By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming Discussion - Why so stubborn? What's really wrong with digital media?

Here's why I typically choose Retail over Digital:

A) Physical copies at least offer some form of safety if something breaks. If the game breaks (in 6 or so years) spend the $20 to replace it at that point. If the console breaks, buy a new one.  Meanwhile, buying digital means that if the console breaks, you have to buy the new one AND a copy of the game. Yeah, you can back up the sets of games, but it's easier to simply have a copy of the game that doesn't need to be backed up.

B) Physical copies can be traded in. For example, I bought Destiny for $60, played it through, and didn't really like it. Traded it in to GameStop for $40 and got Super Smash Bros for 3DS instead. Like it a lot more. Meanwhile, buying digital means that if I buy a game I don't like, I'm stuck with it and can't do anything about that. There's no return policy on digital because there's not really anything to give back (no physical value like disc). 

C) For the most part, I live in an area where the internet is very slow (and while at home, non-existant). So downloading a 23 GB game would take about a full day. Meanwhile, a trip to Walmart takes 10, GameStop takes 40, and if I order a retail copy on Amazon I get it the day it comes out guaranteed. Digital gaming would take so much longer because of the downloads. Granted Pre-loading is making a change to that policy by allowing people to wait the day earlier and then unlocking it at release, but physical is still quicker since I don't have to wait that extra day.

D) Discs can be borrowed or given to a friend. So, my friend with a PS4 who wants to play Far Cry 4 but has no internet can borrow my disc, or I can just bring it to his house. With Digital I'd have to carry the entire console to his house and re-plug it.

E) Price doesn't change. Unless you're on PC, the price of digital (since it's minus the disc, minus the travel, and minus the extra costs in making it) is the exact same is retail. AND, the price on a physical used disc in GameStop goes down a lot quicker than an old game in the PSN. I've seen games in stores about $10-20 cheaper than their digital counterparts.

 

SO, I don't see a benefit to choosing digital over retail. Digital is more commitment at a higher price, only good if you have internet, and requires that you are positive your console will work forever and ever.

I will say that I've bought 2 AAA games on the Digital market. I have purchased Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and inFamous: Second Son over the internet. And I see no problem with the digital copy versus the retail. But the only reason I felt confident to buy it was that I knew I was going to love the game. I couldn't have done that with pre-orders or a game that I'm uncertain about.



Around the Network
Jizz_Beard_thePirate said:

Well, the issue with "backing up" your games these days as well as other digital media is that more and more companies are incorporating a DRM on their games that will require you to log in or else you wont be able to play the game so if you get banned, well, it doesnt matter if you back up ur games or not, u can't log in and you can't play the game

The other issue is that it takes forever to download games... They have reached 50gb+ these days and the ISP's arent really offering any plans that has epic speed unless you want to sell ur kidneys

And Sure, Discs do wear off eventually, but if you take good care of them, they will last u 1-2 decades! And lets not forget that hard drives wear off too so its a bit of eh eh situation.

Oh and btw, if you do get banned but you aren't prepared for it, then ur really fucked! And not to mention that not everyone has time to backup 500+gb worth of data each month... And also, backing up = hard drive space = $$ to buy new hard drive

nice post.

 

To add about the backups. You have to backup the whole system currently. You can't jsut hook up an exernal and drag and drop a game for example. The Wii U actually allows this though ironically lol.

Even so, say they let me drag and drop games and patches to a hardrive in the future. Those games are digitially locked to your account or console. So if your console craps out and you go buy a new one and the servers eventually are shutdown because of a new generation you won't be able to play them anyway.

They need to remove the DRM requirement and make it eaier ot copy only the files you want at the end of the gen and I think this will solve peoples concerns about digital.



