Digital Distribution

Digital distribution is exactly what is sounds like, distributing goods digitally. I'm pretty sure everyone who is going to read this knows what it is and may have even participated in 'legal' digital distribution.

Now I know this is not new at all but some companies, one being Microsoft think this is the key new medium (Personally I think they shifted their beliefs into this gear so quickly due to the fact HD-DVD got annihilated by Blu-Ray)

Well I don't. It's stupid, If I'm going to pay for something I'd much rather have a hard copy of it. I'd much rather have all my games, movies, music and whatever else as physical objects not data on my HDD, why?

1. It uses your bandwith - Internet costs in Australia are pretty expensive so unless you are fairly well off you probably have a rather mediocre plan. Probably something like.. say, 512kbs with anywhere from 5Gb to unlimited downloads. An Internet plan truly not worthy of DD. So if you're someone with a download limit you're either going to get your net shaped to a much lower speed or you're going to find yourself with a massive Internet bill at the end of the month. Imagine downloading a game that are the size of DVDs and sometimes dual layer DVDs. My 'on-peak' limit is 5Gb so I'd be shaped pretty much instantly if I were to download a game. $30 game + $44 for my Internet cost and what do I get? A virtual copy of my game and Internet that crawls along with dial-up for a month? I don't think so.

2. Physical proof - What's better? Having all your games on your HDD? Or having them all in the physical world. I think the latter. Looks better and you can show them off (if you're that type of person) It is generally cheaper to buy the game online but that comes with hassles. On the website Direct2Drive.com you can get Unreal Tournament 3 for $29.92 (I think that may be a special at the time of writing this as the price of $49.95 is crossed out) Be it either of those prices it's cheaper than in stores. If you went to JB, Big W or wherever you go you'd probably be looking at something like $70 through to $100 if you're really unlucky. So imagine your HDD fails and you want to play UT 3 again, have fun downloading it again while I simply re-install it.

Plus when you buy the physical version you get a cool box and maybe a manual. I find manuals are not as common with PC games while being standard in console games. Seriously though I find it hard to actually find the words to describe how much better owning a physical copy is. It's just.. One of those things. Would you rather have a physical dog or a Tamagotchi?

3. The Internet in Australia sucks. Australia's broadband service is among the worlds worst. It's overpriced and with silly bandwith caps I don't see how MS could even think of digital distribution, and that's just Australia. I'd hate to see Internet plans in some lesser developed countries.

I'm sure there are a host of other reasons why DD sucks but these are my main reasons to hate it.

Now, of course we are well off seeing DD as any form of mainstream media distribution and by the time that happens.. If that happens. Things will be different in broadband and telecommunication services.

Links
Wiki
Direct2Drive
MS for DD