More Full Games Becoming Available As Digital Downloads

While we're not looking forward to the day when boxed media is gone forever, we seem to be heading in that direction.

With every passing month, more full games that occupy Blu-Ray discs can be found on the PlayStation Network. If you haven't looked, you might be surprised at what's available in digital format; another big upcoming title that will join the digital ranks is Driver: San Francisco. Ubisoft revealed as much at a GamesCom panel last week, although they did add that the downloadable version wouldn't be available immediately. If you don't want to drive to the store, the new Driver will be up on the PSN "a few weeks" after the game's September 6 launch date. We often have to wait for a full game to become downloadable but those days may soon disappear.

Remember when we all thought it'd be impossible to digitally deliver a full game that goes on a Blu-Ray disc? And then games like Burnout Paradise and inFamous become downloadable, and more titles are quick to follow, like Mass Effect 2. It's only a matter of time before it becomes an option for most every game out there and the next step is inevitable. Oh, happy day. ...'cries'

Related Game(s): Driver: San Francisco

Tags: driver san francisco, driver sequel, driver psn

8/23/2011 9:28:20 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (67 posts)

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Fox hounder
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:54:53 AM
Reply

For me, digital downloads work great for something like the PSP (since most games are only about 1GB), but not for the PS3.

6 up, 0 down

matt99
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:57:03 AM

Yeah, if they plan to make everything digital they're going to need to include massive hard drives in the consoles.

3 up, 0 down

Fox hounder
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:58:24 AM

Indeed.

0 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:23:51 AM

Well, this isn't really a big deal if you are PS3 fan. It's easy to install a new HD into a PS3 and I commend Sony for making it so easy. M$ however is terrible at allowing you to upgrade your HD.
Also, when a game is released digitally you can always delete the game data after you have completed or platted the game. So I don't see space being a big deal. I recommend a 5400rpm drive though as 7200rpm drives add a lot of heat to the equation. I suppose using a cooler with a 7200rpm would work.

1 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:40:51 AM

Yeah I don't need to spend hours waiting for my game to download when a drive to the store takes me only 15 minutes.

6 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:58:16 PM

Most all of us don't have really fast internet connections yet. That's one concern right their.

Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 8/23/2011 3:59:26 PM

1 up, 0 down

matt99
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:55:39 AM
Reply

I actually don't mind buying a fully digital game, though I hope we always have the option.

On a side note, I've always thought digital media should be cheaper as there are no shipping costs and they don't have to pay for storefront property. But I don't know if the cost of the servers and stuff equal the savings from shipping, property, etc. Does anyone know?

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:57:06 AM

I'm pretty sure they keep the same price to appease the brick and mortar stores so as not to piss them off to the extent they stop carrying games. Kinda like an equalizer for the market.

4 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:22:40 AM
Reply

Since I dropped a 500GB drive in the PS3, downloadable games have become a doable proposition. However, I do prefer to have the discs, if possible. But I have several digital only games now - Infamous and Midnight Club LA for example.

When the digital versions are cheaper than the physical copy, I'm OK with it, but too often the download price is the same as the physical copy, despite the fact that the publishing cost of the digital game is trivial compared to the physical copy. That pricing is a bigger obstacle to digital delivery succeeding than the absence of physical articles is. Personally though, I like having my discs, but I can see both sides of the coin.

2 up, 1 down

CrusaderForever
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:26:12 AM

Unless you are wanting to download Far Cry 2!!!!! That was ridiculous when they added it for digital download at $29.99 when it can be bought for $10 pretty much anywhere.

4 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:33:35 PM

lol, I got Far Cry 2 for $10

1 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:01:07 PM

Even though u can find it cheaper elsewhere it's all about the money.

Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 8/23/2011 4:01:29 PM

0 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 10:28:54 AM
Reply

I hope this doesn't happen to often, I like the physical media then digital. I know both have their big advantages, but I would still rather have physical then digital for the 2 main reasons of being able to share, and sell for profit.

2 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:11:02 AM

Good point, being able to sell games later on is huge. Also, digital copies will kill used games sales and all devs are against used game sales. It not a question of if but when physical media is eliminated.

