Why do Disk Drives matter?

[Cobretti2]

Chrkeller said:

Cobretti2 said:

I've mentioned this several times over the years, 100% agree. I have also said if we ever go digital I will go PC exclusive as Steam as example isn't tied up to a fixed period in time. I can revisit games I played in the 90s and enjoy them without too much worry.

I've also said if console manufactures want us to go digital they need to give us freedom to backup our data easily (updates, bug fixes, extra purchases etc) and not tie it to the hardware it's on or a digital user ID that does not log in once online services are down.

I can understand locking it to a console to protect sales, but when a generation ends, firmware should be released that allows us full freedom of our data to be used as a retro console on any console an not locked just to yours, i.e. in case your hardware fails and you ned to replace it.

Steam just amazing.  One piece of hardware plays 40 years of games.

Im surprised people think physical is better at preservation.  Take Dragoon Saga.  There are a limited amount of physical copies.  Digitally, unlimited.

Maybe it is just odd luck, but I have never had a hdd fail.  Now disk drives, quite common for me.  Ps1, ps3, Xbox, Xbox 360 and 2x Dremcasts.  

I think digital is one of the best things to happen to gaming.  

I am all for digital if there is no DRM to locking you to an account or hardware. Once a new gen starts and you can't log in no more or the hardware fails you own a brick essentially and if you get new hardware all your digital games are lost or encrypted so they won't work on a replacement system. 

Computers on the other hand have had steam forever so I would classify that as a stable platform. Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft make it hard to replay things you purchased in the past on next gen hardware.

They need to make it as easy as Steam does and not shutdown stuff so you can't redownload later or after the gen ends give me freedom to backup how I see fit with no DRM.