Speaking about Microsoft’s DRM reversal, Codemasters founder Robert Darling has said he’s disappointed in the platform holder’s decision, saying it’ll allow Google and apple to take over living rooms. Physical media, he says, is like having “a dead body handcuffed to you.”
“It was interesting how the market did pull back with Microsoft. I don’t think Microsoft sold it in the right way – they weren’t strong enough,” the former Codemasters boss told GamesIndustry.
“I don’t think they should have had a physical drive on Xbox One – it’s like having a dead body handcuffed to you. It’s dragging along this dead body and it’s going to slow them down. They’ve let the market pull them back but I think that was a mistake.”
He believes physical media keeps game costs high, and that sticking with that traditional medium give Google and Apple the leverage they need to take over.
“They’ve given Apple and Google a chance to get into the living room – they’ll come along with new machines and take over the market,” he said.
“Apple has already announced a gaming controller so they’ve got developers starting to think how they can make games for that controller. If they release this new machine with a new App Store then suddenly they’ll have a device in the living room which can steal the market away from Xbox One and PS4.
“It was only a few years ago that people were saying that the iPhone wasn’t a threat to traditional handhelds, but Apple has taken over what you could call the ‘pocket’ market from things like PS Vita and 3DS. The same thing could happen in the home.”
“There’s a lot of potential in what those two companies can do in the living room with their technology,” he said, adding, “The price of console games has to drop otherwise they will not be competitive with Apple and Google.”
He genuinely believes that physical media is on the way out – and with game companies reporting that most of their revenue is coming digitally, he could well be right.
“The industry will definitely move in that direction, and I think it will move very quickly. It’s a bit like flipping a coin – at some stage it will just flip.
“It will change in six months and everybody will wonder why it never changed before. There’s no point in distributing physical media when the internet exists.”
As much as I’m moving towards digital distribution (Thanks, uncapped internet!) I still like my physical media; there’s a special feeling that comes in unwrapping a brand new, eagerly anticipated game; and much in the same way that the Kindle and other e-readers haven;t made actual books disappear, I don;t think games on physical media will go away either.
Last Updated: August 2, 2013
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 08:33
Licing room? Is that where you keep Darryn?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
August 2, 2013 at 08:45
Nope! That’s the de-lousing room. 😛 Fixed.
Macethy
August 2, 2013 at 08:34
“He believes physical media keeps game costs high”
So then why does downloading the exact same game cost exactly the same amount? I’ve never seen a AAA game cheaper on download than a physical copy on day one.
Macethy
August 2, 2013 at 08:35
And for the love of all things sacred, stop comparing everything to Apple and Google! they are the be all and end all of technology! Not everyone and everything should follow in their footsteps.
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 08:36
Stop thinking my thoughts!
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 08:47
Mine too, I wanted to comment on this thread… Not sure what to say…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
August 2, 2013 at 14:36
He stole my thoughts too. All I’m left with is this upvote.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 08:48
Stop taking my ideas damn you! Foilhat ENGAGE
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 08:36
Exactly. They make more profit on digital than physical – that’s why they want everything digital.
DBL_ZA
August 2, 2013 at 08:57
I think if this question was posed to Robert Darling, he wouldn’t actually answer. His head would just explode from trying to process the question
Macethy
August 2, 2013 at 09:34
MY head also explodes by his logic that digital is somehow cheaper and easier to use. Digital is more expensive and takes longer to download than jumping in your car, heading to the local mall, buying the game, heading back, and putting it in your console/pc. I’m sorry, digital may be more “convenient”, but currently it is in no way cheaper or faster/easier to use.
Mark Treloar
August 2, 2013 at 09:59
It is more expensive for us, but our geography’s who have unfettered access to the internet at low cost its not
DBL_ZA
August 2, 2013 at 10:00
100% agreed there. There is a point where convenience just becomes a pain. First world countries have things like 20mb lines and laziness as standard, so to them, yes digital is “better”. But it still doesn’t justify the wait and the extra cost. Petrol may be expensive, but for most of us the drive to the local brick and mortar store is still cheaper and more convenient than the cost of a 10mb+ line. Besides, if you’re in an area that is so remote that driving to the nearest games store is considered more effort than it’s worth, chances are you’re lucky to get 384kbps on your ADSL line anyway. That is if you’re not still on dial-up
Macethy
August 2, 2013 at 10:32
You could always have your game delivered by the like of Kalahari or Takealot. Their game prices for PHYSICAL copies+ free delivery is usually 10%+ cheaper than buying it online through Steam, PSN, XBL, etc.
DBL_ZA
August 2, 2013 at 11:54
True story. Forgot about that. Yay so laziness and convenience can work together after all
Ultimo_Cleric N7
August 2, 2013 at 08:37
WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S!
Thanks Geoff, just had a trip down memory lane.
