Wada emphasizes online delivery, advises devs to shift focus
by Xav de Matos 
{ Nov 26th 2009 at 8:00PM }
According to Wada, consoles as we know them will change dramatically, as "any kind of terminal becomes a potential platform on which games can be played." Wada believes platform holders have been preparing for the shift to network-based games and delivery systems since 2005, forcing his company to respond by increasing production of social and browser games. Square Enix is also preparing a beta release for the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV in 2010.
While the Square Enix boss believes this shift has a greater global impact, especially in regions which do not have large console markets, our major fear is having to download an entire single-player Final Fantasy. Seriously, that's a lot of gigs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
brian @ Nov 26th 2009 8:04PM
been so long since i have seen that window.
years even.
brian @ Nov 26th 2009 8:12PM
can we please get this fuckhead banned?
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 26th 2009 8:25PM
I still use Windows XP, never switched to Vista. I'll probably switch to 7 soon, though.
Robert27 @ Nov 26th 2009 9:04PM
Of coure he haven´t seen that window long ago, he uses Firefox
DHA!!!
Zexion_VI @ Nov 26th 2009 8:08PM
lol, no thanks. I like my games being kept on a disc/cartridge.. if only cause I don't have to wait hours for it to download... I mean, look at FFVII on PSN, lol.
Then a White Kid Said @ Nov 26th 2009 8:18PM
yo dawg! we heard you liked bro's, so we put a bro in your dawg so you can dawg while you bro
bro hug
MystileArmor @ Nov 26th 2009 9:12PM
How about you practice somewhere else, you tool.
wassup dawg and hapy tanksgiving @ Nov 26th 2009 9:23PM
im not practising im just comenting, dawg
CheeziePotato (Gotta Catch Em All) @ Nov 26th 2009 9:36PM
Read a fucking book, goddammit!
Shadowfax (PSN: u2fan4894) @ Nov 26th 2009 10:07PM
Sixth graders say the darndest things.
Darth Bradwart, The Dark Lord of the Sith [ATDF Chairman] @ Nov 26th 2009 10:08PM
Don't insult sixth graders!
Ballistic H @ Nov 27th 2009 3:58AM
As usual, Yoichi Wada doesn't know how to predict:
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/26/square-president-doesnt-expect-big-impact-from-ps3-price-cut/
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 26th 2009 8:22PM
People always say that they would prefer disk based content as opposed to downloadable because they do not have to wait hours to download it before they can play.
That seems like it would be more of an argument in favour of downloadable content, when you really look at it.
If I wanted to buy Burnout Paradise right now, I would have three options; to go my local store, order it from Amazon/Ebay etc, or I could buy it from the PSN/XBL stores.
If I choose to go to a local store, I'd have to get showered, dressed, get in my car and drive or walk to the store in town (well the stores are closed now, so I'd have to wait until tomorrow, but for argument's sake, let's pretend they're open). That would take, maybe an hour.
Or I could order it from a website, get it the next day with expensive delivery.
OR, I could log in to PSN/XBL and choose to buy it straight off there. It would take an hour, maybe two to download.
So which one seems like the better alternative for the future? The download speeds will increase exponentially in the next few years. But I don't see that walk into town or that postal delivery service getting any quicker.
Ballistic H @ Nov 26th 2009 9:48PM
I guess you prefer internet porn (in other words: your hand) instead of real chicks
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 26th 2009 10:30PM
Just because you take forever to get a game, doesn't mean everyone else does. I walk to the store, buy the game, then come back home and play it.
The reason Steam is such a great downloadable service is because it has to compete with retail, and other digital distributors. Microsoft and Sony will have complete control over their respective stores so you won't see many deals.
With all the internet capping, and traffic shaping that ISPs are doing, that creates a whole new problem.
With all the Digital Distribution praise, I have to wonder if people have even thought it through. Sure, Gamestop will suffer, but so will great community sites such as Goozex, and CheapAssGamer. I wouldn't be suprised if games cost an extra $10 for added bandwidth costs.
Solar Jetman @ Nov 27th 2009 10:37AM
The current marketplace hasn't yet proven that anything is better than actually going to a store for a physical copy, particularly if we're talking about new releases on day 1.
- Buying pre-owned is always cheaper and resalable. More and more people keep their games in great condition.
- PSN and XBL are proving that DD doesn't make old games cheaper than retail.
