Atari chief, Phil Harrison told EDGE that today's kids will never buy physical media, and digital distribution is the way forward.

"There’s a generation of kids being born today and probably already alive who I’m pretty confident will never buy a physical media product. They will never buy a DVD, they will never buy a CD, and they will never buy a game in a box."

Well Phil, hate to tell you, being one of those "new generation" gamers, that there will always be a place in my heart for a physical, tangible product that he calls "a game in a box".

I'm not sure whether Phil has become delusional and thinks he's become the voice for the new generation of gamers but I've always tended to side with the fact that people like to see what they own ... It makes them sleep soundly at night.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-1934-Harrison--New-Generation-Will-Never-Buy-Physical-Media.html

:crazy: This is why Atari is going down the drain. Sometimes the top executive need to learn to :shutup: They have no idea what they are talking about.

Sounds like he's been getting smoked out w/ Bill Gates.

I think he is right. In 10 years from now, everything will be over the internet. Games, movies, TV. Everything will be on demand.

Network broadcasts? Forget it. With the exception of live events, everything else will be on demand and downloadable.

Someone else brought up this exact same thought like.. a year ago or something (maybe not that long ago).

I remember a big thread about it...

There's a reason I went to the store to buy Gran Turismo Prologue versus buying it on the PSN.... This won't happen, and if it does, overall sales will drop.

There's a reason I went to the store to buy Gran Turismo Prologue versus buying it on the PSN.... This won't happen, and if it does, overall sales will drop.

Er... what's the reason?


EDIT: Also, one huge reason that I still buy physical media is because of deals. If you have a tangible object, you can buy/sell it for variable amounts of money. You can do the same to an extent with downloadable media, but not as much. Think ebay.

Also, it depends on the distribution of these downloads. Are stores like Amazon/bbonline/etc going to be able to "sell" the download? If so, then deals will still remain. However, if it's just going to be direct point to point downloads from the issuing company (e.g., Steam), then they'll be able to charge us whatever they want for it. There will be no competition.

I WANTED to buy L4D on steam, because it would all be much easier. However, CC had a $10 off deal, which made going out and buying the physical media a better deal.

I think he is right. In 10 years from now, everything will be over the internet. Games, movies, TV. Everything will be on demand.

Network broadcasts? Forget it. With the exception of live events, everything else will be on demand and downloadable.
Requires a reworking of advertising structure, but thanks to DVR, that's already happening, I suppose.

Er... what's the reason?

Because I want to own the "game in a box".

How else am I supposed to sell my used games on craigslist? :)

Someone else brought up this exact same thought like.. a year ago or something (maybe not that long ago).

I remember a big thread about it...



Yeah, there was a good long thread about that during the Format Wars. I think it was an exec @ MS that said BD would have a 5-year shelf life (or maybe even less than that) and we would be DL'ing everything after that. Convenient that his quote came right after BD fininshed handing HD-DVD it's ass. :lmao:

Requires a reworking of advertising structure, but thanks to DVR, that's already happening, I suppose.

Yeah, no denying that, but I think 10 years is sufficient for that transformation to take place.

I know today people like the idea of physical media (I know I for one do) but I think as we progress especially younger generations won't have that same connection to physical objects. Look at music, for example, who thought MP3 sales would be so huge compared to physical CD sales.

Because I want to own the "game in a box".

How else am I supposed to sell my used games on craigslist? :)



That's what these moron executives don't seem to get. I buy a lot of games new ONLY because I know if I beat it quickly I can turn around and resell it and only lose a couple bucks on the deal. If I were strictly DL'ing games I would never be able to resell, I would buy half the amount I do now.

That's what these moron executives don't seem to get. I buy a lot of games new ONLY because I know if I beat it quickly I can turn around and resell it and only lose a couple bucks on the deal. If I were strictly DL'ing games I would never be able to resell, I would buy half the amount I do now.

well you end up buying 1/2 as much, but your previous buyers will pick up the buying because there's no used game market anymore.

I personally don't have a problem with this, if internet connection speed improves and the price is right I wouldn't mind Dling my games at all. Usually I don't bother selling my games anyways.

PC gamers probably wouldn't mind this. PC games tend to almost no resell value and DL services like Steam are quite popular nowadays.

