Physical or Digital Games?

[dpodblood]

I bought both the PS4 and the Xbox one day one, and for my launch games I chose to go digital. I still have some concerns for digital console games though. Mainly I am concerned that Sony and MS won't support them years down the line. What happens when the next generation of consoles comes out? Will we still be able to download our games, and if so for how many years after? 10? 20?

On the PC side of things I am not so concerned since unless Valve goes under (unlikely) we will still be able to download our games years down the line, however the same may not be true in the console space.

So are you going digital or physical this generation? What are your reasons one way or the other?

 

[zerocool84]

I like digital because it's so easy to switch games, but Amazon and other places always have great deals on physical games so that's why I go that route. Unless it's a special real cheap deal, I usual go physical.

 

[purbeast0]

any game that can be purchased physical i will have the physical disc. only way i'll download one is if it's downloadable only, like killer instinct and max curse of brotherhood.

 

[smackababy]

I am going as digital as possible, and as silly as that sounds, it is harder than you think. Forza 5 Collector's Edition, for example, is only available in disc form.

And really, there are so few games I would ever consider downloading for the next generation of consoles anyway. I mean, why bother trying to get Madden 25 or Forza 5 when Madden 108 and Forza 15 are out and much better.

 

[indy2878]

I like both actually.

Physical because you can share the game disc at your friend's house. And you can also give a physical copy of the game as a gift. Physical is also good because down the line when all
the servers are shut down and the console isn't supported anymore you at least still have a physical copy of the game which you can still play even if its single player mode only. You can also just play the game practically anywhere there's no internet connection. You also don't have to worry about filling up and using up all your hard drive or SSD drive space. Lastly I don't have fiber optic 1Gps+ internet connection so physical copies of the game is better for this purpose...

Digital is good as well... Because its downloaded from the cloud server even if you delete the game you can re download the game over and over again. Whereas if you have a physical copy of the game once you get rid of it its gone. Digital is great for people who like to purchase a lot of games. That way you don't have to fumble and lose your scratched game discs. which brings me to the point where ALL game developers that make physical game discs SHOULD give you a download option IF you buy the physical copy of the game.... Don't know if you buy it used though... Maybe offer it for a VERY small price if you want to download it... Not sure...
Lastly, you save on the environment for downloading games.

So in conclusion I like having both digital and physical medias of games.
My 2 cents.

 

[dpodblood]

I like both actually...

I agree, but in practice which do you actually do?

In the past I have always had physical media for console games (except where it wasn't an option). This generation I have gone purely digital so far, but I'm not sure if I want to continue down that path.

 

[KaOTiK]

I love digital, but I have some issues with it on the console side. First, as you mentioned OP, how long will the things I bought be accessible, on the PC I can make a backup of my digital copy which eases a lot of concern. Second, price. While sales are pretty good on PSN, my bigger issue on price is on new titles. When I can preorder a physical copy of a game cheaper than the digital, there is something seriously wrong.

I'm not one to typically trade in my games, but here is an example of how physical just worked out so much better for me. Before the PS4 launched, Target had buy 2 get 1 free and it included PS4 titles. So I ended up getting 4 PS4 games (and 2 Wii U), essentially paying $40 per title. Fast forward, mid december (around the 20th iirc), Gamestop, Best Buy, and Amazon all were offering $40 trade in for all PS4 games. This is a month after the system was out and I had already beaten all the games. I traded 3 them in and broke even, I figured if/when in the future I want to play any of them again I'll be able to get them for cheaper than $40 anyways by that time.

Meanwhile, on the digital front, you were able to get the PS4 games for $60 each (they did have a promo going where every $50 you spent you received $10 PSN credit the following month) and that was that.

Just for the record, I am 100% digital on the PC. So digital itself is not the problem for me, it is the pricing model that the consoles practice. I *HOPE* that we will start to see at least some more competition with the PSN prices because Amazon now has their own PSN Digital Store and are starting to do some promos here and there and are matching PSN prices on sale stuff most the time.

 

[indy2878]

I agree, but in practice which do you actually do?

In the past I have always had physical media for console games (except where it wasn't an option). This generation I have gone purely digital so far, but I'm not sure if I want to continue down that path.

I buy physical copies of the game 99% of the time. Unless
the game is available as download only....

 

[cmdrdredd]

any game that can be purchased physical i will have the physical disc. only way i'll download one is if it's downloadable only, like killer instinct and max curse of brotherhood.

This for me too. There is something to be said about finishing a game and finding someone who may want it and getting something back for it if you never intend to touch it again, or borrowing games from friends etc. There are also times when a special edition comes with extras that you don't get with the digital copy. I sometimes buy these.

On PC I want the disk too, even if trading/selling of PC titles isn't the same. However a number of games are digital only. Thief is one example I can think of off the top of my head.

 

[JujuFish]

Unlike on the PC, where I went exclusively digital years ago, I prefer physical media on the console side.

