Hard Copy or Digital Copy

Its seems that the wave of the future to release everything as digital copies. Video games in the past have always been released as hardcopies, but this generation of games has started a trend of downloadable games and downloadable add-ons. It seems there is a move to release games exclusively as digital copies.

I am just curious what you gamers think of games being released as digital only. Do you prefer having a hard copy? Are you ok with future games being exclusive to digital only?

Personally, I don't like this digital only trend. I started gaming with the SNES, and have always purchased games as hard copies. I like having a physical copy of a game and I am not looking forward to digital only releases.

I hate the idea of games going digital. Digital and physical? Fine. Given the choice I'd always go for a physical copy.

I hate the idea of games going digital. Digital and physical? Fine. Given the choice I'd always go for a physical copy.

The_89

I agree. I guess I just fear something happening to the digital copy, whether it gets deleted or corrupted. PSN and Live have a good system where if you can re-download it with the same account, but I'd still rather have that physical copy

I hate the idea of games going digital. Digital and physical? Fine. Given the choice I'd always go for a physical copy.

The_89

This all the way.

I agree. I guess I just fear something happening to the digital copy, whether it gets deleted or corrupted. PSN and Live have a good system where if you can re-download it with the same account, but I'd still rather have that physical copy

TheRaiderNation

I think part of me is against it as the data could be corrupted, or the servers shut down or whatever, but on the other hand our discs could break, and then there would be no chance of getting another copy without spending more money. Personally the biggest reason is pretty much just because I like collecting games and actually having a shelf full of games is a lot more impressive to me than showing off a list. But I guess we have to deal with it. The digital age is coming as the developers can make more money from it, makes piracy a lot harder, if not impossible, and the majority of gamers (casual included) aren't collectors and don't care about owning a physical copy of anything anymore.

What I'd like is for games to follow the movie model - many DVDs/Blu Rays nowadays are being released with hard copies AND digital copies, just in case. Gaming following this model, I think, it'd be a pleasant safeguard, but it'd obviously bring its own problems.

[QUOTE="TheRaiderNation"]

I agree. I guess I just fear something happening to the digital copy, whether it gets deleted or corrupted. PSN and Live have a good system where if you can re-download it with the same account, but I'd still rather have that physical copy

The_89

I think part of me is against it as the data could be corrupted, or the servers shut down or whatever, but on the other hand our discs could break, and then there would be no chance of getting another copy without spending more money. Personally the biggest reason is pretty much just because I like collecting games and actually having a shelf full of games is a lot more impressive to me than showing off a list. But I guess we have to deal with it. The digital age is coming as the developers can make more money from it, makes piracy a lot harder, if not impossible, and the majority of gamers (casual included) aren't collectors and don't care about owning a physical copy of anything anymore.

You bring up a very good point. I do collect games as well and I think this another reason why I like have a phyiscal copy of every game I own.

What I'd like is for games to follow the movie model - many DVDs/Blu Rays nowadays are being released with hard copies AND digital copies, just in case. Gaming following this model, I think, it'd be a pleasant safeguard, but it'd obviously bring its own problems.

Cerberus_Legion

That would be a nice system but you are right with this bringing up some problems. I can already see someone buying a game and then letting their friend download the digital copy. That would have to put some system in place to control that.

My internet has never been the greatest, so going out and buying a physical copy would be quicker than waiting for it to download.

I always like to own a physical copy of a game I hate buying downloads but if downloads are the only versionavailableI'd download the game.

I hate the idea of games going digital. Digital and physical? Fine. Given the choice I'd always go for a physical copy.

The_89

I prefer the physical copy,though I have nothing against digital copies,as they have their benefits.

physical copy is better

physical.. i like to collect things.. data is annoying

As gaming becomes more and more digital, I sadly see my days as a gamer gradually coming to an end. As bad as things are now, they're only going to get that much worse in the future, so in all likelyhood this will be my last generation of console gaming. Sonic 4 being download only is the absolute final straw for me. There's been other games that I've been interested in, but due to them being download exclusive, I've been unable to play, as my consoles are not online. Those other games have only slightly irritated me, but Sonic 4 completely pisses me off. I spent hundreds of dollars on my console as it is, yet why is it that I'm still being restricted on what games I can or cannot play on it? It's repulsive.

Now, I can somewhat understand the need for such a feature on really obscure games that would never find the shelf space in stores anyways. But big name titles like Mega Man and Sonic? I think New Super Mario Bros has more than proven that such games would continue to fare perfectly well in stores, and I'm quite frankly insulted that such games are available exclusively to those who are online with their consoles. I fully support physical copies over digital.

Digital games are really impersonal as well. Just think, some years from now when kids ask their parents for that new big game for Christmas. On Christmas morning, though, they won't have a gift for them under the tree waiting for them to open up. No, instead, they'll have to turn on the console and see what games Mommy and Daddy downloaded for them. It just feels so artificial...

The state of the digital format is just off at the moment. I've spent money on xbox live - geometry wars, mortal kombat, etc - and last summer the console RRODed. I get my returned console and now I have to reconnect to live to get my games? That's messed up. There needs to be some kind of reciept, or a more established way of proving ownership over a product. If a company is selling PacMan over xbox live and I decide to buy it--I sure as heck don't want to be sold the same game on the next generation of consoles, or even the one after that. If I buy PacMan, I own it and I don't want to be sold the same product--And I don't care if the resolution is slightly improved or there are a few more features.

I only go for a Hard Copy of a game if I happen to pass by a game I wanted for a low price. 95% of the time, I'm buying stuff off of Steam.

I honestly prefer physical copies of games, but I really like the sales that D2D services like Steam have. It's also nice not having to put in the disc, but I still like to have a disc somewhere just in case.

