why do they think games on SD style cards would be a blow?  how is retailing an SD game different to a DVD game - cost is all I think of. 

I think most game sales will come from downloads and the SD will just be used as a physical version but likely more expensive.

pretty much what they're doing on PS Vita I guess.  I'd rather have the physical copy - can't trade in a download!

I can't imagine ever owning a console where I didn't have nice games to put on the shelf, half the fun of it.

well I'll be counting myself out of a purchase of this machine, Real copies or no dice, downloadable content is only a way of monitoring user, their likes and dislikes, maximum sales quotes and the likes are more easily identified via download distribution , plus this allows them to up the anti when ever they feel like it, it kills the second hand market out right, this digital downloading is nothing more  than a way of control to the end user.

I really hope they dont go fully DL, market is nowhere near ready for that. People still want something real that they can see and hold.

I'm a massive fan of owning the game in my hand and being able to place it on my shelf too. I don't like the idea of having to worry that some company will dissolve and I'll lose the ability to play the games I bought for whatever reason.

The only way I will buy the new one is if the Kinect is compatible on it, I WILL NOT Buy a new one, and if my games are also compatible, I don't want to have to have 2 xboxes so I can play my old games and new stuff, that will just suck, they should be able to implement a kind of backwards compatibility or they will alienate a lot of customers imho

I have to buck the trend here and say that as an avid Steam and GOG user (and a not-so-avid user of Origin) I'm quite happy with having non-physical copies of games. Certainly in the case of games that I'm not going to get on day 1, I'm really not that bothered at all about owning some generic box. When I do buy the physical game I'm much happier when there's a CE because I like all the silly little trinkets. A boring old box does nothing for me. (Don't quote that out of context, you lot [grin]).

The practicalities of it are problematic I suppose, with high-speed uncapped internet not being available to all. And although I got the impression (from the Eurogamer article that ran this story) that games could be distributed on some kind of solid state format, with a blank 16Gb SD card still costing about £8 I have to admit that's not a cost-effective alternative to optical discs.

I can't imagine ever owning a console where I didn't have nice games to put on the shelf, half the fun of it.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

I do really want a 720 though as I love my 360.  I've enjoyed collecting it's games over the years.

MS seem to be big (or at least the 3rd party developers), on relesasing special edition with collectable items included.  It would be a shame to see those go too.

what I really want is a £99 xbox 360 version for a couple
more years. the ps2 was much cheaper than this at the
same part of its lifecycle.

I think that Microsoft will be giving their loyal customers a swift and hefty kick in the goolies with regard to backwards compatibility if they don't include an optical drive. Recent consoles have all given their users some degree of backwards compatibility which keeps them buying the next generation.

Do you think that previous 360 owners will want to pay out again for their favorite games that they already own on download or solid state card? Again, it's another blow for the pre-owned market. It's sad but it just shows the utter greed of big business.