Why do Disk Drives matter?

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Azzanation said:

Vinther1991 said:

That's a bold statement, can you back that up? According to this site, most physical games do not require online or downloads to be fully played: https://www.doesitplay.org/

I agree that physical has lost some of the benefits it used to have, indeed some games do require downloads or internet, and you anyway need to install all the content on the console. When you could just play off the disk, you saved a lot of hard drive space. Still today, with physical games you get the ownership. Digital DRM is still a nightmare, and what happens if Steam ceases to exist or Sony shots down the PS4 servers?
I think GOG is the only one who actually offers a digital alternative that is superior to physical.

You also missed another benefit of a disc drive. It can play other physical media, such as movies. The digital marketplace for movies is an even bigger nightmare than for games, a 4K UHD Blu-ray does not require any internet or installation and offers better quality than the digital alternatives.

It is an extremely unrealist point you bring up. But ill entertain it. If Valve couldn't afford to operate Steam anymore, Steam will be sold to another company that can. If Sony, Xbox, Steam or Nintendo cease to exist, you would have bigger problems in the industry than a gaming network. 

There simply is too much money to be lost if a major ecosystem decides to close the doors. Its why we rarely see it happen. Steam has existed for 20 years, and Xbox, Nintendo and Sony will also live much longer. 

This is naive.  Have you ever heard of Sega or Atari?  Companies leaving the console space is part of normal business, even if they were really successful at one point.

Also, Steam only exists, because Microsoft allows it to exist.  Microsoft owns the PC platform and has a gigantic influence over any software on the PC platform.  If they ever decide that Steam is significantly against their business interests, then they will torpedo Steam to further Gamepass or something similar.  Steam can go the way of Netscape.

The real threat is not major players leaving their platform.  The real threat is the wide acceptance of digital only games.  Why?  Because your games really can go away forever.  I can play Sega Genesis games all I want even though Sega left console gaming a long time ago.  Every Sega Genesis on Earth can die, and I can still play the games easily from the cartridges, because several people are making retro consoles.  On the other hand I have digital only games stuck on the Wii and PS3.  When the hardware dies, those games are gone.

The problem with digital only games is not the technology.  The technology could be great if implemented right.  The problem is that you can't trust any of the platform holders.  I bought several digital only Wii games, and I can't play them on the Switch.  Why?  I don't know.  It's technologically possible, but Nintendo won't make it happen (and Sony is just as bad).

YOU DON'T OWN ANY DIGITAL ONLY GAME!  It can be taken away from you at any time.  And the legal terms and conditions might only call it a license anyway.  If you own a physical copy, then legally, in the US, the first sale doctrine is on your side and many other countries have something similar.  If you buy a physical copy, then you own the game.  If you buy a digital only copy, then you don't own the game.