Digital Distribution?

[Thrixon]

Digital Distribution?

Just curious if there has been any word on Digital Distribution for Diablo 3? I would love that personally. The Blizzard store already offers 5 games available for digital download, I would love Blizzard 10x more than I already do (which is a lot) if SC2 and D3 were added to the roster on Day 1 of release.

Really the reason is I hate Gamestop and their practices. I don't hate the employees, its not their fault - its the policies. I don't really have anywhere else I know I could go to for it on Day 1 around here though unless Best Buy does reserves, but I really don't think they do?

I wanted to ask on the Bnet forums for both SC2 and D3 but I ran into a weird problem. I logged in BEFORE i clicked "Start new Topic" there and then once I clicked that, it kept asking me to log in before I can post. I tried logging out and back in and everything I could think of but I kept running into the problem.

 

[5zigen]

Re: Digital Distribution?

their new games seem to go digital pretty fast. I imagine D3 will be offered for digital distribution but probably not until 2-3 weeks after release.

There is likely some contract between vivendi and walmart / gamestop etc. for an exclusive hard launch though. Kinda stupid and a waste of resources imo.

 

[CaptainDingo]

Re: Digital Distribution?

If they want us to download their digital games using their pathetic Blizzard downloader, then they might as well not bother.

The Blizzard downloader is so slow and stupid it's appalling. Now, if they put it over Steam, I'd get myself a digital copy that way.

 

[Needlecraft]

Re: Digital Distribution?

As others have mentioned, times are changing and with it the distribution methods. It's not unlikely that Blizzard will enable players to obtain their latest releases through their store.

However, I'd still prefer to buy a boxed copy simply because the box usually has some cool artwork on it that you can admire all day. :thumbup:

 

[Krugar]

Re: Digital Distribution?

However, I'd still prefer to buy a boxed copy simply because the box usually has some cool artwork on it that you can admire all day. :thumbup:

Amen!
And it's perfect for any collector. Still have game boxes from the late 80s. Not to mention my ZX Spectrum cassettes collection of over 200 titles.

I do enjoy digital distribution too. But only as a second buy, much later, for backup purposes.

 

[Orphan]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Well, Blizzard's latest expansion (Wrath of the Lich King) isn't available for Digital Download even now (and I believe was released near the end of last year). It's possible that Blizzard might embrace it 100% once D3 is released though, but probably not by the time SC2 is released (which may be the end of this year).

Edit: Wrath of the Lich King does have an online upgrade though, which may be the same thing (I don't play WoW).

 

[Kiroptus]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Actually WoTLk was avaliable for digital download in about 2-3 weeks after the release (I know that, I downloaded it since the Box doesnt come to brazil), and it didnt take that long to download for me.

Probably the same will happen with Diablo 3, its the future. The only reason Blizzard still hold out their digital releases is certainly because of contracts with major publishers but if they wanted to be free (like Valve is with their Steam) I guess they certainly could be.

 

[Krugar]

Re: Digital Distribution?

If I've been following correctly Blizzard historyover the years, they are in an awkward position regarding digital content delivery of their products. Would really like some informed comments on the next few paragraphs.

It seems to me so far Blizzard is stuck between a bad and a rotten place. Their only digital content delivery system is through Blizzard store. There's no Digital Distribution/DRM system the likes of Steam or Impulse. The merge with Activision last year could indeed mean we would eventually see Blizzard products on Steam. But there are two problems with this...

Activision was one of the last publishers to support Steam. But this merge was made through Vivendi merge with Activision in order to create Activision Blizzard, the largest games publisher in the world. And I'm seriously thinking Vivendi presence puts an halt to this scenario. Not only Vivendi holds a grudge against Steam, but Vivendi is the major shareholder with 52% of the stocks, with the option to go as high as 68%(warning: pdf link). Do not underestimate this shares distribution; Just so you have an idea, it's enough to have Activision Blizzard drop out from ESA.

Activision Blizzard is as such the minor shareholder. And to complicate matters, Blizzard is autonomous on most decisions regarding project management and the all stages of creative process (including new projects decisions), but not much else. Definitely, production and distribution is not theirs decision anymore.

Activision stance regarding Steam seems as such pretty fruitless at the time. And Blizzard shouldn't benefit from it. Meanwhile it seems to me highly unlikely that a third major Content Delivery/DRM is born from this giant to compete with Steam and Impulse. The thing is that this method of distribution strongly competes with Vivendi usual business practices and I don't see the major shareholder willing to change its preferred publishing methods.

