Sony looks at digi distribution

By Games Industry.biz Published 13 March, 2006

It's all the rage these days.

Reports from development sources close to Sony Computer Entertainment are indicating that the firm is planning a major digital distribution service for game content, which could be a key element of PlayStation 3 - or even of a relaunched PS2.

Several senior developers have confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that they have spoken informally with Sony about the question of digital distribution on consoles, although these discussions were described as being "purely about technology, not business models" by one source.

However, even the technology discussed could be very revealing regarding the Japanese giant's plans for the coming years - with one source from the development arm of a major third-party publisher claiming that Sony has been discussing the technical feasibility of providing PSone and PS2 titles over digital distribution with them.

This could indicate that Sony is hoping to provide a service for the PS3 similar to Nintendo's Revolution digital download system, which will allow users to access a back catalogue of Nintendo titles through the next-generation console.

In Sony's case the challenges may be significantly more difficult, since PlayStation titles were customarily several hundred megabytes in size, and PS2 titles spanned multiple gigabytes - compared to just a few megabytes or less for NES, SNES and N64 titles in the Nintendo back-catalogue.

However, as Internet connections speed up downloads of this size will be far more reasonable - already, several Xbox Live demos for the Xbox 360 are over 600Mb in size - and our sources indicated that Sony may also be investigating the possibility of remastering certain PS2 titles to allow them to stream later content over the network while the player is already playing early parts of the game.

The move would not be surprising, given that both other next-generation consoles will offer downloadable game content - Xbox Live Arcade and game demos in the case of Xbox 360, and the back catalogue download service on Revolution - which makes it highly unlikely that Sony will miss out on this opportunity.

The information from our development sources comes only days after Electronic Arts' European vice president of sales, Dr Jens Uwe Intat, confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the leading publisher is already in discussions with platform holders over digital distribution - telling us that "we as a total industry, software publishers and hardware manufacturers, are already sitting together and working on business models."

One of the key requirements of digital distribution on this scale, however, is a large storage system - such as a hard drive, a component with which Sony has had a patchy history. Although the PlayStation 2 hardware can support a hard drive, the peripheral was unsuccessful and was only ever used to any great degree by Square Enix' massively multiplayer title Final Fantasy XI. The PlayStation 3 hardware will also support a hard drive unit but is set to ship without one pre-installed in the basic configuration.

Sony is expected to announce new information about its plans for PlayStation 3 in Tokyo on Wednesday, ahead of a keynote address from the firm's worldwide studios boss Phil Harrison at the Game Developers' Conference in San Jose next week.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • joey #1 6 years ago

    ...and a wand shaped controller??

  • jack_klugman #2 6 years ago

    I rather like the idea of a Sony run Steam-style service where a PlayStation 2 variant could act as a client with which you would download games you've bought then delete and redownload as takes your fancy. It could certainly keep the current generation alive if the cost of games is significantly reduced.

  • peterfll #3 6 years ago

    Well, given Sony's track-record for online services I'll take all of that with a huge pinch of salt and certainly won't expect anything from day 1 (unlike the 360 that literally begs to be connected to Live from the offset).

  • moggsy #4 6 years ago

    I wonder if Game are crapping themselves yet? If everyone buys games over the internet there's not much business left for them is there? Still serves them right for shafting gamers by forcing them to buy ridiculous software bundles with their 360's and also for shafting the games companies by selling second hand games.

    What goes around comes around...
    Edited by 1 at 13/03/06 @ 16:39

  • CheapSheep #5 6 years ago

    Judging by their track record with Digital Rights Management, Sony would be the last company I'd want to buy stuff from in this manner.

  • smoison #6 6 years ago

    "Judging by their track record with Digital Rights Management, Sony would be the last company I'd want to buy stuff from in this manner."


    Exaclty.

  • jack_klugman #7 6 years ago

    Well if it was a straight to HDD download on your PS2 for your use only how could DRM possibly matter?

  • And #8 6 years ago

    Why? Are you planning to play their games on your Xbox?

  • smelly #9 6 years ago

    *sigh*

    I wonder if there will be retro style "arcadey" games available to download?

  • Crube #10 6 years ago

    1 bag of salt to go please...

