Poll: Do you prefer DD or hard copy?

Digital distribution has become a hot topic around here. I'm just wondering how a lot of you feel on the subject, and why you feel the way you do.

I myself prefer having a hard copy of my games. It's real, it's physical, I can hold it in my hand and get a much better sense of ownership than something that's simply sitting on my hard-drive.

On the other hand though, I am willing to acknowledge the advantages of digital distribution. You don't have to worry about scratched discs andit's certainly the more cost-effective way to buy your games.

So how do you feel? And do explain why.

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

clyde46

I prefer hard copies, but I've no problem with digital distribution.

hard copy!

[QUOTE="clyde46"]

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

creeping-deth87

Hard copy. It gives me more control over how I install and play my games, and I'm not limited to a particular computer system. It's just easiser. To be honest I don't understand why everyone is pushing for DD when it barely improves anything. Mabye in America where things take a bit longer to drop down in price, but over here in the UK it takes about 6 months and everythings half the original price. You just don't get that with DD, not that I have seen.

hard copy. it allows me to resell teh game if it's bad, plus games on steam cost the same or more than their retail versions, with no benefits.

Hard copy. It gives me more control over how I install and play my games, and I'm not limited to a particular computer system. It's just easiser. To be honest I don't understand why everyone is pushing for DD when it barely improves anything. Mabye in America where things take a bit longer to drop down in price, but over here in the UK it takes about 6 months and everythings half the original price. You just don't get that with DD, not that I have seen.

WasntAvailable

people with slow download rate are going to hate digital distribution.

downloading a game? thats going to take forever if you dont have a fast internet.

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

clyde46

Thats a little bit different considering UT3 is being offerered for free right now, something that would not even be possible with hard copies.

Thats the equivelent of say UT3 being given out for free in every store, and every store running out of copies.

I'd prefer to have my CD with it's box sitting on my shelve. But, I guess DD will one day become Standard.

Hard caopies. I won't keep gaming if DD was the only way to get games

Why would anybody prefer DD, thats less for your money:?FirstDiscovery

Its not though.

[QUOTE="clyde46"]

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

cobrax75

Thats a little bit different considering UT3 is being offerered for free right now, something that would not even be possible with hard copies.

Thats the equivelent of say UT3 being given out for free in every store, and every store running out of copies.

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

Hard copy. It gives me more control over how I install and play my games, and I'm not limited to a particular computer system. It's just easiser. To be honest I don't understand why everyone is pushing for DD when it barely improves anything. Mabye in America where things take a bit longer to drop down in price, but over here in the UK it takes about 6 months and everythings half the original price. You just don't get that with DD, not that I have seen.

creeping-deth87

On Steam Empire:Total War is selling for over full retail. On online stores like Play.com you can pick the game up for about half what they are charging. Same with games like Dawn Of War 2. It might be diffrent per region, but here it's still cheaper to buy from stores. You are paying a premium for convience.

[QUOTE="cobrax75"]

[QUOTE="clyde46"]

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

clyde46

Thats a little bit different considering UT3 is being offerered for free right now, something that would not even be possible with hard copies.

Thats the equivelent of say UT3 being given out for free in every store, and every store running out of copies.

Its not even a valid reason to hate DD in the first place...its doing something thats not even possible with retail copies in the first place.

[QUOTE="creeping-deth87"]

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

Hard copy. It gives me more control over how I install and play my games, and I'm not limited to a particular computer system. It's just easiser. To be honest I don't understand why everyone is pushing for DD when it barely improves anything. Mabye in America where things take a bit longer to drop down in price, but over here in the UK it takes about 6 months and everythings half the original price. You just don't get that with DD, not that I have seen.

On Steam Empire:Total War is selling for over full retail. On online stores like Play.com you can pick the game up for about half what they are charging. Same with games like Dawn Of War 2. It might be diffrent per region, but here it's still cheaper to buy from stores. You are paying a premium for convience.

