Are Australians embracing digital distribution?

Let’s face it. Australians aren’t at the forefront of digital distribution. We don’t download games and movies to the same extent as our overseas counterparts and streaming content seems like a foreign concept.

However, that trend could slowly be starting to change in favour of digital content. While game sales continue to go from strength to strength, retail sales were down 12.8 percent in 2011, topping $1.5 billion, compared to the preceding 12 months.

Are Australians finally starting to embrace digital distribution, in particular downloads?

I’m only talking about legitimate content. Australians probably lead the world in illegal downloads per capita, but that’s an issue for another day and a contentious one depending on which side of the fence you sit.

Legal downloads are a different equation. Australians have always been forced to pay more for games and movies at retail, but we assumed this was to cover the inflated costs of distribution, as studios send out special consignments to our apparently inconveniently located island.

These costs haven’t disappeared with digital distribution. We pay way too much for content on iTunes compared to America and Steam is only worthwhile nowadays when hosting an unbelievable sale.

I was planning to purchase Batman: Arkham City for USD $40 from Steam. A week before launch, the ‘Australia Tax’ was included and the price skyrocketed to USD $100 for no reason other than a big “screw you” from the publisher.

That’s digital distribution in a nutshell and why it hasn’t been embraced by Australians as quickly as our international peers. We get screwed and it quickly become unfeasible. When a publisher more than doubles a price just because you have a different international code, you’re essentially being told to import or illegally download.

However, it could all finally be starting to change for the better. The PlayStation Vita will encourage gamers to download, with reduced prices compared to the retail releases. Whether or not those savings will be extended to Australian consumers is yet to be seen, but it’s a promising start whilst still giving us the option to favour retail.

Streaming is an entirely different kettle of fish. Australians have the mentality of ownership. If we pay an overinflated price for a digital movie or game, we want to own it and be able to access it whenever we want.

This is the result of ridiculous costs, rubbish internet speeds and a lack of comprehensive services. Netflix is a dream in Australia. Nothing of that quality exists yet, and if it did, wouldn’t be able to compete with the ease of piracy, once again due to the inflated prices forced upon Australian companies and consumers.

While streaming is a while away, at least in my mind, Australians could finally be embracing digital distribution. The retail games sales figures for 2011 suggest that is the case and there is room to grow in the movie and television sectors. I only hope that costs are realistic in comparison to the rest of the world and the end is near for the dastardly “Australia Tax” on digital content.

By Ben Salter

Are you (legally) downloading more games and movies or do you still buy them at retail?

Comments

Marge K:22369 06/02/2012

most my games are bought on steam, but that's impulse buys mainly. The big games such as CoD or Assasins Creed are bought at retail or imported but still as a disc.

I never download games illegally(intentionally), unless they aren't really available anymore, digital or retail. Example: Monkey Island 3. I would buy this if someone actually sold it =/

xman81 K:1817 06/02/2012

For me all my games and music are digital.
I still prefer to buy physical copies of movies and TV shows though.

Leasha K:27556 06/02/2012

I'm still buying more games retail/imported but more for the collectors side of things. I definitely have no objection to digital downloads as its a much faster way of obtaining a game.

LMA0 K:9945 06/02/2012

I mostly buy my pron digitally because im ashamed walking in n out of the adult store. [sick]

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

i buy craploads of steam games now..

Blob K:11881 06/02/2012

Most of my games are imported these days.

SONY K:48813 06/02/2012

LMA0 said: I mostly buy my pron digitally because im ashamed walking in n out of the adult store.

Go through the back door like I do.
There's also the underground side entrance.

winhhh K:21012 06/02/2012

I AM !
I have fallen in love with STEAM.
Only recently though... I've been a loooooooooong loooooong time user of STEAM too.

Foetoid K:13805 06/02/2012

Greenmangaming.com

This is the only site worth knowing. You purchase Steam games through Greenmangaming, but they're still in their US prices. We get a price-hike because its still cheaper than retail and we'll pay it, but for examply i know Skyrim was AU$30 through Greenmangaming over christmas, and its a steam-activated game. You simply add it to your library and download it. Most of their games are substantially cheaper than official steam prices.

Saints Row 3 is a perfect example. Buy through Steam: $89.99. Buy through Greenmangaming and add it to your steam account: $39.99.

