Google Stadia charges a subscription fee for the stream and another for each game
If Netflix charged for a subscription and then charged for each movie, I'd drop the service. Isn't this what Stadia does?
I love physical media! I'll choose it every day over any form of digital entertainment. Now that i've said that... Google had a public stream about it's cloud-based gaming service, Stadia. The gave a bit more info including price, some games to expect at launch, and some packages with controllers.
The base subscription is $9.99 each month. On top of this you have to buy the games you want to stream (play). There is a bundle that includes some free games, but even that tier requires purchasing games. But what are you buying? The privilege to play?
So, you pay you subscription fee, but that only gets you one game right now - Destiny 2. Subsequent games will be bought - not rented - and Google makes a point of this distinction. But this isn't like Nintendo's eShop where you buy and download a game to your Switch. While I prefer physical media, that eShop download is actually on your console. This is where Stadia differs. Nothing is downloaded. You simply have access to play any games you purchase.
Stadia seems to be selling play-anywhere convenience, rather than a better gaming experience.
I was curious to find out how much games will cost. A lot. Well, that's relative. I'm accustomed to cheaper games on Nintendo's eShop along with the full priced AAA games you'll find on retail shelves. Stadia is a cloud service who's purpose is to port your games to any Chrome-compatible device. Games on Stadia are the same price you'd find them at any other reseller. So, you're paying to stream, not own, games that cost the same as physical copies.
The younger generation is accustomed to streams and clouds. They haven't lived long enough to have their favorite song or movie "removed". Guys like me laugh at the premise of Stadia. One of the touted benefits of digital media was the cost savings that would be passed on to consumers. Didn't happen. If I can't hold it in my hand, you can't charge me for it. Sorry, Stadia... you're not for me.
Physical Media Is King
I feel we're entering an age where we're being trained to own nothing. From music to movies and video games, streaming and downloading is taking over. I have a lot of DVDs, laserdiscs, and CDs that are out of print and not offered on streams. I don't want to be tethered to someone else's media or service. As long as I have electricity, I'm good to go.
Each month when Netflix releases the movies being dropped, I wonder why anyone bothers with this. I have a Firestick and it takes forever to go through it's offerings. It's more of a chore to find a movie on it than pull a DVD off my shelf.
