The digital age = empty pockets

[therealjaxon]

It wasn't that long ago that we were safe in our hobby. You would buy a game, complete it, shelve it or trade it in. Now of course we find that publishers are finding new ways to 'create income' using digital media. Now, when you buy a game, you can virtually guarantee there will be missing content, be it missing levels (Assassins Creed), extra cars to purchase (Forza), map packs (pick any FPS) and even additional tracks for Guitar Hero/Rock Band - all stuff that i would say could easily have been left in at the start.
Anyways, we're all used to that now but i was dissapointed to hear that ITV are considering pay per view - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... ofits.html

IMO, this digital revolution has been created for one purpose - to introduce another way to drain money from the consumer. Sitting in your armchair has never been so expensive, and it'll get a lot worse as time goes on. Am i right or wrong?

[Rotek]

Note that that article was written in January, and ITV posted a profit for the first six months of the year just today for the first time in quite a while. I very much doubt that they're going to go ahead with that plan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10848396

What pisses me off, actually, is that when you pay a subscription for digital TV, like Sky's range of channels, you still have to sit through adverts during the show. This makes very little sense. Many American premium channels - most notably HBO - don't have the ads because they're funded entirely by subscription fees and outside investment. Pretty much every major satellite channel in our country still shows ads though, despite at least some (Sky1, the sports channels, etc.) being funded by subscription fees.

[Sly Reflex]

ITV are sorely misunderstood if they think people are going to be willing to pay for ITV2, 3 and 4. I just looked and on ITV2 we have a repeat of Loose Women, a triple bill of Judge Judy and then All Star Mr & Mrs. All repeats. ITV3 has Daily Cook Challenge, Goodnight Sweetheart, Heartbeat and Darling Buds of May. All repeats. On ITV4 we have The Saint, Motorsport UK, Minder and Police Camera Action. All repeats, although at least Motorsport UK is on at a reasonable time, ITV1 normally show it at about 4am in the morning. If they start charging for those channels, I would just stop watching. I don't watch much as it is. I know they have football on there but football is of no interest to me. On the sport related note, Sky Sports News is withdrawing from Freeview come September. TBH, if they did start charging for this I will probably have more money in my pocket because I am not watching the adverts on the breaks.

[Tlix]

Doesn't really affect me as I don't watch TV but will affect my degus. They like to watch ITV3 with all the old stuff on. Dunno what it is but they don't enjoy anything else and refuse to watch any other cooking program other then Daily Cooks. They are gonna be pretty grumpy if I've got to tell them they can't watch it

[PlatinumSpectre]

Haha, I love ITV3 for Goodnight Sweetheart and Upstairs Downstairs

[therealjaxon]

Note that that article was written in January, and ITV posted a profit for the first six months of the year just today for the first time in quite a while. I very much doubt that they're going to go ahead with that plan.

I heard it on the news today, didn't realise it was old news - how about: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/ar ... alent.html or this http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/14 ... TV-shows-/

[DifferentClass]

Thing is, I can honestly say I never watch ITV. This will be pretty easy to turn down if it becomes pay-per-view. TV stations are losing viewers left right and centre so I guess they are trying to maximise profits from the remaining viewers, can't see it working to be honest.

I'm not worried about the digital future at all, if I think something isn't worth the asking price I won't buy it, simple. And ITV isn't even worth your time, let alone your money.

[fatboyslick]

Note that that article was written in January, and ITV posted a profit for the first six months of the year just today for the first time in quite a while. I very much doubt that they're going to go ahead with that plan.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10848396

What pisses me off, actually, is that when you pay a subscription for digital TV, like Sky's range of channels, you still have to sit through adverts during the show. This makes very little sense. Many American premium channels - most notably HBO - don't have the ads because they're funded entirely by subscription fees and outside investment. Pretty much every major satellite channel in our country still shows ads though, despite at least some (Sky1, the sports channels, etc.) being funded by subscription fees.

