Digital Downloads

[JD50]

So I just bought and downloaded CnC 3 from the EA website (yes I paid $50 for it instead of getting it on sale at circuit city) and it got me thinking, when will we see big retailers like Best Buy and Circuit City offering these as well? It would be nice to see some more competition and get some nice sales on downloads. Maybe they would even offer it cheaper because you wouldn't be getting the box and manual. Anyone know why this hasn't happened yet?

 

[Schadenfroh]

The same reason that many multiplayer games that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The same reason that multiplayer games (such as the Battlefield series) that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.

But you can purchase the Battlefield series and download it through EAs site. I'd think that they could give this same downloadable version to retailers to sell.....But I do see what your saying.

 

[cheapherk]

I think digital downloads should be significantly cheaper than buying the CDs/DVD w/ box and manual. The only digital downloads I ever bought were from EA when the BF2 & 2142 booster packs came out. I will never buy a full game via digital download unless it were a lot cheaper. I'm a sucker for a cool looking box and a manual.

 

[Schadenfroh]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The same reason that multiplayer games (such as the Battlefield series) that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.</end quote></div>

But you can purchase the Battlefield series and download it through EAs site. I'd think that they could give this same downloadable version to retailers to sell.....But I do see what your saying.

</end quote></div>

EA lets you do that now? When I played BF2, they only let you download & buy the booster packs online (maybe the expansion). EA has yet to remove the cd check from my retail copy of BF2, despite its online piracy prevention measures of checking for duplicate accounts logged in.

There are many other examples of online games that verify that duplicate license keys are not running and still require a cd / dvd check.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The same reason that multiplayer games (such as the Battlefield series) that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.</end quote></div>

But you can purchase the Battlefield series and download it through EAs site. I'd think that they could give this same downloadable version to retailers to sell.....But I do see what your saying.

</end quote></div>

EA lets you do that now? When I played BF2, they only let you download & buy the booster packs online (maybe the expansion). EA has yet to remove the cd check from my retail copy of BF2, despite its online piracy prevention measures of checking for duplicate accounts logged in.

There are many other examples of online games that verify that duplicate license keys are not running and still require a cd / dvd check.

I'm almost positive that I saw BF 2142 on there when I bought CnC3.

 

[pontifex]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The same reason that multiplayer games (such as the Battlefield series) that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.</end quote></div>

But you can purchase the Battlefield series and download it through EAs site. I'd think that they could give this same downloadable version to retailers to sell.....But I do see what your saying.

</end quote></div>

EA lets you do that now? When I played BF2, they only let you download & buy the booster packs online (maybe the expansion). EA has yet to remove the cd check from my retail copy of BF2, despite its online piracy prevention measures of checking for duplicate accounts logged in.

There are many other examples of online games that verify that duplicate license keys are not running and still require a cd / dvd check.</end quote></div>


I'm almost positive that I saw BF 2142 on there when I bought CnC3.
</end quote></div>

its there. along with bf2 and the other expansions.
you can also buy games from STEAM and Direct2Drive in the same way. Gamespot has its own digital download thing too. unfortunately, all 3 of those seem to have mostly the same games and at the same prices...

i forgot, ubisoft has some games for digital download also.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: pontifex
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
The same reason that multiplayer games (such as the Battlefield series) that check for duplicate cd keys whenever a player logs on (to ensure the player is not pirating) still have CD checks and force you to have the CD in the drive.</end quote></div>

But you can purchase the Battlefield series and download it through EAs site. I'd think that they could give this same downloadable version to retailers to sell.....But I do see what your saying.

</end quote></div>

EA lets you do that now? When I played BF2, they only let you download & buy the booster packs online (maybe the expansion). EA has yet to remove the cd check from my retail copy of BF2, despite its online piracy prevention measures of checking for duplicate accounts logged in.

There are many other examples of online games that verify that duplicate license keys are not running and still require a cd / dvd check.</end quote></div>


I'm almost positive that I saw BF 2142 on there when I bought CnC3.
</end quote></div>

its there. along with bf2 and the other expansions.
you can also buy games from STEAM and Direct2Drive in the same way. Gamespot has its own digital download thing too. unfortunately, all 3 of those seem to have mostly the same games and at the same prices...

i forgot, ubisoft has some games for digital download also.

Yea, thats what pisses me off. Why buy a game without a box and without a manual, for the same price or more than what they are going for in retail stores? Convenience I guess. But thats why I'd like to see BB, CC, and other retailers get in on it, they'd probably bring the price down quite a bit. I'm sure it will happen eventually, once everyone stops overreacting about piracy.

 

[pontifex]

where are you people getting the piracy thing from? its probably harder to pirate a digital download game than it is a retail game.

games bought through steam require steam to play.
games bought through d2d require the game code, plus you can only activate the game so many times before you have to contact someone at d2d to be able to reactivate it again. this is easy to do, but it can eb a bit of an annoyance.

never bought from ubi or gamespot so i don't know how they work. actually, most of ubi's games are on d2d so they may just link to that.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: pontifex
where are you people getting the piracy thing from? its probably harder to pirate a digital download game than it is a retail game.

games bought through steam require steam to play.
games bought through d2d require the game code, plus you can only activate the game so many times before you have to contact someone at d2d to be able to reactivate it again. this is easy to do, but it can eb a bit of an annoyance.

never bought from ubi or gamespot so i don't know how they work. actually, most of ubi's games are on d2d so they may just link to that.

I dunno, why else would they be so reluctant to do it? I'd think that they'd make a lot more money from impulse buys and people that are just too lazy to go to the store.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: JD50
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: pontifex
where are you people getting the piracy thing from? its probably harder to pirate a digital download game than it is a retail game.

games bought through steam require steam to play.
games bought through d2d require the game code, plus you can only activate the game so many times before you have to contact someone at d2d to be able to reactivate it again. this is easy to do, but it can eb a bit of an annoyance.

never bought from ubi or gamespot so i don't know how they work. actually, most of ubi's games are on d2d so they may just link to that.</end quote></div>


I dunno, why else would they be so reluctant to do it? I'd think that they'd make a lot more money from impulse buys and people that are just too lazy to go to the store.

probably because you need the infrastructure to do it.
the other reason is i'm sure you'd have to have some kind of licensing deal or something with the game developers to offer it this way.

 

[Schadenfroh]

games bought through d2d require the game code, plus you can only activate the game so many times before you have to contact someone at d2d to be able to reactivate it again. this is easy to do, but it can eb a bit of an annoyance.

D2D games are protected with Sony's SecuROM Online.

 

[SniperWulf]

The game key and activation thing is a pain. I bought Trackmania United from the developer back in January. I've already had to call and get the key reset. Steam is a much much better infrastructure for these types of things as all the titles you have access to are tied to your account, not some key+activation scheme.

 

[gizbug]

BF 2142 is 39.99 to download, 29.99 to buy in stores. Should be the other way around price wise =/