Don't MS already do this with XBL titles? Via wee physical cards?

Yeah, but apparently all that is is the store buying a code direct from MS there and then and printing it out in store on a per purchase basis. Ninty are trying to introduce a wholesaler element.

From my consumer perspective it looks quite handy. I can buy games like Animal Crossing - that you play for 15 minutes a day, and develop such an attachment to that you'd never want to resell it - and have them in a nice convenient downloadable format that doesn't involve lots of cart switching. And because retailers will also be selling codes, they won't necessarily be locked at the RRP. Plus they'll still be available to buy from the eShop after they go out of print (and that's if whatever code cards they give retailers ever go out of print).

Liveinadive said:

Need'nt even be cards really, a lottery ticket type machine that prints your code out would suffice.

You mean a cash register? ;)

It would have to be on special paper like the lottery though, or I would feel ripped off. I'm not having my download code printed on ordinary receipt paper! Actually I think they should be printed out on cards, like some kind of business-card maker but with download codes. The cards would then be printed with pretty artwork from the game in question. Or something.

EvilRedEye said:

It would have to be on special paper like the lottery though, or I would feel ripped off. I'm not having my download code printed on ordinary receipt paper! Actually I think they should be printed out on cards, like some kind of business-card maker but with download codes. The cards would then be printed with pretty artwork from the game in question. Or something.

I'm guessing this is probably the plan, to have some form of shelf displayable product with a code inside (or printed at the till and inserted).

Paper and card can be easily lost or damaged.  The codes should be burned onto DVD, and the DVDs placed in protective plastic cases.

Unlikely said:

Paper and card can be easily lost or damaged.  The codes should be burned onto DVD, and the DVDs placed in protective plastic cases.

Will there be glossy paper sleeves with art work to both promote and inform the name and manner of the game in question?

EvilRedEye said:

Liveinadive said:

Or shaved into a cat which is then released, you have to catch the cat to play the game thus solving the link between obesity and video games.

I want each code to be encased into a beautiful hand-cut ice sculpture. Each time a code is purchased, a bell is rung, and the sculpture is reverently carried to a raised dais in the centre of the store. There it is shattered with the ceremonial hammer. There is a spatter of applause and then the recipient of the code plucks it from the remains, before returning to the till for their receipt and change.

Codes printed to indivudal sheets of loo roll, deluxe and collectors editions are doubl and triple ply.

Liveinadive wrote:

Paper and card can be easily lost or damaged.  The codes should be burned onto DVD, and the DVDs placed in protective plastic cases.


Will there be glossy paper sleeves with art work to both promote and inform the name and manner of the game in question?

Yes. And just to make sure, in case something goes wrong with the code, the actual game will also be on the disc. Limited edition versions (costing £10 extra) will also include a small booklet outlining the game's controls, introducing the characters and plot, and so on.

It's the future.

Tis a shame I can't really see people wanting to play older games to experience the history and development of the industry in the same way as film buffs would. Then again I suppose people saying "nah mate those graphics are shit" is the same as alot of punters going "but why would you want to watch a black and white film?"

Dunno why I made the game fan more common than the film fan.

WorKid wrote:

So I'm supposed to get into town, visit a shop, ask for a code, go home, enter the code on my console, and wait for the game to download? Literally the worst of both worlds.

But you've got the internet at your house. You could get the game without traipsing into town or relying on Royal Fail.

Best of both worlds.

Mod74 wrote:

WorKid wrote:

So I'm supposed to get into town, visit a shop, ask for a code, go home, enter the code on my console, and wait for the game to download? Literally the worst of both worlds.

But you've got the internet at your house. You could get the game without traipsing into town or relying on Royal Fail. Best of both worlds.

Exactly.

I'm sure I recall either Sony or MS recently saying that they wouldn't be making the next gen machine BC, claims that it ate too much dev time. Which is quite the ballache

cockbeard wrote:

I'm sure I recall either Sony or MS recently saying that they wouldn't be making the next gen machine BC, claims that it ate too much dev time. Which is quite the ballache

I thought Microsoft made sure no-one made direct calls to the hardware to make BC easier to implement or something.

EvilRedEye wrote:

I'm sure I recall either Sony or MS recently saying that they wouldn't be making the next gen machine BC, claims that it ate too much dev time. Which is quite the ballache

I thought Microsoft made sure no-one made direct calls to the hardware to make BC easier to implement or something.

They did/do. Apparently because of the ballache supporting original Xbox games caused them through non-standard/api function calls.

That's not to say the nextbox will 100% definitely support everything, but they laid the groundwork to try and ensure it could.


It's PS3 that looks the dodgiest. If the rumours are true and they move from a Cell to an x86 architecture that pretty much guarantees no BC whatsoever.