 

[Sulaco]

They each have their place, but if we're talking specifically consoles, physical without a doubt.

Especially if I'm paying the same price as a physical copy for a digital download. Simply no contest.

 

[smackababy]

Especially if I'm paying the same price as a physical copy for a digital download. Simply no contest.

Yeah! How dare that company make an extra $0.15 off me! I mean, bandwidth, servers, infrastructure, etc are free right?

 

[Sulaco]

Yeah! How dare that company make an extra $0.15 off me! I mean, bandwidth, servers, infrastructure, etc are free right?

As a customer, it's not my obligation to subsidize their costs. If a better alternative is available at a better price, that's where my money is going.
You don't like it, tough. My money is going to the option that gives me the most flexibility and value.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Yeah! How dare that company make an extra $0.15 off me! I mean, bandwidth, servers, infrastructure, etc are free right?

Not free but cheaper than the disk and having copies of it made, getting the box and printing it, & shipping and marketing the game.

There is no added convenience for me as I pass multiple stores to buy games on the way home from work every day. I can also pick up games when I am out doing my shopping anyway. If I'm in a rush for a new game I can go to the store and back and get it installed before it would download 40GB even on my 50Meg internet. For me, digital needs an incentive or be the sole means of getting the game.

 

[Skel]

I prefer digital as I don't want to have another bookcase filled with games I'll never play again.

 

[Doppel]

Disc. I sell all games when I'm finished, ideally before they drop below what I paid. This way I play brand new AAA games for $20.

Digital is the inevitable future, this is beyond doubt. However, I am concerned with the way it's going. Perusing some of the digital sales on the PSN store the prices are absolutely disgusting. Like an OLD OLD game (2 years) going for $29.99 or something, but you go to amazon the same thing is $14.99 shipped because the used market affects these in proper ways.

 

[MichaelBarg]

I prefer digital as I don't want to have another bookcase filled with games I'll never play again.

Me too. I don't have a lot of space (already tossed the cases for my current library) so digital is just easier.

 

[dagamer34]

Disc. I sell all games when I'm finished, ideally before they drop below what I paid. This way I play brand new AAA games for $20.

Digital is the inevitable future, this is beyond doubt. However, I am concerned with the way it's going. Perusing some of the digital sales on the PSN store the prices are absolutely disgusting. Like an OLD OLD game (2 years) going for $29.99 or something, but you go to amazon the same thing is $14.99 shipped because the used market affects these in proper ways.

I think it's because they just put the game up on the store and forget about deriving any meaningful revenue from it as compared to the App Store/Play Store where you can look at your sales daily. What I don't get is eventually it becomes more difficult to find a game and you can oh so easily get $10 from someone who wants a game now rather than having to look around for a used copy.

 

[JackBurton]

This generation I will buy nothing but digital versions of the game. Can't stand getting up to swap out a game, that seems sooo, last gen.

As a matter of fact, I just picked up the digital version of Injustice for the PS4 for $35 at Amazon, while the physical copy sold for $49. Nice!

 

[JackBurton]

I prefer digital as I don't want to have another bookcase filled with games I'll never play again.

Exactly, I'm through with that crap.

 

[lamedude]

Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice(GFWL) you can't get fooled again. Sony's credit is at junk status. Nintendo's game/account tied to system sucks.

 

[Wingznut]

Both... But mostly download.

Reselling/trading is the only incentive for me to buy a disc. So, if it's a game that will get limited playing time (i.e. Ryse, Tomb Raider, etc) then I buy the disc so I can sell it later. If it's a game that will get a lot of playing time (i.e. Madden, Titanfall, etc.) then I will download, for the obvious benefits.

My one wish is that they would make available the collector's editions and pre-order extras with downloads.

 

[z1ggy]

Disc. I sell all games when I'm finished, ideally before they drop below what I paid. This way I play brand new AAA games for $20.

Digital is the inevitable future, this is beyond doubt. However, I am concerned with the way it's going. Perusing some of the digital sales on the PSN store the prices are absolutely disgusting. Like an OLD OLD game (2 years) going for $29.99 or something, but you go to amazon the same thing is $14.99 shipped because the used market affects these in proper ways.

This is what I do. Also I checked what half life ( The ORIGINAL game from like 1999) is still gong for $7.99 for digital download. Say what... 0_o

 

[Tweak155]

Physical for console so I chose disc. Digital for PC.

This is because digital PC prices are much cheaper than disc versions usually. If console digital became cheaper, I'd likely download, but I can't be certain. Reselling games has its appeal on console.

 

[digiram]

The convenience of digital is awesome. I have kids in the house, and I can't tell you how many times physical disc gets scratched or lasers will burn rings in them and you don't have to switch disc. I really wanna go digital, but there's always sales and stuff an b&m for physical. So, until there is some price parity between the two, I'll stay with physical.