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Keeping it Retail - Let's Get Physical (copies of our games)

The Resistance pack comes with a download voucher. Both games are the greatest hits version. When I redeemed the voucher it gave me a bunch if multiplayer skins and R2 map packs.

I am not sure if R1 has all the DLC maps on the disk, but I do know they are all free on PSN and not on the download voucher.
 
Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith is a weird one. The DLC is on a second disc... but you actually play the DLC from the second disc itself. Quite bizarre.
 
2) Future access is not guaranteed - Will PS4 let you continue to play your PS3 downloaded games? Will all your Virtual Console titles transfer to Wii U? If you bought additional map packs for Halo 2 on your original Xbox, can you still download and play those on your 360 locally? See, you have no control over whether you can continue to access what you paid for. We are at the mercy of the whims of our Console makers.
What the hell is with this argument? It isn't guaranteed that we can play physical games on next gen systems either! It isn't exclusive to downloadable games! If you want to continue to play your digital games, keep your old system!
 
until XBL/PSN start offering incentives for digital release I will continue to buy most of my games at retail. I have no trouble with buying XBLA games though, and enjoy being able to jump out of Skyrim and play Lumines or Geowars ect ect. I even sold my copy of Borderlands to buy it on Games on Demand because it's a game i like to just randomly jump into.
 
What the hell is with this argument? It isn't guaranteed that we can play physical games on next gen systems either! It isn't exclusive to downloadable games! If you want to continue to play your digital games, keep your old system!

I have a Genesis, and a library of games. I spilled a Coke on that Genesis, and it was dead. So I bought someone else's old Genesis and I could play those games fine, even though the Genesis market had been dead for years.

If your Wii takes a crap right now, you cannot re-download those games to a new Wii, because the ownership is tied to the machine (by Mac address, if I'm not mistaken).

If my PS3 takes a crap in 10 years with a hard drive failure, and my PixelJunk games are not available for download any more, I'm hosed. My library is at the mercy of their willingness to offer it for re-download.

Savvy?


There are pros and cons to both and I think many people acknowledge that. Its just some of us prefer the physical release to network-based "service" dependencies since, although a company can stop network access to your console by blocking or discontinuing service - they can't remotely destroy your discs or deny you access to any of the content on it.

Exactly. And if you read the End User License Agreement, you can see that all of these companies are future-ready for these kinds of choices, since you haven't actually BOUGHT anything but a license to enjoy this content that can be pulled at any time with no recourse on your part. Again, some may not care at all, they essentially lease their games, even physical ones, by trading them in to buy the next one.

But for those like me, having physical control over physical, accessible media without a need for online authentication is important, so that I can be future-ready to continue to enjoy my library no matter what download or online-authentication services are no longer available. It's like a long-term version of the concern people had over Ubisoft DRM, ya see? If their servers weren't available, you couldn't play Assassin's Creed 2 on PC. So if you bought that game for PC, what's to guarantee they're going to leave that server up 10 years from now so you can come back and play that old favorite of yours?
 
Been a while, but here's a few new digital game compilations/complete editions I've come across:

Capcom Digital Collection (360)
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Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition (PS3/360)
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Is there any chance/word of Jurassic Park being released on disc for PS3???
I'll probably just end up getting the 360 one when it gets cheaper otherwise.
 
I have serious concerns with all 3 console's DD platforms.

None of these concerns extend to Steam.
 
Is that true or just a guess?

I don't think he's been extolling the virtues of protecting your game purchases with Game Insurance or how the Gamestop Digital Distribution Platform (TM), formerly Impulse (TM), is the only truly reliable player in the field.

So, probably a joke.
 
I wholeheartedly approve of this thread. As someone who routinely plays older games, I always go for physical games whenever possible, especially GOTY editions that have all the DLC on the disc. You're doing god's work here son!
 
Interesting topic. To those of you who hold out for complete/ultimate/goty editions, is there a time limit you give yourself before you will cave in?

For example, I was holding out on a ME2 goty/complete edition for 360, even when they pretty much did this for PS3 they didn't for 360, so in the end I decided just to buy the vanilla game on 360.
 
Imbarkus works for gamestop

Is that true or just a guess?