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 08:47
I’ve been moving more to digital because of convenience. I hardly ever buy collectors editions of games with their associated goodies, so there’s no point to buying a normal edition that’s just linked to Steam anyway. That works for me because of uncapped & we’re used to it on PC, consoles have traditionally relied on physical media.
This guy doesn’t seem to realise not everyone wants to do things digitally, and whining that the market forced you to do something is just sour grapes. You do what your customer wants, not follow the “screw the customer they must do what we want” mantra. Get off your knees, Steve Jobs was not a god & you won’t automatically get success by following his example. You can dictate terms when releasing something new, you can’t do it by trying to change an entire existing industry to suit yourself.
(And I love my Kindle, I’ve read way more since I got it.)
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 08:48
Was reading my kindle this am too. Have, on average, increased my reading from one book a month to about 3. Love the thing!
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:06
Same here. But the difference there is that Kindle books are actually quite a bit cheaper than hard copies. With games it’s not the same. I often rather buy the physical copy of a game because it’s cheaper than it is to buy digital.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:19
Actually, that is a recent thing. Kindle books used to cost the same, something to do with the international laws/treaties/copyrighting that made it cost more.
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:20
Ah. Education level up!
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:23
Did you see the other day Apple got nailed in the US for price fixing on ebooks, along with the big publishers who settled before it went to court. I love it.
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:25
Another reason to hate Apple
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:38
Yeah! Bastards, and all the hispsters carry on loving them!
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 2, 2013 at 08:49
I don’t understand … I bought The Last of Us for 650 at BT games (which is now 635) on PSN it’s 679…so physical is cheaper but keeps game costs down? well we do get sales etc, but once the sale is done the price reverts to it’s original price, very confusing no?
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 08:54
I think by “Keeps costs down” the developers actually mean that they make more profit from the digital. Doesn’t make a difference to us, only to them. Digital is actually inflating costs and making them more money, because we should be paying far less since there isn’t any transport costs involved, no markup of retailers and no production of physical copies.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 2, 2013 at 09:00
I would like to see if this makes a difference in the way they gauge the sales for their games, will this then result in fewer games failing to to meet ridiculous expectations
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:05
They don’t care. All they see in digital is bigger profits.
I work in finance at one of SA’s big retailers and selling things online is A LOT cheaper. And we still have to pay for delivery, imagine not having to pay for delivery and everything can just get downloaded. There’s no reason for digital to still be so expensive.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 2, 2013 at 09:09
And consumers always get the short end of the stick….way of the world
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:10
Sadly yes. Ironically we hold the money that makes them rich but they control our spending.
Umar Kiiroi Senk?
August 2, 2013 at 09:15
Seems so backwards hey 🙁
Rock789
August 2, 2013 at 08:52
I still think there’s very much a place for both digital and physical. Yes, digital is nice and convenient… But I still love having a disk in my hand that I can put into the drive myself… Call me old fashioned, I guess. 🙂
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 08:56
I hate to say it, but he is right. This is the way things are going. I am in two minds about it, but it makes sense. Why are all our cellphones so small? Because we don’t want cluncky shit any more. I like my library though. I mean it’s a serious romance booster when I invite all my girlfriends over to my flat. I’m like, “so (pop, that was the cork, WINE you dirty shits) what do you think of my rack? No, I mean, stack, no, erm, I mean all my glorious boxes, no, uhhh. Whine…” Seriously though, I think in 5 years it will be normal to dl your games. Just makes one worry what’s going to happen when we are faced with Anonymous killing the whole internet… The only people who will be playing happy will be OVG (he’s on holiday peeps, hence the distinct lack of rage this week) sitting in his boxers playing Mario 3. The only survivors will be us ‘Old Ships’
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:04
pop the cork sure…… But one thing I gotta say is a problem with digital what if you have alot of games is your harddrive completely full and then if you wanna install another game you bought gotta delete games and download the game you want from the cloud! where you copy is. So you gotta wait to download it, before you could just pop in and install and play. now its a more lengthy experience and what if internet is down then what you cant get that game from the cloud?? I see physical copies staying for one reason “A Back up plan”
Your library is your games right?
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:11
I have a library of books and games. But yes, I like the physical copy. What I meant was with the movement of technology, I see us moving to a situation were worrying about HD space and access to the internet will become redundant. And with that the library will die. I mean now I have a library of around 5000 books, but my kindle can hold 1200… And my computer millions. What’t the point of having books gather dust, use earth resources etc, when you can have them in the cloud? Other than nostalgia that is.
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:12
What kinda books you like? guessing Terry Prachett is one of your favourite Authors lol.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:13
Indeed he is! 🙂 But also like my classics, you know, Lost Odyssey and the like hehehehehehe
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:14
I pictured you as more of a Stephnie Mayer reader
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:18
Damn you! How did you know, was it the reference to cork earlier in my post?
