A new games distribution model

March 24th, 2009 •
Tags: 1Up, digital distribution, distribution, games, Software

I just posted on the 1Up forums my ideas for a new model for games distribution that might help the industry escape the wrath of economic recession. I thought I should repost it here to direct readers’ attention toward it and get some feedback.

I’ve been listening to lots of discussion about the problems the industry faces moving deeper into recession with the current software distribution model. I have some ideas and want to get everyone’s feedback so here it goes.

I’m admittedly on the outside of the industry, but some of the major problems as I perceive them are

1. Lack of retail shelf space for software and difficulties negotiating with retailers
2. Inability to abandon retail distribution due to lack of broadband in many areas and for fear of alienating retailers
3. Publisher perception that used game sales undercut publisher and developer profits

Here is a single solution that, while incomplete, attempts to address these problems: A fully digital distribution model that allows for purchase of software from home via the Internet or at the retail store by way of software kiosks. The DSi and, if the rumors are correct, the next PSP may already be prepared to support such a model. Gamers will still be able to purchase games at the kiosk which will allow publishers to reach gamers that do not have access to the Internet connection necessary to download a large game. This will also allow retailers to share in software revenue compelling them to continue stocking the hardware. Shelf space is no longer an issue. Every store can carry every available title. Gamers with broadband will benefit by not having to travel in order to purchase games; every game will be available online. Used games will be a thing of the past as there will be no physical product which can be resold based on current digital purchase licensing arrangements. (Honestly, as a consumer, I find this part troubling, but I also see it as an inevitable reality.)

Any thoughts?

Open vs. closed software platforms

March 16th, 2009 •
Tags: app store, development, Nintendo, Software, software platforms

Windows is a rare breed: an open software platform that has seen a great deal of success. Open platforms are what people tend to think of when they think of software platforms in general because they are more accessible. If I’m thinking about a software platform not as a consumer but as a development platform, I’m probably going to think of something I myself would have easy access to develop on. Openness of a platform is something of a double-edged sword as it allows more choice for developers and users while also granting that same choice to developers who would love to wreak havoc for one reason or another in the form of viruses and malware. Openness also allows for careless developers to release buggy software that can cause problems for users and give the platform in general a bad name.

The earliest platforms were probably closed. If I am a university sitting on a computer that cost millions of dollars to build, I’m unlikely to allow just anyone to come through and run whatever software they please. Although they have arguably been around longer than open platforms, closed platforms have been mostly taken for granted up until the iTunes app store launched with tremendous success nearly overnight. Closed platforms allow for tighter controls on developers and crafting of a ore unified vision for the platform as a whole.

Windows has often been criticized for the litany of malicious software that has plagued it virtually since day one. Users of closed platforms most often do not have to worry about malicious software. Controls can be put in place to test software for any malicious intent. If something happens to sneak through to users, it will most likely be found and corrected in short order. This does not apply only to malicious software but has been useful to control content for creators of platform that want to portray a squeaky-clean image. This has been used recently by Apple in denying approval to developers of apps that defend the company’s taste in some way. Nintendo also utilized this to great effect by insuring that titles released on its consoles were more family-friendly than those available on competing platforms.

This is an example of a Tengen cartridge released for the NES without Nintendo licensing.

The closed approach to the software platform also leaves companies vulnerable to backlash from both developers and users. Apple has felt this very recently on multiple occasions from initially restricting the availability of the now venerable sub-genre of mobile flatulence noise generators to their recent denial of the Twitter app Tweetie for it’s display of a swear word as a popular tag on the social network. Backlashes often create an underground of users and developers that find new ways to circumvent the closed systems and open them up. Apple has recently been on the attack against iPhone “jailbreaking“—the act of removing the iPhone’s protection against installation of unauthorized software. Jailbroken phones have recently gotten their own “app store” which provides developers and users a marketplace to buy and sell apps that, for one reason or another, went unapproved by Apple. Nintendo suffered from this as well in the late 80′s when developer Tengen reverse-engineered the NES lock-out chip to allow their games to run on NES consoles without approval.

