'Discs are here to stay' Says Sony boss Kaz

On Vacation | June 01, 2008 | News | Gaming Tech/Hardware

A kick in the gonads for all of you who had hoped for this generation to be the one that would switch you from trekking to the store and buying a new game to lazing on the couch and downloading it with the press of a button, A statement from Sony Boss Kaz Hirai tells us he thinks thats gonna be a little way off'

Blaming the causes on the current infrastructure of the internet, he tells us that downloading a 14-15GB file just isn't feasable right now and that the long established Disc media is here to stay.

But don't get your knickers in a twist, Sony say will still be offering a hybrid of physical and digital game downloads such as GT5-Prolouge for the time being, because it just Makes sense, but it'll still be a long while indeed until our faithful friends the Disc becomes a thing of the past.

Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai has said that the era when download distribution of games takes over from disc media is "way off" because, by and large, the internet isn't ready.

Speaking of theoretical 'discless consoles' that would rely completely on a Steam-style downloads, Hirai said: "I think that's going to be a little way off.

"Even with PS3, today, you're talking about games that take 14, 15Gb, even upwards of 20Gb," he explained. "If you try to offer that complete game as a download, you can do that, but what is the consumer experience going to be like?"

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Comments

2 thumbs!
iLLmatic | June 02, 2008

A lot of people are going to say that Sony is just pushing out their chest because of the Blu-Ray victory, but he's right. We just don't have enough bandwidth commercially available for downloads to make discs obsolete yet, and I don't see it happening for a good amount of time. Besides the bandwidth, cost is going to be another big obstacle, both for the providers and us, the customers.
2 thumbs!
Jesus | June 02, 2008

I prefer the discs anyway. I think it is much better to have a physical thing you can look at rather than download it. Like with CD's. I would much rather go down to my local Sanity store and get the physically real thing.
- 2 thumbs!
  On Vacation | June 02, 2008
  
  thats true, I take a quite a large amount of pride in the collection i've amassed, Having it all in my HHD just wouldn't feel the same ):
  - 1 thumbs!
    chautemoc | June 02, 2008
    
    I agree, but at the same time, overall I'd rather a download. It's easier, and in the long-term anyway, it'd probably be cheaper since manufacturing/retail costs would be cut. Better for the environment, too. I pity retailers in the future though. Heheheh.
    
    By the way, welcome to the site, the posting aspect of it at least.
    Saw your profile, I believe there is a way to get your name changed..search the forums!
    - 0 thumbs!
      Benedict | June 02, 2008
      
      Its a disk for me. Disks don't take forever to download and do not use up bandwith
    - 0 thumbs!
      Final Blade | June 02, 2008
      
      _{I disagree Chau, Having physical memory >>> download. Think about having a virus or having your system crash on you. Now when you get it fixed your download would be lost, and its going to cost you more money to buy it back and go through the game all over again. Where as Physical memory you always have it, and all you need to back up is the saves which is easy, compared to a whole 10GB game.}
2 thumbs!
On Vacation | June 02, 2008

Indeed iLLmatic, Just one download from Sony would end up with most people Exceeding their FUP and paying a fine for it, Even unlimited customers are not safe from this.
0 thumbs!
tallteen86 | June 02, 2008

Whatever happened to that thing with the 'streamlining' with coding or some such? You need a new modem, but you get 100x increase on bandwidth....

Will that not be implemented ever? Article popped up months ago, on Neo....
0 thumbs!
Slumpy monkey | June 02, 2008

Well games are already up for download on PC. I dont see why it wont come to consoles nect gen. But if the opposition nail it next gen it would leave sony looking kinda stupid.
0 thumbs!
J Bro | June 02, 2008

That is fine with me. I like the DVD/Blu-Ray Format. I don't want the world to become lazy and not get up to buy a video game. Also if this happened, what would happen to retail stores? Lol.
1 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | June 02, 2008

downloading a 15gb file aint that bad. STEP YA CONNECTION-SPEED GAME UP NIGGA.
-1 thumbs!
chautemoc | June 02, 2008

Final> I know, I'm not talking now, I mean in the future when these things won't be much of a concern at all.
As for buying things back..nah, I assume everything would follow WiiWare's current system where once you buy it, its yours, whether you delete it off your system or not.
- -1 thumbs!
  Final Blade | June 04, 2008
  
  _{Even in the future shit happens and you can lose cause of simple things like hardware failure or virus.
  
  Physical Memory will always be better than downloads.}
  - 0 thumbs!
    On Vacation | June 04, 2008
    
    I'd say that even now, Having a DL'ed game which you can obtain anywhere with a internet connection, Like Steam, is better then physical media, which ultimately can be rendered unusable fairly easily by small scratches and leave you gameless without any way to re-obtain it.
    
    Maybe if there was a way to Download the game file, and burn your own disc if you wanted too? Then you'd have the best of both.
  - -1 thumbs!
    Slumpy monkey | June 04, 2008
    
    What happens if you break your disk.
    
    Tell me Final blade, How many times have you got a virus which wiped you HDD? If you have, I sugges you get some virus protection.
    
    Your more likely to break your disk than getting it wiped by a virus.
    - 0 thumbs!
      Final Blade | June 05, 2008
      
      _{Actually I gotten many viruses on my PC in my time, in comparison to not EVER breaking discs.
      
      If you an idiot and not taking care of your discs yes it will break. However im pretty sure sending your PS3 to get repairs gets rid of all your data, its been stated many times before.
      
      On vacation Blu-ray discs are barely able to get scratched thanks to its coded sealant.}
1 thumbs!
Tromonator133 | June 15, 2008

I prefer disks for games. It makes you feel like you really own it. Plus, I like going out to the store to look for a new game.
1 thumbs!
Shadow net583x s | June 15, 2008

I personally think discs are better, downloading whole games just doesn't seem very...I don't know, but discs just seem better.