Nintendo - 'Majority' of Nintendo-published 3DS/Wii U tit...

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Nintendo - 'Majority' of Nintendo-published 3DS/Wii U titles will be packaged retail/digital
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Nintendo is aiming to significantly expand its digital business. In August, New Super Mario Bros. 2 for the Nintendo 3DS system will launch both as a packaged game at retail stores and as a digital download in the Nintendo eShop. The majority of Nintendo-published Nintendo 3DS games will have the same dual-distribution strategy. Likewise, the majority of Nintendo-published Wii U games will be available both as packaged products and as digital downloads starting on launch day.

These downloadable games will also be available for purchase at participating retail stores and on retailers' websites. Our customers can visit retail outlets or their online shopping sites, look for the products they want and pay for the product there. The retailers will then provide shoppers with a 16-digit code that can be exchanged in the Nintendo eShop for the game. This will give shoppers more options to find and purchase their favorite games. - Nintendo statement

Wow...this seems like an absolutely huge step for Nintendo to make. To go from not offering much with online content to this kind of support. The 3DS really got Nintendo's digital ball rolling!

Link

[Jet Pilot]

Our customers can visit retail outlets, look for the products they want and pay for the product there. The retailers will then provide shoppers with a 16-digit code that can be exchanged in the Nintendo eShop for the game.

Isn't the entire point of digital distribution from the consumer standpoint the fact that you don't need to make a trip to the store? If you're going to go to the store then you might as well just buy the packaged copy.

[Irritating Stick]

Great for them! I wonder what games will make the cut for retail/digital release and why?

[ddddd]

Great news. Im still keeping purchasing physical, but this will be very convenient for customers

@Jet Pilot
There is internet shopping. And the games will be available through the e-shop by themselves IIRC.

[The_King_of_Mars]

I would easily buy download codes from GameStop to give them away as prizes for StreetPass Los Angeles raffles. While I'm sure gamers would love the physical product, the codes allow for gamers to get a copy of the game without worry that the store will sell out of the product. I am somewhat curious as to how much this decision to go digital is due in part to used game sales and trade-ins since one can't exchange a game that has been downloaded to your Wii U or 3DS.

[geogaither]

Looks like i'll be getting animal crossing afterall!

[MasterofMonster]

That's neat. Though, personally, I much rather have them physically. ^^

[gtt]

I would easily buy download codes from GameStop to give them away as prizes for StreetPass Los Angeles raffles. While I'm sure gamers would love the physical product, the codes allow for gamers to get a copy of the game without worry that the store will sell out of the product. I am somewhat curious as to how much this decision to go digital is due in part to used game sales and trade-ins since one can't exchange a game that has been downloaded to your Wii U or 3DS.

probably very little. From nintendo's end, they probably like the 100%(or near) margins on digital sales.

[LegendofSantiago]

@umairhp Not sure if spam or just stupid...

[AnoukiAgentYellow]

Our customers can visit retail outlets, look for the products they want and pay for the product there. The retailers will then provide shoppers with a 16-digit code that can be exchanged in the Nintendo eShop for the game.

Isn't the entire point of digital distribution from the consumer standpoint the fact that you don't need to make a trip to the store? If you're going to go to the store then you might as well just buy the packaged copy.

If you're not on the internet everyday, how on earth will you know about a new video game? A lot of people impulse buy when they see something in the store. Oh look a new X game, I've enjoyed X games before, buy! The problem with going 100% digital is that un-techno-savvy customers will be left in the dust.

[Hyawatta]

Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=77437&p=567093&hilit=+Digital+Distribution+of+Retail+3DS+%26+Wii+U+Games#p567093

[Jet Pilot]

@AnoukiAgentYellow

If you're in the store then you might as well purchase the packaged copy. Didn't I say that already?

[Zaakro]

@Jet Pilot

One of the reasons they are going to sell it in the store as DL is because they know some people don't like to give out credit card numbers online.

[JPNR]

@AnoukiAgentYellow

If you're in the store then you might as well purchase the packaged copy. Didn't I say that already?

Well the other point of it is if the store doesn't have any more physical copies. You can still buy it and get the code if they run out of copies.

[NeroSuferoth]

There are some instances were digital may come handy, but I'll always go for the physical product.

[Zaakro]

@NeroSuferoth

Same, the only reason I would go digital is if the game is not a AAA title or is mini games like brain age

[LittleKingsWii]

It's a great way to give the people another option in getting games. So I am definitely for something like this.

But yeah, I can admit I will probably be leaning more towards owning the physical releases of games more that I really want.

[link2dpast]

Our customers can visit retail outlets, look for the products they want and pay for the product there. The retailers will then provide shoppers with a 16-digit code that can be exchanged in the Nintendo eShop for the game.

Isn't the entire point of digital distribution from the consumer standpoint the fact that you don't need to make a trip to the store? If you're going to go to the store then you might as well just buy the packaged copy.

I think the idea is that retailers will have control over what price they give their own digital copy of the software. This means that so long as you're willing you can actually get a digital version of a game for a cheaper price than you would off the Nintendo Network. Although when it comes to indie games you can ONLY find on the network, going to the retail shop and paying with cash instead of credit is the only way younger gamers can purchase those games.

[Jerome]

Yeah, this is a big, somewhat unexpected step for Nintendo to take right now. Partially because they've been so stand-offish when it comes to digital distribution in the past, and partially because their systems don't have much storage capacity for actually holding the games. People will have to shell out for at least one high-capacity SD card with 3DS, and if Wii U doesn't have a hard drive (as seems likely), a few games could fill a big SD card up.

[kdognumba1]

Nintendo is making huge strides with this. I'm actually really looking forward to this because I'm tired of having to look for games that went out of print. IE I'm looking for Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn new but can't find it anywhere that doesn't have it over $50 because it went out of print. If this was digital, I would of already gotten it.

[HammerGalladeBro]

I hope this means that out of print games like Planet Puzzle League or Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn get a second chance, they deserve it.

Hi! I'm a new user in GoNintendo, I hope I can enjoy the site as much as I enjoyed it when I was a Guest.

EDIT: Now that I think about it, another question I have is if Nintendo would allow third-parties to also sell their games both ways.

[gtt]

I hope this means that out of print games like Planet Puzzle League or Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn get a second chance, they deserve it.

Hi! I'm a new user in GoNintendo, I hope I can enjoy the site as much as I enjoyed it when I was a Guest.

yea, that's one of the huge awesome things about digital distribution. there is no more bs about 'out of print' or 'limited stock'. However, I expect nintendo to hold certain older games hostage and when they do release them, overcharge for them, a la the entire VC's history.

[WesFX]

Depends on the price difference, and in some cases the game, but I bet I'll mostly stick with retail versions. If the difference is $5 or so, I'd prefer to not take up the SD card space and get a box(art) out of it. And frankly, I know they'll be making less profit if I buy the retail version if the price difference is only that small, which they (and everyone else) deserve for not being fairer with digital version prices.

And, potentially, Amazon and other outlets will continue to have great deals on only the retail copies, better savings than the digital version.

But a game like Animal Crossing 3DS, I can't overlook the convenience of having that available at all times as a digital product.

[WesFX]

And if this needs to be restated for those that missed it; Iwata already said the digital version will be a bit cheaper. So that will be reason enough for some people to go with the digital version over the retail version.

[psycotic]

i think it would be cool if say you bought the physical copy they could give you the digital copy too. like they do for movies.

idk really know how it works for movies, i just thought it would be a cool idea for games too.
you can still have the physical copy for collection, but when traveling you wouldn't have to carry around so many game cards that might be lost