Yeah, there was a good long thread about that during the Format Wars. I think it was an exec @ MS that said BD would have a 5-year shelf life (or maybe even less than that) and we would be DL'ing everything after that. Convenient that his quote came right after BD fininshed handing HD-DVD it's ass. :lmao:

Close... Here's the article you were thinking of:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=325585&t=916147

Here's the thread I was thinking of:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=325585&t=754001

Close... Here's the article you were thinking of:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=325585&t=916147

Here's the thread I was thinking of:
http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=325585&t=754001



This was the article I was thinking of:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-dismisses-blu-ray-as-historic-phenomenon

I didn't bother searching for the thread here where it was posted, though.

This was the article I was thinking of:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-dismisses-blu-ray-as-historic-phenomenon

I didn't bother searching for the thread here where it was posted, though.

I can't read articles from gaming sites at work.

I get those stupid 'warning' pages at work, too. I just click right through, lol.

I get those stupid 'warning' pages at work, too. I just click right through, lol.

Uhh... no... not warning pages... Access Denied.

There's no way to get around them.

ditto

That's what these moron executives don't seem to get. I buy a lot of games new ONLY because I know if I beat it quickly I can turn around and resell it and only lose a couple bucks on the deal. If I were strictly DL'ing games I would never be able to resell, I would buy half the amount I do now.

hopefully this would allow game devs to lower the cost of the game at launch. no phsyical media, no insert, no plastic case, no shipping, no infrastructure cost whatsoever. just make a game, put in online, and allow people to download and play.

i'm not saying it would make games 1/2 of the current market strategy, but it should lower the cost for games as well as net the publisher/developer more money.

Microsoft dismisses Blu-ray as "historic phenomenon"

Key shift from disc to download will happen in next "12-18 months", predicts Lewis

The console war intensified this week, with senior Xbox exec boss Chris Lewis branding disc formats a thing of the past as Microsoft slashed the price of 360 in Europe — with the entry level model now half the price of Sony's Blu-ray supporting PlayStation 3.

With the entertainment format stand-off ostensibly ending last month - when Toshiba, creator of the Microsoft-backed HD DVD, pulled out of the market - analysts are predicting a significant boost to PlayStation 3 in its wake.

As speculation continues on whether Microsoft will now move to support Blu-ray as the industry standard, however, Europe boss Chris Lewis has re-emphasised the US giant's commitment to digital downloads, dismissing the significance of Sony's format victory.

"Going forwards, digital downloads is really where it's at," Lewis told GamesIndustry.biz. "More and more people's ongoing and ever-increasing downloading of music and movies is becoming the de facto. I think that's going to happen in very short order; people want to consume that way. Before very long we will look back wistfully at shiny discs as something that was somewhat a historic phenomenon in a way that we kind of think about vinyl or VCRs today."

While Microsoft's belief in the long term potential of downloadable content over physical storage media is well documented, Lewis claimed that, despite Blu-ray's victory, the shift away from discs will happen "sooner than any of us think".

"That's the future direction, and I think that's going to be the case in the next 12-18 months," he predicted. "I think we're going to be talking much more about that than anything else. Do I think that this Christmas will somehow be defined by DVD playback? I genuinely don't think that will be the case. I do not think that [the demise of HD DVD] will have any material impact on our console velocity. And I think other factors, specifically our architecture around downloads, is far more advantageous and important for the future."

He added: "We are best placed to offer that, we already offer that, our online pedigree is such that we will offer the best and most seamless experience."

Lewis's comments follow remarks made earlier this week by Xbox 360 product manager Aaron Greenberg, who said in repsonse to speculation: "Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience. We're the only console offering digital distribution of entertainment content."

Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer had previously suggested that the firm was considering supporting Blu-ray with its Windows platform.

Microsoft this week cut the price of all three of its 360 SKUs in Europe, with the Arcade pack now retailing for GBP 159 and Premium for GBP 199, with Elite at GBP 259. Xbox 360 currently offers downloadable HD movies for rental via its Video Marketplace Store.

Following Toshiba's withdrawal from the market last month, SCEA president Jack Tretton said: "The emergence of Blu-ray as the de facto high-def standard is one more reason why PS3 is a great value to consumers. The combination of strong sales, Blu-ray dominance and widely-anticipated games all point to 2008 as a breakthrough year for PS3."

The first part of the GamesIndustry.biz interview with Chris Lewis can be read here, with part two to follow next week.

I can't read articles from gaming sites at work.

here what it says

Ty sir.

Very interesting to read that now. I think we all knew that he was way off his mark in predicting the demise of physical media in 12-18 months... but at least they're carrying through on their DLC model (with the addition of netflix and whatnot).