2 up, 0 down

ColTater
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:01:37 PM

Say goodbye to renting games too when this all unavoidably happens within the next 6-10 years.

Last edited by ColTater on 8/23/2011 12:01:50 PM

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:35:16 PM

coltater, they already have full game trials for PS Plus members. You download the whole game and have a set time limit on how long you can play it. That's basically a rental.

1 up, 0 down

SixSpeedKing
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:33:15 PM

@World except its only for an hour. That is not long enough a time, at least for me, to know if I would wanna buy it or not.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 5:52:55 PM

The point being they could make that as long as 2 days or a week or whatever and call it a rental.

2 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:45:25 AM
Reply

Well, i'm not against downloadable games, but in a country like mine were we have very lame download speeds, getting a 20 GB game is a real pain.

BTW I'm from Mexico ;)

2 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:01:29 PM

Welcome to the Site, not sure I've seen you on here before. I'm not gay, don't listen to World or Jawk, or Jawk, or Saint, or Nightmar, or Underdog, or tes, or Arvis, or Highlander, or Q, or Lawless, or LegendaryWolf, or Geo, or Convernt.

Just saying.

2 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:10:06 PM

Thanx

Yep, I'm new here, well i've been following this site for a long time but i just decide to join a few hours ago

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:43:20 PM

Don't listen to LV, he's known to eat kittens for breakfast.

2 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:06:44 PM

Hay LV, what about a spicy mexican sauce to garnish those kittens??

2 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:15:26 PM

"I'm not gay, don't listen to World or Jawk, or Jawk, or Saint, or Nightmar, or Underdog, or tes, or Arvis, or Highlander, or Q, or Lawless, or LegendaryWolf, or Geo, or Convernt."

Just to let you know, LV is very much indeed gay. :)

1 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:00:49 PM

TropyHunter,
Welcome to the PSXE!

LV,
Hey, I've never called you gay.

But now since you've mentioned it, stop making those goo-goo eyes towards World, LOL

1 up, 0 down

jimmyhandsome
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:10:00 PM

LV is indeed a little light in the loafers, if you know what I mean.

0 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:25:45 PM

Thanks Biker!!

Well I see LV is very well known over here :p

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:43:21 PM

I always win the 8inch challenge, I can't help it!

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:03:14 PM

Ha, but just remember.....

Pinocchio won that challenge 1st

(until a certain nameless woodcarver needed fire kindling)

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:36:06 PM

HAHAHAHA, LV you always crack me up. I have to resort to the gay jokes to keep up with your humor.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 8/23/2011 3:37:20 PM

0 up, 0 down

MyWorstNightmar
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 8:47:29 PM

It is true, LV is indeed not gay. However his boyfriend is.

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 9:52:33 PM

"I always win the 8inch challenge, I can't help it!"

LOL!

0 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 11:45:42 AM
Reply

I expect/hope (not sure which) it levels out like it has with other software today: Both a direct download and a boxed version available, the download version slightly cheaper than the boxed. Almost every software solution out there follow that model now, including Sony (just look at their Vegas Video Editing software as an example).

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/23/2011 11:46:34 AM

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:02:23 PM
Reply

I'm all for it as long as they keep offering both ways of getting the game. As much as I prefer digital purchases to physical copes I still think there should be choice.

3 up, 0 down

Spanky
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:08:45 PM
Reply

Well for those of us on wireless, with old PHAT PS3s and no HDD space left it's a stretch to fit the game DL from the discs, much less the entire game. I don't even have room for some DLCs I'd like...AND even the DLCs are a pain when I was able to download them due to the sketchy reliability of the PS3s WI-FI.

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:27:55 PM

Upgrade the hard disc with a larger one!
Trust me, it's *very* easy, and fully explained in a step-by-step guide in the paper manual that came with the ps3 as well as on the Sony website.

