The UK Doesn't Dig Digital Game Downloads
Could the appalling bandwidth have something to do with it?
Hello, can I put you through to Xbox Live?
Gamers in the United Kingdom are either telco-phobic, ignorant about digital downloading, or have appalling bandwidth... or a survey by Today's Gamer is wrong.
According to Industry Gamers,the survey states that The survey found that 40% of all console users in the U.S. have downloaded and paid for complete games or extra levels.
"Furthermore, 15% stated that they usually buy new games directly via their console (and this goes up to 25% specifically for next-gen consoles).
On the PC, 23% of gamers said they buy and download games directly online.
"For some reason, these numbers are much lower in the UK - just 7% of all console players download versus 14% for PC gamers."
According to Industry Gamers,the survey states that The survey found that 40% of all console users in the U.S. have downloaded and paid for complete games or extra levels.
"Furthermore, 15% stated that they usually buy new games directly via their console (and this goes up to 25% specifically for next-gen consoles).
On the PC, 23% of gamers said they buy and download games directly online.
"For some reason, these numbers are much lower in the UK - just 7% of all console players download versus 14% for PC gamers."
Comments
SPInGSPOnG 27 Oct 2009 11:10
1/6
Not only does the UK have s**t bandwidth, but you even have "unlimited" plans from Virgin that bandwidth cap you if you download too much.
Not sure what they fail to understand about the term "unlimited". But back when advertising had to be legal decent honest and truthful, they would never have gotten away with such blatant lying.
Not sure what they fail to understand about the term "unlimited". But back when advertising had to be legal decent honest and truthful, they would never have gotten away with such blatant lying.
The Programmer 27 Oct 2009 12:01
2/6
Maybe we don't like downloading because, after finishing a game, you can't sell a download unlike physical media. Quite often it's cheaper to buy the physical media than the download which is just silly e.g. Xbox 360 Games on Demand. If the download was much cheaper than the physical media than maybe things would change.
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Horatio 27 Oct 2009 12:52
3/6
I think it's a combination of reasons.
1. Pricing. I think pricing for UK downloads is too high. Even ignoring the 2nd hand market, you can often get boxed games for much less than the cost of the digital alternative. And if you factor in 2nd hand games, it gets even cheaper for the consumer. I think digital-only games probably enjoy more success, but I think the prices for those need to drop a little too.
2. Download speeds - from the console manufacturers. Ignoring the general speeds available to the UK, I think Sony et al themselves are providing a poor service. Seriously, PSN runs appallingly slow on my 4mb connection, 1 hour plus just to get the latest firmware, never mind downloading an actual game. Things aren't a great deal better with either Nintendo or Microsoft... but MS is the fastest by far.
3. Broadband speed in general. I think this is a factor, but the US doesn't get much better than the UK yet they make more digital purchases?
Perhaps the UK just has different market conditions for gaming? We're clearly not adverse to digital in general as sales of CD singles (for example) shows we are happy to drop the physicality of "owing" a media product.
1. Pricing. I think pricing for UK downloads is too high. Even ignoring the 2nd hand market, you can often get boxed games for much less than the cost of the digital alternative. And if you factor in 2nd hand games, it gets even cheaper for the consumer. I think digital-only games probably enjoy more success, but I think the prices for those need to drop a little too.
2. Download speeds - from the console manufacturers. Ignoring the general speeds available to the UK, I think Sony et al themselves are providing a poor service. Seriously, PSN runs appallingly slow on my 4mb connection, 1 hour plus just to get the latest firmware, never mind downloading an actual game. Things aren't a great deal better with either Nintendo or Microsoft... but MS is the fastest by far.
3. Broadband speed in general. I think this is a factor, but the US doesn't get much better than the UK yet they make more digital purchases?
Perhaps the UK just has different market conditions for gaming? We're clearly not adverse to digital in general as sales of CD singles (for example) shows we are happy to drop the physicality of "owing" a media product.
bukkow 27 Oct 2009 13:22
4/6
@Horatio The CD has dropped because few people have use for the media anymore, with a large proportion of people favouring listening to music from an MP3 player, thus negating the need for the CD to be the middle man.
Whereas Games/Movies etc are still played in the same place, on the same machine and we're asked to pay more to download a product that has no printing or packaging costs???
The average American buyer is probably a little less caring about where they spend their money....generalising here but my guess is that a higher percentage want it 'now now now' and willing to pay more for that privelage.
Whereas Games/Movies etc are still played in the same place, on the same machine and we're asked to pay more to download a product that has no printing or packaging costs???
The average American buyer is probably a little less caring about where they spend their money....generalising here but my guess is that a higher percentage want it 'now now now' and willing to pay more for that privelage.
Joji 27 Oct 2009 14:17
5/6
Horatio's point sum up most of it.
I still think its because the games industry is like a pusher on the street, telling us DLC is the light that he sells, and we must buy, buy, buy. Many of us won't buy, because we lke owning stuff
How many people rent tvs or cars? Very few indeed, because owning is a better deal and always will be. This is no different with games, for as sweet as the DLC icing is, the possibility of loss or corruption of data, is always a looming fear.
I honestly believe that too much relyance on DLC is tantamount to a rental of sort. You buy, games is stored on hard drive. Time and console gens pass, and you content is not supported anymore, after which you are screwed. It this same problem that MMOs have to being successful, because they are reliant on servers of the man. Download or buy and install your game, sure, but once the server closes, your games is useless.
Once Braodband gets to around 100mb, its possible these gripes might ease, but its obvious net service providers will always cap or strangle us, someway or another.
I still think its because the games industry is like a pusher on the street, telling us DLC is the light that he sells, and we must buy, buy, buy. Many of us won't buy, because we lke owning stuff
How many people rent tvs or cars? Very few indeed, because owning is a better deal and always will be. This is no different with games, for as sweet as the DLC icing is, the possibility of loss or corruption of data, is always a looming fear.
I honestly believe that too much relyance on DLC is tantamount to a rental of sort. You buy, games is stored on hard drive. Time and console gens pass, and you content is not supported anymore, after which you are screwed. It this same problem that MMOs have to being successful, because they are reliant on servers of the man. Download or buy and install your game, sure, but once the server closes, your games is useless.
Once Braodband gets to around 100mb, its possible these gripes might ease, but its obvious net service providers will always cap or strangle us, someway or another.
mobiletone 28 Oct 2009 07:49
6/6
i think we in the UK like to actually 'own' our games rather than just rent digital versions that'll only last as long as the hard drive holds up.
personally i prefer hardcopies of full titles, i have a 10Gb optical line and do buy DLC and small throwaway titles. BUT the PSN Store over here in Blighty is a total rip-off, charging more for digital copies of games than i can go into a real life honest to goodness shop in the high street and buy them for.
example, ALL the DLC for Fallout3 will cost you £40 from the Store, plus you NEED a copy of the game anyway to use it. In my highstreet i can buy the Fallout3 GoTY edition (with all the DLC included) for less than £30. simples, no?
personally i prefer hardcopies of full titles, i have a 10Gb optical line and do buy DLC and small throwaway titles. BUT the PSN Store over here in Blighty is a total rip-off, charging more for digital copies of games than i can go into a real life honest to goodness shop in the high street and buy them for.
example, ALL the DLC for Fallout3 will cost you £40 from the Store, plus you NEED a copy of the game anyway to use it. In my highstreet i can buy the Fallout3 GoTY edition (with all the DLC included) for less than £30. simples, no?