There aren't even 296 Xbox games worth owning!!! No wonder we're still shovel fed crap games.:)

There aren't even 296 Xbox games worth owning!!! No wonder we're still shovel fed crap games.:)Heirren

[QUOTE="Heirren"]There aren't even 296 Xbox games worth owning!!! No wonder we're still shovel fed crap games.:)muthsera666

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="Heirren"]There aren't even 296 Xbox games worth owning!!! No wonder we're still shovel fed crap games.:)Heirren

No system ever released has 300 good games.

I sell alot of my un-used games so i don't like the idea of digital only

No system ever released has 300 good games.

Heirren

There's two things that would make me consider DD as a viable alternative: being able to burn my downloaded game onto a disk, or give me a large discount. Even then it'd be pushing it.

No system ever released has 300 good games.

Heirren

I don't curl up with game boxes like a little girl with her teddy bear, so I've got no problem with either form of distribution.

I've gotten some awesome deals off Steam (the entire Xcom collection for 2 dollars), the type of deals a retailer would never offer.

Also, a a guy with a wide range of tastes, DD isuseful because it makes releasing niche games easier (due to considerations of space and profitability, retailers are more interested in stocking megafranchises, used games and casual games with big plastic peripherals than new niche games). If there are only 20K people in the US interested in a game, shipping all over the country will result in some stores not having enough and some stores having too much. Make the game downloadable and everyone who wants it can play it (In the US, Siren and Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This? spring to mind).

On a related note, indie games have hit the X360 and PS3 in a big way thanks to digital distribution (Castle Crashers, Geometry Wars, Pixeljunk Shooter, Flower, Braid, etc). Their games are smaller budget but can be just as fun as their big budget counterparts.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy disk based games (right now I have Bioshock 2, Heavy Rain, GoW3 and FF13 reserved) but there are lots of good things going on in the download arena.

I much prefer hard copies of games. I'm not opposed to digital copies though, especially if that was the only option.

No system ever released has 300 good games.Heirren

[QUOTE="Heirren"]No system ever released has 300 good games.muthsera666

Okay then name 300 good games for a system and get at least one other person to agree with you.

[QUOTE="muthsera666"][QUOTE="Heirren"]No system ever released has 300 good games.Heirren

Okay then name 300 good games for a system and get at least one other person to agree with you.

Seriously dude just drop it. Just because YOU don't think there has been a system the has ever had that many good games on it doesn't make it true. People have different tastes. Get over it.

Anyway as to the topic at hand I will always pick the physical copy over a digital one. I like all the things that come with getting the physical copy such as simply having a case, manual, cover, etc. I also enjoy having a visible collection plus I like that if I ever want to trade, sell, or lend my games I can do so easily. I have nothing against digital distribution being available as an option though. It's great for games that aren't in print anymore and I really like some of the stuff on XBLA, PSN, and Wii-ware/VC.

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

[QUOTE="muthsera666"] I disagree.Archangel3371

Okay then name 300 good games for a system and get at least one other person to agree with you.

Seriously dude just drop it. Just because YOU don't think there has been a system the has ever had that many good games on it doesn't make it true. People have different tastes. Get over it.

Anyway as to the topic at hand I will always pick the physical copy over a digital one. I like all the things that come with getting the physical copy such as simply having a case, manual, cover, etc. I also enjoy having a visible collection plus I like that if I ever want to trade, sell, or lend my games I can do so easily. I have nothing against digital distribution being available as an option though. It's great for games that aren't in print anymore and I really like some of the stuff on XBLA, PSN, and Wii-ware/VC.

I did drop it--I just prefer some form of reasoning over a blind statement. But part of my point is that if people are buying 300 xbox games, the people making the bulk of the money from these purchases only see digital download as a way to increase profit. They'll find ways to justify it--it's "greener"--it saves space for gamers--afterall 300 games for just one system takes up a whole lot of space. They can look at the target demographic, establish what age/income group is the number one factor in game sales, and reason from there. Is it a kid living out of a room? A one bedroom apt? A studio? From this standpoint, digital download becomes far more marketable.

Its interesting that majority opinion is that gamers prefer physical copies of digital downloads, yet the industry is moving to digital downloads.

A few of you seemed to be ok with digital downloads if the price dropped, I would guess that since production of hard copies of games account for a small portion of the game (compared to the development costs) that the price of a full retail game would not drop. If it did drop, my guess is it would be a small price drop ($5 to $10 dollars).

If the industry moves completely to digital downloads, places like Gamestop would suffer because you are essentially taking the sale of games out of the retail stores, not too mention completely eliminating used game sales.

Also renting games is out of the question.....unless digital downloads can be "rented" and inactivated after a peroid of time. I rent games alot if I am on the fence about purchasing a game. Borrowing games from friends however looks to be elminated for sure if digital downloads are the way of the future.

Digital games are really impersonal as well. Just think, some years from now when kids ask their parents for that new big game for Christmas. On Christmas morning, though, they won't have a gift for them under the tree waiting for them to open up. No, instead, they'll have to turn on the console and see what games Mommy and Daddy downloaded for them. It just feels so artificial...

TGM_basic

Sorry for the double post, but I completely agree

[QUOTE="TGM_basic"]

Digital games are really impersonal as well. Just think, some years from now when kids ask their parents for that new big game for Christmas. On Christmas morning, though, they won't have a gift for them under the tree waiting for them to open up. No, instead, they'll have to turn on the console and see what games Mommy and Daddy downloaded for them. It just feels so artificial...

TheRaiderNation

Sorry for the double post, but I completely agree

I like digital downloads for cheap games.

But when its 60 bucks a pop. I like to have a way to get some of my money back.

i prefer a physical copy mainly because i like to build a collection of DVDs/Blu-Rays/Games/CDs