[QUOTE="clyde46"]

hard copy all the time, Steam's current server issues with the free UT3 weekend is one of the reasons why I hate DD.

cobrax75

Thats a little bit different considering UT3 is being offerered for free right now, something that would not even be possible with hard copies.

Thats the equivelent of say UT3 being given out for free in every store, and every store running out of copies.

As long as the DD source in question is reputable & reliable, I have no preference. I buy both regularly.

[QUOTE="WasntAvailable"]

[QUOTE="creeping-deth87"] I've never paid much attention to how digital distrubtion prices fluctuate over time, though I think this is offset somewhat by the fact that games available through digital distribution usually debut at lower prices generally. And maybe the fact that there's no such thing as a used online game factors into it somehow. As for games halving in price over 6 months in North America, it honestly depends on the game. I work at Blockbuster and Call of Duty 4 is still 59.99 (Canadian) brand new despite the fact it's over a year old. In contrast, you can grab Too Human used for just 20 bucks and that just came out last fall I believe.

creeping-deth87

On Steam Empire:Total War is selling for over full retail. On online stores like Play.com you can pick the game up for about half what they are charging. Same with games like Dawn Of War 2. It might be diffrent per region, but here it's still cheaper to buy from stores. You are paying a premium for convience.

That's only outside of America though, Steam prices are signifcantly higher here, but unless Valve decide to do something about the inflated European prices I don't see DD being accepted world wide as the standard anytime in the near future.

I think we all better get used to digital distribution. When you look at games like Warhawk, SOCOM Confrontation and GT 5 Prologue on PS3 and the Lost and DamnedDLC for GTA 4 on 360 which by the way is no mere addon, it is for all practical purposes a full game plusXBOX Classics like Fable, Halo CE and Jade Empire which are downloadable from XBL pluswhat is available through Steam on PC, I think DD is going to replace hard copy games for sure by next gen.

[QUOTE="creeping-deth87"] I've never paid much attention to how digital distrubtion prices fluctuate over time, though I think this is offset somewhat by the fact that games available through digital distribution usually debut at lower prices generally. And maybe the fact that there's no such thing as a used online game factors into it somehow. As for games halving in price over 6 months in North America, it honestly depends on the game. I work at Blockbuster and Call of Duty 4 is still 59.99 (Canadian) brand new despite the fact it's over a year old. In contrast, you can grab Too Human used for just 20 bucks and that just came out last fall I believe.

On Steam Empire:Total War is selling for over full retail. On online stores like Play.com you can pick the game up for about half what they are charging. Same with games like Dawn Of War 2. It might be diffrent per region, but here it's still cheaper to buy from stores. You are paying a premium for convience.

Even though my MGS3: Subsistence disc 1 broke recently :cry: (Because they didnt use the easy push button disc release design)

I would still prefer the hard copy, but its a damn pain when the disc breaks and you have to pay £40 for a new copy - which I'll have to do now.

I guess each has its ups and downs, and these points can vary depending on the user.

KEY: (+) Pro (-) Con (*) Neutral or can swing.

Digital Distribution:
+ Saves gas on trips to the store. Handy if your nearest source is distant.
+ The good services allow full backups of the game to whatever media you choose. Most allow redownloads if you lose or pitch your copy.
+ Some DD versions are sold for less than the hard copy. Also provides a viable channel for smaller developers not willing or able to employ the traditional system.
* Some services allow transport of games between computers. Others don't. Check with your service.
* Owner rights, especially in the event of the service's dissolution, are not firmly established. No service, AFAIK, has submitted a binding agreement in writing (important if a case goes to court) to this effect.
- Resale is either not allowed or only allowed at a premium. (Personal note: Perhaps this could be challenged under the Copyright Act of 1978, which establishes First Sale Doctrine--and before anyone argues it's not a sale, see Timothy S. Vernor v. Autodesk Inc.).
- Downloads can be slowed by heavy server traffic or low-speed home connections. Even broadband speeds could lose time-wise to a nearby (less than 10 minutes) store.

