New Company Idea

**Bman** · March 17th, 2008

Let me ask you guys (even though if it is good, you can probably steal it)

We have places like Steam & Direct2Drive, which allows you to pay for a download of a game and you receive a key for it. I was thinking there should be a company that first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done). The main thing that I want, is a place where I can buy the game and get a download and key right away, but I also enjoy and want the box and artwork and all that. With all the direct download places you only get the download.

Is this possible? How hard do you think it would be to start up a company like this? If not me, someone else.

Good idea? Bad Idea? Let me know.

**Dark Atheist** · March 17th, 2008

Originally Posted by Bman

first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done)

not as hard as you think

- they do the download thing as its cheaper for them to do this, if they have to send out the game as well you can look at it as they are paying twice - bandwidth for the download and posting of the game in the box

**Bman** · March 17th, 2008

I figured that, but there must be a way to do it at not extreme costs. If the industry worked together it is possible, yet that probably won't happen.

**dubstar** · March 17th, 2008

you actually didnt make a claim or reference what the company would do... I assume it would be to send out an empty box for the game?

I dont think that would be a profitable company.

**Bman** · March 18th, 2008

No, the company would give the download and the key, and would also send the full retail boxed game if the person wants it. (not with a key) This would also probably make the game cost a bit more to get the box as well. Obviously this is hard to do, but I think it's a good idea, and there has to be a way to do it.

**Dark Atheist** · March 18th, 2008

goes back to the point i made they would have to pay 2x for the game - its cheaper for them to do the download thats why they do it, unless you had a deal with the game publisher whereby you could get the game at cost for the hard copy

**dubstar** · March 18th, 2008

but then you take a step back from the purpose of a digital download. I understand from a box-collectors point of view, but not from a business stance.

**Bman** · March 18th, 2008

No, that is my point, there is no business stance to this. I am not saying I would be the one to do this, I am just saying I think it would be a good idea.

The boxed version should be an option, say if it was Steam to do it. You get the download like normal, but on purchase you could check or uncheck send boxed contents as well.

I know it's more expensive, but I think it would be a great thing 2 do for the gaming community. Direct downloads should be 50% cheaper, and if they were this would work. Then when you choose to send the boxed items as well it would cost normal price.

**Sazar** · March 18th, 2008

Originally Posted by Bman

Let me ask you guys (even though if it is good, you can probably steal it)

We have places like Steam & Direct2Drive, which allows you to pay for a download of a game and you receive a key for it. I was thinking there should be a company that first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done). The main thing that I want, is a place where I can buy the game and get a download and key right away, but I also enjoy and want the box and artwork and all that. With all the direct download places you only get the download.

Is this possible? How hard do you think it would be to start up a company like this? If not me, someone else.

Good idea? Bad Idea? Let me know.

Steam has the download portion covered so I would not consider competing against them at this point.

Regarding the other portion, it's a little more complicated than just providing a box and artwork.

The reason Steam was created was because Valve did not want to have to answer to the whims of publishers who can call the shots on content, advertising and release dates. If you get into distribution YOU have to deal with those publishers and provide them with their cut as well as the devs.

It could get complicated, which is why most places prefer doing downloads. Rental is a different story, but most certainly, you would need to take everything into account before you get this company off the ground.

**Dark Atheist** · March 18th, 2008

if you have to pay for the d/l bw and the cost of the game on cd/dvd and postage - you can see where the cost comes from, if the costomer is willing to pay for the two options it could work, but into days climate people want things for as cheap as they can get them

**vern** · March 18th, 2008

Steam games don't even have keys. It doesn't need it since games are tied to your account. Having all games in one place is going to be pretty hard with all the different developers and publishers wanting it their way. Best bet, elect me lifetime dictator of the world and I'll set the industry straight.

**epk** · March 18th, 2008

u can box ur steam backups and get the game's cover on some websites

**Sazar** · March 18th, 2008

Originally Posted by vern

Steam games don't even have keys. It doesn't need it since games are tied to your account. Having all games in one place is going to be pretty hard with all the different developers and publishers wanting it their way. Best bet, elect me lifetime dictator of the world and I'll set the industry straight.

They have keys but it's embedded.

March 17th, 2008	Top \| #1
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	New Company Idea Let me ask you guys (even though if it is good, you can probably steal it) We have places like Steam & Direct2Drive, which allows you to pay for a download of a game and you receive a key for it. I was thinking there should be a company that first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done). The main thing that I want, is a place where I can buy the game and get a download and key right away, but I also enjoy and want the box and artwork and all that. With all the direct download places you only get the download. Is this possible? How hard do you think it would be to start up a company like this? If not me, someone else. Good idea? Bad Idea? Let me know.

March 17th, 2008	Top \| #2
Dark Atheist OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,373 Blog Entries: 9 Reputation: 1877 Power: 193	Re: New Company Idea Originally Posted by Bman first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done) not as hard as you think - they do the download thing as its cheaper for them to do this, if they have to send out the game as well you can look at it as they are paying twice - bandwidth for the download and posting of the game in the box

March 17th, 2008	Top \| #3
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: New Company Idea I figured that, but there must be a way to do it at not extreme costs. If the industry worked together it is possible, yet that probably won't happen.

