20 Years? Everyone in JP Knows to Download Game Clients

With the rapid progress of Internet and related technologies, digital distribution is marching into our life at an unprecedented pace. Not only retailers but also many publishers are starting to seek digital distribution opportunities, so as to explore and seize new markets beforehand. But Satoru Iwata, president of Nintendo, believes that another 20 years at least will be necessary before digital distribution takes over.

"Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time," Iwata said at a recent Nintendo briefing. "But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time."

"In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital," said Iwata. "In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in five or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then."

Habits of life, Iwata pointed out, don't change such radically and quickly. "Especially for the expanded audience of various people," he added, "to whom we are and will be trying to appeal, I believe their habits will change more slowly."

A player's humorous comment: Twenty years? Won't we have flying cars then? We can then "fly" to the game store closest to our home and get a copy of New New Super Mario Brothers, can't we?