  • Rambaldi #11 6 years ago

    I can see it now: downloadable games for PS3, no 2nd hand market, only squeeze a couple of games on your hard drive at once (if we're talking Blu-Ray sizes) and another bombed format for Sony after they force everyone to download games instead of buying them on their new format.

    Long live physical copies with nice shiny boxes and pretty covers, a visit to town on SatPM, a good chat to the dudes down at your local shop and a healthy 2nd hand market.

    Consumers please: vote with your wallets

  • Gurgeh #12 6 years ago

    SonyWorld (TM) downloading straight to your PS3 rather than PS2 is more likely as that has all the DRM Sony could wish for. What's more it's upgradeable DRM so like your Blu-Ray players, any hacks or mods will either be removed, worked-round, or will stop your hardware working.

  • #13 6 years ago

    In Sony's case the challenges may be significantly more difficult, since PlayStation titles were customarily several hundred megabytes in size, and PS2 titles spanned multiple gigabytes - compared to just a few megabytes or less for NES, SNES and N64 titles in the Nintendo back-catalogue.

    Could we be on the cusp of another paradigm shift in gaming?

    From carts to optical discs to net distribution?

    I can see why Sony would be worried. There entry into gaming with the disc-based Playstation ushered in a paradigm shift with SCE's transformation of the games industry from a cartridge-based business model (dominated by Nintendo) into a disc-based business - thereby ousting Nintendo as market leader and leaving Sony in pole position.

    BUT now Sony's content isn't yet suitable for delivery over the net whilst Nintendo's titles, more reliant on the gameplaying experience and less reliant on heavy use of multimedia audio and video, is.

    Everything appears to be in a state of flux again...

  • Razz #14 6 years ago

    :D Sony strike AGAIN!
    Edited by 2 at 13/03/06 @ 18:27

  • #15 6 years ago

    Long live physical copies with nice shiny boxes and pretty covers, a visit to town on SatPM, a good chat to the dudes down at your local shop and a healthy 2nd hand market.

    That's OK for a gamer like you with some kind of commitment to the current 'industry'.

    But what about casual and younger gamers - the type who never buy CD's and always download songs from the net. For whom quality (128Kbps bitrate for example) is not really that important. They don't buy CD's they don't know any better.

    Don't get me wrong - physical copies and units will always exist and any transformation of the industry, if it does occur, will probably make past consoles and games even more valuable.

    But just think about the economics of net distribution: just how much of a £35/$50 game go to the retailer? What about shipping, duplication, printing costs?

    Companies like Nintendo and Sony do have (limited) experience in running retail outlets.

    Then there's Dell: the largest computer manufacturer in the world - with not a single machine sold in retail.

    Not saying any of this is going to happen in anything like the near future - just pointing out some possibilities...

  • Xephon70 #16 6 years ago

    Wow, you're all right. There's no way Sony could ever learn from their own mistakes or anybody else's for that matter. They're doomed.../sarcasm

    Let's wait and see shall we? The fact that they're even thinking about this is surely a sign of things to come-no more shopping on the high street or even online?

  • dk_rare #17 6 years ago

    Nintendo leads the way again : ) Looks like yet again* they released their plans too early.

    * See Shoulder Buttons, Analogue Stick and Rumble Pack... expect a cheap Sony branded Revolution wand in stores near you!

  • smelly #18 6 years ago

    @Razz : LMFAO, nice find!

    The fact that they're even thinking about this is surely a sign of things to come-no more shopping on the high street or even online?


    Erm, think about it. Most consumers will buy the CONSOLE from a games shop (such as game or EB), but the shop makes bog all money on the console, it makes money on the games. Why would a shop promote a console if it wasnt going to make a profit out of the games?

    And how much time is it going to take to download a whole Blue ray disc anyhows!??!

    The reality is, if it DOES happen, it'd be more likely to be along the lines of live arcade. Only a fool would think otherwise.

    And of course its good business to let other companies take the risk and then copy succesful formulas if they work, while scoffing at those which dont.

    If the nintendo (for example) is sucessful with whatever it has secretely (and not so secretely) planned for the rev, I can GAURANTEE the other 2 will attempt to follow suit. If they dont succeed the other 2 will just scoff and say "told ya so!". It's sensible business practice, let someone else take the risk, then try to copy yourself! (look at how many are now copying the ipod!)