Exactly!

It's disgusting to see adverts for a PPV service I think. Yes, I can cope with them between two shows to allow for a cup of tea break, but to do it mid show is wrong.

Adverts dont half take up a lot of airtime thought..eg. US tv shows that are an hour long are in actual fact 40 minutes

[therealjaxon]

I'm not worried about the digital future at all, if I think something isn't worth the asking price I won't buy it, simple. And ITV isn't even worth your time, let alone your money.

Yes, but the day will come when everything will have to be paid for - every tiny little thing.....there is no escape mwah ha ha ha!!

[CcraiggyO]

I'm not worried about the digital future at all, if I think something isn't worth the asking price I won't buy it, simple. And ITV isn't even worth your time, let alone your money.

Yes, but the day will come when everything will have to be paid for - every tiny little thing.....there is no escape mwah ha ha ha!!

But then we can pick and choose what we want, and the fun begins

[Kingcrimsonprog]

On a similar note, if you buy a digital cop of a game, you cat sell it on in gamestation etc, further leading to empty pockets.

[Shaolin_monkey]

Looking back on the last three decades, every form of entertainment has led to empty pockets for me. Before VHS there was cinema. Go in, pay your money, eat your popcorn, watch the film once. That was your lot!

VHS and Betamax came along. I pity the fools that though quality would win out, as betamax died a death quickly. Those who invested in it had their pockets emptied sharpish. A few years later, I had my pockets emptied, as I realised my massive collection of VHS videos was near worthless, and ended up selling them at 25p each to Blockbuster, while they were still taking them!

Also, cassettes and vinyl. While I still have a few old vinyl squirrelled away for nostalgia's sake, I still remember the day I realised I had replaced all my music in CD form, and emptied three shelves worth of tapes into a binbag and put them outside my door for collection. I spent a bloody fortune on vinyl and tape back in the day.

CDs - I have gazillions of the buggers. Most of them are now on my PC, and I'm getting the large majority of new stuff from iTunes or Amazon MP3. My CDs therefore were money down the drain, as no doubt I'll be getting shot of them within the next decade too.

DVDs - I have stacks of the buggers. Now Blu-ray and digital download are coming in. Pretty soon my DVD collection will go the way of the Dodo.

So all in all, throughout the years I've emptied my pockets into a variety of forms of entertainment. They have all proven fleeting and transitory. I expect digital downloads will be no different. get used to it dude. the folks in charge are always going to look at ways to fleece you. It's as certain as death and taxes.

On the plus side, at least I know my Steam collection can be downloaded to every laptop and PC I own or will posses in the future. OS allowing, that is.

Come to think of it, the only form of entertainment that has, and always will remain true, are books. I own books I was given in my early teens. They've never gone out of fashion or been superceded by technology. I own books that are over a hundred years old, and are as enjoyable and accessible as they were then.

Books rock. Technology sucks.

That is all.

[The+Deleted]

ITV charging for programmes... the shite they put out...

[therealjaxon]

@Shaolin Monkey: Yeah books have had it easy so far, but even they aren't completely safe - you can buy digital versions of books to download now. How long will it be before a collection of books is worth nothing more than a place in the recycling bin?
The way i see it, it's all going in one direction, the removal of the ability for the consumer to make money out of media thus increasing profits for the companys - you buy a cd, record it, sell it on - you buy a dvd, watch it loads, sell it on - buy a game, play it loads, sell it on. you get the idea.
This digital way, everyone has to purchase from the respective company (or a distributor) rather than buying it second hand somewhere. Even time deletion can now be included (you know, after 30 days it will erase itself) so even if you have paid for something you will lose it anyway!

[The+Deleted]

Books will always be around. You're ignoring all those lavish photography collection or special interest titles with beautiful illustrations. The iPad et al is never going to take the place of sitting with a book that measures 3ft and has great pictures.