I used to work for Electronics Boutique, before all the used game non-sense, back when it was fun. TurboGrafx-16 and Genesis days, C-64 wall, etc.

Now, I just want to be able to keep the things I buy, and have access to them regardless of the upstate of some DD network, ya know?


Interesting topic. To those of you who hold out for complete/ultimate/goty editions, is there a time limit you give yourself before you will cave in?

For example, I was holding out on a ME2 goty/complete edition for 360, even when they pretty much did this for PS3 they didn't for 360, so in the end I decided just to buy the vanilla game on 360.

Yeah this cheeses me off too. I hate it when you can't get complete editions for every game of a series on the same platform. It makes no sense for Mass Effect. The GOTY edition of ME2 for 360 should have come out in January. Money left on the table, EA.
 
A physical copy doesn't mean anything if you still have to activate it online. For example, the PC version of Skyrim requires Steam and Mass Effect 3 will require Origin. That's the direction all games are going.

It makes no sense to put up with online activations that render the disc useless to anyone with a fast internet connection and also lose shelf space. I hear that Vita games don't come with a manual anymore, that will be every game before long making physical copies worth even less.

At least you can usually crack PC games to play them without Steam/Origin if need be in the future. So PC games should always be playable if you have a physical copy. Maybe not completely legal, but at least you'll be able to play them.

Also, even Nintendo has started skimping on the manuals. Super Mario 3D Land only comes with a folded quick start sheet, the manual itself is digital on the cartridge.

Edit: Oh shit, I need to start looking at the dates of posts I reply to...
 
Honestly I prefer physical media for 4 reasons.

1. Outside of steam sales it's almost always cheaper.

2. I almost never keep games for that long and if I can't resell a game it better be 15-20$ TOPS.

3. I like being able to lend games to friends who otherwise would never take a chance on a series.

4. Due to bullshit like online passes/ripped out DLC 80%+ of my gaming is from rentals either gamefly or redbox.
 
Interesting topic. To those of you who hold out for complete/ultimate/goty editions, is there a time limit you give yourself before you will cave in?

For example, I was holding out on a ME2 goty/complete edition for 360, even when they pretty much did this for PS3 they didn't for 360, so in the end I decided just to buy the vanilla game on 360.

I generally wait about a year. There are lots of publishers that have a pretty predictable schedule for their GOTY/Super/Ultra edition. If not, the game is usually super cheap, along with on-sale DLC. Many times though, enough time has passed where I either forget about the game, or just don't give a shit any more. It's not like there is a drought of good games out there that don't try to exploit the customer.
 
I went through all this in the XSEED Way of the Samurai 4 thread, but my position on this is well documented. I just wanted to bring up (again) that a large digital only library does not scale particularly well. The internet isn't fast enough and the proprietary storage media is too small/expensive. With more and more games going digital only, even people who like digital games (as an option) will find it unwieldy if their library grows by 3 or 4 games a month for the lifespan of a console (and it will grow, since you can't ever sell digital content).
 
Can you burn games you have bought on steam on to DVDs?

There's a method to back them up to file or disk, yeah. You still need to authenticate that account online to play a game restored from this manner of backup.
 
I actually have been preferring digital lately due to the fact that on PSN, you can activate two systems for content. This allows me to buy a game and then have my gf download it on her ps3 and we can play together. Same thing with Steam.

Although i imagine this will change very quickly.
 
I like buying physical to save on bandwidth.
ISPs are only going to get more draconian about bandwidth as time goes on. If publishers really want people to get into digital distribution, they should start setting themselves up to fight that. Of course, they won't.
 
I actually have been preferring digital lately due to the fact that on PSN, you can activate two systems for content. This allows me to buy a game and then have my gf download it on her ps3 and we can play together.

Although i imagine this will change very quickly.

It already did......we used to be able to active FIVE systems. :(
 
Buy these!
Batman Arkham City Game of the Year Edition for Xbox 360
The second disc is all the DLC which can be installed on any Xbox 360 just like the Borderlands, Oblivion, and Fallout GOTY.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition
Has all the DLC and doesn't need an online pass!

Not what I expected:
Modern Warfare 2 says it comes with a map pack but it is only a download voucher.

