Digital Distribution, is there a point to physical copies?

So these days with services like Steam for newer games (and a few other services like GFWL, D2D) and GoodOldGames for older titles, we have a lot of games coming at us digitally. A lot of the time, you can find massive deals, or cheap prices by default. Instead of scowering ebay for Planescape: Torment, or pirating it, you can get it off GOG now for like $9.99. On steam you have the sales every week or the big ones during the holidays where you also get massive sales.

Is there a point for physical copies anymore? You can always play them I guess, but so can you play offline on steam, there is a lot that can wear a disk out over time, and may eventually be unplayable, while digital copies can be re-downloaded as much as you want. Most issues with DRM and such issues come from player mistakes as opposed to service error.

To make this somewhat SW, I think PC gaming is shaping the future of gaming, physical copies are for collectors, you don't own a game anymore physically than you do digitally, all you're buying is a right to play.

There is a lot more convinience to pre-loading games on steam, then going to a store to pre-order, and having a huge list of games you can access through a double click as opposed to a changing disk. The benefits of holding a box in your hands are eventually going to be a thing of the past, and people will need to get over it.

TL;DR: Steam rocks, digital distribution is the future, physical copy romantics will eventually die.

i have a weird fixation with DVD cases. so i will always buy a retail copy so i can put the case on my shelf like a trophy.

I like boxarts. Plus it saves me from having to wait forever to download the game. I do love DD, especially with epic Steam sales, but I will still buy physical over DD if the price is right.

I would have picked this in the poll if offered :P

I'm a realist and know DD is the future.

For consoles I will always prefer the hard copies. For PC though, I will only buy through DD (unless I have no other choice).

I prefer a hard copy of new games. Actually I don't think you will ever be able to convince me to pay $59.99 for a digital copy. I like that I can take a game like Call of Duty (console), buy it new for $37 (with pre-order bonus), play it for MONTHS, then still be able to sell it for $37 months later. That's impossible with a digital distribution scheme.

I dont mind picking up older games on digital distrubution via Steam super sales. Obviously small indy/arcade games also will be purchased digitally. I have dozens of digital download games either on Steam or PSN. I would just never want to go that route on full priced brand new games - I would definitely buy fewer brand new games if I lost the ability to be able to trade them in after a few weeks/months.

I like physical copies with Steamworks :)

I use it all the time on steam but if a game is the same price as the physical version then i'll get the physical version. also one thing we have to remember is that games take a lot of gigs now. with companies looking into capping per month or charging on a per gig basis, DD wouldn't work well in that type of economy.

When I buy a new game I want to put it in my drive and play it. I don't want to wait 6 hours to download it.

Also if I want to play the game 5 years later it's nice to know I can stick the disc in the computer and it will work. DD doesn't always promise that.

I have a faster internet speed then most people in America and it still took me hours to download the Witcher the other day. And that game is is only a few gigs? Newer games are bigger then a single DVD these days and leaving my computer on for hours and hours wating for a game to download sure isn't more convienent then walking 3 minutes down the block to the gamestore. Heck I even get to burn a few calories and get a little sun while I'm at it. I also don't have to worry about losing the game because my hardrive got infected by a virus and spending hours redownloading the game. Also if the game sucks I can trade or sell the physical copy. If I download a sucky game I'm stuck with it.

I'm neutral about the whole thing. I have a pretty fast internet connection so I don't have to wait that long to get something if I download it, but I still shop retail.I've realized a long time ago that it really doesn't matter at this point. In a lot of cases even if you buy the game at retail you still have to authenticate it online.

Both recent idiotic cases that have happened involving online purchases would have happened even if the person had a boxed copy of the game(s), so DD isn't the problem here. The real problem is that people don't take time to find out what their money is paying for and instead remain ignorant and conjure up romantic fantasies of software ownership. Then they commit transgressions against what they agreed to in the first place. Both incidents would have been avoided completely if the "victims" would have shown just a bit of tact.

A. if you think the comapny is the devil, don't shop with them

B. If you are planning a dubious steam transaction, maybe it isn't the best idea to ask about it on their forums.

Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.IronBass

Multiple people in this tread have already explained why it's not.

Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.IronBass

I like how they look in my shelf, is nothing wrong with that.

Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.IronBass

1. Servers need to be available
2. The provider may or may not be in business should you require reinstallation in the future
3. Download speeds vary
4. Potential authentication issues depending on your service provider
5. Proof of sale is digital
6. Usable while disconnected

Just the other day I reinstalled Command and Conquer: Renegade. I picked up the disc and was playing in about five minutes. No authentication, no DRM, no online access needed. When I travel I often bring a game or two with me. Oftentimes this means I do not have internet access, as certain airport terminals still charge for access, so anything requiring authentication is out.

It certainly is the future, and I've gone so far as to look into investing in Valve (darn privately-held companies!), but there are definitely downsides.

Then again, it was challenging finding a 3.5" drive for my old Commander Keen copies, so physical copies have their own drawbacks, too.

Happy gaming,

Boz

Depends, I kindof like both. The retail copy and Digital.

Digital is wayyy more convenient, Don't have to take the games with you everywhere since they're directly on the hard drive.

But it is nice to have the case, and everything. Just something about it, idk, I just like it. :P

Overall I'd go with digital though. Unless I was collecting, like my GTA collection, I have all physical copies for that :D

[QUOTE="IronBass"]Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.Bozanimal

Just the other day I reinstalled Command and Conquer: Renegade. I picked up the disc and was playing in about five minutes. No authentication, no DRM, no online access needed. When I travel I often bring a game or two with me. Oftentimes this means I do not have internet access, as certain airport terminals still charge for access, so anything requiring authentication is out.

