According to some analysts, the lineups at the mall on the release day of big games may be getting smaller in the near future. Not because games are becoming less popular, but because gamers are becoming more inclined to download them from an online store instead of getting off the couch to go buy it at the mall.

Console online services, such as Microsoft’s Xbox Live and the Playstation Network from Sony will be increasingly offering online games and services, and Steam from Valve has been offering these for the PC for a few years. Analysts are predicting that online sales of games will rise from 8% today to 22% in 2010.

One concern that I’ve had over online game sales, is that they are typically at or near the cost of retail games. This is a little too close to price gouging for many people, as the online games do not come with packaging, discs, or printed manuals. However, this does not appear to stop consumers. Perhaps convenience will win out over other factors.

Source: Ars Technica