 

 

Biggest reason is control. I have more control over physical games than digital. With physical games technically a game is aways available at some point. With digital when rights expire the game expires too. Yes if you bought it you still have access tied to your account but only thoes that purchased before being taken off. There are lots of games that are no longer availble because of this, Pirating is the only option to play these. We as consumers are not protected enough in the digital market, I for one don't think we are at that point yet when digital is the best option. I don't want corporations to have more control and pretty much just loan me games. If you think of games as a consumable then digital is totally for you.



Because I just fuckin love to have the disks
I bought Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus digitally in January, but I'm gonna buy it again this christmas physically just because I want the disk (and the cover!).



Vladdie93 said:

Here's why I typically choose Retail over Digital:

A) Physical copies at least offer some form of safety if something breaks. If the game breaks (in 6 or so years) spend the $20 to replace it at that point. If the console breaks, buy a new one.  Meanwhile, buying digital means that if the console breaks, you have to buy the new one AND a copy of the game. Yeah, you can back up the sets of games, but it's easier to simply have a copy of the game that doesn't need to be backed up.

B) Physical copies can be traded in. For example, I bought Destiny for $60, played it through, and didn't really like it. Traded it in to GameStop for $40 and got Super Smash Bros for 3DS instead. Like it a lot more. Meanwhile, buying digital means that if I buy a game I don't like, I'm stuck with it and can't do anything about that. There's no return policy on digital because there's not really anything to give back (no physical value like disc). 

C) For the most part, I live in an area where the internet is very slow (and while at home, non-existant). So downloading a 23 GB game would take about a full day. Meanwhile, a trip to Walmart takes 10, GameStop takes 40, and if I order a retail copy on Amazon I get it the day it comes out guaranteed. Digital gaming would take so much longer because of the downloads. Granted Pre-loading is making a change to that policy by allowing people to wait the day earlier and then unlocking it at release, but physical is still quicker since I don't have to wait that extra day.

D) Discs can be borrowed or given to a friend. So, my friend with a PS4 who wants to play Far Cry 4 but has no internet can borrow my disc, or I can just bring it to his house. With Digital I'd have to carry the entire console to his house and re-plug it.

E) Price doesn't change. Unless you're on PC, the price of digital (since it's minus the disc, minus the travel, and minus the extra costs in making it) is the exact same is retail. AND, the price on a physical used disc in GameStop goes down a lot quicker than an old game in the PSN. I've seen games in stores about $10-20 cheaper than their digital counterparts.

 

SO, I don't see a benefit to choosing digital over retail. Digital is more commitment at a higher price, only good if you have internet, and requires that you are positive your console will work forever and ever.

I will say that I've bought 2 AAA games on the Digital market. I have purchased Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and inFamous: Second Son over the internet. And I see no problem with the digital copy versus the retail. But the only reason I felt confident to buy it was that I knew I was going to love the game. I couldn't have done that with pre-orders or a game that I'm uncertain about.

A.  Not necessarily true.  You digital titles aren't tied to one console.

B.  So, basically, you paid $60 for a 3DS game.  Personally, and I'm sure I'm not the only one... Once I buy, I do not trade or sell.  I don't care what I feel about the game, I'm not doing it.

C. That's a good point for anyone with slow internet speeds.  Personally, I'd just wait it out, but I know not everyone wants to do that, and risk running their limit.

D.  Yeah, taking a couple games is better than the whole console.  Although by now, I'm used to taking my PS3 with me.

E. Again, I bought GTAV just last month for 30 dollars.  There definitely are deals happening every week.  I've checked amazon.  I wasn't getting Sonic generations cheaper than 15 dollars with shipping included.  To add to the whole matter, I didn't even like Generations, so I'm glad I got it digitally.  Again, if it were a physical copy, I wouldn't have sold it anyway.  At least going digital saved me about 8 bucks with that game.



Around the Network
Burning Typhoon said:

E. Again, I bought GTAV just last month for 30 dollars.


I bought GTAV physically a few months ago for 30$...



I like digital for the following reasons

1) Can pre-order a game and have it installed before the release date. Ready to play when I wake up.