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

Foetoid said: Greenmangaming.com
This is the only site worth knowing. You purchase Steam games through Greenmangaming, but they're still in their US prices. We get a price-hike because its still cheaper than retail and we'll pay it, but for examply i know Skyrim was AU$30 through Greenmangaming over christmas, and its a steam-activated game. You simply add it to your library and download it. Most of their games are substantially cheaper than official steam prices.
Saints Row 3 is a perfect example. Buy through Steam: $89.99. Buy through Greenmangaming and add it to your steam account: $39.99.

oh yes I LOVE this online store.. i bought fear 3 from them for $7 and saints the third for $19.. havent had ANY problems *_*

Bayonetta K:689 06/02/2012

Guys not everyone likes to game on the PC, sure digital downloads r great for the PC but crap for consoles,
so lets point out facts 1ST
#1 Download speed is crap here in Australia
#2 enternet cost way too much for the hardcore gammer
#3 consoles dont have massive HD to store all there music, games and movies on them
#4 so then we have cost, around $200a month for Internet, plus all the games you buy works out a huge cost that some people cant afford we are all not rich like most of you guys on here, then what happens my god the Internet craps out half way through when your downloading say Uncharted 3 which is around 55 Gigs and you have to start all over again cos guess what people the Internet is still not very stable here in Australia so when we are like the great USA and can take about 30 mins. to download 50 gigs and have unlimited it will not work for us consoles gamers and i for 1 like to keep all the games, music, Movies I buy, just sayin ;)

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

yeah the next xbox should have at LEAST 1TB :)

also i pay $89 for 200gbs which isnt too bad at all considering i cant get anything else down here

Marge K:22369 06/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
#4 so then we have cost, around $200a month for Internet, plus all the games you buy works out a huge cost that some people cant afford

What internet are you buying? :S You can get unlimited for $100. I get 100 gb for $60. And digital games are generally cheaper.

Bayonetta said: i for 1 like to keep all the games, music, Movies I buy, just sayin

Most popular digital outlets give you unlimited access to those, as opposed to only having one copy.

I know you have many things that you hate and won't be convinced otherwise ... but the things you value contradict the things you do. =/

in answer to the question in the title, not really. Bayonetta is a better representation of the average Australian then most of us ... as sad as that is for the future :*O

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

"as sad as that is for the future :*O"

i lolololed hard

Gaminggirl K:382 06/02/2012

Agree 100% with Bayonetta.

So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

SONY K:48813 06/02/2012

Gaminggirl said: Agree 100% with Bayonetta.
So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

You're not making any sense at all.

punk K:4088 06/02/2012

I think my brother is but I think it helps that his internet is truly unlimited. Personally get the quotas up closely followed by speed and you'll get people looking towards digital streaming/distribution.

Personally, I still hate it and still love buying the product off the shelf. I actually feel like I own something and will actually get my arse up and play it. digital downloads should make things easier but I find I'm much more lazier (I don't play straight away)

Corrupted downloads piss me off and I've only got so much space for stuff. a game that 10+gigs is huge esp when you factor in the drive i've got on my ps3.

I've got play tv and a few hi-res recorded programs fill that up in no time. The world cup was a big culprit for that :P

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

Gaminggirl said: Agree 100% with Bayonetta.
So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

WHAT!!!! most of the games i download are around 15gbs.. no one else AGREES with you 2!! you 2 are 2 NOOB chicks that dont know SHITTTTTTT STFU :P

SONY K:48813 06/02/2012

M@ndyz said:
Gaminggirl said: Agree 100% with Bayonetta.
So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

WHAT!!!! most of the games i download are around 15gbs.. no one else AGREES with you 2!! you 2 are 2 NOOB chicks that dont know SHITTTTTTT STFU

Gaminggirl is probably a dude pretending to be a chick. :P

Paulie86 K:628 06/02/2012

Gaminggirl said: Agree 100% with Bayonetta.
So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

But it also comes down to the platform and how its implemented. I would be fuming if i got d/c while downloading a massive game.

But Steam implements this a better way than PS3 downloads by the sounds of it.

Because with steam if you get d/c, power goes out or anything else that happens. It pauses the download then you can resume when ever you like. (resumes from when it stopped)

Another neat feature is the ability to auto update if your quota allows for it. Every time I turn on steam it downloads updated content for whatever. So all my games that have updates automatically download so next time I play them I dont need to install the update. (although this feature is seems a bit dodgy sometimes).

M@ndyz K:159279 06/02/2012

yep see if I'm downloading a game like witcher 2 which was 15gb but I was close to my limit.. I waited a couple of days then pressed resume update.. no probs..

CybaCowboy K:902 06/02/2012

"Let’s face it. Australians aren’t at the forefront of digital distribution. We don’t download games and movies to the same extent as our overseas counterparts and streaming content seems like a foreign concept."

Speak for yourself - I regularly purchase games through the PlayStation Network (PSN), in fact that's the only way I purchase all my PSP (PlayStation Portable) games and many of my PlayStation 3 games... I also purchase digital games from GOG.com ( www.gog.com... ) and Steam from time-to-time (though because I still do not own a decent game pad for my computer, I don't play a whole heap of games n it...).

It's also fair more convenient to hire movies from the Video Unlimited on the PSN, and all my music is purchased from bandit.fm ( www.bandit.fm... ) - I can't even remember the last time I bought an actual CD!

