To Moody - Question about Steam

Etiko

Etiko

New member
Hey Moody,

So how do you guys (gaming stores) feel about the whole digital distribution movement?

Have you guys started feeling the sqeeze as more South Africans buy from services like Steam? Are you panicking? And what's your strategy for dealing with it in the future?

I'm seriously interested.
 
Etiko said:
Hey Moody,

So how do you guys (gaming stores) feel about the whole digital distribution movement?

Have you guys started feeling the sqeeze as more South Africans buy from services like Steam? Are you panicking? And what's your strategy for dealing with it in the future?

I'm seriously interested.
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i would hardly label it as a squeeze till its local and a lot of people used vs what we have now. till the server isn't locally it's too expensive to download if you don't already have uncapped.

i've purchased about 25 games in total now from nov 2009 over steam at crazy ass specials.
 
Etiko said:
Not yet. But surely it is in the back of every gaming retailers' mind that in a few years it will be viable for South Africans.
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I am sure but allot of people like to own the physical copy like me;)
 
Tsar said:
I am sure but allot of people like to own the physical copy like me;)
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I used to be like that, until I realised 3 things:

1) You don't actually own anything. DRM is there to remind you that you are just licencing a product.
2) It's so much more convenient to buy things over Steam.
3) Steam integration is the best thing ever.

But I'm not here to tell the world how great Steam is. There's already a thread for that.

This thread is to hear from SA gaming retailers on their plans and fears regarding digital distribution in the future.
 
Well first off I only have 3gigs int. And I can not afford a uncapped account as most people cannot. The bandwidth is the issue here.
 
I dislike steam immensely. Even Aion's launcher irritates the snot out of me.

If a game comes with a whole bunch of live-connect or launcher stories, I get over it very quickly. Just let me play the damn game.

Oh - and so far the only softcopy I've bought of a game so far is Guild Wars' Nightfall / EoTN expansions. I treasure my gaming chest (for lack of a better phrase).
 
Etiko said:
Hey Moody,

So how do you guys (gaming stores) feel about the whole digital distribution movement?

Have you guys started feeling the sqeeze as more South Africans buy from services like Steam? Are you panicking? And what's your strategy for dealing with it in the future?

I'm seriously interested.
Click to expand...

1. Digital distribution will never ever kill physical media that is just a plain fact. The majority of people still prefer physical media, the tactile sensation of holding the media in my hands. Same can be said for books I prefer to hold the book than to scroll down.

2. South African bandwidth constraints heavily limit buying games digitally online. Having DSL at home is still a luxury for most in South Africa. Downloading a game from Xbox Live is between 5GB and 8GB (The size of a dual layer DVD) and about 3 times the amount of local cap allowed per month.

I personally like physical media because I do take pride in my collection and I like having something I can hold and see, and nothing looks cooler than displaying you game collection.

gallery_3017_240_336724.jpg
 
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Etiko said:
1) You don't actually own anything. DRM is there to remind you that you are just licencing a product.
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I dont think you know what Digital rights management actually implies or means. DRM locks down digital media by preventing access, copying or conversion to other formats by end users. (AKA Piracy) The game has already been licensed you are just given the "right" to load it on your machine.

Etiko said:
2) It's so much more convenient to buy things over Steam.
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1. What if you dont own a credit card? Then you are pretty much buggered no credit card no steam purchases. Most local gamers are still pretty young and with the new credit act getting a credit card is twice as difficult.

2. Visiting a shop to pick up a game is just as convenient even more so no issues with slow downloads or disconnected lines while trying to download something walk in pay walk out.


Etiko said:
3) Steam integration is the best thing ever.
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That is pretty debatable and up for discussion. Especially in a bandwidth depraved country like South Africa.

Etiko said:
This thread is to hear from SA gaming retailers on their plans and fears regarding digital distribution in the future.
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You might as well walk into any music store, video rental shop, movie theater and ask the same question. Because it is happening everywhere not just in the gaming industry but not at the apocalyptic rate you are describing. Not to mention physical media wont die out for a very very very long time.
 