Portal 2 says it comes with the Peer Review content but its just a slip of paper inside recommending that you download it.
 
Bumped as I try to keep this thread a list of titles available that "fit the bill."

lanoire_ce_ps3x360.png


I'm playing this right now. All the DLC chapters are packed in on the disk.

Also...

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Forgive my tardiness in including this here. This release will include all the ThatGameCompany releases on PSN for PS3 on one disk, Flow, Flower, and Journey. Must for collectors.

Please help add releases to this thread that accomplish the following:

  • Bundle DLC onto a disk release (not with codes) so the content can be played should the DLC no longer be downloadable, or...
  • Be a disk-based release for a title previously available as Download-only.

Thanks!
 
I'll have to pick that up. I've wanted to buy Journey for a while, but was hesitating because of I was hoping they'd put out a physical version at some point.
 
I've heard about people getting banned on services such as XBL and such losing access to ALL their digital content. That right there should be a huge proponent to not going digital.

This is from back in the thread, but this can be highlighted nicely with this week's Steam "no-sue" update.

There was no notice about the ToS changing. Once it did, if you didn't like the new terms you were SoL. All access to your library is gone unless you agree to the new ToS.


XBLA Bundles have been one way to get download-only games on a permanent retail format.

I've got this one:

256px-XBLAGamePack.jpg

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Lumines Live!
Bomberman Live

That disc is an exception to the rule as the copy of Bomberman Live does not properly patch with the required title update. As soon as the TU downloads, the "full version" on the disc becomes a trial.

To be fair, Microsoft's CS was quite understanding about the matter. The solution was to add the XBLA version of the game to my account. While it doesn't solve the issue that this thread is meant to address, props to the CS team for that.

As far as backing up, you *can* burn any XBLA content to a DVD-R and it will run. If you play it on the original Xbox 360, it'll be full version. Play on another and it'll be trial (unless you're logged in to the purchasing GT).

This doesn't solve the "what if my Xbox 360 dies" problem, but it does solve the "what if my hard drive dies" problem.

In my alternate reality, it took a supreme court ruling on a class-action suit, followed by a fictitious law called the Digital Consumer's Right to Content Act to get these companies to stop trying to sell us the exact same content and line-for-line code over and over again. The kind of thing that will never happen in the real world.

Are you sure you don't have a time travel machine? Because the EU high court seems to be behind the idea of establishing a resale right for digital content.

Wonder if you still have to be talking to servers to play this version of Bionic Commando Rearmed 2?

That restriction was Playstation 3 only, IIRC.

And just as an FYI, I don't have cover art handy, but so far no one's mentioned the Konami XBLA disc collections. There are two discs, one which has CV:SOTN on it.
 
As far as backing up, you *can* burn any XBLA content to a DVD-R and it will run. If you play it on the original Xbox 360, it'll be full version. Play on another and it'll be trial (unless you're logged in to the purchasing GT).

This doesn't solve the "what if my Xbox 360 dies" problem, but it does solve the "what if my hard drive dies" problem.

Interesting. I have interest in backing up not only XBLA content but downloaded videos from my 360. I know I have Google just a tab away, but any pointers as to where to start researching this? Is it an easy thing? Or a multi-hour project?

Are you sure you don't have a time travel machine? Because the EU high court seems to be behind the idea of establishing a resale right for digital content.

Good point. And, a good development. I just don't see it happening here, though.

That restriction was Playstation 3 only, IIRC.

And just as an FYI, I don't have cover art handy, but so far no one's mentioned the Konami XBLA disc collections. There are two discs, one which has CV:SOTN on it.

I'll have to check them out and post some covers. Thanks!
 
#1 reason to buy retail, (by that I mean go to a retail store and buy a physical copy), is that it helps drive the economy and create jobs.
 
Buy these!
Batman Arkham City Game of the Year Edition for Xbox 360
The second disc is all the DLC which can be installed on any Xbox 360 just like the Borderlands, Oblivion, and Fallout GOTY.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition
Has all the DLC and doesn't need an online pass!

Not what I expected:
Modern Warfare 2 says it comes with a map pack but it is only a download voucher.

Portal 2 says it comes with the Peer Review content but its just a slip of paper inside recommending that you download it.