Hard copies:
+ Possession ans ownership of the copy of the game is concrete.
+ Some hard copies include value-added material such as bonus discs.
+ Copies can be resold to other users or to resale stores.
- Backups are hampered by the fact that most discs are now copy-protected.
- These copy protections can also cause potential problems if a game is transported. Read instructions carefully.
- Hard copies are difficult or impossible to replace if lost or damaged, even if it wasn't the owner's fault.

Common to both:
* Both systems allow a preordering of some form. With DD, the game can pre-download and unlock on the official date, and most physical systems can offer on-the-day delivery of your game.
- Most modern games cannot be played or at least activated without an Intenet connection. Players who cannot link their computer to the Internet either due to remoteness or restriction will not buy (or download) these games.

I like DD on the PC, and HC on consoles. I don't really sell PC games, and it's just more convinient to download them. I do trade in a lot of my console games though, so yeah.

which ever is cheaper. I dont care about the packaging as ling is a good game. In fact lean slighlty towards DD becuase i can redownload my games as many times i want without having to worry about losing the disk or scratching it. Ideally is games like portal or left for dead or empires total war where you can buy them retail and have the hard copy but you need steam to activate them and even if you dont have the disk you can still download them using your acccount

The hard copies really have big advantages for decent consumers (reselling, sharing with friends, no traumatic waits for downlading & installing...), & for retailers (extra sales for careless people, the jobs it creates...). The only people who really are disadvantaged are the makers of those games, since they have to produce them, send them overseas, & pay for everything needed to sell them.

On the other hand, hard copies are more vulnerable to piracy, especially those recorded on standard hard media (i.e. CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays...). That is the main reason for videogame producers to prefer DLC over hard copies (although hacking will eventually break though security codes, leading to illegal downloads). The other main reason for videogame producers to want DLC over hard copies is the overall much cheaper costs, even if that means losing many customers regarding DLC distrust, slowness or ignorance.

I consider myself to be on the decent customers group with a good portion of DLC distrust & slowness.

The hard copies really have big advantages for decent consumers (reselling, sharing with friends, no traumatic waits for downlading & installing...), & for retailers (extra sales for careless people, the jobs it creates...). The only people who really are disadvantaged are the makers of those games, since they have to produce them, send them overseas, & pay for everything needed to sell them.

On the other hand, hard copies are more vulnerable to piracy, especially those recorded on standard hard media (i.e. CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays...). That is the main reason for videogame producers to prefer DLC over hard copies (although hacking will eventually break though security codes, leading to illegal downloads). The other main reason for videogame producers to want DLC over hard copies is the overall much cheaper costs, even if that means losing many customers regarding DLC distrust, slowness or ignorance.

I consider myself to be on the decent customers group with a good portion of DLC distrust & slowness.

DragonxanderPR

nothing beats having the game on the shelf all shiny and physically existing.

[QUOTE="DragonxanderPR"]

The hard copies really have big advantages for decent consumers (reselling, sharing with friends, no traumatic waits for downlading & installing...), & for retailers (extra sales for careless people, the jobs it creates...). The only people who really are disadvantaged are the makers of those games, since they have to produce them, send them overseas, & pay for everything needed to sell them.

On the other hand, hard copies are more vulnerable to piracy, especially those recorded on standard hard media (i.e. CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays...). That is the main reason for videogame producers to prefer DLC over hard copies (although hacking will eventually break though security codes, leading to illegal downloads). The other main reason for videogame producers to want DLC over hard copies is the overall much cheaper costs, even if that means losing many customers regarding DLC distrust, slowness or ignorance.

I consider myself to be on the decent customers group with a good portion of DLC distrust & slowness.

FirstDiscovery

they can pirate blu-ray now?

[QUOTE="FirstDiscovery"][QUOTE="DragonxanderPR"]

The hard copies really have big advantages for decent consumers (reselling, sharing with friends, no traumatic waits for downlading & installing...), & for retailers (extra sales for careless people, the jobs it creates...). The only people who really are disadvantaged are the makers of those games, since they have to produce them, send them overseas, & pay for everything needed to sell them.