If Nintendo follow through on their promise and start to release Nintendo 3DS games digitally, I'll also be purchase all of my Nintendo 3DS games digitally too...

Bayonetta K:689 06/02/2012

M@ndyz said: yep see if I'm downloading a game like witcher 2 which was 15gb but I was close to my limit.. I waited a couple of days then pressed resume update.. no probs..

well thats what im saying you idiots why dont you listen NOT EVERYONE likes to play games on the PC you lot do thats fricken great but why should we ONLY look after PC gamers, and people if the consoles die there will be no gaming cos PC gamers are not very loyal (not to say you arent so dont get your panties in a twist) so you do have to remember that there are people that dont live in your little box and like to play games on there X-Box and PS3 and big downloads for them is useless unless we can get 2TB HD for them both and @Marge 100 gigs is crap if you want to do the things that you do, i buy at least 5 or 6 BluRay movies and around 4 or 5 games a month with each BluRay being around 50 gigs dont leave much left for games, and its great that you get unlimited but i live in a part of Australia where you cant even get ADSL 2+ so its no good to me i have to get wymax and sure its fast but cost way too much so before you GODS on here start calling people names just remember that whats good for you isnt good for everyone so enough of the name calling just because i dont agree with you [Rage]

Pilkingbod K:73105 06/02/2012

Oops, Bayonetta spouting a bunch of bullshit without any evidence again.

You should write for a tabloid.

Silence K:58379 06/02/2012

There's no way in hell a PS3 game is 50GB. Sure, the disc may be formatted so, but there's no way that it fills up the entire disc. I don't think there were even (m)any PS2 games that used the full 4.7GB of storage that DVDs had to offer.

Bayonetta K:689 06/02/2012

Silence said: There's no way in hell a PS3 game is 50GB. Sure, the disc may be formatted so, but there's no way that it fills up the entire disc. I don't think there were even (m)any PS2 games that used the full 4.7GB of storage that DVDs had to offer.

oh wow so Mr im so smart and know everything about a PC put Uncharted 3 or Killzone 3 in your PC and read the disk and see what the size it is and if you dont know how to read it then you sir u r an idiot i challenge any of you to do this and lets see if any of you rely know how to use a PC

Pilkingbod K:73105 06/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
you are a an idiot you have no idea what so ever get your facts right fist before you even open your idiot mouth again

Don't call people names.

Bayonetta K:689 06/02/2012

Pilkingbod said:
Bayonetta said:
you are a an idiot you have no idea what so ever get your facts right fist before you even open your idiot mouth again

Don't call people names.

you did

Pilkingbod K:73105 06/02/2012

Where?

Bayonetta K:689 06/02/2012

Pilkingbod said: Where?

ps3.mmgn.com/...

Pilkingbod K:73105 06/02/2012

define:irony

kthx

Silence K:58379 06/02/2012

Bayonetta said: oh wow so Mr im so smart and know everything about a PC put Uncharted 3 or Killzone 3 in your PC and read the disk and see what the size it is and if you dont know how to read it then you sir u r an idiot i challenge any of you to do this and lets see if any of you rely know how to use a PC

It's called padding. Just about every read-only media does it. If you were to decrypt and trim the disc image of the extra zeros, you'll end up with 15-20GB of data.

abuu91 K:18277 07/02/2012

I don't know about you guys but download quota and speed really isn't a problem at all on NBN fibre.

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

@ sony i am a chick probably though i have more balls than you,

Look hubby and i are consoles through and through. In Aus we dont have fast enough speeds or caps its a simple as that.

We like to watch blu ray and 3d blu ray so to download them in the future with a few games a month just aint gonna happen in the near future in AUSTRALIA if you want the full quality.

We want the full quality of sound and picture and have it not compressed and cut down to fit on steam so we can download it.

We all dont have to obey what you guys say about digital downloads and hugging yr pc.

If you download something on your ps3 or 360 it stops then starts again at 0.

And for people that say oh but u can buy cheap games on staem you can buy cheap games from a shop as well just means you have to get your fat lazy ass of the seat and go and have a look.

But watch out for the sun it burns...

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

oh yeah cause we are all overweight.. :P

Ben K:198117 07/02/2012

You could still shop online for console games.

Actually it's a lot cheaper :P

The sun won't get us that easily!

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

Ben said: You could still shop online for console games.
Actually it's a lot cheaper

you cant tell her that though cause its her way or the highway.. :S

1wiierdguy K:2171 07/02/2012

When you can pay for a physical product and the cost of having it shipped internationally and pay less than digital distribution then something is wrong. Digital distribution for Psp was very convenient but over priced. Now with the size of Vita games being so much larger, I'll just stick with physical.

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

M@ndyz said:
Ben said: You could still shop online for console games.
Actually it's a lot cheaper

you cant tell her that though cause its her way or the highway..

