In the OnLive thread, people have expressed concerned about downloading games, as opposed to buying them on physical media.  I can argue that ROM carts and flash memory is likely the most durable, the question becomes whether disk media is reliable long-term given the chance to scratch the disks or other things that can go wrong.  Downloads, on the other hand, are stored in a place that could enable them to be reacquired, if needed.  There is risks of companies who store the data going out of business.  But, outside of this, can't one argue that downloads are more reliable way to have a game?

Any thoughts here?

I buy the games from Steam or D2D or hell even EADM. Then I back them all up on a CD, just in case it all goes to hell or some other shit like that. I'm too lazy to leave the house just to buy a game.

The originally downloaded file won't last long, but sure, the original source would (I'm assuming downloading from a service like Steam, PSN, Live, Rapidshare, torrents, etc?). Even if it didn't last long, there would always be a source, legal or illegal.

I mean, what do you define as download games? Like with Steam, and to a limited extent, PSN, where you can keep re-downloading a game once you bought it? The source, or the file?

So is that your belly hitting random keys when you make spelling mistakes on here?

No, it's Gabe Newell... um... cuz he's phat... yeah.

Tralalalalalala~

If you take care of your stuff you should never have a problem with physical media, still the way to go.

In theory downloads can last longer, as long as they are transferred and backed up properly. It's the transference that's important, however: otherwise, the download is only as durable as the media it's stored on.

The DRM-encumbrance of most download systems negates this advantage: you can't transfer the download at all, and so you lose the durability. With machine failure rates being what they are, this makes downloads a lot more fragile than physical media.

Sadly I can't use that as an excuse since I'm close to being under weight. However, I would love to blame all the spelling mistakes on laziness to hit the backspace key. In fact, I think I will.

physical stuff is what i like but if its a portable device then i want it all on their that way i can play all my games without lugging stuff around