Poll: Download vs. Hardcopy

[KSI Hellboy]

Would you rather see the industry advance through making full retail games downloadable eliminating the need for disc drives and physical games and cases, therefore making the industry "greener" or have them stay the course with hardcopies of games?

My idea for download only games would be having you buy a unique download key and download the game from servers, and only letting the game be on one machine at a time with some sort of authorization/de-authorization system. This would be for consoles and PCs.

EDIT: You would be able to re-download the games via the download key.

What do you think?

Discuss

 

[James Cassidy]

I rather have a hard copy, then I always know I have the source. If you pull it from a downloaded source and it gets lost, you have no proof that you got it.

Besides, nothing says awesome like having a collection of things you can see without having to turn stuff on.

Like collecting the game cartridges

 

[Guitar Gamer]

I hate downloading stuff online (paypal just scares the crap out of me) I realize you may have to deal with arr-tards at the store but at least you have the copy right there ready to be bought

I rather have a hard copy, then I always know I have the source. If you pull it from a downloaded source and it gets lost, you have no proof that you got it.

Besides, nothing says awesome like having a collection of things you can see without having to turn stuff on.

Like collecting the game cartridges

this too

 

[Weaver]

My issue is that for games to be download only I would like everyone to just decide on ONE fucking distribution system. Since that will never happen...

 

[NeutralDrow]

I'd probably say both, though I prefer having hardcopy when it's available.

 

[McGee]

I pretty much only download now. With steam I never have to worry about losing a CD or DVD, and no matter what computer I go to, my games are always tied to my account.

 

[TheEndIsNear5115]

I prefer hard copies when they're available. While downloading material is quicker, cheaper, and more environmentally-friendly (No plastic containers!), nothing beats the feeling of actually holding onto something you own.

I'm also a fan of manuals and the like. I never really caught on to PDFs.

 

[Fortesque]

I like a hard copy. I payed extra for The Orange Box so i could get the box.

They for some reason dont make the box anymore so you can only buy it off Steam anymore. One of my friends got it off Steam, yet wanted the box. I bought a cheap $5 game from EB that was in an orange box, photocopied the cover of the Orange Box and gave it to him... He is happy now.

 

[bue519]

I rather have a hard copy, then I always know I have the source. If you pull it from a downloaded source and it gets lost, you have no proof that you got it.

Besides, nothing says awesome like having a collection of things you can see without having to turn stuff on.

Like collecting the game cartridges

My only problem with hard copies is that I have a nasty habit of losing the Cd keys. Especially when they print them on those crappy paper Cd sleeves. (Mostly cause I try to put them to jewel cases.)

 

[Z of the Na'vi]

I prefer hardcopy, its the way it has always been, and I like having an actual case to hold in my hands

 

[Gaming_Purist]

Downloads.

Steam just does it so well, and allows you to back up each game to as many DVD's as you like, or even another drive. Even if you lose the dvd's and your HD dies, you can still re-download the game using your Steam login credentials. Not to mention the price; games on Steam are usually 50% (or more) cheaper than a hard copy from a retail store (in this country). Also, there's no screwing around with keeping CD keys safe or having to insert the DVD media to play the game.

Honestly, I don't understand why so many people are clinging to the old 'box and manual' idea. I think there's a lot of misconception surrounding digital downloads and distribution, perhaps because it has been done so poorly in the past. Steam gets it right.

Valve and their partners should be applauded for bringing cheap, on-demand PC gaming to the masses.

 

[Stevedave00]

Hardcopy,Most insurances here in the states don't cover software.
so at least with hard copy you'd have a back up.

 

[Fruitloops89]

Hard copy, I was saddened to see Megaman 9 go digital but then again that game is small as hell so it actually made sense.

 

[sleeperhit79]

download provided there's a fair discount to the end consumer, if it saves them 20$ for me to download I should pay 20$ less because the benefits of me not being able to resell the game is worth it.

 

[-Seraph-]

Hard copy always takes top priority with me, digital is last resort. I don't really mind digital all too much but with hard copy I feel as if I OWN the game and it's a trusty back up. With digital I can't resell the game if I am unsatisfied with my purchase, and I feel like I am more borrowing the game than owning. The inability to resell is a big turn off because there are those times when you are unsatisfied with the game and there's fuck all you can do. I don't like steam much for that very reason actually.

Plus I just like boxart collecting games is fun.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Hard copy every time. At least that way I don't lose my purchase if I get hit with a glitch or something. Besides, this way I feel like I own something physical. Also, resale value.

 

[CyberAkuma]

Downloadable games are a joke.
They are MORE EXPENSIVE than hard copys (STEAM in Europe still sucks major donkeyballs in terms of price)

What the hell was the incentive for downloadable games being cheaper than hardcopy games when downloadable games can workaround store retailing costs and STILL end up being 20-30% more expensive than the hardcopy I can buy at my local gamestore?!

Also, different companies have different policys about downloadable games.
Some companies offer you free download as many times as you want to the game you already purchased (like STEAM) while other game publishers give you limited downloads-installs and after that, you have to pay a price for each download-install you make.
I think EA charges like $20 for that or something. Not sure I remember.

 

[wwjdftw]

but guys what you have to realise is, who gives a shit if its plastic, its a game case, unless you are a slob you arnt going to be throwing away the game case are you?, plus a hardcopy cant have a computer/server failure and what if the site goes away? then your computer shits the bed? then , you sir are fucked.

not to mention a couple 5-6 foot tall stacks of games in your room really screams nerd