How can you say that you dont listen to what we are saying as soon as anyone says anything different we get shot down then have to spend a week trying to explain it to half witted people.

Not everyone thinks the same and if we did we would all end up like you then where would we be.

I know it costs less i am not stupid BUT i and others dont mind going to the shop and buying it from Australians and paying alittle more and getting it on release date.

Like cmon do we all have to think the same stop jumping on some of our backs wehen we dont think the same way.

My internet here is crap i get 1.2 mbs max when running well and it costs alot and if you actually go speak to internet dealers not much is gonna change over the next 10 yrs so come back down to earth. Most people cant afford top notch super fast internet in Australia and other parts of the world.

If you like downloading thats great. But dont force it down mine and others throats saying they are happy to buy the physical copy of the game.

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

we aren't forcing you but every time someone says they like it its YOU who are debating it.. never once have i said you must like it cause we do.. you are trying to justify why you buy games in the stores overpriced.. :S

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

No im trying to say that with new consoles coming games are going to big to download esp if you get 3 to 5 a month plus blu ray movies all downloading your gonna need some real speed and huge download limits and hard drives.

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

soooo? if you dont like it.. ummm lump it cause i have no issues with my speed and 200gbs a month for $89 on ADSL2.. get another job if you cant afford it? :S

oh im sorry i forgot that im not poor like some people [Facepalm]

BBking K:24728 07/02/2012

Bwahahaa!!!

Are you (legally) downloading more games and movies or do you still buy them at retail?

You had to clarify, didn't you. :P

I know DD is the future but I still don't see it as the sole avenue to purchase media, even in 10 years. DD should be and I believe is "embraced" by Australians but the problem isn't that "DD is cheaper so Australians should embrace it". It's that it's still more expensive to buy in Australia because we are a small country, as far as Asia, Europe and America are concerned.

If you could get the figures, I'd bet you that in PC games, more are bought from Steam than in retail by Australians.

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

@ Mandyz go and get f..........

im glad you are thinking of yourself.

Oh god do i wish i was in the same room as you now :D

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

umm is that a threat? i believe that against the site rules :S

Pilkingbod K:73105 07/02/2012

Gaminggirl said: @ sony i am a chick probably though i have more balls than you,
Look hubby and i...

No.

Nobody that has balls uses the phrase "hubby and I..."

ever...

Ben K:198117 07/02/2012

Calm down guys, it's okay to think differently about these things, otherwise we'd have nothing to talk about. No need to insult each other because of it :)

Pilkingbod K:73105 07/02/2012

Mandy has a point though.

If you can't afford high speed internet to accomodate DD, then gaming shouldn't really be a priority.

Ben K:198117 07/02/2012

Pilkingbod said: Mandy has a point though.
If you can't afford high speed internet to accomodate DD, then gaming shouldn't really be a priority.

There's also the case of access. My parents live just too far away from the exchange to have fast enough internet to stream stuff. I tried Foxtel on 360 and it was just too slow to handle it smoothly and that's the best they can get there.

I could download some stuff from Steam, but I definitely wasn't playing it that day if it was a full massive game.

Marge K:22369 07/02/2012

As I said before, unfortunately @Bayonetta and @GamingGirl are better representations of the average australian then most of us are. Our country is nearly as bad as America when it comes to how many hypocritical idiots we have. Since we don't have any of those laws that let us kill people with stupid opinions, the idiotic Australians just flourish thinking whatever they say is right and we have no right to try and convince them otherwise. Once the anti-internet generation retire or die then we might see some change in attitude. Until then we'll see reports every week about how unsafe the internet is and how the internet is the devil.

Sidenote: I can confidently say both those girls watch either 'Today Tonight' or 'A Current Affair' regularly.

Makra K:20865 07/02/2012

Pilkingbod said: Mandy has a point though.
If you can't afford high speed internet to accomodate DD, then gaming shouldn't really be a priority.

Gaming shouldn't be a priority for anyone, regardless of income/age/sex/whatever.

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

its like when people come buy cigarettes off me who cant afford it.. they complain all the time about the price.. don't buy it if you cant afford it.. find a hobby you can afford :P

Undertoe81 K:1245 07/02/2012

I would love to buy all my apps on 3 1/2" floppy's, but unfortunately, Apple keep ignoring my requests.
Hence, I guess I buy digital for this, everything else though, I buy as a hard copy. For me, I plan to keep these items long term, and it is nice to have something to show for the money spent. Also, it means I can sell them on at a later date, or trade them if they are really bad. :P

Pilkingbod K:73105 07/02/2012

Makra said:
Pilkingbod said: Mandy has a point though.
If you can't afford high speed internet to accomodate DD, then gaming shouldn't really be a priority.

Gaming shouldn't be a priority for anyone, regardless of income/age/sex/whatever.