Hey I missed this before and it's useful so I'm quoting it.

We got some new bundle releases coming out which I'll try and post the details on: the Mass Effect Trilogy package that's coming out will appear to have some weirdness i.e. the first two games will have all the DLC but not the third. Interesting to have the first game developed for the PS3. Are they bringing over Bring Down the Sky?

Also:


Some quick googling tells me that Killzone HD is on the disk, but that a voucher is included for the KZ2 and KZ3 map packs. Since map packs are for online play only, which will eventually go away anyway...

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#1 reason to buy retail, (by that I mean go to a retail store and buy a physical copy), is that it helps drive the economy and create jobs.

It's probably true that brick and mortar retail channels get more people jobs that digital channels, but I think jobs would not be destroyed so much as changed into other jobs (i.e. from retail customer service to phone customer support). Unfortunately, they then become jobs that are easily outsourced.

So... yeah, add that to the list of strikes against, along with the whole "they can take away your purchases at will because if you read the fine print you never actually bought anything sucker" thing.
 
Hope you got yourself a physical copy of Fable II, because apparently even if you have it in your download history, trying to actually download it will just get you an error:


http://uk.gamespot.com/news/fable-ii-pulled-from-xbox-live-6400935

Probably just being repackaged? Still, disquieting. Anyone got any updates on new releases that qualify for this thread?
I got my Fable 2 digitally when it was made available free, but that's super shitty for those who didn't.
 
I tend to only buy collector's editions in physical form. Any chance I get, I go digital. It just suits me better, personally.
 
Digital copies are good for games like Geometry Wars, Super Star Dust HD, Costume Quest, Wipeout HD.... they are nice for quick sessions that you just want to jump into for 10-15 minutes, and I really don't mind downloading those.

But on the other side of the fence, I would much rather have a physical copy. Like people said, less crummy drm, you can take it to your friends house without bringing your console, putting your network id on their console, or whatever.

I hate always having to be online for stuff. It is nice that steam has an offline mode, but it kind of sucks if your internet goes out for a day or whatever and you previously didn't put Steam into "Offline mode".

I also have just been waiting on games and getting the GotY bundle for half the price or less of what the original was. I don't mind when DLC is good and it comes after the fact. But I hate when it comes out a week after the $60 game came out. I realize they have to put some work into the DLC before the game ships, but I can't help but feel burned and then end up feeling salty and never buying the DLC anyway if I bought the game for $60. Plus I hate the feeling of having an incomplete game, ala Mass Effect 3 with Jarvik being DLC, even though he was considered a pretty important part of the game to anyone who had been invested in the series.
 
I'm pro-physical as well, and I'll buy a physical copy over a download version every single time if given the option. Most recently I imported the asian versions of Dokuro and Okami HD, and the european version of New Little King's Story as they're all in full english and download only in North America. A quick scan and edit and you have english spined cover art to display with the rest of your collection.

Now with that said if there's a game I'd really like to play and digital is the only option I have, I'm not going to pass on it just to be stubborn. I have a small library of digital purchases on each console and I currently don't regret taking the plunge. Sure, I fear not being able to access them multiple generations down the road, but I'll take my chances for now.

Though, one thing I won't do when it comes to digital purchases is pay more than $15 for a standard PSN or XBLA type release, and $29.99 for a retail sized release. I don't mind rolling the dice a little with digital content, but I'm certainly not going to pay the same as retail to do it! I'm a firm believer that some of the money the publisher saves by releasing digital and avoiding manufacturing should be passed on to the consumer as savings.
 
What seems to have gotten glossed over with the PS All Stars Battle Royale release w/ free Vita copy is that Sony seems to have a way to identify physical discs already. The disc benefits option that allows the free Vita copy download only lets you do so once with a given disc, as it associates it to your account. There's gotta be some sort of unique identifier on the disc.

This has pretty interesting implications for next gen. They could potentially make you tie a disc to your account and not usable on another one. They could also use that to do something awesome, which would be allowing one digital download of a game per disc. That seems less likely, but seems like a way to possibly go digital yet keep the retailers happy. It will be interesting to see how next gen will work.
 
Amazing thread.

