Support NeoGAF

[CamHostage]

I agree a lot, but then again I was just at the store thinking, "That's a pretty good price for Super Street Fighter IV, maybe I should finally pick that up..." and then I realized that I HAD picked it up, but it was a digital purchase. I don't notice a huge lot of the games I own unless I turn the system on and dig through the folders for them. (Just remembered, I never finished Scott Pilgrim, watched the movie the other night because it was on my shelf but I've had the game for years and only played two stages.) There are also games I own but don't have loaded because I don't have the space on the drive (in fact, SSF might be one of those, I think I got it on PS+ but never downloaded it.) Digital games are very easy to store away (or erase) and forget about.

I'd like to have a more encouraging digital library system (like, let me know when one of my friends is thinking of playing a rare game and I'll jump in on multiplayer, or give me a collage of my library on the Welcome screen so that something might visually jump out at me) before I leave the physical shelf behind.

 

[BD1]

I wish Nintendo did combo Retail/Digital packs a'la bluray/dvd. Buy the physical copy, get a code to download the digital copy. :-/

 

[RawkHawk2010]

You might want to check to see if you have ADD.

That's like saying someone has ADD for flipping channels.

 

[oneils]

I still buy physical games on console. The only digital games I have for PS360 are free ones that either came bundled with the system or free with playstation plus.

I do like the idea of not having to deal with discs, but on console it seems there really isn't any other incentive to go digital. Publishers aren't really "passing on the savings." Steam has kind of spoiled me in that respect.

There is not much of a used game market for pc games, and the steam sales made it pretty easy for me to go exclusively digital on PC. But I haven't quite seen the same thing happen yet on console.

 

[Zee-Row]

Good thing you didn't buy the 360 version of MGS4.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

the less bottlenecks the better

 

[JimboJones]

It's only really convenient if it's a multiplayer game that I play alot over a long period of time.

 

[Jubern]

What a bunch of losers.
Changing discs is one of the most enjoyable things you can do as a gamer.
Hell, I was glad that 360 stayed on DVDs. Actually grabbed FF13 on 360 over PS3 for the disc changing alone. It's sad that it'll become a lost art that future generations can't enjoy.
But at least my classic multi discs games I can still enjoy.





I'm dead serious by the way.

Because having so terribly compressed cutscenes the entire time was so enjoyable right?

 

[Madness]

Nah, it's retail discs for me please. I like the fact that I can collect the discs, take them to a friends house or family. Plus you never know, there is too much bullshit tied to digital downloads or services.

 

[Obscured]

It is annoying that on demand versions are not available with the initial retail release. Once that becomes commonplace I would only buy games that way. I get why there are reservations, but I'd like the choice.

 

[Infernal Monkey]

I don't mind saving $20-$30 per game for the dreaded hassle of having to change discs every now and then.

 

[Foffy]

Call me lazy, but I think most people are like this.

Yes, most people are lazy. This doesn't take deep research.

 

[Herne]

What a bunch of losers.
Changing discs is one of the most enjoyable things you can do as a gamer.
Hell, I was glad that 360 stayed on DVDs. Actually grabbed FF13 on 360 over PS3 for the disc changing alone. It's sad that it'll become a lost art that future generations can't enjoy.
But at least my classic multi discs games I can still enjoy.





I'm dead serious by the way.

I really don't think it'll be so much of a "lost art", more a removing of an old inconvenience. I've gone fully digital with my pc (of course) and now Wii U, and also my C64 and Amiga. I still have a number of C64 discs but they've all been copied onto the SD card storage utility I have for it, and all the Amiga discs are now images on a 4GB Compact Flash card. For that real hardware feel, yeah using discs is great. But for everyday use digital is so much more convenient.

 

[someguyinahat]

(Metal Gear Solid "take a break" pic)
Yes, I know this isn't what this topic is about.

I do agree, it's lazy but it's so awesome. I like buying digitally.

Not changing discs won't necessarily let you escape this. Fire Emblem: Awakening is constantly judging me.

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

If I can't buy a disc or cartridge, I pass on the game altogether. And that's even IF Nintendo managed to get a proper account system going.

 

[CambriaRising]

It won't now that it's not having to spin discs.

Thats not how things work.

On topic: I don't mind changing a disc, but I understand the certain barrier that is shattered when you don't have to. Steam has been amazing because of this. I can literally be in a game in 2 clicks right this moment.

 

[tornjaw]

For everyone that is displeased by the amount of space your physical collection takes up, I will gladly take all of your shit.

Spoiler

I'll even pay shipping.

 

[Risette]

I really don't think it'll be so much of a "lost art", more a removing of an old inconvenience. I've gone fully digital with my pc (of course) and now Wii U, and also my C64 and Amiga. I still have a number of C64 discs but they've all been copied onto the SD card storage utility I have for it, and all the Amiga discs are now images on a 4GB Compact Flash card. For that real hardware feel, yeah using discs is great. But for everyday use digital is so much more convenient.

digital is real hardware too though

This whole "feeling of changing discs" stuff reminds me of the "smell of books" people. Weirdos.