Well, no luxury is. But my point was you can best allocate money to something that is worthwhile.

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

Are you guys kidding me or in fairy world,

I have the best money can buy in my area.

This is my point just cause some of you get good internet in your area alot of us cant and its not about price we just cant get it period! 1.2mbps is the quickest we can get on a great download day so wake up just cause some of you get great speeds the rest of us dont.

Bayonetta K:689 07/02/2012

Marge said: As I said before, unfortunately @GamingGirl are better representations of the average australian then most of us are. Our country is nearly as bad as America when it comes to how many hypocritical idiots we have. Since we don't have any of those laws that let us kill people with stupid opinions, the idiotic Australians just flourish thinking whatever they say is right and we have no right to try and convince them otherwise. Once the anti-internet generation retire or die then we might see some change in attitude. Until then we'll see reports every week about how unsafe the internet is and how the internet is the devil.
Sidenote: I can confidently say both those girls watch either 'Today Tonight' or 'A Current Affair' regularly.

watch who your calling a hypocritical idiot @Marge and i dont watch tv period, and its not the cost you nasty little girl its what you can get where you live not all of us want to live in a shit city like Sydney Or Melbourne, and @M@ndyz not all of us have rich husbands that we can leech off Im single with my own Business and pay for all my own stuff [MOG]

Pilkingbod K:73105 07/02/2012

Sydney and Melbourne = most populated cities in Australia.

Nice try.

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

im downloading kingdoms of amalur now guys.. i only get 1.2mbs on steam says it will only take 2 hours and 38minutes..for a 10gb game.. i dont see whats wrong with 1.2mbs??? seems pretty damn quick to me :O

Gaminggirl said: Are you guys kidding me or in fairy world,
I have the best money can buy in my area.
This is my point just cause some of you get good internet in your area alot of us cant and its not about price we just cant get it period! 1.2mbps is the quickest we can get on a great download day so wake up just cause some of you get great speeds the rest of us dont.

Silence K:58379 07/02/2012

My cousins only have dial-up and play the PC way more than I do [MOG]
I'm just spoilt for choice is all

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

also @bayonetta i see no shame in me marrying a richer man, umm i work to you know.. but you are right im bloody lucky *_*

Marge K:22369 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
watch who your calling a hypocritical idiot @Marge and i dont watch tv period,

I meant the hyprocritical in the sense that most australians are raised through the media to be that way. For example: Getting angry at supermarket prices, but then getting angry the next day that supermarkets are cutting prices. Sorry for assuming. :)

However if you don't wan't to invest in better download systems then that's your fault.

Gaminggirl said:
This is my point just cause some of you get good internet in your area alot of us cant and its not about price we just cant get it period! 1.2mbps is the quickest we can get on a great download day so wake up just cause some of you get great speeds the rest of us dont.

On steam i have an average download speed of 150 kb/s. I also only have a 50 gb +50 gb download limit. Now i have 172 games all together, 116 on steam, and i never go over the internet limit.

If you either won't utilise systems such as steam which compress downloads to a third of the size, or decide to use all of your limit downloading other things, then the consequences are completely your fault. Nobody is trying to force it down your throat. You are trying to tell us that dd is crap because you for whatever reason have a massive grudge against it.If you preach an opinion like it is fact then ofcourse you will get people pointing out how badly formed your opinion is.

Silence K:58379 07/02/2012

Wait, Steam filesezes are compressed?
Lies and slander :E

Marge K:22369 07/02/2012

as in you download 1 gb, but the file will expand to 3 after 'installing':P

Bayonetta K:689 07/02/2012

Marge said:
Bayonetta said:
watch who your calling a hypocritical idiot @Marge and i dont watch tv period,

I meant the hyprocritical in the sense that most australians are raised through the media to be that way. For example: Getting angry at supermarket prices, but then getting angry the next day that supermarkets are cutting prices. Sorry for assuming.
However if you don't wan't to invest in better download systems then that's your fault.

Gaminggirl said:
This is my point just cause some of you get good internet in your area alot of us cant and its not about price we just cant get it period! 1.2mbps is the quickest we can get on a great download day so wake up just cause some of you get great speeds the rest of us dont.

On steam i have an average download speed of 150 kb/s. I also only have a 50 gb +50 gb download limit. Now i have 172 games all together, 116 on steam, and i never go over the internet limit.
If you either won't utilise systems such as steam which compress downloads to a third of the size, or decide to use all of your limit downloading other things, then the consequences are completely your fault. Nobody is trying to force it down your throat. You are trying to tell us that dd is crap because you for whatever reason have a massive grudge against it.If you preach an opinion like it is fact then ofcourse you will get people pointing out how badly formed your opinion is.

honey you miss the point i dont like to game on my PC and i live in a part of Australia where I CAN NOT GET what you get i wish that i could but i cant and i dont like little games like angry birds and such i like God of War 3, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 3 and they are way too big to download plus you can not get them from the ps3 store and when u can run them on a PC please let me know, plus i do not have a grudge against DD i dont know why you all keep saying im just say NOW READ PLEASE that most games on the PS3 are almost 50 gig so Marge with your 50 gig download limit and you like the PS3 and want and can only get Uncharted from DD what would do for the rest of the month, like i said before if you took the time to read properly what i wrote before not all of us like PC gaming so why should we miss out :@

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

that's SENs "formally known at PSN" fault though not ours.. just pray they change that with the PS4.. also you have a choice.. dont like those games and youll be right Are Australians embracing digital distribution?

