It looks like the debate between 'physical' media (ie discs) and downloads is set to flare up again this week, with the news that the value of PC game downloads is set to top a BILLION US dollars in 2009.
The market for digital downloads last year was $600m according to GfK ChartTrack boss Dorian Bloch, who confidently told a panel discussion at Develop 09 that the value of the PC games download market will easily exceed $1bn in 2009.
Bloch credited the rapid growth in game downloads to services such as Valve's Steam and Direct2Drive.
Forward-thinking publishers
However, ChartTrack still argue that publishers need to give the download market more support, in terms of PR and marketing, to make sure these figures are properly promoted.
There is talk of introducing a regular game download chart, so that the industry and consumers alike can see exactly what is being sold digitally over the internet each week.
Block gave a nod to certain forward-thinking publishers such as Sega (a leading publisher that has embraced Steam in the last year, in particular) and called for "a balanced approach" from publishers to enable them to maximise the true potential of PC downloads.
Via Develop
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
dreamhunk
July 19th
4. here is a link to why pc gaming retail is doing so bad and why pc gamers are moving away from retail
http://news.bigdownload.com/2009/07/12/has-microsoft-killed-pc-gaming-in-retail-stores-one-site-says/
oh gamestop is part of the problem too
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dreamhunk
July 16th
3. here this link sums up pc gaming!here is the real problem of pc gaming!
http://downloadablesuicide.com/2009/07/16/pc-gaming-its-problems-stem-from-mistreatment/
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eury360x
July 16th
2. Piracy on the PC can end as long as developers use software distributors like Steam or Direct2Drive. PC Gaming is the best way to game period!
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eury360x
July 16th
1. Wow thats great news! Finally geniue chart that details the truth about PC Games sales! We need more PC games! And we want Halo 3 and Gears of War 2 to come out for PC! We could also use a nice baseball game like MLB: Thew Show because MLB2K9 was horrible, and how about that neww Bigs game huh?
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