I like to buy retail games, and if possible, wait for GOTY/Ultimate/All-in-One Editions.
Even though I own a lot of Steam and XBLA games and personally have nothing against DD, I still prefer to buy retail and have a nice VG collection. I don't resell. It's just a hobby that I like.
 
DLC-on-disk notes on Mass Effect Trilogy:

Mass-Effect-Trilogy-Box-Art-1041428C4.jpg


On PC, Mass Effect will include Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station on disk. For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included which features Zaeed – The Price of Revenge, The Firewalker Pack, Cerberus Assault Gear, Arc Projector heavy weapon, and Normandy Crash site mission. For Mass Effect 3, Online Pass will be included granting players access to co-op multiplayer. On Xbox 360, Bring Down the Sky and Pinnacle Station are not included, however they are available as stand-alone downloads through Xbox LIVE. For Mass Effect 2, Cerberus Network will be included and Online Pass will be included for Mass Effect 3. On PlayStation 3, Bring Down the Sky will be included both on disc and on the PSN download, Mass Effect 2 will still have the same DLC on-disc that it was originally shipped with: Cerberus Network; Genesis; Kasumi; Overlord; and Lair of the Shadow Broker. Finally, Mass Effect 3 will also be exactly as it originally shipped.

Looks like PS3 version is best to get to secure the most DLC on disk, if I read correctly that the Cerberus Network include Zaeed and the Firewalker pack (anyone confirm?), if you can live without Pinnacle Station.

Later, of course, you will have to rebuy some future edition of Mass Effect 3 to get all its DLC...
 
Since I like to wait for GOTY/Ultimate Editions for some games I'm interested whether anyone knows when will the following GOTY ed./Ultimate(s) come out:

Borderlands 2
Skyrim
Sleeping Dogs
 
It looks like you soon will be able to get a physical release that includes Sound Shapes and Tokyo Jungle. Sony's putting together a collection called "Best of Playstation Network, Volume 1."

http://www.siliconera.com/2013/04/30/tokyo-jungle-the-best-of-playstation-network-vol-1-slated-for-june-release/

About Damned time.

I hope if they finally do PixelJunk that it all comes in the same collection.

Since I like to wait for GOTY/Ultimate Editions for some games I'm interested whether anyone knows when will the following GOTY ed./Ultimate(s) come out:

Borderlands 2
Skyrim
Sleeping Dogs

It's coming for Skyrim. PS3 version will even include the non-downloadable DLC.

http://www.bethblog.com/2013/04/25/legendary-release/

 
god-of-war-saga-infamous-collection-ps3-box-art.jpg


Also sad to report that these collections rely upon download codes.

God of War Saga, inexplicably, makes you download the God of War: Origins HD remaster of the PSP games, even though they were originally released on disk. Particularly and greviously lazy and cheap.

Infamous Collection includes only a download code for Festival of Blood, which means that content has never been released on disk. :(

I will keep updating this, though I could use some ideas on how to summarize all this info in the OP so I could update it.
 
So I managed to get my question read on the latest episode of PixelJunk Radio, asking if there had been any progress of a disc release of the PixelJunk PSN games.

They said that they were working really hard over the summer with Sony on making that happen, and then Sony went in another direction.

vader.jpg


nopixeljunkdisc.png
 
Physical discs aren't 100% future-proof though. Games are so connected and dependent on services and patches, years down the line if/when they shut down even with physical discs, you've got a crippled product.
 
Totally agree with OP. Services like PSN are nice for digging up older games that I missed out on during the time of their release, but digital gaming will never, ever be the default option as far as I'm concerned. I get really upset as a consumer when publishers/companies force it on me. (Which is why I refuse to buy an Xbone. I don't care if they're saving-face now. They showed how far past the line they're willing to go and I just don't believe they won't go there again in a heartbeat.)


Physical discs aren't 100% future-proof though. Games are so connected and dependent on services and patches, years down the line if/when they shut down even with physical discs, you've got a crippled product.

I have almost zero interest in online gaming. All the games I'm interested in have their bread and butter in single-player campaigns. So long as these games aren't infested and ridden with online-DRM/log-in bullshit, what you bring up isn't an issue.
 
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