Are Australians embracing digital distribution?

Marge K:22369 07/02/2012

but someone explained to you before. When you download a PC game it downloads the installing file, and then that expands. Since the PS3 can't do that or doesn't possess less space consuming systems it has to have every file on the disc. Once again, i get 150 kb/s download on steam and i have no issues. Yes you can and you do get more then 150 kb/s. If you can't download games on your PS3 then that is the platforms fault. Doesn't mean DD as a whole is bad.

and lawl ... honey ...

Bayonetta K:689 07/02/2012

M@ndyz said: that's SENs "formally known at PSN" fault though not ours.. just pray they change that with the PS4.. also you have a choice.. dont like those games and youll be right

@M@ndyz please tell me are you all there are you blonde cos i really think you are [Facepalm]

kiryuu K:4293 07/02/2012

lol @ the comments [MOG]

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
M@ndyz said: that's SENs "formally known at PSN" fault though not ours.. just pray they change that with the PS4.. also you have a choice.. dont like those games and youll be right

@M@ndyz please tell me are you all there are you blonde cos i really think you are

im not dumb though ITS YOUR CHOICE TO LIKE THE PS3 GET OVER IT!!!!!!!

Paulie86 K:628 07/02/2012

M@ndyz said: ITS YOUR CHOICE TO LIKE THE PS3 GET OVER IT!!!!!!!

Best comment EVA.

gargoyles K:13105 07/02/2012

@Bayonetta and @Gaminggirl [Facepalm]
you have no idea about stuff like this do you, or are you just trolling. i can't believe how expensive digital stuff is now.

Silence K:58379 07/02/2012

Marge said: as in you download 1 gb, but the file will expand to 3 after 'installing':P

Wait, so let me get this straight...
The smaller number on the download dialog is correct and compressed, while the number on the downloads page shows the final, uncompressed filesize?
That is so misleading and confusing.

Leasha K:27556 07/02/2012

[MOG]
*Grabs drink and settles in*

BBking K:24728 07/02/2012

I don't use Steam but I do know that some .exe files are just compressed, self-extractable files.

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

Leasha said:
*Grabs drink and settles in*

im not commenting anymore.. its always consoles vs PCs etc lol [MOG]

gargoyles K:13105 07/02/2012

M@ndyz said:
Leasha said:
*Grabs drink and settles in*

im not commenting anymore.. its always consoles vs PCs etc lol

i like em both. PC for the internet/certain games and consoles for my main gaming

Bayonetta K:689 07/02/2012

Marge said: but someone explained to you before. When you download a PC game it downloads the installing file, and then that expands. Since the PS3 can't do that or doesn't possess less space consuming systems it has to have every file on the disc. Once again, i get 150 kb/s download on steam and i have no issues. Yes you can and you do get more then 150 kb/s. If you can't download games on your PS3 then that is the platforms fault. Doesn't mean DD as a whole is bad.
and lawl ... honey ...

lol so you get 150 KB/s so how long do you think it would take to download star wars all six movies on BluRay lol see ya next year honey [Facepalm]

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
Marge said: but someone explained to you before. When you download a PC game it downloads the installing file, and then that expands. Since the PS3 can't do that or doesn't possess less space consuming systems it has to have every file on the disc. Once again, i get 150 kb/s download on steam and i have no issues. Yes you can and you do get more then 150 kb/s. If you can't download games on your PS3 then that is the platforms fault. Doesn't mean DD as a whole is bad.
and lawl ... honey ...

lol so you get 150 KB/s so how long do you think it would take to download star wars all six movies on BluRay lol see ya next year honey

thats STEAM not his normal speed.. steam speed is always slower :S

gargoyles K:13105 07/02/2012

@Bayonetta do you even understand @Marge ? do you even agree with anyone on this site ? please stop posting

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

for example i get 10mbs for normal everyday porn downloads however my steam games only download at 1.2mbs.. :P

kiryuu K:4293 07/02/2012

M@ndyz said:everyday porn downloads

X_X

Bayonetta K:689 07/02/2012

gargoyles said: @Marge ? do you even agree with anyone on this site ? please stop posting

yeah you idiot i agree with @ben not everyone can get what little Miss blonde gets and who asked you anyway just go away little boy [Facepalm]

M@ndyz K:159279 07/02/2012

you are bitter cause you are single and cant afford proper internet.. dont hate on us or me cause i have it BETTER then you do

gargoyles K:13105 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
gargoyles said: @Marge ? do you even agree with anyone on this site ? please stop posting

yeah i'm an idiot i don't agree with @ben everyone can get what little Miss blonde (me) gets and anyway i should go away

don't ever change my posts. your one looks great now i totally agree with it. don't dis other members and don't call me a little a boy ever.