- Hard drive space on consoles is absurdly expensive (360), a nuisance to manage (PS3), and a nuisance to migrate (both). I don't see the situation improving this generation.
- Steam has shown that DD titles may not unlock on the same *day* of release, never mind the same hour.
- Amazon can't control shipping delays or depleted inventory, even if you preorder and pay for Same-day.
Solving the technology issues is likely a matter of time. Solving business issues like bad pricing, and when a region is permitted to own something..... well we can best speak with our wallets.
-SJ
Meh @ Nov 27th 2009 3:17PM
OH NO YOU HAVE TO SHOWER THAT SUCKs.
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 27th 2009 3:27PM
@ Meh
It's called hyperbole, deal with it :S
rusha @ Nov 26th 2009 8:25PM
I had been a loyal Joystiq reader for a few years now and I just recently began posting comments. Today is Thanksgiving day and even though I was not born in America, I had moved here 10 years ago at 13 years of age, I do celebrate this holiday now. I would like to thank Joystiq for being the BEST and the most informative gaming website around and I would also like to thank them for always keeping the site up to date. Thanks Joystiq for never being lazy, thank you for updating and giving us something to read every day, thank you for even now on this holiday updating ever hour as you get the news. You do something that other sites just dont do, you update this site with interesting news throughout the day and surprisingly the whole night. I love this website and it is my favorite. I never participated in any give aways nor have I won anything, how ever I just love the way you guys at Joystiq handle your business. You guys are the most lazy-free, gaming community loving group of peoplle on the internet and I THANK YOU for that. Happy thanksgiving guys and have wonderful holidays, I wish you guys the best of luck and once again I thank you for keeping me up to date with the news and for being as giving as you are.
Traceur_Ryuk [Founder of The Anti-EMCB(tm) and co-leader of ATDF] (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Nov 26th 2009 8:27PM
Uhh... Happy Thanksgiving... I guess.
richard thomas @ Nov 26th 2009 8:51PM
I don't like the idea of Digital Download at all for major release games. I do like it for smaller quick games on PSN & Live Arcade. Will always prefer discs. As soon as i am forced to buy a game that i have to DL without the box or manual is when i quit supporting games.
And actually having to get up,take a shower and go somewhere to get my games gets you out of the house for a minute... give me a break, its just plain lazy not too...
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 26th 2009 9:03PM
I'm presuming that last remark was directed at my comment lol.
The point I was really getting across is the amount of time that you have to waste while going to buy a game at a store. If you download a game, the time between hitting the button and playing it can be spent doing other things; work, preparing food, having fun with family etc. I don't just mean you'd sit around in your underwear as it downloads lol.
But if you go to buy a game at a store, all that time is essentially wasted through travel, you're not being productive & get other things done. You're essentially going out of you way to buy a game, but with DD you never have to go out of your way.
But I'm not telling you how to live your life lol. If you don't have any important things to do then you could always spend your time travelling to the store :-P
Ballistic H @ Nov 26th 2009 9:51PM
@ DamonTheMoney:
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g250/vincestar/SouthParkWoWLoser.jpg
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 26th 2009 10:05PM
@Ballistic H
It's actually quite funny that you ignore the ideas in my comment to the point that you feel the need to personally attack me. I actually laughed.
If you'd read my comment, you'd have known that I'm in favour of DD so that I can get my work done and spend time with my family, as opposed to going out of my way specifically of the reason to buy a video game.
Can you read?
Dreaded Fear @ Nov 26th 2009 10:32PM
@DamonTheMoney
Quit talking about how long it takes YOU to do something as simple as buying a game. If you are going to buy groceries, buy your games on the way. If you are going to anywhere else, pickup the game when you come back if you are so worried about time.
richard thomas @ Nov 26th 2009 8:53PM
I don't like the idea of Digital Download at all for major release
games. I do like it for smaller quick games on PSN & Live Arcade.
Will always prefer discs. As soon as i am forced to buy a game that i
have to DL without the box or manual is when i quit supporting games.
And actually having to get up,take a shower and go somewhere to get
my games gets you out of the house for a minute... give me a break,
its just plain lazy not too...
Scuffles @ Nov 26th 2009 9:33PM
Yeah I'm going to say No way in hell will I ever support a server-based game.
