Wired: The Infinite Arcade
About how digital distribution is the future of video games. "I’d be amazed if the PlayStation 4 has a physical disc drive," says Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment. OK, fair enough, but let's be cynical.
So what used to be components of the games themselves can now be turned into add-ons and monetized. Wouldn't it be so much more fun if, instead of being filled with equipment you could find in the game, Diablo 2 was filled with exciting opportunities to purchase upgrades which include new equipment? Or, from another angle, now every game can have a near infinite tail of must-have expansion packs.
About how digital distribution is the future of video games. "I’d be amazed if the PlayStation 4 has a physical disc drive," says Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment. OK, fair enough, but let's be cynical.
Companies that are banking on -online distribution will first have to solve the problem of online billing. Customers may be willing to pay 25 cents for a virtual machine gun, but what if it costs the seller a buck to process the purchase? Microsoft’s solution is to sell points in large increments. Players can buy 1,200 Microsoft Points for about $15, then hit Xbox Live Marketplace to buy games like Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved or accessorize games they already have: 60 points to test-drive a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti in Project Gotham Racing 3; 200 points to upgrade your cute female avatar’s wardrobe in Kameo: Elements of Power; 400 points to add new battlefields to the WW II shooter Call of Duty 2.
So what used to be components of the games themselves can now be turned into add-ons and monetized. Wouldn't it be so much more fun if, instead of being filled with equipment you could find in the game, Diablo 2 was filled with exciting opportunities to purchase upgrades which include new equipment? Or, from another angle, now every game can have a near infinite tail of must-have expansion packs.
3 Comments:
i just bought a (used) Playstation 2. Am I behind the times? You tell me, because I value your opinion.
Y'know, I figured you for someone who would blog more.
There are large numbers of great games for the PS2, and the PS3 is likely to be a huge disaster that won't come out until after the last human being has been eaten by robots.
You should try out the first (modern remake of) Prince of Persia.
As far as blogging goes, I just don't write a lot in general, alas.
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