Poll: Are You Ready To Ditch Disks?

[Dxz5roxg]

I love my disks. Even if downloads where as reliable as discs I still enjoy going to the store to pick up a game and being able to see my collection.

 

[RelexCryo]

Survey Says...Gamers Not Ready To Ditch Discs [http://www.gamefocus.ca/?nav=new&nid=10067].
What is your take?

Not enough memory. I want to play any game in my collection any time I feel like it without connecting to the internet. Period. My collection of games is too damn big for my hard drives and probably always will be.

 

[natster43]

I like Physical copies over digital copies. It's better to have a tangible copy in my opinion.

 

[Sejs Cube]

I want a physical copy of something I've paid for. There are too many situations where purely downloaded media can fuck things up to trust, frankly.

 

[KurtzGallahad]

I love disks, always have, always will

 

[Nitrozzy7]

Survey Says...Gamers Not Ready To Ditch Discs [http://www.gamefocus.ca/?nav=new&nid=10067].
What is your take?

Not enough memory. I want to play any game in my collection any time I feel like it without connecting to the internet. Period. My collection of games is too damn big for my hard drives and probably always will be.

I don't think memory is an issue... You can always buy more space. The issue lyes with the nature of Digital Downloads transactions.

 

[LandoCristo]

I don't have a disk for over $200 dollars worth of Steam games, not to mention my WoW account. I like that I don't need to rely on a disk, or even a computer to have access to my games.

 

[Nostalgia]

I love having a physical copy. The box, the disk/cartridge, the manual. The smell of a new game.

Oh man, that smell. Tell you guys what. When someone comes out with a cologne that is "New Game Scent" I will strongly consider moving on to Digital Distribution.

This guy gets it.

 

[Dana22]

I ditched discs long time ago. I have all my games on steam. And even if I buy a box version, I usually mail to the store and tell them to send me only cdkey by email and keep the box.

 

[Artina89]

I much prefer having a physical copy of the game, plus I love to read the instruction manual and the back of the box on my way home.

 

[imaloony]

I'm not quite sure what it is, but I don't think too highly of digital distribution, especially if it's the only way to get our games. I like my discs, and I'll keep them, thank you very much.

 

[lapan]

I prefer physical copies for the following reason:

I like to have the option to sell my games if i dont need them anymore.
I like to have the option to still be able to install my games, even when my hardisc crashes/the downloadplattform doesnt exist anymore.
I like to have the option to not install everything to the harddrive on my consoles, they would get full pretty soon.

 

[poiuppx]

I'm terribly sorry, are we console-primary gamers not allowed to have an opinion on digital distribution? One that the companies who, y'know, make and sell games to the console-owning crowd might have an interest in knowing? Given the differences in development and design for consoles and PCs, one might think a lump sum poll would actually be LESS useful to all parties concerned than one that focused on one major grouping or the other. But hey, that's just a console gamer's opinion. Probably worth nothing.

First off, thank you for being polite and knowing your place. Interestingly enough, against common prevailing opinion (and probably fact as well), I think console gamer opinions DO matter, if only a little.

That mentioned, what I was getting at was that digital downloading is an extensive and powerful medium that has had years to develop on the computer. Steam has only recently announced intention to expand to the PS3, and the Wii's closest thing to digital download is the virtual console, which is pretty much a joke anyway, since it is only used for games that aren't on a disc. Digital download only became available at all for the PS3 in 2008, and wasn't possible before that. By polling console gamers on this matter, you are effectively only getting the opinions of people who are using the LIVE Marketplace, and even then that hasn't had the time to develop the infrastructure that cloud programs like Steam have (not to mention Steam comes at no charge, while Live requires a subscription!)

PC gaming is getting to the point where discs are almost totally obsolete. I can't think of any critically acclaimed games released in the past year for the PC that weren't available via cloud (usually Steam, but even Blizzard has their own cloud account, so you never need a disc!) The consoles are far from this state, so really this poll is just asking how far the LIVE Marketplace is behind the curve of cloud computing in digital downloads.

I'm not insulting the platforms of the consoles, mind you: I believe that if they had the time, or access to third parties like Steamworks, they would be right up there with computers, but as of right now, exclusivity and lack of motivation to revise has left consoles in the dust when it comes to digital downloads.

Good to know at least one PC gamers is willing to give we dirty masses the time of day. Actually, I agree with your overall point, and on a personal note, I've been frustrated it took THIS long to develop serious third party interest in DD for consoles. Steam should've been console-side long ago, and Microsoft's insistence against it was damn foolish. I'd argue, however, that two years is more than enough time for the installbase to be polled; after two years of using a service, methinks you'd have formed opinions on said service which would color your use of it or lack there-of.

 

[Slangeveld]

I like steam and their sales. Direct2Drive and Impulse I don't.

Still, liking steam is one thing but should they ever go out of business, I don't have those games anymore :O

The inly way to stop them going out of buisness is to buy more games off of steam, buy them now!

SIRYESSIR *Preorders ArcaniA Gothic 4*

 

[JAWZxZ]

I hate having to download games, because in short, I live in the middle of bloody nowhere and the wiring was installed in the bronze age around here so I have a download speed of about 40kbps at best. /cry