 

[PAULINK]

Call me old fashioned but I still like to have a disc and case. Plus on the one chance that I dislike the game, I can sell it.

 

[CambriaRising]

digital is real hardware too though

This whole "feeling of changing discs" stuff reminds me of the "smell of books" people. Weirdos.

Its all about TURNING THAT PAGE.

Spoiler

Weirdos indeed

 

[Jawmuncher]

Because having so terribly compressed cutscenes the entire time was so enjoyable right?

Considering how crap the story was in FF13 compressed videos didnt hurt it at all.

I like you

High-Five

the fuck

I know I'm in the minority here.

I really don't think it'll be so much of a "lost art", more a removing of an old inconvenience. I've gone fully digital with my pc (of course) and now Wii U, and also my C64 and Amiga. I still have a number of C64 discs but they've all been copied onto the SD card storage utility I have for it, and all the Amiga discs are now images on a 4GB Compact Flash card. For that real hardware feel, yeah using discs is great. But for everyday use digital is so much more convenient.

That is true. Times change and discs definitely are becoming more and more inferior. Still ill enjoy them for as long as I can especially disc swapping.

 

[Square Triangle]

I wish Nintendo did combo Retail/Digital packs a'la bluray/dvd. Buy the physical copy, get a code to download the digital copy. :-/

So people can buy physical and sell their code, much like the Ultra codes included in th ther movies? Nintendo will have none of that.

 

[Bluekaveli]

What a bunch of losers.
Changing discs is one of the most enjoyable things you can do as a gamer.
Hell, I was glad that 360 stayed on DVDs. Actually grabbed FF13 on 360 over PS3 for the disc changing alone. It's sad that it'll become a lost art that future generations can't enjoy.
But at least my classic multi discs games I can still enjoy.





I'm dead serious by the way.

I was agreeing with you until I got to the bold part.

Besides the disk changing, you actually bought that game lol.

 

[nhlducks35]

It's not being lazy, it's efficiency.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I was agreeing with you until I got to the bold part.

Besides the disk changing, you actually bought that game lol.

Well I bought 13 before I knew how terrible it was. As for everything else I blame playing MGS as a kid. Everytime I got to the second disc, it felt like such a accomplishment. Same with the FF games and their 4 discs. Was cool to track how far you were in a game by how far along in the discs you were.

 

[kenjisalk]

I think that it depends on if you value being able to revisit your content later on down the road.

I personally don't trust Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft to support their content in the longhaul (as illustrated by how XBLA and PSN games don't carry over), so I'd rather have a physical copy than to have to rebuy games every platform cycle.

I'm more likely to keep my game discs in good condition over the next few decades than they are to allow for redownloading of digital content.

 

[lantus]

Nintendo hardware drm means I'm not buying anything digital from them until that changes.

 

[jwk94]

So I was lying in my bed at 3:00 or so last night, engaged in a hopeless battle against sleep. (Which I lost. Because it was hopeless.)

Letting fate have its way, I reached for my Wii U gamepad so I could check Miiverse for a few minutes. But when I started reading through the Super Metroid community, I wanted to play it. (So I did.) Then rolling around in Samus's morph ball mode made me think about Sonic who does the same thing, so then I went back to the Wii U Menu and started playing Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed. Then I thought about how that game made me wanna play Sonic Lost World, which I will totally buy as a digital download so I can keep living in these exciting chains of jumping from one game to another without having to get up, turn the lights on, find a box, remove a disc, find another box, put another disc in, turn the lights back off, and get back in bed just to change games during one of these otherwise blissful gaming-at-night sessions.

Digital downloads have made me realize just how much more I get out of my games when they're so much more easily accessed. Call me lazy, but I think most people are like this. I'm sure you can think of tons of documentaries/shows/whatever that you've streamed and enjoyed on Netflix that you wouldn't go rent-order a physical disc for. And yeah, I know Nintendo's lack of an account system is shit, but let's have faith guys. (They gave us 3DS Folders and EarthBound, so we can't be too pessimistic!)

Either way, not too long from now I'll be switching from Bayonetta 2 to Smash 4 with the click of a button. And it will be the most amazing thing of all times.

(Discuss.)

As someone who has embraced digital games on the PS3 and Vita, I know how you feel. It's amazing.

 

[billy beane]

It sucks for Nintendo really. I would buy the shit out of so many games on my 3DS digitally if they had a decent account system. I'd also be willing to get more Virtual Console and eShop games.

 

[Electivirus]

I'm pretty much on the same page as the OP. I've got more than a few games that I would be playing far more of if I had digital versions of them (such as Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Nintendo Land, to name a few). Not worth it switching discs/carts and playing for what amounts to 10-15 minutes then switching again to play something else. Boxart and manuals are nice to have, but I look at both for a few minutes and never pay attention to them again for as long as I still have the game. They aren't incentives for me to go physical.

The lack of an account system sucks, but it doesn't matter much to me. Still more convenient to me than most physical media. I'll stick with discs if it's a game I'm really unsure of or if I have no other option, but by and large, I'm going all-digital.

