Online downloading of video games is becoming increasingly popular among players. If books, songs, and movies can already be downloaded over the Internet, why not the latest FPS?
Despite this reasoning, digital distribution of video games, or the ability to download them over the Internet, has only flourished in recent years of this decade. The reasons for this were slower connection speeds, poor console connectivity to the Internet, and skepticism from customers and distributors. However, once the first problem was resolved, the other obstacles were removed as well. Players' and distributors' doubts gradually diminished after the success of Valve's Steam service on PC and Microsoft's Live on Xbox, and next-generation consoles, learning from these examples, implemented their own interfaces designed for online gaming and content downloading. Initially, this content included small items like game demos, flash titles, skins, and wallpapers, but over time it expanded to include downloads of additional episodes, maps, or songs for existing games known as DLC (downloadable content), episodic games, and eventually entire titles.
For publishers, in general, this method of distribution poses the most problems. They are practically unnecessary since manufacturers can set up their own pages to sell their games. Despite this, developers need sponsors during the development process, so their agreement with distributors usually boils down to them financing the developers while they work on the game, in exchange for a percentage of the revenue from online distribution. Similarly, to protect themselves from piracy, some manufacturers and publishers place DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection on games that prevents the installed game from being used on another gaming platform, or allows the game to be installed a limited number of times. Players justifiably protest against this protection because purchased games on optical media can be installed countless times on any instance of the appropriate platform. Also, once a game is purchased this way, gamers can no longer sell it.
However, thanks to advantages like availability and lower prices, digital distribution of video games is experiencing growth year after year. After all, isn't it more pleasant to acquire a game with one click, rather than having to go to a nearby store only to find out that the title you've been waiting for months is sold out?
The most popular services from which you can download video games:
Xbox Live Marketplace – Although online gaming requires payment, Live is far ahead of its console competition in terms of service quality.
Steam – The most popular PC service for digital distribution and online multiplayer gaming, boasting over 20 million users.
GOG – Good Old Games offers classics from the gaming industry for a price of 30 – 50 kuna.
Originally published in 2009 on the portal Lock ‘n’ Load.