Last edited by Beamboom on 8/23/2011 12:29:11 PM

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:54:52 PM

What Beam said. You can get a 500gig HD for under $50 now. There is no reason to not have HD space on your PS3.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:39:32 PM

yeah I slapped a 500 gigger in my fatty a couple years ago and it still isn't full.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:51:12 PM

Spanky,
If you looking for a big drive, I picked up a Western Digital 640GB laptop HD(5400RPM) for my (now murdered) Phat Princess early this year.

It was only $79.99 w/ free shipping.

0 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:16:45 PM
Reply

What about getting a code to download a digital copy when you buy the physical format??, that would be nice I think

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 12:53:53 PM

Well then couldn't you just keep the digital copy and sell the physical copy?

1 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:00:31 PM

Well that makes it an even better idea right??, at the end I get my money back and have a new game... just kidding jaja

0 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:17:56 PM
Reply

As of right now, I have 1GB left :P Being chiping away at loads of things...only to get greedy and download a 1080p monster that takes up like 5GB. xD

0 up, 0 down

High187
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:25:46 PM
Reply

I dont see this taking off to soon with the prices there charging, you can get most of the games way cheaper new on bluray

2 up, 0 down

Kingharris
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:38:10 PM
Reply

Dont they understand plenty of people do not want digital, I like sitting looking at my collection of games.

3 up, 0 down

Pyramid
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:40:19 PM
Reply

Why AC:Brotherhood is $29.99 for download when u can find it near u for $20? And this is only one example. I agree with High187

1 up, 0 down

Ignitus
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 1:44:14 PM
Reply

Though the games may ship on blu-ray, that doesn't mean they fill it up. Most games are 6-9GB only.

4 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:43:45 PM

Good point.

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:40:23 PM

Gee, I wonder why that is... *cough* multiplats squeezed onto DVDs *cough*

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:42:22 PM

But of course the BluRay version doesn't need to use compression on it's visual or audio assets....

3 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 2:45:08 PM
Reply

As a gaming collector, I dread the day that the psychical discs die.

There four other serious reasons too(at least for me)...

1. D/L speeds aren't adequate & up to snuff for most gamers.
I know my crappy 756 DSL took over 5 hours to D/L a 1.4GB demo. And I can't afford the supposedly faster FIOS that Verizon offers. Plus my only other choice here is Comcast which I boycott.

2. D/L games have very little overhead compared to disc games, so I refuse to spent that same $60 price. My feeling is that D/L games shouldn't be more than $45 factoring in them still making some profit margin.

And as I've stated here many times before, there's no storefront & warehousing costs or their associated utility costs, no shipping & handling employees, no transportation costs, so no fuel costs. And certainly no packaging costs, shipping cartons, case, cover art and art designers, or even a paper manual.

So exactly where is even a small percentage share of that gigantic cost savings for us, the consumer too?

3. As that D/L'ed game grows older, it's sales price should drop too, just as equally as that game's disc-base counterpart does.

4.After I would have completely finished playing the game, that would cause that D/L to wind up having no more value left to it, rendering it useless to keep. And I can't show it off in my gaming collections.
And....I can't re-sell it either.

So it's either delete it, put it on a memory stick & let it sit up on the shelves with all the other dozens of drives, all looking like a bunch of fugly ducklings, or just do nothing & let it keep on hogging up HD space.

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:09:10 PM

1. My parents pay $25 a month for 256 DSL. I pay $50 for 20mb. I think we're reaching the point where bandwidth speeds are catching up with the size of media currently available. It takes me close to the same time to download a game as it would take to drive to the store and deal with the annoying kid telling me about the latest game I heard about months ago.

2. This is where the console market needs to catch up. On the PC side digital games are often times cheaper than their physical counterpart and the sales are a plenty. I agree that Infamous 2 for $60 on the PSN is a joke when I can get it for $20 cheaper someplace else.

4. Saint we both know you're not the type to get rid of a game so I don't see your complaint here. Games like movies are something I go back to from time to time. I seldom sell my games or movies. Also digital purchases are stored on servers thus you don't have to worry about keeping the content on your personal harddrive where it may hog up on HD space.

3 up, 0 down

AcHiLLiA
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:09:42 PM

20mb/s for $50 that's good. 256, I thought they started off higher than that with DSL.