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Currently I don't think digital distribution has any major impact on SA retailers. The bandwith cost is too much of a constraning factor.

We will have to wait and see what impact the free web africa steam server has once it gets up and running. Currently its way too soon to tell.
 
I like the idea of convenient downloads, but like some have mentioned, it just does not work in SA. I will say I prefer downloading my music rather than owning the CD's, I guess that has to do with pricing here in SA and the lack of stock of my genre(s).

Also, as larch and many others on the forums agree with. Owning a physical copy just does something for ones psyche. The smell, the feel, seeing that game collection slowing growing in size...ahhhh. In fact its gotten so bad I am having to store some of my games in hard to reach places since I have so many! But I make sure to keep all the new ones at hand.

Until we are uncapped I do not see this making any real impact whatsoever.

*Oooh I see Tales of Vesperia in there thar collection larch. Good man!!*
 
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Tsar said:
allot of people can't afford to download full games in this country.
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Etiko said:
Not yet. But surely it is in the back of every gaming retailers' mind that in a few years it will be viable for South Africans.
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Nah, I don't think it's something retailers have to worry much about.

I spend loads of time in London - where 15-24mbps internet is standard, and bandwidth is cheap - and game shops there are still stuffed full of people. I think perhaps you underestimate the value of physical media. Sure, Steam is extremely convenient, and I've bought quite a few games off them over the last couple of years. But I much prefer buying actual discs, and if retail business is anything to go by, so do most other people.
 
Azimuth said:
Nah, I don't think it's something retailers have to worry much about.

I spend loads of time in London - where 15-24mbps internet is standard, and bandwidth is cheap - and game shops there are still stuffed full of people. I think perhaps you underestimate the value of physical media. Sure, Steam is extremely convenient, and I've bought quite a few games off them over the last couple of years. But I much prefer buying actual discs, and if retail business is anything to go by, so do most other people.
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true, but in some cases steam is better like getting to support indie or those titles you want and don't mind to have it as digital download with the ability to back it up to dvd.

however some titles if you can it's always better to have actual media. i do miss the old days where you would have gotten lekker box, manual (yep one thats more than 10 pages) and the discs...
 
larch said:
1. Digital distribution will never ever kill physical media that is just a plain fact. The majority of people still prefer physical media, the tactile sensation of holding the media in my hands. Same can be said for books I prefer to hold the book than to scroll down.

2. South African bandwidth constraints heavily limit buying games digitally online. Having DSL at home is still a luxury for most in South Africa. Downloading a game from Xbox Live is between 5GB and 8GB (The size of a dual layer DVD) and about 3 times the amount of local cap allowed per month.

I personally like physical media because I do take pride in my collection and I like having something I can hold and see, and nothing looks cooler than displaying you game collection.

gallery_3017_240_336724.jpg
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you look like ur running outta space there Larch :p

But nothing can compare to a pic as seen here.... where you have control over the originals you have and it makes you feel glad to know that having DvD's around is still awesome...
 
While I myself have also purchased some steam games, I'd Much rather walk into a shop and pick a copy of the game from the shelf :D
 
sycogrim said:
you look like ur running outta space there Larch :p

But nothing can compare to a pic as seen here.... where you have control over the originals you have and it makes you feel glad to know that having DvD's around is still awesome...
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what's worse he's shelves are not aligned properly... facepalm :p
 
I used to think it was cool to show off my game collection, but now it's so big I need an entire bookshelf. And that's just a waste of space.

Also, moving into the grown up world, it's actually an eye sore having a bookshelf full of games in your living room.

Besides, you can still easily show off your games in Steam. Clicking on any person's name in Steam shows you how many and what games he owns.

Also, it's a pretty impressive sight if someone looks over your shoulder at your Steam list and you actually have to scroll down to find the game you want :)

I have converted 3 friends to buying games off of Steam. 2 of them don't even have a lot of bandwidth to spare (they are on 3G). I usually give them the backup files and then they are happy.

But like I've said, this thread is not about how awesome digital distribution is.

This thread is about hearing some well thought out planning, fears and criticism from gaming shop owners on the future of digital distribution and how it will impact them.
 
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