March 17th, 2008	Top \| #4
dubstar format c: Joined: December 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,358 Reputation: 50 Power: 129	Re: New Company Idea you actually didnt make a claim or reference what the company would do... I assume it would be to send out an empty box for the game? I dont think that would be a profitable company. QuistPro: 13" macbook pro. mid 2009. 10.6.4 box360: xbox 360 elite apple airport extreme / fios / 10mb/2mb retired: nerdBox: a7n8x-d / xp pro / 2800 athlon xp quistBox: xbox 1.6b / 250g / xenium ice mod-chip quistServ: dell pEdge 600sc / 2k3 blackthorne: dell e1505 / mce / 1.83 duo iQuist: White 3g iPhone / 16g / jailbroken / unlocked TMobile quistMobile: tmobile mda quistMobile2: htc g1

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #5
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: New Company Idea No, the company would give the download and the key, and would also send the full retail boxed game if the person wants it. (not with a key) This would also probably make the game cost a bit more to get the box as well. Obviously this is hard to do, but I think it's a good idea, and there has to be a way to do it.

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March 18th, 2008	Top \| #6
Dark Atheist OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,373 Blog Entries: 9 Reputation: 1877 Power: 193	Re: New Company Idea goes back to the point i made they would have to pay 2x for the game - its cheaper for them to do the download thats why they do it, unless you had a deal with the game publisher whereby you could get the game at cost for the hard copy

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #7
dubstar format c: Joined: December 2002 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,358 Reputation: 50 Power: 129	Re: New Company Idea but then you take a step back from the purpose of a digital download. I understand from a box-collectors point of view, but not from a business stance. QuistPro: 13" macbook pro. mid 2009. 10.6.4 box360: xbox 360 elite apple airport extreme / fios / 10mb/2mb retired: nerdBox: a7n8x-d / xp pro / 2800 athlon xp quistBox: xbox 1.6b / 250g / xenium ice mod-chip quistServ: dell pEdge 600sc / 2k3 blackthorne: dell e1505 / mce / 1.83 duo iQuist: White 3g iPhone / 16g / jailbroken / unlocked TMobile quistMobile: tmobile mda quistMobile2: htc g1

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #8
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: New Company Idea No, that is my point, there is no business stance to this. I am not saying I would be the one to do this, I am just saying I think it would be a good idea. The boxed version should be an option, say if it was Steam to do it. You get the download like normal, but on purchase you could check or uncheck send boxed contents as well. I know it's more expensive, but I think it would be a great thing 2 do for the gaming community. Direct downloads should be 50% cheaper, and if they were this would work. Then when you choose to send the boxed items as well it would cost normal price.

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #9
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,888 Reputation: 4110 Power: 313	Re: New Company Idea Originally Posted by Bman Let me ask you guys (even though if it is good, you can probably steal it) We have places like Steam & Direct2Drive, which allows you to pay for a download of a game and you receive a key for it. I was thinking there should be a company that first off has all the games that are released (easier said then done). The main thing that I want, is a place where I can buy the game and get a download and key right away, but I also enjoy and want the box and artwork and all that. With all the direct download places you only get the download. Is this possible? How hard do you think it would be to start up a company like this? If not me, someone else. Good idea? Bad Idea? Let me know. Steam has the download portion covered so I would not consider competing against them at this point. Regarding the other portion, it's a little more complicated than just providing a box and artwork. The reason Steam was created was because Valve did not want to have to answer to the whims of publishers who can call the shots on content, advertising and release dates. If you get into distribution YOU have to deal with those publishers and provide them with their cut as well as the devs. It could get complicated, which is why most places prefer doing downloads. Rental is a different story, but most certainly, you would need to take everything into account before you get this company off the ground. Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #10
Dark Atheist OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,373 Blog Entries: 9 Reputation: 1877 Power: 193	Re: New Company Idea if you have to pay for the d/l bw and the cost of the game on cd/dvd and postage - you can see where the cost comes from, if the costomer is willing to pay for the two options it could work, but into days climate people want things for as cheap as they can get them

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #11
vern Dominus Joined: March 2002 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 1,570 Reputation: 660 Power: 146	Re: New Company Idea Steam games don't even have keys. It doesn't need it since games are tied to your account. Having all games in one place is going to be pretty hard with all the different developers and publishers wanting it their way. Best bet, elect me lifetime dictator of the world and I'll set the industry straight. free illegal pr0n @ ribbed.us

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #12
epk OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: October 2006 Location: Buenos Aires Posts: 1,242 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 951 Power: 90	Re: New Company Idea u can box ur steam backups and get the game's cover on some websites My Battlefield 2 Stats Page My Youtube account, I have some cool game videos there << check it!! (:

March 18th, 2008	Top \| #13
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,888 Reputation: 4110 Power: 313	Re: New Company Idea Originally Posted by vern Steam games don't even have keys. It doesn't need it since games are tied to your account. Having all games in one place is going to be pretty hard with all the different developers and publishers wanting it their way. Best bet, elect me lifetime dictator of the world and I'll set the industry straight. They have keys but it's embedded. Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

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