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:15
never heard of Lost odyssey, Forgive my iggnorance. But more of stephen Kind fan. Used to read alot now havent the time, Though started writing a book yet failed to finish it, lol couldnt find the time….
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:17
@umarbastra:disqus Get him! He’s never played Lost Odyssey (I was being funny, as Odysseus is a classic character from Greek days:P )
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:18
We’re not all old enough to remember those days. TROLLOLOL
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:20
Oh SNAP! Corner, NOW!
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 09:42
Yay Pratchett!
I have been afraid to tell the Rince gentleman what i call my dog…..
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:43
Rince wind?
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 10:10
Rincewind, yeah!
He was clumsy as a puppy, ran around a lot, more or less without aim. Seemed to work.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 10:26
And you should have called him The Luggage 😉
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 11:07
I think that would not go down well with the non Pratchett readers out there. I already get slightly annoyed with having to explain the dog’s name to philistines.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 10:23
Oi! Where do you think my bloody name came from in the first place!? I’ve been Rincewind, but I cannot be as cool as that WizZard 😉
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 10:14
5000? Wow. I have a lot of books. A serious amount of books. But not as much as that. Wow. must have taken years and lots of effort and cash to procur. I assume, like me, in every little town you stop at, for whatever reason, you find the 2nd hand book stores?
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 10:22
That or I am old 🙂 I have also been given many from family, and my grandparents were lunatics with books (one owned a bookstore). I LOVE my secondhand book shops!
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 11:09
I have book shelves in the “formal” (as in not the TV room) lounge, the study, one of the spare bedrooms, passage (1) and the linen room (small one). I am considering building shelves from, say, shoulder height to ceiling in for all the wall s of the study
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:05
He’s right, but it should be a gradual shift and they should really do a much better job selling it to people, and actually giving them real benefits for doing so. Think what’s made so many people throw their toys around lately (me included) is the sense that there’s no benefit to us for doing so, only to them. People don’t like change & will dig in their heels if you force the issue, especially if they don’t have to do what you want.
I like my digital, it’s convenient & mostly cheaper, but don’t tell me I don’t own the stuff that I’ve bought digitally – that’s what I really hate about the whole shift.
I remember holidays. I had a 3 week one in 2001.
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:07
thats the last time you had a holiday?
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:09
Last time I had a holiday was last year January. I miss life before work
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:11
I get off over December but havent been on holida in 6 years plus my boss doesnt even give me a bonus! yet he goes to Austraila this year. flipping blows!
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:13
Yes. No December holiday for me though. You know the story about the boss that parks at work with his new car? The employee compliments the car and the boss says: “If you work really hard, put in the long hours and commit to the job then I can have another one next year.”
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:15
lollll
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:16
Lemme guess your in IT arnt you?
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:17
Haha. LOL. No. Finance. So I get to make sure the boss gets his bonus.
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:19
Now that is kak! knowing what he gets, and when you look at your salary its like meh 🙁
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:11
Inderdaad. I never take a long leave because all my work piles up & there’s nothing worse than coming back from leave & having to do a month’s work in 5 days. On the plus side, I can sell my leave back to the company.
TiMsTeR1033
August 2, 2013 at 09:17
sell your leave?
Trevor Davies
August 2, 2013 at 09:21
Yes, rather get it paid out than just sitting there unused.
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:13
Yeah. I hear you. If I buy something, it’s MINE. Not rented, it’s BOUGHT. If this whole cloud BS is going to change our understanding of bought media, they can keep it.
I am John's smirking revenge
August 2, 2013 at 09:14
Hear hear!
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 09:41
Is that pic not from Battlecruiser 3000, the game that had me wetting myself to play and then was disappointing on so many levels?
Also, yes you are right. Our choice will be taken away and it will be digital only. How long till tripple AAA (or whatever) game is released digital only and the media goes all moggy over that?
RinceThisAndGingerSmite
August 2, 2013 at 09:48
Nope, nice try 🙂 It’s from Battlestar Galactica. The reason I used it is because it was old tech, and was the only Battlecruiders to survive the hacking by the Cylons. Old school FTW!
Brady miaau
August 2, 2013 at 10:10
Now that you say it, I feel stupid. I see it now!
Well found!
James Francis
August 2, 2013 at 08:59
Hah! Sure, tell that to all the people who are losing this digital media by transitioning from the PS3 to PD4. Also, there is the little matter of whether you own the digital media you buy. No, this all sounds like someone shouting from their ivory tower.
FoxOneZA - X-Therminator
August 2, 2013 at 09:19
I hope the BD Drive in the next-gen consoles are fast enough to handle the throughput of data. Every time I load up FIFA 13 on the PS3, the BD drive starts choking itself!
InsanityFlea
August 2, 2013 at 13:08
Love cloud solutions, hate telkom line speeds. win/lose.