I convinced myself that once Vita was released I would use it digitally. I had made my mind up before it was released and ahead of what I knew of the system's storage prices, and was preparing for my first "digital" games platform (not including smartphones).
And yet, a month after release, the only products I've bought digitally have been a few PSP classics and some social media apps. I've bought two Vita games, both from retail, simply because they were both cheaper in store than on the PlayStation Store.
I advocate for digital distribution because I see it as a convenient and simple transaction method, but I haven't become as much a digital embracer with Vita as I thought I would be.
I'm certainly waiting for the blockbuster release for the handheld, and the inability to buy a 32gb memory card in Australia has certainly held me back -- I don't see the purpose in going digital unless I have a lot of storage -- although I could easily pick one up online rather affordably.
I certainly like the online platform for Vita, and it's getting better on 3DS, but by taking a look at the most downloaded Vita games, it's clear that it's the cheaper, smaller games that are being downloaded the most.
Which certainly raises a few questions for me, although it's to be expected that discounted games are going to outsell dearer one. But the fact that Rayman Origins was downloaded more than Uncharted: Golden Abyss suggests to me that most people are saving the big games for retail, but turning to online platforms for quick, cheap games, not unlike how people purchase on the smartphones of the world.
I feel as though I'm doing that without even realising. I recently wanted to buy Unit 13, but found myself in JB Hi-Fi purchasing a copy. It was certainly the idea that the game would take up most if not all of the room on my 4gb card that forced me into retail, but I can't help but admit that it was a barrier stopping me from going digital and buying the game online.
I wonder how retailers and platform holders will address this: to not only offer a digital service, but to make that digital service more appealing than the retail counterpart, because I've realised that just having a functioning online store isn't quite as appealing as I'd imagined if both the price and storage issues remain a concern.
Such concerns don't exist for something like Steam, because obviously there's the consumer's computer there for storage and transfer. But with a mobile device it feels to me like I'm being strangled as my storage space is used up so quickly.
I will eventually make that transition, once I eventually get my hands on a 32gb memory card that will hopefully come with a Sony Australia warranty, but until then I'm not the easy convert to digital distribution as I once thought I'd be.
By Gaetano Prestia - Tweet @Gaetano_Prestia
How has Vita changed how you think about digital distribution?