Pilkingbod K:73105 07/02/2012

Confirmed.

Bayonetta is a Southern states-based U.S roadside waitress, due her excessive use of the word "honey".

CybaCowboy K:902 07/02/2012

abuu91 said: I don't know about you guys but download quota and speed really isn't a problem at all on NBN fibre.

Yeah, but most of us aren't on the NBN yet and even by best-case scenarios, it's going to be a long, long time before the majority of Australians are connecting to the Internet using this network...

M@ndyz said: for example i get 10mbs for normal everyday porn downloads

Well, @M@ndyz just earn't a few extra points in my book... ;)

gargoyles said:i can't believe how expensive digital stuff is now.

Meh.

They're been whinging that things are too expensive for the thirty years I've been around and for thirty years, they've been promising that prices will come down to more acceptable levels...

It hasn't happened yet and to be honest, I wouldn't hold your breath.

punk K:4088 07/02/2012

lol at some of the comments in here. have and have nots [Facepalm].

Personally, I think the whole system in Australia for the majority of people is that digital distribution and other sources of streaming is still too early for it to be widespread and accepted as the main way to do things. If the internet was so damn good the government wouldn't be rolling out the NBN now would they?

anyways A lot of people still pay a huge amount for average internet because its the only way to connect, sometimes you just get lucky where you live.

CybaCowboy K:902 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:#3 consoles dont have massive HD to store all there music, games and movies on them

I don't know about Microsoft's junk, but the PlayStation 3 is able to access pictures, music and video stored on a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device... I use such a device on my network, and it frees-up the 750GB in my PlayStation 3 for television (via PlayTV) and games.

Although I haven't tried it thus far (because I buy most of my PlayStation 3 games physically, due to their size), my understanding is that there is a way to (legitimatelly!) install PlayStation 3 games to network storage (a NAS device) also...

SONY K:48813 07/02/2012

CybaCowboy said: Although I haven't tried it thus far (because I buy most of my PlayStation 3 games physically, due to their size), my understanding is that there is a way to ( legitimatelly!) ) install PlayStation 3 games to network storage (a NAS device) also...

Spelling?

Makra K:20865 07/02/2012

Oh my, what a kerfuffle we have here. [MOG]

Leasha said:
*Grabs drink and settles in*

Gaminggirl K:382 07/02/2012

Wow this has really exploded.

Alot of people seem to be missing what a small amount of us are saying.

We cannot access faster speeds and big download amounts cause we just can t access it. So no we dont want digital because we dont have the speed or limits to do so and alot of us still like to buy the physical copies.

winga26 K:61698 07/02/2012

Geez I'd hate to be against digital distribution it seems if you are expect to get your head bitten off.

Gaminggirl said: Wow this has really exploded.
Alot of people seem to be missing what a small amount of us are saying.
We cannot access faster speeds and big download amounts cause we just can t access it. So no we dont want digital because we dont have the speed or limits to do so and alot of us still like to buy the physical copies.

I think a lot of people forget that we don't all live in a big build up area with fast Internet as an option.

I'm against it for console gaming I'd much prefer my physical copy of the game.

CybaCowboy K:902 07/02/2012

SONY said:
CybaCowboy said: Although I haven't tried it thus far (because I buy most of my PlayStation 3 games physically, due to their size), my understanding is that there is a way to ( legitimatelly!) ) install PlayStation 3 games to network storage (a NAS device) also...

Spelling?

"Legitimately". ;)

Ledski K:3593 07/02/2012

Bayonetta said:
lol so you get 150 KB/s so how long do you think it would take to download star wars all six movies on BluRay lol see ya next year honey

You can legally download Blu-Ray movies?

Marge K:22369 07/02/2012

winga26 said:

Gaminggirl said: Wow this has really exploded.
Alot of people seem to be missing what a small amount of us are saying.
We cannot access faster speeds and big download amounts cause we just can t access it. So no we dont want digital because we dont have the speed or limits to do so and alot of us still like to buy the physical copies.

I think a lot of people forget that we don't all live in a big build up area with fast Internet as an option.

No, we have been arguing against them saying a system is bad because the points they are making are all crap. Its fine disliking something but if you make your distaste so obvious the reasons should be legitimate. DD is perfectly viable in their areas except they decided to invest in a system that doesn't accommodate it well.