2) Can choose to play any game at any time by just a kinect voice command.

3) Have to install the entire game to disc anyway. The disc is little more than proof of purchase these days. Usually contains a buggy copy of a game that needs patches.

4) Xbox Live has weekly deals on digital games. Got Titanfall for $25 and can get Tomb Raider of $20 this week.

5) Don't trade in games.



Burning Typhoon said:
Vladdie93 said:

Here's why I typically choose Retail over Digital:

A) Physical copies at least offer some form of safety if something breaks. If the game breaks (in 6 or so years) spend the $20 to replace it at that point. If the console breaks, buy a new one.  Meanwhile, buying digital means that if the console breaks, you have to buy the new one AND a copy of the game. Yeah, you can back up the sets of games, but it's easier to simply have a copy of the game that doesn't need to be backed up.

B) Physical copies can be traded in. For example, I bought Destiny for $60, played it through, and didn't really like it. Traded it in to GameStop for $40 and got Super Smash Bros for 3DS instead. Like it a lot more. Meanwhile, buying digital means that if I buy a game I don't like, I'm stuck with it and can't do anything about that. There's no return policy on digital because there's not really anything to give back (no physical value like disc). 

C) For the most part, I live in an area where the internet is very slow (and while at home, non-existant). So downloading a 23 GB game would take about a full day. Meanwhile, a trip to Walmart takes 10, GameStop takes 40, and if I order a retail copy on Amazon I get it the day it comes out guaranteed. Digital gaming would take so much longer because of the downloads. Granted Pre-loading is making a change to that policy by allowing people to wait the day earlier and then unlocking it at release, but physical is still quicker since I don't have to wait that extra day.

D) Discs can be borrowed or given to a friend. So, my friend with a PS4 who wants to play Far Cry 4 but has no internet can borrow my disc, or I can just bring it to his house. With Digital I'd have to carry the entire console to his house and re-plug it.

E) Price doesn't change. Unless you're on PC, the price of digital (since it's minus the disc, minus the travel, and minus the extra costs in making it) is the exact same is retail. AND, the price on a physical used disc in GameStop goes down a lot quicker than an old game in the PSN. I've seen games in stores about $10-20 cheaper than their digital counterparts.

 

SO, I don't see a benefit to choosing digital over retail. Digital is more commitment at a higher price, only good if you have internet, and requires that you are positive your console will work forever and ever.

I will say that I've bought 2 AAA games on the Digital market. I have purchased Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and inFamous: Second Son over the internet. And I see no problem with the digital copy versus the retail. But the only reason I felt confident to buy it was that I knew I was going to love the game. I couldn't have done that with pre-orders or a game that I'm uncertain about.

A.  Not necessarily true.  You digital titles aren't tied to one console.

B.  So, basically, you paid $60 for a 3DS game.  Personally, and I'm sure I'm not the only one... Once I buy, I do not trade or sell.  I don't care what I feel about the game, I'm not doing it.

C. That's a good point for anyone with slow internet speeds.  Personally, I'd just wait it out, but I know not everyone wants to do that, and risk running their limit.

D.  Yeah, taking a couple games is better than the whole console.  Although by now, I'm used to taking my PS3 with me.

E. Again, I bought GTAV just last month for 30 dollars.  There definitely are deals happening every week.  I've checked amazon.  I wasn't getting Sonic generations cheaper than 15 dollars with shipping included.  To add to the whole matter, I didn't even like Generations, so I'm glad I got it digitally.  Again, if it were a physical copy, I wouldn't have sold it anyway.  At least going digital saved me about 8 bucks with that game.

A) Actually, that is true. But even then, if the console breaks, I'd then have to re-download every single game again rather than simply be able to put the disk in.

B) If I went Digital, I'd have to pay $100 for the same experience. So, yeah, I'm going to save money, thank you.

C) It's just me. I could wait, but I like playing the game as quickly as possible.

