I think competition is one area that really hasn't been addressed in digital downloads. Take for example WiiWare, you can only buy direct via Nintendo, there is one set price, no sales, no competition, you can't shop around. What happens when/if all go digital? PSPGo will be the next test, but I'm not looking forward to paying full whack or what Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo want to charge and there is no other avenue to buy from!

Download only games must surely be a topic for the office of fair trading ,and you have no physical product to trade in after playing the customer will always be onto a loser with this one im afraid .

Look at the online success of Battlefield 1943. Digital download is definitely the future, even if it doesnt come as soon as many people think.
Although the lack of a tangible product is a very valid reason against downloads, do I think most of us will get over that one in time.

Even with the tangible product being a reason to buy in the shops, there will be many that decide they want to buy a game there and then (allowing for download time of course) rather than make the trip to a store or wait a day or two ordering online. This really does aid the impulse buyer.

However I loved receiving games as presents as a kid, wrapped under the tree etc....I dont think it will be the same experience buying my kid a digital download for xmas ?

Both have their pros and cons.

However, retail has been happy to reap the profits on second hand games for a while now, now it is their turn to respond.

One fact remains though, for the time being the console itself still needs to distributed and can't be downloaded. Relations with retail can't be soured too much if Microsoft still want to sell the consoles through this avenue.

The fact is; Digital Distribution is coming and it is something to be embraced not feared... This may close doors for some people who fail to change their business model and explore new avenues, but as they say, "for every door closed there's a window opened"

As Scott said, the big 3 won't burn their bridges with bricks and mortar retail outlets (cos they have to sell they still have to sell physical untis) BUT 3rd party developers may well look to seek a direct route to market. It's something that is going to effect everyone from a business and consumer level...

The music industry was the first to go through this change... The games industry will have to learn from this in order not to get burnt! So far it seems things are being done... But it'll be interesting to see how it pans out ;)

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