Are digital downloads better than going to the store

I recently purchased my first digital download game, hitman blood money. This will probably be my last digital download. I purchased the game through the link here on gamespot. Everything worked fine. The download completed to my hard drive and right there alarms began to sound off in my head. The install file was only 690 mb. Now this might have been a good size for a game in the late 90’s but now most games ship on multiple cd’s or DVD’s and here I have an install file that’s only 690 mb. Anyway the game immediately started installing and that’s where the problems began. I get a popup message stating that “an additional file will be needed to install the game, click to continue” I click and nothing happens the download continually times out while trying to download pc_eng.str. I turn off my antivirus/firewall (even though I hate doing that), instant messenger programs, and all other services. Even disconnected from my router and hard wired directly into the cable modem. Still the download didn’t continue. I go to eidos website, and there’s no information available. I then hit Google and find other people having the same issue as me. Apparently there’s an additional file needed in order to install the English version of the game. I find a link to a site that has the file which so happens to be 1.8 gigs in size. Although the site is not an official eidos download site I download anyway. The download completes, I go to install the game and another popup hits for a file called hitmanbloodmoney.7z of course this download does not work, there’s no support on eidos and Google gives me another site (which so happens to be Russian or something) that has the file at 1.8 gigs in size. Keep in mind that there’s no download file management so at a range of 70kps-10kps there’s a possibility that I might loose my connection and will have to start all over. So now I have to get download management software in order to get these huge files.  I install firefox, all the downloads complete and the game was finally able to fully install. Now I am not upset about having to download a huge file. I expected the game to be huge. But I did expect after paying 40 dollars (which is more than the price at Best buy) that the file I download will be the complete game. Not that I have to go to alternate sites and download the rest of the game. As an added insult there was no support on eidos, gamespot which I purchased the game through, and eidos tech support did not write me back. I could have easily downloaded the game for free through torrents, but I do the right thing and almost loose 40 dollars because of poor service and support. Has anyone else had bad experience with digital downloads? Or Is this just an isolated case and I should try other games and companies? 

you should buy games from direct2drive, its part of IGN/fileplanet and i have never had any problems with it. I bought 2 games from it. Oh and steam, i bought HL2 and Dark messiah off of steam with no problems.zero9167

direct2drive is good, but I have heard that some games dont work on steam.

I think Jagged Alliance had some issues.

im in the military and stationed in germany i wanted to try digital download because ship times from the us can take about 2 weeks to get here. so downloading a game would be more convenient if it actually worked properly.

buying in a store sounds good, but what about for people who dont have that option. i thought this digital downloading would be a reasonable idea.

buying in a store sounds good, but what about for people who dont have that option. i thought this digital downloading would be a reasonable idea.

utm8547

well then for the 12 people at the south pole that cant get to a store in under a week of hard travel , id advise that they use a DL option. but for the rest of humanity that does have access to stores id say buy there first. but thats just a "Union" thing. im union and i prefer to support local.

im not sure why you had to bounce all around to get those files to begine with. if you bought the game as a DL it should have been all one package. if it wasnt id be dealing with whome ever i bought it from, and also calling my credit card company and stop the charge from being paid. not checking google to find the missing pieces. there shouldnt be any.

also, just doing a system restore doesnt allways clear out the crap.

depends....sounds like you got a crappy service.

i like steam because i can play a game when its released RIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.

I like being able to play a game THE INSTANT it is released (its just too bad valve takes like 5 years to make a game)

depends....sounds like you got a crappy service.

i like steam because i can play a game when its released RIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.

I like being able to play a game THE INSTANT it is released (its just too bad valve takes like 5 years to make a game)

out0v0rder

i like steam too.. i got a ton of games through steam.  i think the whole idea of digital downloads is a good one.. but they need some better compression... or i need a faster connection!  one of the two.. i had cable which was super fast (700kb/s) but now i am living on my own and can't afford anything better than dsl.  kinda sucks but it's still broadband... i would never go back to dialup!! LOL!

there is nothing better then buying a new game from the store, been so excited to play it on the train ride home that your reading the manual, and then sitting the box on your shelf with your other games.

ADF-Finster

I agree

I'm thinking of a game like Hearts Of Iron 2...I really don't want to wade through a pdf manual...for me games with thick manuals require a real manual!:D

Buy the disc, register it on a download service.

I have my CS, Orange Box, etc. DISCS. But I can download them anytime, anyplace from Steam if need be. Did the same with UT III, DoW II, and a few others.

NO....plain and simple. Buying from the store is always the best way to go.

To OP, first of all I recommend using Direct2Drive, Gamersgate, Steam and Impulse. These are all reputable DD companies and offer great deals on a weekly basis. Gamespot uses some 3rd party company called "TryGames.com" and I had a bad experience with them a while back. I don't recommend using it at all. As for you issues, it may be a port problem. Go to trygames.com and look for help to find the ports that need to be opened. Otherwise, ask for a refund and get the game on D2D.

DD is here to stay and I think it will be the primary or only way to get PC games in the near future, so we need to get used to it. Yes, there's a few kinks to be worked out but most of these services work exceptionally well.

Generally, I think patches come out in a decent timeframe. A lot of games are moving to a self-updating option anyway and I see that as a trend in the future. Some DD games work with regular patches.

Digital Distribution is a means of controlling the price of a free market economy. That's what I read and that's what I believe.. If you use the excuse "I can't travel to the store" but have a credit card to purchase online, browsing retailers will bring up the right price in your books. Yes you have to wait for the package to arrive, but something is better than nothing (box and manual vs nothing).jjtiebuckle

that is complete BS