D) I have the items to take a full console to places (GAEMS G-155 Vanguard), but it's still very meticulous and I'd rather just take the game.

E) I could get GTAV used for the same price on Amazon. Also, Sonic Generation for the same price. BUT, here's what I'm talking about: 

Which would sound more appealing to you?

Killzone: Shadowfall (Digital) - $40        VS         Killzone: Shadowfall (Retail GameStop) - $20 used

Assassin's Creed IV (Digital) - $50          VS          Assassin's Creed IV (Retail GameStop) - $40 used

Hitman Absolution (Digital) - $20         VS          Hitman Absolution (Retail Wal-mart) - $10 new

Digital might have price drops every now and again, but on average retail will cost less over a shorter period of time and will save between $10-20 on average. And even if you wouldn't sell the game you don't like, I would and do on average. It means that I can get a spend less on a different game that I'll be more likely to enjoy, and that someone else can buy the game I had at a lower cost.

That's why I choose retail.



I do not have internet in my him so digital games can be a real hassle to acquire. Then I have no way of sharing with friends as we commonly do to promote games to one another.



Vladdie93 said:

A) Actually, that is true. But even then, if the console breaks, I'd then have to re-download every single game again rather than simply be able to put the disk in.

B) If I went Digital, I'd have to pay $100 for the same experience. So, yeah, I'm going to save money, thank you.

C) It's just me. I could wait, but I like playing the game as quickly as possible.

D) I have the items to take a full console to places (GAEMS G-155 Vanguard), but it's still very meticulous and I'd rather just take the game.

E) I could get GTAV used for the same price on Amazon. Also, Sonic Generation for the same price. BUT, here's what I'm talking about: 

Which would sound more appealing to you?

Killzone: Shadowfall (Digital) - $40        VS         Killzone: Shadowfall (Retail GameStop) - $20 used

Assassin's Creed IV (Digital) - $50          VS          Assassin's Creed IV (Retail GameStop) - $40 used

Hitman Absolution (Digital) - $20         VS          Hitman Absolution (Retail Wal-mart) - $10 new

Digital might have price drops every now and again, but on average retail will cost less over a shorter period of time and will save between $10-20 on average. And even if you wouldn't sell the game you don't like, I would and do on average. It means that I can get a spend less on a different game that I'll be more likely to enjoy, and that someone else can buy the game I had at a lower cost.

That's why I choose retail.


A. I have my backups stored on an external HDD.  But, I'll give you this.  The back-up itself did take 10 hours and 15 minutes to create.  To have all of my games back onto a new HDD would take quite some time, I admit.

B. You could have just stayed away from the game.  I tried the beta.  Hated the game...  At least for 60 bucks I hated it.  Getting Destiny was never even a consideration in my mind.

C.  I can wait, most of the time...  I know I wont be waiting on Tekken 7 or Mortal Kombat X, though.

D. Couldn't make sense of what you were saying.  What?

E. I do NOT buy used games.  At all.  Period.  I hate them.  I don't want someone's old games, I wouldn't do it.  Not only that.  I like a wide range of games, but I do NOT like Killzone, and I especially hate assassin's creed more than any FPS.  I've had a terrible experience with assassin's creed III.  I'm not giving them my money again.  Period.

As for Hitman: Absolution, I already bought that game digital for 7 dollars.  I haven't played it yet, so any more wouldn't even be worth it to me.  Digital or physical.

However...  I'll also say that I'd much be in favor of a disc based games on PS4 if the file size gets too big.  I don't want to wait 2 days for a 50GB game to download, or however long it would take.  I don't have that problem on PS3.  Most are around 5-10.  Rarely hitting anything past 16GB.'

Right now, this thread has learned me two things.  It's probably a better idea to go for disc when the file sizes get extreme.  It's probably going to be a problem when everything shuts down in the future.  Hopefully when the stores shut down, there wont be a need for DRM, and maybe the PS3 consoles will be patched to ignore it.  Otherwise, we'd be screwed.