It's simple enough to say "i prefer physical copies" without saying everyone else is wrong

Foetoid K:13805 09/02/2012

Gaminggirl said: Agree 100% with Bayonetta.
So say you have 200 gig thats 4 quality games a month, so say like Bayonetta said your downloading uncharted which is 55 gigs at 1mbs then at the 40 gig mark it stops oh no what a wast all of a sudden and 1 week later you have your game and used 90 gig awesome.

Wait what? Downloaded games don't exceed 10-15gb, Even skyrim is less than 6gb, RE5 is 7gb, Aliens vs Predator is 15gb. But thats as big as it gets. Even telstra, whos generally the worst for value, i get 500gb per month for $89. So if EVERY game was 15 gb, thats still 33 games per month, or more than 1 every day. Is it different on PC? Can someone provide a link or something that shows that when you download a Ps3 game its pretty much the entire disk? I found somewhere before that says Uncharted 1 and 2 would be 22gb if downloaded on PSN. Why would Sony force people to download what would probably be the entire ISO image? Bit ridiculous.

Bayonetta said:
Marge said: but someone explained to you before. When you download a PC game it downloads the installing file, and then that expands. Since the PS3 can't do that or doesn't possess less space consuming systems it has to have every file on the disc. Once again, i get 150 kb/s download on steam and i have no issues. Yes you can and you do get more then 150 kb/s. If you can't download games on your PS3 then that is the platforms fault. Doesn't mean DD as a whole is bad.
and lawl ... honey ...

lol so you get 150 KB/s so how long do you think it would take to download star wars all six movies on BluRay lol see ya next year honey

Who the F downloads Blu-ray movies? Our download limits and speeds here are fine enough for gamers. Games generally don't lag, and most people can get ADSL2. I feel for people stuck on ADSL1, 1500kb connections, and i hope for your sake the NBN hurries up and rolls out so everyone has access to up to 100mb connections within 5-6 years. Like i said i pay only $89 a month, i get an 8000kb connection cause my area doesn't support a 20mb connection, so i get 800kb/s downloads. I never go over my quota, i have well over 100 games on steam, and i download stuff all the time. I dont see why people have such a gripe with our internet. It's not as good as the US, but its not bad, and shopping around will find you come great deals through IInet, TPG, Westnest etc etc. Console games i'd likely always buy the retail disk, unless it something not available on retail like Virtual Console games. PC i'm the opposite, I'm far more likely to find a game i want on Greenmangaming.com or Steam to play on Steam and download it, the only retail PC disk i'm likely to buy are anything done by Blizzard cause i like the collectors editions. When i finally get a Blu-Ray player and a decent enough TV, i'll buy my Blu-Ray movies for sure, downloading them seems like a waste. At least Steam pauses downloads if somehow your internet cuts out.

Ledski K:3593 09/02/2012

I prefer to have physical copies for my consoles and prefer digital copies for PC. I only have ADSL1 which d/ls at a max of 200kb/s, but i'm fine with downloading games. If its a large file I will just download it over night, not a big deal.

gargoyles K:13105 09/02/2012

I like my physical copies but do occasionally download stuff.

gammaray13 K:1538 10/02/2012

i do both

maxiboy K:21084 11/02/2012

With my internet connection I can afford digital distribution, if only the (steam) file servers allowed high speed downloads. I would buy digitally more often if it were cheaper but shamefully for the past 2 years (and with no sign of changing) store copies are generally cheaper. The only new blockbuster game I have ever bought was Deus Ex Human Revolution because it actually was cheaper and came with TF2 items.

ND88ct K:6063 11/02/2012

I will still buy movies and tv shows on physical disks so I don't have to worry about DRM only allowing me to play them on certain/limited devices.
For games though it doesn't bother me whether I get it physically or digitally.

EndBoss K:7238 14/02/2012

i buy mine from MyGames.com.au (shameless plug)

Desi K:38752 21/02/2012

Just found this thread. The amount of butthurt is lol.

Digital distribution works great for PC because while you're downloading something, you can still play other games on your PC (even though Steam pauses a download when you start playing a game, you can manually resume it in the background). It would be a different story otherwise. PC games range from a few megabytes, all the way up to 25 GB for RAGE because of the megatexture tech that game uses. Some people were talking about download speeds and how not everyone can have it fast. Well I get 450-500 KB per second from Steam, and that's probably the solid average for everyone.

It also comes out a lot cheaper than buying PC games from stores because a) stores have a tiny selection, and b) stores don't care about PC gamers, so why should I give them my money? They have one shelf of PC games, maybe two, and it's at the back in some corner, and they know exactly zero about the platform.

kingpanday K:156 24/02/2012

FINALY AUSTRALIA WOKE UP!! btw i havnt read any other comments wait as a make a sum up ....... ehhhh nothing that jumps out at you!

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