Closed platforms allow for the party maintaining the platform to profit directly from the sale of software. Apple has deemed a charge of 30% is sufficient for their services of providing developers the tools, platform, and marketplace necessary for iPhone development. Microsoft has announced a similar mobile app store  that charges developers a yearly fee on top of a percentage of the sales revenue for apps. Gaming console makers have been charging licensing fees to software developers for many years now. In fact, game console hardware manufacturers often sell their hardware at a loss in anticipation of future software licensing revenue.

Because of the accessibility of open platforms and the lack of a centralized marketplace (although there are closed platforms without centralized marketplaces as well), software developed on open platform can have trouble gaining traction. The openness means there is a potential for much more competition which can lead to most releases being virtually invisible. This can be mitigated with beefy marketing budgets but those undermine the open nature of the marketplace. It doesn’t matter that I can develop for a platform without jumping through hoops if I then have to spend a million dollars to sell any copies of my application.

Ideologically, I much prefer the model of open software platforms for one key reason: all closed platforms to a greater or lesser degree leave developers wondering whether a piece of software to which they have devoted significant time, effort, and possibly money will, in fact, make it through the approval process so that it may be profitable. Open platforms give developers the peace of mind knowing that only the market will decide their success or failure. Closed platforms have distinct advantages, but the freedom offered to all parties by an open platform is a hard thing to sacrifice to any end.

Windows 7 tips

February 12th, 2009 •
Tags: Microsoft, Software, tips, Windows, Windows 7

I have to admit even though for about a year now my primary machine has been a Mac, I’m just a little excited about Windows 7. It’s monumental that this release of Windows will actually lower resource requirements. When has that ever happened in the past?

For all you Windows 7 beta-testers out there, Techmeme has come through with 50 seriously useful Windows 7 tips. A cursory glance at the tips reveals that 7 has a number of new tricks up its sleeve including some long-needed additions (like built-in support for burning ISO images) as well as some novelties (like the ability to screen-capture problems you have for easy sending to your in-family tech support).

I never had the Vista problems everyone else complained about (and I was even running x64). It was just a coincidence that I discovered the beauty and simplicity of MacOS during Vista’s reign over DOS-based machines, but it certainly looks like Microsoft is taking some steps in the right direction with the latest iteration of the platform.

MacHeist 3 lets you legally steal software

February 7th, 2009 •
Tags: free, mac apps, MacHeist, Software

Mac users can forget about Bittorrent because the new Macheist is up. You can win free software for solving a few puzzles that aren’t too difficult. The haul for this mission is ShoveBox, KavaTunes, and some Valentines e-mail stationary. Not too bad. This is my first time participating in the Macheist, and I have to say it’s pretty cool. If you’re interested in some free Mac apps (and later a cheap bundle of Mac apps), it’s definitely worth a look.

iLife ’09 ships tomorrow

January 26th, 2009 •
Tags: Apple, garageband, ilife, iphoto, mac, Software

The Apple blogosphere has erupted with the news iLife ’09 will ship out to stores tomorrow. I have to admit I’m a little excited for the facial recognition in iPhoto. I think the change with the most potential is the addition of music lessons to GarageBand. I wish I were excited for it, but I realize I have neither the time, the patience, nor the inclination to sit down and learn an instrument. Sigh…

Jets’n'Guns Gold promo pricing

January 23rd, 2009 •
Tags: Apple, deals, games, mac, Software

Today’s MacUpdate Promo deal is the critically acclaimed shooter Jets’n'Guns Gold. The game is normally $30, but today it can be yours for $10! Mac gamers and shooter fans rejoice. If you happen to be both a Mac user and a shooter fan, you are probably already in some kind of shock coma due to rapture.

Eversave insures you won’t lose your work

January 22nd, 2009 •
Tags: Apple, eversave, mac, Software, utility

Eversave is not a mega-church as you may have guessed. Cult of Mac has caught wind of a cool Mac application which will periodically save open documents automatically. It sounds like a pretty cool idea. I have heard a million horror stories about how people lost 20 hours of work because they hit the surge protector’s power button with their foot. It’s really discouraging to have to start over. I personally have been saved numerous times by Gmail’s autosave feature. Thanks to this app, your documents will be saved whether or not your other applications have an auto-save feature.