They take your money and they give you NOTHING, It might work for some fussy MMO but for day to day gaming thats a flat out fail.
you pay a monthly fee and everything happens server side ... graphics processing, EVERYTHING ... then you just get the output essentially as live streaming interactive video.... Fundamentally how your PC works now save you only own the monitor keyboard and modem and the processing power is hundreds of miles away.
Digital distribution was bad enough they take your money, generally the same price as buying the physical media which you could easily go out and get yourself YOU SHUT IN, and give you data which you end up having to back up on physical media anyhow just to be safe because a majority of them have a one time download policy, which thankfully seems to be changing.
With the grand new design they are swooning over you give them money and they give you NOTHING.... "Any kind of terminal becomes a platform" is exactly what it sounds like your buying server time at that point. Yeah you don't need a high end computer because they have high end servers crunching and rendering for you then streaming the images back to you ..... but don't think they aren't going to hike up their fees because "well we are running all these high end servers now" Plus you don't get your copy of the game, plus ISPs are getting greedy and want to start charging for every kb of your bandwidth.
So in this wonderful future your game system only costs you $75-80 but your required to be online ~$24-50 and you end up paying whatever monthly fee to the gaming company to play the games you want to play probably along with an activation fee for the game to access it in the first place... no thanks.
Give me good oll physical medium.... or I guess you could continue going this way putting all your eggs in one basket than acting surprised when something happens and you have zero access to any of your games.
Scuffles @ Nov 26th 2009 10:01PM
It was a little vague but it certainly sounded like they were talking about headed somewhere towards something like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGdecNDDr9g
RageOverdose @ Nov 26th 2009 10:04PM
Digital distribution will get more popular as we get more bandwidth.
And really, it's a really good way to get games. It ensures you will get a copy of the game instead of going to the store and it not being there, it will allow you to find older games (well, older digitally distributed ones) as time goes on instead of games being subject to collector's prices, and it's cheaper on companies who don't need production lines anymore.
The only thing I'd miss are the used games that save me money. That's about it.
RKN (Steam ID: nerdydesi) @ Nov 26th 2009 11:30PM
What is killing digitial distribution is caps by the greedy ISPs. Comcast gives a 250gb limit every month for instance. It may seem generous to most, but as we download more content, more video is streamed, etc. its going to get very ugly with these ISPs and digital distribution.
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 27th 2009 12:44AM
@ Dreaded Fear
Why should I stop saying what's convenient and useful for me? I live in the countryside, in a small village. If I were to go and buy a game from a store, I'm going to have to drive for at least half an hour to go get it. It's not going to be on the way to anything, all of the food shops etc I need are in my village. But you didn't know that, and I probably should've explained that in my above comments. So that's just how I see it, after all this isn't Fact World it's the comments section for people to give their personal opinions.
As for the effects on retailers, I don't think they'll go out of business. Given the chance, and if it were convenient, I'd always choose physical media (except for my PSP) and I'm sure many other people want that too, so the shops will probably survive. But they won't be as successful as they are now.
DamonTheMoney @ Nov 27th 2009 12:46AM
-_- damn this Joystiq comment system! lol
CrabBattle @ Nov 27th 2009 7:08AM
ISPs are the problem. As long as they cap bandwidth (40gb where i live - yes its a joke) this willl be impossible. I see this as another option, the more the merrier (see burnout).
THis would be great for those who live in countries where games are extremely expensive.
Kevin949 @ Nov 27th 2009 10:28AM
Did anyone notice this article doesn't talk about digital distribution but instead is referencing how everything will be "server based" and nothing but the controller will be physical? That's not digital distro. As crabbattle said, ISP's are the problem and I don't see this type of thing picking up until latency is almost a non-issue. Download caps are crap as well and if the market ever turned solely to any type of online-only distribution it would ruin it for many gamers, especially if all ISP's decided to start capping bandwidth.
I'd gladly wait two days after ordering a game on amazon, but hey if you preorder a game on amazon you get release date delivery and usually it's free of charge shipping anyway.
Also, this isn't a slight against digital distribution or what the article is talking about, they have their place and they have both proven to be successful (on varying scales, of course). I just hope we don't see the decline of actual disc-based games over the next decade.
Cyrus @ Nov 28th 2009 7:22AM
It's strange that Square Enix would have this position considering how much they are dragging their feet at putting their content (PS1/PSP) on the PlayStation Store.
Paper @ Nov 30th 2009 10:15AM
I still prefer to own the Disk of the game so then I own it as opposed to having a copy somewhere in cyber space that doesn't really exist.