New Idea for Mobile Platform (DD!)

[Iron Past]

Okay, so, I'm not a fan of digital distribution on consoles. Not because I think it's a bad idea, but because there are many places, my area included, that don't offer broadband, resulting in a massive pain in the ass if I want a XBLA title.

But the DSi got me thinking. I believe this is maybe where Nintendo is heading, but they're not embracing it fully, and we don't know enough yet. A mobile platform that is completely digitally distributed would be awesome, and would render my complaints about DD moot.

First, it makes sense. At home, I don't really need to store all my games on a harddrive, but if I'm traveling, I don't want to lug around a bunch of games. Second, even if I don't have braodband, not only is it easy to take my device to a place that does, but stores can easily install a kiosk where I bring in my device, plug it in, and download games; they don't even need to allocate shelf space. Since mobile platform games are small, I don't see storage being a problem.

Before you say there things like that already, I'm talking an honest-to-god gaming machine, not an iPhone or Zune or stuff like that. Like the next true itteration of the PSP or DS, or if MS ever puts out a mobile gaming device. Anyway, just some musings. Note: if the DRM were fixed and we were given massive storage, this could be a solution for next-gen consoles, too.

[Variable Gear]

According to Shane Bettenhausen of 1UP, all of next year's PSP games will be available for download as well as the traditional boxed format. Every major player in technology is working towards a DD future, including Sony and Nintendo, although you are right that, in terms of the handheld market, DD won't be as common until the next generation. It would be interesting to see what Microsoft would do if they attempted to enter this field.

[muddi900]

WTF!?!?!? Where are DD-cups?


Digital Distribution can only work if every one actually has an internet connection.

[Jeffool]

This would be possible (theoretically) on the Wii. You could take your SD card to, say, a library and buy games from a web-store. Of course, it would also make piracy just 'that' much easier, to offer games on PCs.

[JayVe]

Okay, so, I'm not a fan of digital distribution on consoles. Not because I think it's a bad idea, but because there are many places, my area included, that don't offer broadband, resulting in a massive pain in the ass if I want a XBLA title.

But the DSi got me thinking. I believe this is maybe where Nintendo is heading, but they're not embracing it fully, and we don't know enough yet. A mobile platform that is completely digitally distributed would be awesome, and would render my complaints about DD moot.

First, it makes sense. At home, I don't really need to store all my games on a harddrive, but if I'm traveling, I don't want to lug around a bunch of games. Second, even if I don't have braodband, not only is it easy to take my device to a place that does, but stores can easily install a kiosk where I bring in my device, plug it in, and download games; they don't even need to allocate shelf space. Since mobile platform games are small, I don't see storage being a problem.

Before you say there things like that already, I'm talking an honest-to-god gaming machine, not an iPhone or Zune or stuff like that. Like the next true itteration of the PSP or DS, or if MS ever puts out a mobile gaming device. Anyway, just some musings. Note: if the DRM were fixed and we were given massive storage, this could be a solution for next-gen consoles, too.

What if stores installed kiosks that would allow customers to buy games right there? Take your DSi to GameStop, connect wirelessly to their game kiosk and buy a game. Take your Memory Stick into Target, drop it into the kiosk, and then buy a game on the screen. It can be done as a marriage between retail and online, bring the 'online' portion INTO retail locations, and maybe even giving them a cut of the profits.

The beautiful part about this vision is that these kiosks could be put up anywhere, like RedBoxes (http://www.redbox.com/).

Also, any talk about DRM needs xkcd (http://xkcd.com/)'s latest comic presented...

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/steal_this_comic.png