To what extent is digital distribution vital to the media
area you have studied?
Media Area: Video Games
David Chikezie
Digital Distribution of games has been a thing since the
1980s it was only with network advancements in bandwidth capabilities in the
2000s that digital distribution of video games really became preeminent,
Digital distribution is extremely vital to the gaming industry and contributes
to a lot of its success. The games industry relies on a rapid production and
innovation cycle, one that actively enforces hardware obsolescence. It seems everyday
consoles like the Xbox One, PS4, and the WII U are becoming more and more cloud
based and distancing away from the outdated physical hardware we grew up with.
Companies like Microsoft are adapting and creating new digital only consoles to
boost their audiences by proving a more productive way to sell products.
To begin with, Content distributed online may be streamed or
downloaded, and often consists of books, films and television programs, music,
software, and video games. Streaming involves downloading and using content as
soon as the consumer wants. they rathe allowing a user to store it permanently.
In contrast, fully downloading content to a hard drive or other form of storage
media may allow offline access in the future. According to the case study “Digital Games Distribution: The Presence of
the Past and the Future of Obsolescence” “The move to digital distribution has
already begun to reduce the need of transportation and mobility, but this
currently signals only further support of planned, and technological
obsolescence, increasing the rate at which the commodities for recording,
storing, distributing and exhibiting digital content become wasted” this case
study explains some of the pros of digital distribution in contrast to physical
distribution such as the Eco friendly side to online distribution, Disc are
harmful to the planet and contain substances like polycarbonate plastic and
aluminum.
In another case study, author Chad Hadzinsky agrees to the
notion that the video game industry relies on digital distribution to sell
productively. The case study states Digital distribution of video games is
becoming increasingly common, with major publishers and retailers paying more
attention to digital sales, including Steam, PlayStation Store, Amazon.com,
GAME, GameStop, and others. According to new statistics, the volume of digital distribution
of video games worldwide was $6.2 billion per month in February 2016 and
reached $7.7 billion per month in April 2017, its evident that digital
distribution is vital, but with looming problems in the world, for example, the
coronavirus pandemic causing many stores and businesses to be closed, digital
distribution provides many video games retailers to continue making money
Personally, I buy all my games digitally because I can share
my games and movie with family and friends, I can play offline and I don’t have
to travel to my local GameStop. It is more convenient for a lot of people and
that’s why I think it will take over the gaming and video industries as the
premiant distribution method. Furthermore, in this case study of digital
distribution of the gaming industry authored by Frank Alpert, we are showed the
cons of digital distribution, according to the case study “depending on
location, the price of a digital game upon release can be substantially greater
than its retail version. Even on sales, digital titles can rarely compete with
the price of a physical version of the same game. “Alpert also brings up how,
you have the option to sell or trade the game to other people if you wanted to.
With digital distribution, you only have the option to play the game on your
account alone, providing less portability.
In conclusion, Digital distribution has played a huge role
in the growth of the gaming industry, I will continue to use digital to buy my
movies and games, as more innovation is taking place companies are becoming
more and more digital based and growing their business off digital technology.
The way you distribute your product is very important to the growth of your
product, and major companies are taking precautions to make sure there product
are distributed properly.
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