Game designer American McGee believes that digital distribution and free-to-play are the best models for game developers, with traditional console gaming representing a ‘wrong turn’ for the industry.

“It feels to me that with the rise of mobile gaming and ubiquitous networking (social, multiplayer, cloud) alongside pure digital distribution we’re seeing significant change for the first time in 20 years.” the Alice: Madness Returns creator told Game Informer.

“I look back to the era of online, multiplayer PC gaming (DOOM, Command & Conquer, Ultima Online days) and see an absolute fork in the road with the rise of console gaming – a wrong turn, in my opinion.” he continued.

“We’re now back on the right path with developers being able to create and distribute directly to their audiences, with console development (in the current mode) having reached a critical peak and the traditional publishing model making way for a multitude of new paths.” McGee added.

His latest project is free-to-play multiplayer combat title BigHead BASH.

There’s more about the free-to-play distribution model here on The Train2Game Blog.

What are your thoughts on McGee’s comments? Do you think consoles represented a wrong turn for the industry? Are digital and free-to-play the best ways for developers to earn income?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.