On the other hand, hard copies are more vulnerable to piracy, especially those recorded on standard hard media (i.e. CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays...). That is the main reason for videogame producers to prefer DLC over hard copies (although hacking will eventually break though security codes, leading to illegal downloads). The other main reason for videogame producers to want DLC over hard copies is the overall much cheaper costs, even if that means losing many customers regarding DLC distrust, slowness or ignorance.

I consider myself to be on the decent customers group with a good portion of DLC distrust & slowness.

zarshack

they can pirate blu-ray now?

One of the great aspects of digital distribution is unlimited supply which means that the main economic concern, scarcity, becomes irrelevant. A physical supply of games will eventually run out and people who sell used games will charge horrendous prices, especially if it's a rarity. Due to that, a lot of people miss out on great games.

Click this link for more digital distribution fun!

One of the great aspects of digital distribution is unlimited supply which means that the main economic concern, scarcity, becomes irrelevant. A physical supply of games will eventually run out and people who sell used games will charge horrendous prices, especially if it's a rarity. Due to that, a lot of people miss out on great games.

Click this link for more digital distribution fun!

Hexagon_777

Thats not true, piracy cannot be stopped, and digital is just as easy.FirstDiscovery

they can pirate blu-ray now?

[QUOTE="FirstDiscovery"][QUOTE="DragonxanderPR"]

The hard copies really have big advantages for decent consumers (reselling, sharing with friends, no traumatic waits for downlading & installing...), & for retailers (extra sales for careless people, the jobs it creates...). The only people who really are disadvantaged are the makers of those games, since they have to produce them, send them overseas, & pay for everything needed to sell them.

On the other hand, hard copies are more vulnerable to piracy, especially those recorded on standard hard media (i.e. CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays...). That is the main reason for videogame producers to prefer DLC over hard copies (although hacking will eventually break though security codes, leading to illegal downloads). The other main reason for videogame producers to want DLC over hard copies is the overall much cheaper costs, even if that means losing many customers regarding DLC distrust, slowness or ignorance.

I consider myself to be on the decent customers group with a good portion of DLC distrust & slowness.

zarshack

they can pirate blu-ray now?

[QUOTE="FirstDiscovery"][QUOTE="zarshack"]

they can pirate blu-ray now?

creeping-deth87

Its for this reason that we are going to have to wait a long time before Blu-Ray is the main format, because i simply think itll exist along with DVDs. I mean lets face it, a lot of DVDs these days have good transfer, along with a good upscaler, they look pretty good still. Also, they are now dirt cheap, so more people have reason to buy them, while they milk the more hardcore buyers on the BD side. As for the games side, that is where the copy protection hasnt been cracked and i simply thinks its amazing given the open nature of the console

Having something tangible in your hands as proof that you own the damn thing is always nice. DD game collections, while more practical, are hella boring. Used market. Good luck selling or trading in your digital games. Once purchased the software is worthless. But most of all I prefer physical copies because stuff on Steam is outrageously expensive. It's total madness. You can get a game for almost 1/4th the price of it on Steam. Publishers need to get a grip.

The one thing I like about Steam is that you can run your "real" games without the disc in the drive.

[QUOTE="zarshack"]

[QUOTE="FirstDiscovery"]Thats not true, piracy cannot be stopped, and digital is just as easy.HuusAsking

they can pirate blu-ray now?

hard copy always, you can just rip it to your hard disk later

[QUOTE="creeping-deth87"][QUOTE="FirstDiscovery"]Im not too sure on the situation, i dont know if its the PS3 or the copy protection on the discs themselves, but Sony have done an amazing job. Regardless, its going to be cracked no matter what.FirstDiscovery

Its for this reason that we are going to have to wait a long time before Blu-Ray is the main format, because i simply think itll exist along with DVDs. I mean lets face it, a lot of DVDs these days have good transfer, along with a good upscaler, they look pretty good still. Also, they are now dirt cheap, so more people have reason to buy them, while they milk the more hardcore buyers on the BD side. As for the games side, that is where the copy protection hasnt been cracked and i simply thinks its amazing given the open nature of the console