    As a consumer it's up to you how you vote. Do you vote for the risk taker, to get more risks in the future, and subsequently more variety? Or do you stick with the companies who'll just copy the risk taker (if it makes money)? If you do the later, and the risk takers stop, who's left making risks (and subsequently more variety?).

    (note : not just singling out nintendo here, microsoft also took an innovative risk with arcade back on the original xbox).

  • dk_rare #19 6 years ago

    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v332/RazzUK/im age6me4rb3zp.jpg

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  • smelly #20 6 years ago

    Razz beat you to that one.

  • Xerx3s #21 6 years ago

    ":D Sony strike AGAIN!"

    ROFL!

    ^_^

  • moggsy #22 6 years ago

    Probably won't happen this generation but is there any reason why with a fast enough broadband connection (100Mbit) you couldn't have a system which downloaded games on the fly while you played them?

    You then wouldn't own a game anymore than you own a TV programme when it's broadcast - you'd still get the same enjoyment though. The advantages to this would be many including wiping out piracy overnight and making sure the bulk of the money goes to those who deserves it i.e the devs rather than the retailer.

  • Captain-nippon #23 6 years ago

    It's alway amaze me how stupid some people on this forum can be. without even how how Sony Digi Download service works people are pointing the gun already............

    Why? because it's a Sony....And why not. Sony rules the last 2 console wars. remember the 100 millions PS 2 sold. Well, now you know. number 1 console on the planet.


    you people are also very stupid and don't know a damn thing about the video games industry....


    95% of the revenue from video games are from hardwares and direct softwares sales. online download games are like 2% of the total revenue.

    I am willing to bet ya the top 10 games in 2005 were infact direct software sales and not download titles.


    Xbox Live. ahahhahahha it's a funny, All this talk about xbox live, does it really help MS win the console? NOOOOOO. it did not.


    Remember the xbox 360 launch in Japan. That's was too funny.... Did the Xbox live help the Japan launch??? NO, it did NOT...

    Sony talk the talk and walk the walk. Sony stole the #1 spot from Nintendo. MS talk the talk but NEVER walk the walk...xbox 360 was the worst console released in Japan....





  • kangarootoo #24 6 years ago

    Can someone poke Captain-nippon with a broom. I think he is getting electrocuted or something ;)

  • Stormflood_UK #25 6 years ago

    So it's only taken 10 years for everyone to catch up with Sega TV.

  • SeesThroughAll #26 6 years ago

    Nintendo leads the way again : ) Looks like yet again* they released their plans too early.

    * See Shoulder Buttons, Analogue Stick and Rumble Pack... expect a cheap Sony branded Revolution wand in stores near you!

    Wow, I almost thought I was in Joystiq.

    Even if Sony would do that, what's the big deal? If it's lame, very few people will buy it, and third party support won't come.
    Nintendo never copied anyone, did they?

    - The PS1 was based on what was originally going to be the SNES "equivalent" to the Sega MegaCD. Oh the irony of it.
    - The SNES itself would have taken a lot more time to come, were it not for Sega trying to compete with the almighty Nintendo, by actually innovating with the MegaDrive.
    - A few Nintendo games actually sound a lot like cheap ripoffs, come to think of it. Ironically, when they yet again slap Mario on it, it always sounds fresh and original.
    - The DS is going to get a web browser! Great! First handheld ever to have a web brow... oh wait... right.

    Nintendo copies other company's initiatives as shamelessly as anybody else... Except that nobody criticizes them when they do...

  • Psi #27 6 years ago

    @Captain-nippon sony have only sold that many because they don't last longer than a year before the lazers go or they just give up the ghost for whatever reason.

    Now a nes system... they are bomb proof Toyota made the Hilux Truck out of recycled nes systems and even top gear couldnt kill it!

    So there you have it, sony next generation of consoles, have a toyota engineer design it to last.

  • smelly #28 6 years ago

    I'd love for a thread about machines to not end up as a "my chosen console company is better than yours" pissing contest, and for people to have a reasonable well thought out argument.

    Sigh, it aint gonna happen is it?