It certainly is the future, and I've gone so far as to look into investing in Valve (darn privately-held companies!), but there are definitely downsides.

Then again, it was challenging finding a 3.5" drive for my old Commander Keen copies, so physical copies have their own drawbacks, too.

Happy gaming,

Boz

also physical copies wear out your dvd drive or blu ray. Quake2islegend

[QUOTE="IronBass"]Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.madsnakehhh

I like how they look in my shelf, is nothing wrong with that.

Physical backups for when one cannot connect to the internet and redownload their games.

And with bandwidth metering on the horizon for the US and Canada... I don't think it'll take off as much as it should.

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"]also physical copies wear out your dvd drive or blu ray. heretrix

Physical backups for when one cannot connect to the internet and redownload their games.

And with bandwidth metering on the horizon for the US and Canada... I don't think it'll take off as much as it should.

foxhound_fox

Multiple people in this tread have already explained why it's not.Pray_to_me

I like how they look in my shelf, is nothing wrong with that.madsnakehhh

stream digital download sucks you need to be connected online. xbox live digital download u dont need to log into xbox live to play your games such as bad company 2 which i bought off xbox live as digital download.Quake2islegend

What?

i have a weird fixation with DVD cases. so i will always buy a retail copy so i can put the case on my shelf like a trophy.

Vinegar_Strokes

There are downsides to Digital Distribution:

1. Servers need to be available Retail shops need to be available, too.
2. The provider may or may not be in business should you require reinstallation in the future This is true. But why would you need a reinstallation? HDDs are very cheap these days, ifspace is the issue.If you lose a physical game, the game may no longer be in production , meaning you would have to get it used.
3. Download speeds vary True
4. Potential authentication issues depending on your service provider True, too. But lead services like Steam or GoG show how it's done.
5. Proof of sale is digital :question: You get billed to your credit card, so there's another proof, if that's what you're talking about.
6. Usable while disconnected False

Just the other day I reinstalled Command and Conquer: Renegade. I picked up the disc and was playing in about five minutes. No authentication, no DRM, no online access needed. When I travel I often bring a game or two with me. Oftentimes this means I do not have internet access, as certain airport terminals still charge for access, so anything requiring authentication is out.

It certainly is the future, and I've gone so far as to look into investing in Valve (darn privately-held companies!), but there are definitely downsides.

Then again, it was challenging finding a 3.5" drive for my old Commander Keen copies, so physical copies have their own drawbacks, too.

Happy gaming,

Boz

Bozanimal

dont erase your game :) Quake2islegend

For computer games DD is currently the way to go. Since you can't resell computer games there's little point in having a hard copy. For consoles however I will always buy the hard copy of a game over the digital copy. I've been able to experience and own far more games because I was able to trade in older games I didn't use anymore. Money is tight and if it weren't for game trades there's no way I would have played games like Mass Effect 2 or Assassins Creed Brotherhood. I currently have around 25 hard copy games in my possession but I have owned nearly 100. Plus, what happens when the next console comes out and your digital copies won't work on the new machine? Even worse is the fact that you can't just download your games on any console, and you are limited to just 5 downloads too! Hard copies for consoles are the smart choice (and are generally a lot cheaper too).Jrfanfreak88

isnt it great we have the choice though. im all for choice

[QUOTE="IronBass"]Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.madsnakehhh

I like how they look in my shelf, is nothing wrong with that.

this. something about having it physically is what i love. i guess i like the old school way but it just feels better to me

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"]stream digital download sucks you need to be connected online. xbox live digital download u dont need to log into xbox live to play your games such as bad company 2 which i bought off xbox live as digital download.lundy86_4

What?

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"]stream digital download sucks you need to be connected online. xbox live digital download u dont need to log into xbox live to play your games such as bad company 2 which i bought off xbox live as digital download.Quake2islegend

What?

You have to open Steam, but you don't need to connect to their servers. However, the game must be up-to-date. Regardless, you can play in offline mode.

Steam is simply acting like a hub for your games in this instance.

[QUOTE="madsnakehhh"]

[QUOTE="IronBass"]Never understood the love for physical copies. DD is so much better in every way.eboyishere

I like how they look in my shelf, is nothing wrong with that.

this. something about having it physically is what i love. i guess i like the old school way but it just feels better to me

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

What?

lundy86_4

You have to open Steam, but you don't need to connect to their servers. However, the game must be up-to-date. Regardless, you can play in offline mode.

Steam is simply acting like a hub for your games in this instance.

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"] i cant play my steam games offline i must connect to steam first, even when i set offline mode.Quake2islegend

You have to open Steam, but you don't need to connect to their servers. However, the game must be up-to-date. Regardless, you can play in offline mode.

Steam is simply acting like a hub for your games in this instance.

What on Earth are you talking about? You can start Steam in offline mode :?

Interesting that I just found this story regarding Torchlight that just came out on Xbox Live Arcade....

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33534/Runic_XBLA_Torchlight_Achieves_Highest_Sale_Day_Ever_For_Game.php

[QUOTE="Quake2islegend"][QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

You have to open Steam, but you don't need to connect to their servers. However, the game must be up-to-date. Regardless, you can play in offline mode.

Steam is simply acting like a hub for your games in this instance.

lundy86_4

What on Earth are you talking about? You can start Steam in offline mode :?