I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially regarding the current shitstorm surrounding the used game market.
Personally, I do buy used games but I also buy second-hand from time to time, mainly because I think it's preposterous that stores still charge full-price for a game like Modern Warfare just because they know they can get away with it.
On the other hand, though, I was in HMV the other day (big chain of stores in the UK, if you aren't familiar) and I noticed that every game on display was second-hand, all the first-hand games were crammed onto a shelf right at the floor. The only first-hand games actually being displayed properly were in the top ten chart, but even they had a second hand copy right next to them.
All that aside, though, what I'm really wondering is how you would all feel if games went completely digital, as in no hard copies being sold at all anymore. Assume you could still buy a code for the game in stores to redeem online if you aren't comfortable with giving out bank details, but no actual goods would change hands.
Is this a system you'd get behind, or do you still like having something physical to show for your cash?
Edit: All the replies so far sort of cover my feelings on the subject. I like having a physical copy of things I buy, but to me the benefits of a purely digital system to me far outweigh the cons.
Just off the top of my head:
-Costs would theoretically come down because companies would no longer have to press millions of discs, get boxes etc
-The more a DD service gets used the faster it will go as companies, not to mention the general advance of technology. I mean, I still remember using dial-up, and my broadband connection gets faster every year.
-We'd be more likely to see global releases of titles, i.e. the more eccentric titles Japan releases that would never get a release overseas because they're just not likely to sell, but if they are distributing them online then the only real cost is bandwidth that only gets used up if people buy
-I have an ever-increasing library of old games from the Mega Drive right up to current consoles. I'm also lucky enough that all my original consoles work, but I don't look forward to the prospect of carting a huge cache of games wherever I go in life. Plus it's worth remembering that it's likely your cartridges and consoles are going to stop working eventually.
-I doubt it's possible (or that they'd allow it) but it'd be nice if there was some way I could put the old game discs in and unlock them in the virtual library, sort of like burning a CD.
Edit 2: Taking on board the valid problems alot of people would have with this system, let's now assume the following...
-DRM is made obsolete by a USB key that you receive with your console that downloads all your account information (username, titles purchased etc) so that if the system ever crashes/wipes you retain all your information and purchase history. All you have to do is never lose this key which shouldn't be a problem since it should never come out of your console.
-Assume that a robust internet is available to all. My real interest is in how you would feel about the concept of purely digital distribution, so take for granted that we have internet powerful enough to accommodate that.
-One of the biggest problems people seem to have is that prices will skyrocket as soon as Xbox/PSN has exclusive control over the cost of their games. I've explained in replies why I think this is a stupid idea. If prices are driven to high then sales will plummet so it's ultimately in their best interests to charge fair prices just like stores have always done.
Personally, I do buy used games but I also buy second-hand from time to time, mainly because I think it's preposterous that stores still charge full-price for a game like Modern Warfare just because they know they can get away with it.
On the other hand, though, I was in HMV the other day (big chain of stores in the UK, if you aren't familiar) and I noticed that every game on display was second-hand, all the first-hand games were crammed onto a shelf right at the floor. The only first-hand games actually being displayed properly were in the top ten chart, but even they had a second hand copy right next to them.
All that aside, though, what I'm really wondering is how you would all feel if games went completely digital, as in no hard copies being sold at all anymore. Assume you could still buy a code for the game in stores to redeem online if you aren't comfortable with giving out bank details, but no actual goods would change hands.
Is this a system you'd get behind, or do you still like having something physical to show for your cash?
Edit: All the replies so far sort of cover my feelings on the subject. I like having a physical copy of things I buy, but to me the benefits of a purely digital system to me far outweigh the cons.
Just off the top of my head:
-Costs would theoretically come down because companies would no longer have to press millions of discs, get boxes etc
-The more a DD service gets used the faster it will go as companies, not to mention the general advance of technology. I mean, I still remember using dial-up, and my broadband connection gets faster every year.
-We'd be more likely to see global releases of titles, i.e. the more eccentric titles Japan releases that would never get a release overseas because they're just not likely to sell, but if they are distributing them online then the only real cost is bandwidth that only gets used up if people buy
-I have an ever-increasing library of old games from the Mega Drive right up to current consoles. I'm also lucky enough that all my original consoles work, but I don't look forward to the prospect of carting a huge cache of games wherever I go in life. Plus it's worth remembering that it's likely your cartridges and consoles are going to stop working eventually.
-I doubt it's possible (or that they'd allow it) but it'd be nice if there was some way I could put the old game discs in and unlock them in the virtual library, sort of like burning a CD.
Edit 2: Taking on board the valid problems alot of people would have with this system, let's now assume the following...
-DRM is made obsolete by a USB key that you receive with your console that downloads all your account information (username, titles purchased etc) so that if the system ever crashes/wipes you retain all your information and purchase history. All you have to do is never lose this key which shouldn't be a problem since it should never come out of your console.
-Assume that a robust internet is available to all. My real interest is in how you would feel about the concept of purely digital distribution, so take for granted that we have internet powerful enough to accommodate that.
-One of the biggest problems people seem to have is that prices will skyrocket as soon as Xbox/PSN has exclusive control over the cost of their games. I've explained in replies why I think this is a stupid idea. If prices are driven to high then sales will plummet so it's ultimately in their best interests to charge fair prices just like stores have always done.
