Poll: Digital distribution vs. Hard copy

[Sanaj]

Digital Distribution if it's good, like Steam, and saves my games in case I lose them on my PC. It also works well for episodic games.

Pretty much what's said in the above quote...

However, I like being able to buy older games on Steam rather than going to eight different stores just to find them.

I still like having a hard copy for most games, and I definitely want console games to be a physical copy.

 

[Chiefmon]

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand digital distribution could save plastic and the ability to download them would make it easier to pick up and play. However, hard copies have the advantage of being accessible to those without internet connection and for sharing among friends. I don't know. I'm torn.

 

[Xanadu84]

Digital Distribution for the win. It is not only cheaper, but its cheaper in terms of little things like the gas it takes to get to the store. It's far more convenient, I can buy it with the click of a button and download any time.

I can understand what you're on about here, but you can also order a hard copy from home. And digital distribution is not always cheaper! WipEout pulse on the Playstation store was £14.99, however I managed to get it off eBay second hand (a plus side to hard copy) for just £4.91. A saving of over £10!

Its not always cheaper, but it is often cheaper, and would facilitate cheaper games if it became the standard. Especially games that are over a few months old. Ive seen physical copies of Bioshock, for example, for $20. Ive seen digital copies for $5. Once you cut out the need for shipping and all those details, life becomes easier. You may find a fantastic deal hear and there, but with Digital Distribution, you can get consistently cheaper stuff.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

Well, considering Digital Copies require a Credit Card, which I don't have,
I'd go for a Hard copy, otherwise the digital is better.

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Hard copy for new and console games. Too much a waste of time to download increasingly large game files.

For old games not in circulation, then I'll use Digital. Typically cheaper and quicker than trying to buy a hard copy through a third party vendor like eBay or Amazon.

 

[Duke Machine]

It doesn't really matter to me...but recently I've been doing mostly digital

 

[ShadeOfRed]

Digital Distribution. It's what I'm used to. Hard Copy is a nice thing to have though.

 

[FangShadow]

Digital distribution is good..but i prefer hard copy. I feel more secure if i can hold my purchase in hand

 

[spuddyt]

Hard copy: my internet speed sucks balls and I don't enjoy leaving on my computer for 3 days and nights just to get a game...

 

[MrShadowzs]

i like the hard copy because of the novelty (just like ozzy glasses, cds, trench coats, and swithc blade combs)

 

[esperandote]

hard copy, i like to see thos shelves full of games, besides i only play on past gens consoles.

 

[Zildjin81]

I like digital distribution when it is done well. For example, Steam.

 

[VicunaBlue]

If we start digital distribution, then we'll need to pay $70 for every game, right? unless they start making used data that costs 20.

 

[Nmil-ek]

Hard copy, even if its a game that runs off of steam I buy the hard copy I hand over cash I expect something tangable and a receipt for proof of purchase to file away.

Been in the position of having a digital account hacked and loosing about £40 of music none of which could be returned since they did not keep records of transaction, never again. That and I enjoy my collection.

 

[Midniqht]

ive said this in the other news post thread about this - there's no stopping digital distribution. its going to happen. and i like the fact that if i ever lose my game or get a new hard drive or something, i can just redownload it rather than scratching a cd and having to pay for a new one. that said, i like to have a little bit of both

 

[Pop_Tarts]

I find a hard copy much more satisfying and there's the advantage of lending to friends. However for things like map packs I think digital distribution is good, just not whole games.

 

[Andy_Panthro]

I generally prefer getting a hard copy.

The only download service I use is Good Old Games, I dislike things like Steam that require an app to be running at all times.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Hard copy for a few reasons:

I like to rent before I buy; ever since I bought No More Heroes.

If the game is as crappy as NMH, I want to be able to sell/lend it.

They don't cut the price: if they're saving money on stock, printing, and distribution, they should be able to pass a little of the savings to us.

If the game is only available for DD and it's only like $5, I'll take a chance but even if the game looks really cool (like the new Fat Princess) I'm not going to spend more than $10 on it. Though FP is tempting.

 

[Red Albatross]

Digital Distribution for the win. It is not only cheaper, but its cheaper in terms of little things like the gas it takes to get to the store. It's far more convenient, I can buy it with the click of a button and download any time. In addition, its much, much safer. CDs break, are lost, get worn or scratched or a million other things, not to mention new technologies may make a lot of games bought physically be useless: If I found an old game on a floppy disc, I could not play it. With Steam, I know that every single last one of my possessions could be vaporized, and I could be in a coma for years, and when I wake up I could find a computer, type in my name and password, and there is all of my games.

Physical copies might seem more satisfying to own because they are more unwieldy and less convenient. You have to put effort into cataloging and caretakeing it all. There's a lot of old games that I loved, and then lost. That will never happen with Steam.

Also, with both hard copy and digital distribution, all your buying is code. Both put the same code on your hard drive, and give you the same game. The difference is that with a hard copy, you also have to screw around with a fragile plastic disc that takes up space. I would pay good money to turn my old, hard copy games into my Steam account in a heartbeat. The only downside is that EB can't cut developers out of profits through the used game market. But that will make games cheaper for us in the long run.

This pretty much sums up my feelings on digital distribution. I live in a remote area, so it's much more convenient for me to download things instead of drive the half hour to the GameStop. But even if I did want a hard copy, I sure wouldn't buy it at GameStop...but, I digress. I take very meticulous care of my discs, but even so, their lifetimes are limited and prone to accidents, especially since I have cats.

It's basically a risk assessment: do you want a copy of the game where the original disc could be destroyed, but you also have the option to resell it or lend it out later on? Or would you prefer to know that you'll always be able to access your games, but you're also stuck with them?

As digital distribution platforms improve, I'm sure that even its limitations now will be reduced in scope. In fact, the biggest problem with publishers and DRM schemes partially stem from the consumers' apparent need for hard copies, which are more difficult to protect ( the very thought that they can be protected is the real stupidity here, but that's for another discussion ). Expect to see a great improvement in digital distribution platforms in the future.