I think I have a solution to the physical media vs digital future problem

Segadude113

Segadude113

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What if indie game developers and 3rd party game developers distribute their games via USB drives? Doesn't have to be Sandisk, I'm just using this image as an example. These things can hold plenty of storage space and are priced well and aren't too small where you can easily lose them like micro sd cards. You can also put keychains on some of them. Imagine each USB containing the data of the game and also coming with an exclusive keychain for each one indicating what game is on it? Just put those in boxes and sell them in stores or make them to order. Just an idea.
 
Honestly the actual issue is when the game cannot work offline on its own without needing anything else but the game itself. Selling games via USB stick causes additional cost that would make people say "sell the game online so me download and put it into whatever storage device myself for cheaper" lol.
 
This is not, ultimately, all that different from game cartridges or discs; but there's something about it that I don't like that I can't really place a finger on. I dunno, I can easily picture getting an insignificant thumbdrive out of a bubble envelope and it feeling just depressing.

I think I'd still rather just download it on Steam, GOG, or itch.io, then maybe buy physical merch if I get really into it.
 
Also allow copies for backups of games. You paid for it, you own it. You're free to preserve it if you so choose. You're also free to let your friends play it.
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qw90700 said:
Honestly the actual issue is when the game cannot work offline on its own without needing anything else but the game itself. Selling games via USB stick causes additional cost that would make people say "sell the game online so me download and put it into whatever storage device myself for cheaper" lol.
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That's what I mean though. If it's a complete game on a USB drive and doesn't require anything but the system/handheld/computer to run, then it doesn't need the internet. I meant an actual game, complete package. If it has any online vs, then let it be just a thing where you just log in with your own account. The entire game should be on the physical flash drive.
 
Segadude113 said:
View attachment 95833
What if indie game developers and 3rd party game developers distribute their games via USB drives? Doesn't have to be Sandisk, I'm just using this image as an example. These things can hold plenty of storage space and are priced well and aren't too small where you can easily lose them like micro sd cards. You can also put keychains on some of them. Imagine each USB containing the data of the game and also coming with an exclusive keychain for each one indicating what game is on it? Just put those in boxes and sell them in stores or make them to order. Just an idea.
Click to expand...
Ironically enough MangaGamer does this for their hentai games. At least some that were sold in a Limited Edition set came with the game on a custom made USB stick.
EA did the same with The Sims 3.
 
It's a neat idea if you're giving the game away, but therein lies the problem, no profit.
I know profit seems evil, but game developers, even indie ones, have to eat and pay employees.
If you just give out copies freely, they won't see much in the way of sales. Plus, there's the cost of the flash drives.

They are cheap, yes, but let's say you need to provide 1,000 32GB USB drives.
The cheapest one I found with some quick Google-Fu is an ONN brand for $4.88 USD. Multiplying that by 1,000, and ignoring tax, totals $4,880 USD. If you're not making any income, that's almost five thousand dollars out of pocket right from the start.

The only way this would be viable, honestly, is if they had some kind of write protection so the game only works with the USB stick in the system to prevent piracy, which in turn defeats the purpose.
 
It was already done. Alwa's Awakening was released on Limited Run Games as a "Digical" copy. (Physical character themed usb drive with a digital copy of the game on it.) There were several other releases that also got usb drive releases, such as Trip World DX.
 

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It'd work for something small, indie and completely offline (hell, devs can get very artful about it and customize the drive and the packaging to make it something truly special), but I just can't see it going beyond that, and I know that big developers and publishers would fight tooth and nail against it because drives wouldn't allow them to print protections into the disks or the software in the same way or, what's infinitely more terrifying for them, they would be all the easier to hack.

Still, I like this the same way Marge Simpson likes potatoes: passionately and inexplicably.

Season 5 Hen GIF by The Simpsons
 
χKai said:
Yes!!  Three USB drives!!
That will solve the problem for sure!
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Perfect for trilogies. lol
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Morgana Veil said:
It's a neat idea if you're giving the game away, but therein lies the problem, no profit.
I know profit seems evil, but game developers, even indie ones, have to eat and pay employees.
If you just give out copies freely, they won't see much in the way of sales. Plus, there's the cost of the flash drives.

They are cheap, yes, but let's say you need to provide 1,000 32GB USB drives.
The cheapest one I found with some quick Google-Fu is an ONN brand for $4.88 USD. Multiplying that by 1,000, and ignoring tax, totals $4,880 USD. If you're not making any income, that's almost five thousand dollars out of pocket right from the start.

The only way this would be viable, honestly, is if they had some kind of write protection so the game only works with the USB stick in the system to prevent piracy, which in turn defeats the purpose.
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So you dress it up in a nicer package, add in a full color manual, maybe some stickers, cards, a small figurine...
 
χKai said:
"How are we gonna mass produce all these digital indie games? This company's going under!!"

I've got just the thing, sir
View attachment 95850

"You think one single USB drive is gonna fix this?!"

No sir; I've got three.
Click to expand...
Live footage of χKai holding one of the sacred three

1754015979732.png
 
Waffles said:
It'd work for something small, indie and completely offline (hell, devs can get very artful about it and customize the drive and the packaging to make it something truly special), but I just can't see it going beyond that, and I know that big developers and publishers would fight tooth and nail against it because drives wouldn't allow them to print protections into the disks or the software in the same way or, what's infinitely more terrifying for them, they would be all the easier to hack.

Still, I like this the same way Marge Simpson likes potatoes: passionately and inexplicably.

Season 5 Hen GIF by The Simpsons
Click to expand...
Same here. But i think the modding community plays a part in keeping an active community for games well past their release year. Just look at Doom and how long that's been going on. We had 3 big new games in the last 8 years. You still have Doom wads being made all the time by fans for the older games.
 
Iv actually through about using thumb-drives to distribute some my projects in the future, its a solid idea if you have the funds to do so. That is if you have a audience who would actually buy it.
 

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