If there's one thing that's for certain, gamers tend to disagree on almost everything. Marvel or DC? Coke or Pepsi? McDonald's or Burger King? Star Wars or Star Trek? In fact, the ONLY thing we all seem to unanimously agree upon is that the PSP is the greatest portable gaming device, ever. But even though we know which portable is best, there is still one thing that divides the community when it comes to Sony's portable powerhouse: UMD or Downloading?
So, here are the cases for both sides:
Portability: Anybody who's dabbled with digital download knows that there is one HUGE advantage --it's much easier to transport multiple game titles when compared to lugging around dozens of little discs. At the same time, all of the content is in one place. That means that switching between different games is as easy as pushing a button. Digital Download scores a huge advantage, here.
Cost: One big issue with Digital Download vs UMD is pricing. While one can find a game used or at a reduced price at retail, the prices for DD games tend to remain static. It's almost guaranteed that if a gamer looks hard enough, they'll save money by going to retail. Recently, Sony has cut the price on lots of games on the PSN but even then, going to a store like Wal-Mart, Target, or Gamestop will be easier on the gamer's pocket.
One thing that should be considered though: When buying a new game (for example, MGS: Peacewalker) the retail copy is going to cost $40 plus tax. With DD, there is no tax. Plus, for some particularly shifty gamers, paying to download one copy and "sharing" with one or two friends is better than shelling out for multiple copies of the same game......
Lasting Value: Perhaps the biggest advantage of buying an actual UMD as opposed to going the downloading is that, buy having a physical game, you can actually re-sell it, return it to a store, or loan it out to a friend. Buy a bad game at EBGames and you can take it back to the store. Download a bad game and you can......well, you can go f**k yourself.
Lasting Investment: In this particular case, it's hard for me to side with one format over another. On one hand, if you buy digital, your investment is safe.....as long as your hardware is intact. If you lose your PSP, you lose your library. While it's possible to download the same game over and over again, that game is tied to your account AND that account is tied to your registered system(s). While it hasn't happened, Sony could theoretically stop allowing download of a certain game or, even worse: Shut down the PSN entirely. If that happens, your purchased game can be corrupted or erased and you'd have nothing to show for your money.
On the other side of the coin, if you buy a game at retail and it becomes damaged, you're screwed. You can't just download the game again and again. When it's gone, it's gone. You're forced to buy the disc over again (if you can find it). In the end, it all comes down to whether your personal ability to protect your game is more reliable than Sony's ability to keep their service up and running.
So, Digital Download vs. Phisical Media (UMD). Which side are you on?
