Poll: Games, download or retail?

[Yureina]

I prefer download these days. Its just so much more convenient for me, since I dislike leaving home and all my games are through Steam anyway.

 

[EzraPound]

I think downloading is daft--I mean, sure, you get the game in digital format, but by not receiving a physical copy you're effectively waiving any hope of resale, as well as valuation, and in some cases forfeiting your rights to access the game to a mediating service. I mean, no one's going to buy your collection of Steam downloads the same way people buy NES games on eBay, and I had a friend with Half-Life who had to re-buy it over Steam in order to play online (now that HL online play runs over Steam) because it refused to recognize his (valid) CD key.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Retail. I like that my purchase is tangible. I just love being able to hold my games, digital just isn't the same.

 

[Ailia]

Retail wins, only partly because of Canada's damn download limits. I haven't been able to buy anything on Steam in months because I'm too cheap to buy a bigger download limit. Plus I like having my gaming library in physical form, it feels safer than trusting a computer to hold it for me.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I always go with retail, I like having physical copies of my games. The only exception to this is when a game is only available in digital format, or the physical copy is absurdly rare/expensive.

That's the thing, I would prefer the digital download if it were cheaper but it usually isn't.
It should be, they obviously save money on printing, packaging, and shipping and the consumer obviously loses the re-sale value of the game.

 

[veloper]

The one that is cheaper.

That's usually steam sales.

 

[JasonBurnout16]

Retail because I like having something in front of me that I can say "Yes I brought this!" and I can have a nice little collection upon my shelf ^^

Also helps for when I trade games in for new ones.

 

[Vault101]

Retail definitly, I want to own the physical copy even if it is a steam title

 

[GonzoGamer]

I always go with retail, I like having physical copies of my games. The only exception to this is when a game is only available in digital format, or the physical copy is absurdly rare/expensive.

That's the thing, I would prefer the digital download if it were cheaper but it usually isn't.
It should be, they obviously save money on printing, packaging, and shipping and the consumer obviously loses the re-sale value of the game.

Yea, no kidding, it's kind of obnoxious. Not much we can do about it though, sadly.

Sure there is. We live in a capitalist society. If we don't buy the digital versions of games (which I don't even do for the pc: unless it's much cheaper) they will either stop making them available that way (highly unlikely) or they will make the prices more competitive.

Gamers would have a lot more money in their pockets if they didn't just roll over and buy every little thing publishers, retailers, and console makers asked them to make. If people didn't buy used games for $2 less than the new price, do you think gamestop would go out of business? No it would make some more competitive pricing.

It has gotten a lot worse since last gen. Look at R*. Last gen, after a few years in, we got San Andreas which was so big and had so much content there were actually a few people who complained about how overwhelming it was. The latest R* is publishing (LA Noir) has carved out Cases and even the obligatory collection quest for different retailers' pre-orders. I'm sure the stuff that you don't get through pre-order will be available to buy later. So at launch, you already know that the whole game will cost more than $60.

If San Andreas came out this gen we would have to preorder from gamestop to get the North Island and Pimp missions (or buy them later), pre-order from walmart to get the west island, and you wouldn't get the jetpack unless you pre-ordered from target (or pay $5).
And gamers can reverse this trend and it's easy. Stop rolling over and paying for everything.

 

[Zukhramm]

I can get it right here, at the moment, or go to a store, get it if they happen to have it, go home again, install it, maybe even have to have the disc inserted to play.

Guess what I prefer.

 

[Woodsey]

I prefer retail, but most of the time it depends on the price, compatability and such, if its easier for me to get it on steam, I'll get it on steam.

I still love that new game smell though, and leafing through the manual whilst installing or waiting for updates/loading times.

I can't remember the last time I bought a retail game that had a manual consisting of anything beyond epilepsy warnings and the control scheme.

OT: Digital, retail is for teh pu$$3z.

Probably buy most console games at retail though, but only because the PS3/360 have rather shit download stores.

I thought I'd miss the boxes, but the convenience makes you not care.