In an interview with Gamasutra TimeGate Studios president and CEO Adel Chaveleh talked about launching premium PSN digital game Section 8, which was a retail release on PC and Xbox 360.
Accoring to Adel Chaveleh the primary reason to move to digital distribution on the PS3 was to maintain control of the IP and thereby some level of independence. “There’s no reason why a developer (assuming they are in full control of the IP) cannot control their own destiny and pursue a route like digital distribution.”
Another benefit is that “digital distribution cuts down on manufacturing and distribution costs” which can be passed on to the consumer with this product. Something we have yet to see in the digital distribution of PC games.
Chaveleh goes on “For developers, this means it’s time to break out of a very traditional (and limiting) box. Think of how many developers have complained that somewhere between finishing the product and getting it to their consumer, something went wrong or they didn’t have control.
Digital is a path for empowerment and an alternative to the traditional distribution model where a small group of people control the tollway to the consumer.”
This is certainly true in many ways. However, considering Steam’s almost monopolistic market position in the digital distribution business of (PC) games it remains to be seen how well this turns out for both consumers and developers.
Read the full interview here.