Is it lazy? Maybe. Do I care? pfffffffffffFFFFFFFFFT.

 

[Catchpenny]

I certainly won't be doing it on Nintendo platforms until they move in to the 00s and implement an account system.

For competant systems, yeah, DD is much preferred.

OTOH, companies that support software for more than one hardware generation are nice too. Hope your PS3 doesn't break!

Don't get me wrong, Nintendo needs to get an account system up and running, badly. It's just that DD is by nature going to expire eventually. At some point, Sony and Microsoft will shut down PSN/XBL on the PS3/360, and after that your account system isn't going to do you any good.

 

[Bodom78]

I love my physical media so I will buy whenever I can over a digital version.

 

[lexi]

I'm the same. I'm never buying a retail game again. Unfortunately for the moment this precludes buying any Nintendo games.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

I can understand this mentality with portable devices, but with consoles? Yeah I don't get it.

 

[RM8]

I'm conflicted.

Optical media BLOOOOWS and if I use my future WiiU often it's bound to break at some point, so the idea of completely removing it sounds awesome... but I'm a collector and I LOVE physical copies of my games. Oh man.

 

[RawkHawk2010]

I should also mention I live in a Deep South hicktown with the only game retailer being a Wal-Mart. (And one that usually doesn't get games until a week after they're released.)

So knowing I can start downloading the new Zelda or Smash at midnight and have them ready to play when I wake up is a dream come true.

 

[xxracerxx]

I should also mention I live in a Deep South hicktown with the only game retailer being a Wal-Mart. (And one that usually doesn't get games until a week after they're released.)

So knowing I can start downloading the new Zelda or Smash at midnight and have them ready to play when I wake up is a dream come true.

Amazon Prime would solve the delivery issue.

 

[Deleted member 125677]

Guilty hands have got no rhytm

 

[PowerSmell]

If it's free repairs, sure

Usually it isn't worth it if it isn't free and out of warranty. Having options are nice either way



#teamdiscs

#teamphysicalmanual

And that's only for a region that Nintendo actually provides support to. Even then, I'm not sure if they'll support moving DLC in all regions without mailing to a larger regional support center. And what if your console region isn't the local region?

How convineint!

 

[Satchel]

There's a chance the new Xbox will allow this dream to happen.

I'm hoping Sony finds a way too.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

Can you red download a game on a new console for Wii U? Is the digital game locked to your account or the console?

 

[Daingurse]

Digital is far more convenient, but I'm not so lazy that changing a disc bothers me. I never really cared about multi-disc games either. Too minor of a thing for me to complain about really. But next-gen, hmm digital only would be a nice way to go on consoles. But the price needs to right. . .

 

[emb]

The idea mentioned in the OP is a negative bullet point for DD to me. Yes, everything is accessible more easily, but that also means it's accessible more easily. As in, it's that much easier for me to switch from game to game, and never really focus on any of them. I spend enough time playing random games for five minutes and then letting them lose my attention. Sometimes getting up and changing the game is just the nudge I need to keep playing.

 

[jon bones]

I'm with you 100%. All digital gaming from here on out for me.

 

[Wario64]

Can you red download a game on a new console for Wii U? Is the digital game locked to your account or the console?

console

 

[Spaaaaaaaaace]

What if the console has something like a 10 disk, disk changer?

 

[eggwolio]

I was pretty strongly opposed to the idea of downloading retail titles for quite a long time, but PS+ really changed my mind on that. That said, I don't think we should move to an all-digital system. I'm a gamer and I will be for the duration of my life. I make a weekly trip to thrift stores and often find games which are twenty years old or more which are new to me and I bring them home and play them. Twenty years from now, I will likely still have functioning consoles from this generation, but my digital copies will be long gone. If physical copies go away, our only option will be emulation. And to me, that cheapens the whole experience.

 

[JimboJones]

Can you red download a game on a new console for Wii U? Is the digital game locked to your account or the console?

Games are tied to your account but your account is tied to the console so basically your games are stuck on the console you downloaded them too until nintendo pull there finger out.

 

[Minions]

For me it all comes down to benefits

Digital
-Instant (semi anyway... there's still the download time)
-No changing discs
-Nothing to keep track of

Physical
-Can Resell once you are done
-Can continue to play 20-30 years from now
-Physical case, occasionally a manual
-Physical items often included in either A) CE or B) "Limited edition" some are free for preorders.
-Can Lend/Trade games.
-Don't have to worry about losing your account/getting banned from the service. If your account gets hacked or lost for any reason, just create a new account and continue playing.

Unfortunately Physical has way to many benefits. Digital is too risky imo, and even has terms which could remove your games with no repercussions IE. when amazon removed certain books from kindles after selling them. Personally I hope all the games on PS4 install to HD and don't require constant reading from the disc (the ps3 constantly uses the disc drive). I don't mind keeping the disc in there, but I don't want to lower the life of my laser for no reason.

 

[see5harp]

Too bad motherfucker