At least when they say they're heading in a certain direction, they actually make it there.. *cough*home*cough*.

hopefully this would allow game devs to lower the cost of the game at launch. no phsyical media, no insert, no plastic case, no shipping, no infrastructure cost whatsoever. just make a game, put in online, and allow people to download and play.

i'm not saying it would make games 1/2 of the current market strategy, but it should lower the cost for games as well as net the publisher/developer more money.



That's nice in theory, but would they pass the savings on to the consumer?
Case in point:

New SOCOM game only version (non-headset bundle) at retail stores = $40
New SOCOM on PSN (minus all the things you listed above that *should* lower the price)= $40

Ty sir.

Very interesting to read that now. I think we all knew that he was way off his mark in predicting the demise of physical media in 12-18 months... but at least they're carrying through on their DLC model (with the addition of netflix and whatnot).

At least when they say they're heading in a certain direction, they actually make it there.. *cough*home*cough*.


Fanboy much?

Fanboy much?

OR

Xbox says they're going to push DLC: They push DLC + netflix (and w/in their vaguely suggested timeline, no less).
PS says they're going to release home: It's now pushing 2 years after they said they were going to release home.

Facts are facts.

You're right...facts are facts. And the fact is, only a fanboy could read that article and take that ridiculous prediction that wreaks of sour grapes and somehow spin it into a positive AND simultaneously notch your umpteenth crack on Home in the process. Well done, Sir.

You're right...facts are facts. And the fact is, only a fanboy could read that article and take that ridiculous prediction that wreaks of sour grapes and somehow spin it into a positive AND simultaneously notch your umpteenth crack on Home in the process. Well done, Sir.

Wtf... I was saying that the article was interesting to read several months after the fact because some things were true and some were unfounded.

I presented good AND bad things that he said. Can you not read, or do you just want to argue?

Wtf... I was saying that the article was interesting to read several months after the fact because some things were true and some were unfounded.

I presented good AND bad things that he said. Can you not read, or do you just want to argue?


My point is, even in a thread that is not even remotely close to anything related to Home, you can't help but make a crack. If you don't want to be called a fanboy, don't sound like one.

If I said something in one of the Home threads (like the one you started for instance) to the effect of "Well, yeah Sony has drug their feet a little on the release of Home but at least we don't have to worry about RROD!" you might say the same thiing....

My point is, even in a thread that is not even remotely close to anything related to Home, you can't help but make a crack. If you don't want to be called a fanboy, don't sound like one.

If I said something in one of the Home threads (like the one you started for instance) to the effect of "Well, yeah Sony has drug their feet a little on the release of Home but at least we don't have to worry about RROD!" you might say the same thiing....

Everyone and their mom (including every xbox owner and their moms) throws the RRoD joke around... on any thread... about xbox or not.

A fanboy is someone who bleeds from between their legs when someone makes a little joke about their system.

Seriously... you're like that kid who, after someone makes a really stupid "your mom" joke, says, "HEY DOOD DON'T TALK ABOUT MY MOM!! I'LL KILL YOU!"

If you say so, fanboy.

Harrison will just say that the "future" is whatever Atari is going to be up to.

I still don't see physical media going away as fast as people think. Can you feasibly download 50GB right now? Or, more to the point, can ISPs facilitate that to thousands of users simultaneously?

No, we're all going to need pure fiber optic connections, "Internet 2", etc. Until then, stuff like blu-ray is going to have a place. And on top of that, people want that pure unfettered ownership that a disc gives you, instead of DRM laden, time-bombed DLC.

Heck, I still hear people complaining about their grainy you-tube videos hesitating due to bandwidth issues. We are a LONG way toward true high definition video streaming. I've heard Netflix and some others out there don't hold a candle to blue-ray and are demanding for bandwidth.

As mentioned, we have nowhere near the bandwidth to stream real HD video. And I mean nowhere near. We'd have to have something like 50Mbps connections in most homes to make this feasible -- that's over $100 / month with Verizon FiOS (for those lucky few who can get it) right now. Sure, fiber optic networks are expanding, but nowhere near fast enough to get widespread HD streaming in a decade. Streaming still absolutely cannot compare with HD physical media. And with Blu-Ray discs being manufactured with capacities of upwards of 400GB / disc (they should be in production for the masses by 2010 I think, and the PS3 can read them), I just don't see this becoming a reality any time soon.

While I'd love for it to be true, it just won't happen. It's like cloud computing -- sounds great, looks great, but the bandwidth infrastructure is just not there to make it feasible.