We're technologically capable now.

In Australia, which really does lag behind the rest of the world when it comes to Internet infrastructure, we're just starting to build the National Broadband Network (NBN) that will provide 100mbps (initially) to 93 per cent of the population. That's enough for digital download to be the default for media delivery, and it can be done now.

Of course, it'll probably take 20 years before everyone treats those kinds of connections like telephone lines - but point is the (developed) world is in the process of implementing this kind of stuff now.

I can assure you, more advanced nations, such as South Korea or Japan, are already more than ready for digital download to become the standard, but the problem is publishers and developers in those countries are waiting for the rest of the world to catch up before the AAA stuff is worth releasing as DD-only (after all, it's a little hard to have a AAA title for one or two regions in the world).

So really, 20 years for America, Australia and New Zealand, and developed Europe to finish implementing and marketing off stable, fast broadband to the majority of the population. The analysts I speak to seem to reckon that'll happen, businesses are expecting it to happen, and Governments are on board.

But Nike has patented an idea for the self-lacing shoes!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38884033

@shpydar: holy crap

HORRID IDEA.

Nintendo already said that there would be an optional amount of games in the 3DS Shop... So the memory should probably be up to 10 gb... But still a horrible idea due to a limited number of games.

Digital download works best with movies and music, but not games. It will never work out, because you can not sell them back and when an old game ages there are no price drops.

Top 5 main reasons digital distribution is a HUGE failure- 1. No trade-ins
2. No selling
3. Download times vary
4. If the online store is all of the sudden disconnected then where will you get your games in the mean time?
5. NOT EVERYONE HAS WIFI.
_{please use the 'edit' link instead of quadruple-posting in a thread -- TBD}

Um, you realise that digital distribution is actually on the rise, right, and not a failure at all? In fact, reports are suggesting it's taking a massive piece of the retail pie.

As for your five reasons that it's supposedly a "failure" - 1 and 2 are essentially the same thing, and irrelevant. Music used to have a vibrant resale scene, especially in vinyl era... and yet digital distribution still took over.

3 and 5) have already been discussed in the posts immediately before yours, but I guess you missed them - the infrastructure will be there. And the analysts are expecting that in the next 20 years.

4) you do realise that the Sony, Microsoft and Nintendos of the world maintain massive and very, very expensive datacentres that, if they go down for anything but maintenance, are basically guaranteed through server redundency and the like to be down for no longer than a few hours? Sometimes they go down for maintenance an I guess that could last for a half day or so, but if you really need to buy a new game every 12 hours, then you are one of the problem gamers that needs an intevention.

And, as we've already discussed the benefits of digital distribution are massive: Becuase it's cheaper to publish games on, start-ups and indie developers can get their stuff out there easier, so there's a greater variety and creativity in the games published on the platforms. DLC and patching is easier so developers can continue to support games after they've been released.

Resale means no money goes back to the publisher/developer at consecutive sales, so they have no reason to implement that in their own store. Resale is just a means for brick-and-mortar stores to make more returns, and is actually against the EULA for most games.

And who said anything about no price drops? See Steam for a perfect example of how digital pricing should be done.

Man, you're right up my alley WaltzElf. Together you and I can rule the cyber galaxy! Now if only these Rebels who cling to their un-enviromentaly friendly plastic cartridges and tree hurting paper instruction manuals would concede to the ever changing (positive change) world about them we could get a lot more done!

BTW Nintendoftw, it is worth pointing out that Nintendo, SONY, Microsoft and other indie companies don't smile upon stores like GameStop and GameCrazy because of their "game trading methods". Iwata and Reggie Fills Amie have both discussed that "trading games" hurts the developers and in turn it hurts the big cookie, namely Nintendo or Microsoft. The only one profiting from the software trading system is the GameStop retail because all the profit goes into their little purse. It is precisely because of GameStop and GameCrazy that software developers and the Big Four (Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Apple Inc) all prefer Digital Distribution. In fact if you head over to youtube.com you'll be able to find a video of Steve Jobs explaining that Digital Distribution will take over because so many developers can't stand the trade of their precious software titles without getting any returns in profit.

I am a big fan of physical games but I totally agree that game trading through gaming stores hurts the market more than anything.

Game trading and selling is a huge part of gaming, what do you do once you have bought a bad game? Not to mention no more returning. Digital Distribution should be good 10 or 15 years from now, but NOT now, horrible idea at the moment. Speeds and too slow and not everyone has wifi, especially people who live on the countryside.

alright digital sale shoud be available but nintendo can still make a profit with retail because not everyone has it. buy digital makes a lot of profit

I'm sorry mate, but you're obviously out of touch. Did you not read what WaltzElf wrote at the top of this page? Plus, fret not. Nintendo is still going to utilize cartridges for the Nintendo 3DS.

You sound verry silly right now, all facts arnt even right and there will be price just because its retail doesnt mean it wont have price, it depends if the GAME is selling or not so get ur facts please.

WaltzElf said it'll take a few years (20 specifically) before everyone - even bumpkins in tiny villages with crap telephone lines to get a serviceable Internet connection that suits downlading games.

Nintendoftw said he/she believes digital distribution will be "good 10 - 15 years from now"

But you seem to ignore his other point about trading in games.

I agree however, that the green factor is a very important issue, which can only be solved by downloading games instead of buying them in a box, but what about our natural urge to trade something to someone (either to recoup losses or to let them experience a game without them having to pay full price (remember - we're in a global economic crisis, and people can be forgiven for being a bit frugal) by buying it themselves, and don't forget import gaming (the Australians can tell you a thing or two about the number of EU games (let alone NA and JAP games) they miss out on. Europeans miss out on a shedload of games too, but as long as the console/handheld isn't region-locked, at least we can import them.

But if digital distribution could guarantee I retained ALL my consumer rights, guaranteed I'd be receiving a comprehensive and bug free product, reduced the number of region exclusive games AND costs me less money (no packaging, shipping and distribution costs), then it won't be such a bad thing - for the consumer or the planet.

Good points Edhe.

it's funny that you call him out of touch when you're the one all gung-ho over downloadables at the moment, lol. :3

COUGH Wii COUGH DS COUGH N64...need I go on?

Nope

First of all if you dont want to buy a digital game then dont, 2nd of all if your not shoure about a game and then you bought it and you can return it thats a huge advantage. but let me remind you that you can get a demo for a game your not shour off, and 3rd get your facts right and digital game distribution is allready on the ds its called dsiware and the may not be as big as a cartridge but its a lot of space.

@118 this is assuming that all the developers go through the time to make a demo. Not everyones gonna do it.-especially not most of the 3rd party studios.
@107 Tokyo Red Gamestop and gamecrazy(now out of business) are not the only ones profitting from trade-ins; so is the consumer. We get a fraction of the cost off to play a game that's been used. We also get to cycle through games if we play frequently enough. Gamestop is taking all the profit from trade ins instead of the producers getting all their hard earned cash but gamestop is offering a service to get a lot of games for a fraction of the original price.
@nintendoftw i believe your strongest point is hardrive space. Unless we want to cycle through like many are already doing with trade-ins, we're gonna need a bigger hardrive or authorization to use heavy SD cards which get expensive when you start getting into the 32 gb range.
all that being said, I don't even like used games; I only buy them if there're no new available copies. but it is another option.