Last edited by AcHiLLiA on 8/23/2011 4:09:54 PM

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:22:02 PM

My parents have had the same DSL for a decade. Hence the price and the speed. They don't realize if they spent just a tad more they would get 20x their current speed. But they just surf the net and check email so they really don't need anything faster.

0 up, 0 down

TrophyHunter
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:22:27 PM

20mb for $50???, really???, I pay the same amount for some lame 6mb

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:24:26 PM

Gotta love capitalism.

0 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:04:37 PM
Reply

And to add the great PSN news, finally, at long last, SEGA has announced VIRTUA FIGHTER 5 FS for PSN

WOO HOO! best day ever

0 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:09:32 PM

How much?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:41:27 PM

I want more of those Dreamcast titles!

0 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:44:30 PM

LV, yeah, don't know about the price yet.

World, you silly goose, VF5 is no DC title =p

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:45:17 PM

I know, but you mentioned Sega, which makes me think of Dreamcast and those titles have been too sparse :) Need HD skies of arcadia.

0 up, 0 down

Temjin001
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:52:37 PM

I'd like to see hd versions of both of the Shenmue's. I'd also like VF3tb for novelty sake.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 3:44:35 PM
Reply

I think it's a good idea for them because when people are online and tinkering around looking at games (or anything) they are more prone to make impulse buys they didn't mean to make. This is the exact theory behind Microsoft using MS points. They want a disconnect between the points and actual money so that you forget how much money you are spending.

But back to PSN, I prefer physical games like the rest of you but having these available are are a good transitional option as we are forced kicking and screaming into the all digital age I think people trying these full game downloads now and then could allay the fear associated with such an evil change :)

1 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 @ 4:23:35 PM

Good point on the MS points. I never liked their version of Monopoly money.

1 up, 0 down

SmokeyPSD
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 @ 3:19:39 AM
Reply

Just because things are being offered digitally I really don't see why people just suddenly jump to a doom and gloom stance so readily. America might be ready internet wise but the majority of the rest of the world isn't. Digital is there but physical will always have a place. Short term proof you need only look at the Vita in that it's not digital only. There's no trend for physical media being stamped out at all.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Wednesday, August 24, 2011 @ 4:14:40 AM
Reply

for those who have the resources to download their games its a attractive prospect.
problem is why the %$#@ are the digital versions 10,20,30 or so bucks MORE!?
you get no disk, no manual, no case, no cover art, the publisher has no manufacturing and distribution and resale costs.
so why is it more expensive?
tis a joke!

speaking of jokes, the HD remake of house of the dead overkill has just been banned here!
WTF?
god of war 3, dead island, fear series, dead rising, the same game on wii.
all ok for 15 year olds to play but this is not!?
WTF!?
how the %$#@ does that work!?
wait, playing this on wii is fine for a 15 year old but on ps3 is not?
huh?
how to they come to that conclusion?
you know those twisted sick sadistic documentaries you watch and think what drives a man to do such things?
trying to figure out our ratings system, thats what drives a man to commit those atrocities!
GOW3, the goriest most violent game ever made is ok for 15 year olds to play but a on rails zombie shooter is not.
boggles the mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

0 up, 0 down

RobN
Thursday, August 25, 2011 @ 11:09:40 AM
Reply

What I haven't seen mentioned in these discussions very often is bandwidth cost. Take a look at the cell phone industry, and you can see the future of high-speed home Internet.

It used to be all the carriers offered unlimited download plans for their cell phones -- just as today, cable and DSL providers offer unlimited download on their Internet services. But that wasn't sustainable in the cell phone arena, and as streaming movies and downloaded video games become more popular, it won't be sustainable in the home market, either. It won't be too many years before your home Internet service has a monthly bandwidth cap, and if you go over you pay extra. You may still be able to pay extra for an unlimited plan, but expect it to be considerably more expensive than what you're paying today.

When that happens, it's going to put a crimp in the business plans of companies like Netflix, as well as Sony, Microsoft, and the rest of the gaming industry.

That trend will be the counter that might help save physical media, at least for another decade.

0 up, 0 down

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