But.... if this happens it will always be a Vivendi decision. Never Activision's or Blizzard.

 

[Thrixon]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Thank you all so much for the responses, especially Krugar.

You know - I am EXTREMELY GRATEFUL that Blizzard still retains their autonomy with regards to project management and especially creativity because changing that formula would surely bring dire consequences... it is just too bad the big wigs see Steam / DRM as some sort of strange "threat" (i guess that is a good choice of word?).

DD in conjunction with retail sounds like an obvious choice to me. Is DD that big of a threat to brick and mortar already? I mean most major game retailers (ahem, GameStop) barely support the PC as a viable gaming platform anyway unless it is a blockbuster title (ahem, D3, SC2). Don't most PC gamers recognize that by now anyway? What I mean by that last question is: Since these stores barely support the PC as is and most consumers know this, what does the PC side of Vivendi really have to lose by not even implementing a contract with the brick and mortar side? I don't doubt that Wal-Mart will make up huge amounts of their sales in the NPD numbers game but give me a break, they can get their game on Wal-Mart's shelves without some exclusive contract I am sure.

IDK, I mean if this is the case then I will deal with the GS people, its not as bad as I make it sound but I just try to avoid them as much as possible. I am sure someone here can understand my feelings about them.

Also, I too like the boxes btw. Truthfully I might feel odd not getting a boxed copy. I have a boxed copy of every Blizzard PC title since the original WarCraft (I still find it hard to believe that PC game boxes were so freakin huge back in the day lol) and I'd hate for that trend to end. Sadly, I don't have collectors editions of any of the games. I started my collection before I had my own money hehe.

 

[5zigen]

Re: Digital Distribution?

In short digital distribution is a pretty big threat to brick and mortar stores. And it's a kind of ironic because there is so much tension between particularly gamestop and publishers over their selling of used games.

But it is likely that say, activision and vivendi have contracts with GS, for some type of mutual promotion. GS promotes the game with in store stuff, and tey also get exclusive hard box releases (just speculation but they likely have some contracts.) It probably runs deeper than that as well. It is probably mandated by the publisher as well.

Blizzard will never distribute via steam for all the reasons Krugar said, but also because they want to establish B.net 2.0 as a competitor for steam. They are actually very similar services.

Aside from that, I don't know why people complain about Blizzards digital distribution. As long as you dont have any ports blocked its pretty fast. I've downloaded WOTLK/WoW, and D2 / EXP (4 times) via the system and it works great. Easily as fast as steam.

 

[CaptainDingo]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Battlenet 2.0 and Steam couldn't possibly be more different.

For one, Steam actually has games.

Secondly, as I already said, the Blizzard downloader is embarrassing. Why they continue to insist on using it is beyond me.

 

[Raging_Zealot]

Re: Digital Distribution?

The Blizzard downloader has always worked fine for me, and at least as fast as Steam.

 

[CaptainDingo]

Re: Digital Distribution?

I get 50kbps on the Blizzard downloader on a good day. No firewall, no closed ports. Steam on the other hand, 250+kbps most of the time.

 

[Krugar]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Hmm... weird. I'm wondering myself why you have problems. Just last week I had to download again D2 and D2:LOD from them and got a consistent transfer rate of 270Kbps. I did notice however that D2:LOD was not coming through P2P. But it was still as fast as D2.

 

[CaptainDingo]

Re: Digital Distribution?

It's been a consistent problem for as long as I remember. Even the downloader says "Hooray, you've got no problems," but I'm afraid I do see mid double-digit download rates as a problem.

I remember it took me 3 days to download World of Warcraft and Burning Crusade. Rather ridiculous.

My issue seems to be that my downloads NEVER come from Blizzard's site. It always wants to rely entirely on P2P, and there's never anyone on the list except for like a dozen people.

 

[Krugar]

Re: Digital Distribution?

Here's nothing:

Go with a static ip on your TCP/IP configuration and open up a virtual server for the Blizzard downloader on your modem. I could almost bet the problem is the downloader not getting proper incoming connections.

Suppose you know how to do this. If not, I can guide you through it. Just holler.

 

[GoldenBird]

Re: Digital Distribution?

All I can say is, I love the boxed version, 'cuz I forgot my freakin password to my blizzard store account (and the email I signed it up with doesn't work) :banghead: :weep: :xxx: