Digital Distribution: Is It The Future?

So, episodic and downloadable games have really started to come into full maturity.  This year's E3 showed that handily.  But, will these games be the future of gaming?  Will they continue to have a place in the market?  Or will they disappear back into the ether like light-gun games or the big survival horror boom?

I personally think that the future is bright.  While Microsoft has been targetting the downloadable market for casual titles successfully, Sony is proving that it can be home to more full-featured experiences as well.  Nintendo's WiiWare is still in it's infancy, but seeing the concept adopted by a company that is typically behind the online curve is telling.

The main questions is what can you do with an online game that you can't do otherwise.  Here is a list of the top 5 gains from doing an online, downloadable games:

1. Cut Costs - Online games cost a lot less.  Since online gamers are often checking the stores on a weekly basis, you need less advertising.  On top of that, the cost of designing, printing, manufacturing and shipping physical games disappears.  While these costs are not often paramount in the minds of gamers, they are hefty.
2. Smaller Titles - The first point of cutting costs leads us to the second point.  Small games with narrow scopes have traditionally been ignored by developers.  This is because these games would often cost too much at retail.  If it's costs $10 per game for shipping and other concerns and you have to recoup development costs, a small game might cost $15 - $20 at retail.  The same small title can be released for online distribution at a price of $7 - $10.  The price of $7 - $10 is something that gamers would be more willing to pay for a smaller experience.

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Project Lore: WoW Video Podcast

So, I'm a huge fan of the Totally Rad Show and Diggnation.  Well, Alex Albrecht, host of both and big WoW fan, has started a new video podcast/website.  Now, I don't play World of Warcraft, but if I did I would be all over this show.  In addition to the video show, they have blogs, game guides, etc.

Basically, each week these 5 guys tackle a new instance in the Outlands.  Complete with color commentary, hints, and insight.  While I don't entirely get what they are doing, the commentary and video editing are top notch.  If you're a WoW player, I really suggest you check this site out.  Albrecht is the man and nobody does it quite like him.  I know the article isn't long, but since I don't play WoW I don't know much to say.  Whatever you do, go check the site out.  The site is http://www.projectlore.com, and it looks sweet.

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Sony Unveils LittleBigEconomy?

 

Wow, the guys over at PS3Fanboy have gotten quite the scoop.  It seems that in their talks with SCEE, they have uncovered an interesting feature to be included in the upcoming awesome-fest known as LittleBigPlanet.  The idea is that users would be able to charge for their content.

At first this is a bit scary, but the plan seems perfect.  As SCEE explains "once an individual or a developer has qualified by producing certain levels or certain add-ons, they will then be able in the future to exchange these and make money out of them."  That is perfect.  These guys need to prove themselves with free content.  Thus, the community is reaping some serious free levels out of these creative people.  Then, if your content is popular enough, you could charge for it.  It's not only a way of rewarding the best and the brightest, but also a way of encouraging people ot build levels.

I mean, who wouldn't build a level if it could bring them some cash?  Man, Sony always seems to take the box, get outside of it, and then crap on the box.  I mean, this is some cool stuff.  Here's hoping it makes it and isn't all pie in the sky.  Also, hope it doesn't delay development like a certain other project...  I'm looking at you Home.

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SEO Changes

So, the site has undergone some SEO (Search Engine Optimization) changes.  We have changed the way that the links are formatted.  Due to this and the fact that digg looks up articles by their URL, the front page digg counts have been reset.  However, all of the digg entries for these articles still exist and their links will still functions.  It's an annoyance, but this should allow to page to show up more easily on Google.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

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mashedbuttons GAMECAST is live on iTunes

Well, it took a few days to get approval, but it's done.  The mashedbuttons GAMECASt is now live on iTunes.  Any iTunes users can go here to subscribe.  We're going big people.
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