Microsoft: Digital content is fastest-growing portion of games busines Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft: Digital content is fastest-growing portion of games business Posted by XanTium | January 13 23:49 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From gamesindustry.biz: [QUOTE] Microsoft has said that digital content is the fastest-growing portion of its games business, and the company intends to capitalise on the phenomenon further in 2009. "The silent phenomenon that's happening now for us is that consumers are starting the transition to digital distribution," commented Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg. "We're seeing record revenues, particularly in the UK, of consumers spending money on digital content... It's quickly become the fastest-growing portion of our business. I think that will continue to accelerate at a rapid pace," he added. [/QUOTE] Full Story: gamesindustry.biz

[Zod5000]

How fitting that as I read this news headline I was download the new DLC contect for Fable II lol. I really hope this doesn't negatively affect games though. I've gotten the feeling that parts of games might get left out, because they'll be thinking ahead about DLC. As this gets adopted more and more.. they might tier games.

On the plus side.. I really do like extra content for a game I really like. I was a big fan of the oblivion expansion, and its cool to extra material when your done the game, and want to play it some more.

[HotKnife420]

I thought in-dash advertising was the fastest-growing portion

[MickRaider]

That would be interesting if they start releasing full on xbox 360 games for digital download. Although anyone without at least a 60 gig would be hurtin pretty quick.

[bLiGhTy]

How fitting that as I read this news headline I was download the new DLC contect for Fable II lol. I really hope this doesn't negatively affect games though. I've gotten the feeling that parts of games might get left out, because they'll be thinking ahead about DLC. As this gets adopted more and more.. they might tier games.

On the plus side.. I really do like extra content for a game I really like. I was a big fan of the oblivion expansion, and its cool to extra material when your done the game, and want to play it some more.

Good point. once upon a time we used to get map packs for free, nowadays everything costs$$$
You could bet your limbs on the fact that game companys are now holding stuff back so they can sell
it to you later on.

[trentdadi]

How fitting that as I read this news headline I was download the new DLC contect for Fable II lol. I really hope this doesn't negatively affect games though. I've gotten the feeling that parts of games might get left out, because they'll be thinking ahead about DLC. As this gets adopted more and more.. they might tier games.

On the plus side.. I really do like extra content for a game I really like. I was a big fan of the oblivion expansion, and its cool to extra material when your done the game, and want to play it some more.

Or even worse, and what they have already done. I forget which game it was for, but there was actually downloadable content for it that just unlocks what was already on the disk. We are already paying 60$ per game, I think that they shouldn't have to try and nickel and dime us on top of that. Don't get me wrong, I love downloadable content that adds a lot to a game, but the small stuff shouldn't be as expensive.

For example, Shivering Isles on Oblivion was an awesome piece of DLC and very much worth every cent because it did add a lot more to the game and was extremely fun. However, armor for horses that basically does nothing aside from adding visuals should be free or at least very cheap

[Markus1712]

"that consumers are starting the transition to digital distribution"
BS, especially with those LARGE 20GB HDDs and 120GB's prices...

[royvedas]

Let me put it in nice, clear and understandable words:

DLC is from hell! As suggested earlier in this thread, the gaming companies will be milking it bigtime, selling us half-finished games, just to sell us "the ending" for non-negotiable ultra-high DLC prices. Trust me - they WILL do it. And when everything is eventually distributed as download - it's "game over".

Think about it:
- you won't be able to sell your DLC
- No competition between retailers driving prices down.
- Less opponents in multiplayer games because "some has bought the new DLC maps and weapons, some hasn't"


If this goes too far, I'll have to go back to the pc, where games still are relatively easily hackable. There are limits in regards to how much I can and want to pay for games. Push me too far, and I won't pay a god damn cent, penny or what have we.

F*** DLC.

[keystroke]

Or even worse, and what they have already done. I forget which game it was for, but there was actually downloadable content for it that just unlocks what was already on the disk. We are already paying 60$ per game, I think that they shouldn't have to try and nickel and dime us on top of that. Don't get me wrong, I love downloadable content that adds a lot to a game, but the small stuff shouldn't be as expensive.

For example, Shivering Isles on Oblivion was an awesome piece of DLC and very much worth every cent because it did add a lot more to the game and was extremely fun. However, armor for horses that basically does nothing aside from adding visuals should be free or at least very cheap

most EA games

it was Need 4 Speed IIRC.

[HotKnife420]

I've bought plenty of DLC, but the one problem with it is it is NOT ownership.

Recently, both my 360 and PS3 were stolen (they left the majority of my games, though). All my PSN content has already been shared with friends, so when I replace my PS3, my games that were DLC are GONE. XBL will let me re-download at least, but the 360 I currently have is banned, so I can't connect to live for certain content access, so that's a major bummer (I did have a backup of some things on my computer that were on my 360 hdd).

On a side note, they left the power brick behind, and the console is a japanese console, to boot (unmodified), so it's a bit amusing to know that they need to spend some dough to turn the thing on, and half the american games they try will tell them to put it in a 360 console

[trey85stang]

ms may be kind of right here for once.. ever since itunes went drm free on msuic and movies ill be buying more content from them. m$ until they do the same I wouldnt buy crap from their online music/video stores. screw them.

[bucko]

I think MS maybe getting a bit scared,

http://www.ps3center.net/news/2110/ps3-hom...dollars-so-far/

[tecatekxf]

I sure hope they don't go all DLC, in my area there isn't many people with even online acess besides Dial up.
And I won't buy anything else from live after they pulled the stunt and was chargeing my card for online acess when all I ever did on live was buy some maps for the first Gears of war.They refunded me but still was a pain to go threw.

[eyric101]

I stopped buying DLC until Microsoft allowed a once a year transfer. Now I will buy if there is something I really want. But as posted before I really don't own the content. If i get banned or if Microsoft feels like removing the content from their server, then i will not be able to get access to it again. If they gave us a way to store it on removable media then I could be way more inclined. Give us a cd/dvd/dvd-dl writer attachment.

[Giga_Death]

- Less opponents in multiplayer games because "some has bought the new DLC maps and weapons, some hasn't"

That's the most worrying imo.

- you won't be able to sell your DLC

Good and bad.

Bad cos you can't sell.

Good cos places like Game, CEX, ebay etc. will have less money coming their way heh.

- No competition between retailers driving prices down.

Isn't PSN a competitor (price of dlc)?