Games being distributed by flash memory?

First Im not talking about digital distributing, only about the physical retail box.

Currently the average game is around 8-12 gigs in size. Publishers not wanting to pack 10 CDs in a box, decided to ship games only on DVD. The logical step after DVDs is the Blu Ray, while there is the flash memory that could hold more information then a Blu Ray disk with no limit of resolution.

Fast forward 4 years from now, where the average games are 20-25 gigs in size requiring 3 DVDs. The 32 gigs flash memory cost $1 each to make. The cost of making flash memory would subside to due the less amount of packaging and shipping cost compared to the Blu ray or DvD.

Do you think there is a chance publishers will use flash memory as a way to distribute games instead of Blu ray?

Personally, I am not excited for the idea from an old-school gamer's standpoint. As an environmentally conscious person, however, I would be all for flash memory distribution...but only because we'd be seeing PC game boxes the same size as game boxes for the PSP (if not smaller).

I've thought about this idea, too. It would be very neat to see something like this go into effect. They could even have little miniature "Flash drive" cases for each game's flash drive, similar to CD cases.

It's a possibility, but I don't think it's going to happen. By the time games are so huge that they can't fit on 2-3 DVD's, digital distribution will probably make up the bulk of PC sales.

The logical step after DVDs is the Blu Ray, while there is the flash memory that could hold more information then a Blu Ray disk with no limit of resolution.Jd1680a

[QUOTE="Jd1680a"]The logical step after DVDs is the Blu Ray, while there is the flash memory that could hold more information then a Blu Ray disk with no limit of resolution.kodex1717

That's a good point. Oh, and I like your sig BTW. :lol:

[QUOTE="achilles614"]Doesn't flash memory degrade over time? I'm not sure I'd rather just have a disk.GodLovesDead

Uh, reading flash memory is fast, much faster than a DVD, it's writing to that isn't the fastest.

Anyways, I can never see the base cost of producing flash memory ever becoming cheaper than pressing a disc together, as there's less steps to producing an actual DVD, and it's cheaper overall.

How about this:

Every gamer has his own flash disc and goes to the retailer with it then fills it with whatever games he wants which are being showcased in the store. By this way, people will not be limited with their broadband speed at home and will have quick (maybe instantaneous) fills with ultra high speed internet in the stores.

How about this:

Every gamer has his own flash disc and goes to the retailer with it then fills it with whatever games he wants which are being showcased in the store. By this way, people will not be limited with their broadband speed at home and will have quick (maybe instantaneous) fills with ultra high speed internet in the stores.

retro82

Cool idea.

I really hope we do move on to games being distributed on flash memory. I hate disc so much, i rarely use them. But yeah ive dreamed about games being distributed by flash mem for a long time.

I have not seen anyone selling usbs with music, video and pictures, but I have seen slotMusic. It is a similar idea, but it is a microSD Card that holds the music. They even sell players so it is like a cd player but a little higher tech. I don't think it will go well especially since most people I know have an MP3 player that holds at 2,000 to 20,000 songs. It is more convenient to buy music online than to go to the store to buy a slot card or cd. (At least to me.) ANd if you have not noticed that alot of software is going downloadable. Like steam, D2D (direct to drive) for games, Amazon, I tunes, Zunehas their own for music, and companies like Adobe you can download it straight from their website.

Just don't think the idea will go well.

[QUOTE="retro82"]

How about this:

Every gamer has his own flash disc and goes to the retailer with it then fills it with whatever games he wants which are being showcased in the store. By this way, people will not be limited with their broadband speed at home and will have quick (maybe instantaneous) fills with ultra high speed internet in the stores.

Phoenix534

Cool idea.

wow thats weird.. i thought about that a while back :P

In 4 years when 30GB flash drives cost 1$, 1TB Blu Ray discs or holo discs will cost the same. SSD HDs are making their way and maybe in 4 years they'll be cheap enough that next gen consoles will house them, but suppose they stick with discs - think about how much you could compress and add to a 1TB disc. Metal Gear Solid 4 couldn't fit everything they wanted on a 50GB disc, so I doubt a 30GB flash drive or even 50GB flash drive will suit needs on big developers. Also, if 1TB drives do take over, is internet going to be fast enough and cheap enough that digital distribution will be feasible for games more than 100GB in size?

Edit- This all relates to PC games because when you change 1 format, you have to change them all. When 30GB flash drives do cost 1$, digital distrubtion will take a slight dive (unless compression rates are remarkable) which I don't think is profitable to Steam or D2D. Flash drive vending machines are an interesting idea though.