  • Ceatlan #29 6 years ago

    I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned that this digital distribution on closed devices like consoles, effectively kills the second hand game market in addition to the ability to lend a game you've bought to a mate. You can't sell or lend something you have no physical media for, and I can see that a being a big killer for the under 16 year olds who probably get most of their games either from their friends or from the second hand section of game shops.

    Digital distribution is good if it is given as another purchase option, in addition to those that are already available .However if it ended up being the only means of purchase it would be a very very sad day for a number of reasons.

    Ceatlan.

  • Captain-nippon #30 6 years ago

    @kangarootoo
    Can someone poke Captain-nippon with a broom. I think he is getting electrocuted or something

    Remember the Xbox 360 Japan launch....it was really funny....No way it was embarrassing....


    @Psi
    @Captain-nippon sony have only sold that many because they don't last longer than a year before the lazers go or they just give up the ghost for whatever reason.

    That's funny, my PS 2 last for 5 years now. Nothing happened. So what's the reason why people are buying the PS 2 if it does last more than a more? Think before you write.... It's simple the PS 2 is the best console to date....



  • Dizzy #31 6 years ago

    Sony and digital distribution in one sentence?

    /checks date

    No, not April the 1st....

    Got a good laugh out of it anyway....

    "So there you have it, sony next generation of consoles, have a toyota engineer design it to last. "

    :)
    Edited by 2 at 14/03/06 @ 08:50

  • smelly #32 6 years ago

    As I said earlier. Digi distribution of FULL games will piss off games shops. And as they're the ones promoting your hardware so that you CAN sell full priced games over digi distribution, you wouldnt want to piss them off.

    So wont happen. Small games, yes. Big Full games, cant see it.

  • erp #33 6 years ago

    combine this with something like sony's Linux or Yaroze kits from previous generations and it'd easily be The Best Thing Ever.

  • reality_cheque #34 6 years ago

    "Probably won't happen this generation but is there any reason why with a fast enough broadband connection (100Mbit) you couldn't have a system which downloaded games on the fly while you played them?"

    Isn't that the (possibly not existing) Phantom? O_o?

    Long live physical copies with nice shiny boxes and pretty covers, a visit to town on SatPM, a good chat to the dudes down at your local shop and a healthy 2nd hand market.

    And don't forget the chance to check out the sexy lasses! Or guys, if you're a gay man or straight lady. Unless, of course, you live in Bradford ;)

    @Captain_Nipple: Are you Mad Ken? If so, can I have another replacement PS2 please? The damn thing broke again, and I feel like playing Amplitude.

  • Xerx3s #35 6 years ago

    CN, your argment might be all big and true and sony may have done all those things, but the crucial thing -> the topic of this story

  • moggsy #36 6 years ago

    So wont happen. Small games, yes. Big Full games, cant see it.

    Except it already has. Half Life 2 over Steam...

  • Mashum #37 6 years ago

    @captain_nippon

    > you people are also very stupid and don't know a damn thing about the video games industry....

    Easy there big fella, saying people are stupid just makes you look like a child and as you don't seem to understand what this article and thread is all about you risk making yourself look stupid.

    Back to the article...

    This is where Microsofts original Xbox live project really starts to bear fruit, they have taken all they learned from old live and put it into 360, and it shows. Online will be a huge moneyspinner for whoever can make it work well.

    Sony thought that they could just sit back on their massive market lead in what seems like typical Japanese insular arrogance, no offence ment to the Japanese in general. Recently Sony corp. as a whole not including SCE have had to make widespread redundancies, boot out their old CEO and get a foreigner in (!!) all to try and keep the company from loosing it's momentum. SCE makes them money now but this is no guarantee that it will continue to do so in the future.

  • Azu87 #38 6 years ago

    Uuuh... Why would it be a problem to download PS1 games? Most of them are like 200-400MBs. I think most of the downloadable Xbox 360 DEMOS might be bigger than that.

    The problem would come with PS2 games. And that would be a problem only if the downloading was slow. If the downloading was fast (like 200-300kb/s), there wouldn't even be problems with downloading of PS2 games. And there would be even less problems if the downloads were resumable.

    The only problem is space. Where to get all those games?