet in the greater Houston area including Micro Center, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Target and even the dedicated game stores like Gamestop and EB. Many now sell NO PC games at all and most have a scant few to choose from with few if any AGs.
Poor Terry.
I've commented on this before, but I have noticed, too, that certain EB and Gamestop retailers do not carry PC games. Those that do no longer get my business b/c I got annoyed with them opening my games for me.) Better luck in stores like Best Buy and Target - at least in my area. They will have a section devoted to Adventure Company games, another section with some other games, and the latest 2-3 Nancy Drew titles in the educational section. A few more adventures can be found in the budget jewelcases area. Best Buy gets most of my business, with a few purchases at Target. I'll browse in Wal-Mart in the budget jewelcases section. Each time I go into Circuit City or CompUSA I usually come out disappointed, but every once in awhile you see something there that's not found anywhere else. I was still seeing Myst original for $9.99. Nostalgia!)
I miss my Bubba: 1986 - 2006.
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 2:40am |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | My older son, the one who has made me a grandfather...twice, and I were talking last week and he said, though it pained him, that he was thinking of giving up altogether on the PC as a gaming platform. While he is technically quite savvy, he has had it with the grief involved with getting things to run.
At the end of a long day, when he sits down to play, he wants to play, not go chasing after drivers or adjusting config files or downloading patches. Just wants to drop in the CD and play. And given how stores have changed over the past decade, he's obviously not alone.
While the publishers will claim that piracy is killing the PC game market, I have to wonder if the PC itself is not at least an accomplice?
Meanwhile, I pursue my hobby of retro gaming by getting a Win95 system up and running. Time to fire up ZPC and Welcome to the Future again.
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 6:11am |
MarkGuild Master
Posts : 3803
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Location: US, Georgia
Status : Offline | Originally Posted By Terry Penrod (18 SEP 2006 8:29pm)
The exact same thing has happened over the past decade at [...] CompUSA [...] [they] now sell NO PC games at all and most have a scant few to choose from with few if any AGs.
I'm sorry to hear that, Terry. The CompUSA store located behind a large mall here in Atlanta (Lenox Square Mall) has an enormous selection of PC and Mac games. Every title you can name within the last year: Adventure, RPG, Action, First-Person Shooter, Real-Time Strategy, Flight Simulators, etc.
Granted, it's probably one of the last hold-outs, but I am so glad they have customers that still come in and buy the games - making an entire wall of a very large store filled with boxed games worthwhile for CompUSA.
Please proofread your posts carefully to see if you any words out.
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 1:59pm |
Melanie68Intergalactic Janitor
Posts : 83
Joined: 20 JUL 2006
Status : Online | When it comes to game selection, especially adventure games, try Fry's Electronics. They have a large number of adventure games. I don't know how widespread they are location-wise (I'm in California). They have a budget jewel case section as well as full boxed games (separated by genre-although they occasionally have games in the wrong section).
What I resist, persists and speaks louder than I know.
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 2:22pm |
MrLipidPrivate Detective
Posts : 666
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Offline | Just for the record, Fry's has stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, and Indiana.
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| 19 SEP 2006 at 5:04pm |
Melanie68Intergalactic Janitor
Posts : 83
Joined: 20 JUL 2006
Status : Online | Thanks for listing those.
What I resist, persists and speaks louder than I know.
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