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So who is going all digital download for games?

been using steam exclusively for about 2 years and it is bliss. Never need to deal with console bullshit ever again.
 
KiteGr said:
Digital Content has Zero collection value.

Buying something Digital is like renting it for undefined time. You own it as long as you have your account, and the service you bought it from keeps working. If the service you bought it from goes down for X,Y or Z reason (bunkrupt company, low trafic, zombie apocalipse), then you not longer have what you bought on it.
There are also other reasons hate DLC, like not being able to rent to friends or re-sell digital games, or not being able to see or touch the megabytes you just paid for, or being an excuse to release incomplete games to patch them or sell the rest of it later, but the main problem for me is the first as I am a collector.
Click to expand...

Not all DD games are like that. Check out GOG.com sometime, for example. They only carry DRM-free games. You can keep them forever. But unfortunately, most DD games do have service-dependent DRM. Even the much-vaunted Steam (which is an awesome service otherwise).
 
Ew. No.

Games are always, ALWAYS more expensive on PSN/XBL than they are in stores. Download speeds are still slow in my country. And I like pretty boxes.

There is no incentive.
 
The Vita's memory card price and size limitations and my WiiU's inconsistently recognizing the hdd I set up for it give me the thought that DD only is not a smart move atm.
 
On PC I've been all digital for years. Consoles and handheld I am still 90% retail. That wont change until digital sales and HDD space improves drastically on consoles.
 
I enjoy lending and borrowing from friends so no, I'll still primarily buy discs.
 
I'm probably gonna start buying more retail titles as digital games for my 3DS. I really don't like carrying loose games around with me and the idea of having it on the system at all times is very appealing to me. I don't usually sell my games anyways, so this will be a benefit for me.
 
I've considered the benefits of going digital, but in the end these companies just aren't making it appealing enough for me to take the plunge.

Especially Nintendo, with their absurd policy of locking your digital purchases to the hardware, instead of an account.
 
Man, talk about a perfect time for a thread like this

So I bought the Wizard's Edition of Nino Kuni. Totally intended on buying it on PSN so I could have it as soon as possible.
And that's the big draw for me. The convenience of having it, right there, ASAP on my 500gb.

I guess to better illustrate how i feel about it, here's my favorite, Pros n' Cons!

Digital future on mah PS3 (already commited to Steam years ago)

Pros

+ Day one digital. I can potentially have my game in a few hours depending on size and if PSN is up.
+ Don't have to deal with the commute associated with physical retail. It's especially annoying for me right now as I live 20 minutes away from a physical store that more often than not, doesn't even have what i'm looking for ....this leads to the next thing
+ Don't have to wait for my stuff to show up from Amazon. Depending on the postal system that week, it could take me anywhere up to two weeks to receive a damn game. I live APO (US military) by the way. This REALLY screws with one being excited and hyped. And of course, instant gratification is non-existant
+ Having just gone through another move, yeah, sometimes excess physical media SUUUUCKS
+ browsing my library without having to get up and walk to the closet, which living in a german apartment, is small and placed in an awkward corner
+ Specifically regarding Sony PSN purchases, the game isn't tied to the fucking system! lawl
+ Less inclined to just purchase shit because it's merely cheap online via some Amazon firesale. Most of the time, digital prices stay firm so much more selective of what I buy and when
+ Prefer a digital copy rather than something with ugly boxart ala Mass Effect 2, DMC Trilogy, RE6, Sly Cooper Trilogy, etc. ....yeah, I know, this is a little stupid
+ I love my Resident Evil Folder in my XMB :)
+ Some shit you ain't ever gonna see a physical copy of anyway like Stranger's Wrath HD
+ silent HDD >>>> cheap PS3 slim disc drive

Cons

- I really love those blu Vita cases (^___^)
- Sometimes it isn't feesible with games where the digital price hasn't caught up with the retail. Depending on the game and company, this could be a huuuge gap and sometimes it will never up catch at all. See PSN version of Goldeneye Reloaded which is still $60 ...then again, you could probably place some of that blame on Activision anyway
- Can't resell. Then again, like others have said, big deal if you're only gonna get $7 for it anyway unless you're selling really close to when it first came out
- Collector side of me still enjoyes checking out my library ...though becomes less and less and is honestly comparable to looking at a full fridge. Of course exceptions being...
- ...Situations like Nino Kuni. There's still some physical pieces that I want to own as a collector. Like my physical copy of LE MGS4, Deus Ex, MGSHD Collection set, etc. My main problem really is finding a non-tacky way to showcase them. As of now, yep, they're just sitting in a closet, which sort of eliminates the whole point. Which pushes me towards digital a little more...
- For aesthetic reasons, I still think owning a physical Blu-ray is very appealing

So yeah, a bit even but obviously tilting toward digital. Sony has definitely pushed me further than ever before though last year with their Day one digital.
 
AgentOtaku said:
Man, talk about a perfect time for a thread like this

So I bought the Wizard's Edition of Nino Kuni. Totally intended on buying it on PSN so I could have it as soon as possible.
And that's the big draw for me. The convenience of having it, right there, ASAP on my 500gb.

I guess to better illustrate how i feel about it, here's my favorite, Pros n' Cons!

Digital future on mah PS3 (already commited to Steam years ago)

Pros

+ Day one digital. I can potentially have my game in a few hours depending on size and if PSN is up.
+ Don't have to deal with the commute associated with physical retail. It's especially annoying for me right now as I live 20 minutes away from a physical store that more often than not, doesn't even have what i'm looking for ....this leads to the next thing
+ Don't have to wait for my stuff to show up from Amazon. Depending on the postal system that week, it could take me anywhere up to two weeks to receive a damn game. I live APO (US military) by the way. This REALLY screws with one being excited and hyped. And of course, instant gratification is non-existant
+ Having just gone through another move, yeah, sometimes excess physical media SUUUUCKS
+ browsing my library without having to get up and walk to the closet, which living in a german apartment, is small and placed in an awkward corner
+ Specifically regarding Sony PSN purchases, the game isn't tied to the fucking system! lawl
+ Less inclined to just purchase shit because it's merely cheap online via some Amazon firesale. Most of the time, digital prices stay firm so much more selective of what I buy and when
+ Prefer a digital copy rather than something with ugly boxart ala Mass Effect 2, DMC Trilogy, RE6, Sly Cooper Trilogy, etc. ....yeah, I know, this is a little stupid
+ I love my Resident Evil Folder in my XMB :)
+ Some shit you ain't ever gonna see a physical copy of anyway like Stranger's Wrath HD
+ silent HDD >>>> cheap PS3 slim disc drive

Cons

- I really love those blu Vita cases (^___^)
- Sometimes it isn't feesible with games where the digital price hasn't caught up with the retail. Depending on the game and company, this could be a huuuge gap and sometimes it will never up catch at all. See PSN version of Goldeneye Reloaded which is still $60 ...then again, you could probably place some of that blame on Activision anyway
- Can't resell. Then again, like others have said, big deal if you're only gonna get $7 for it anyway unless you're selling really close to when it first came out
- Collector side of me still enjoyes checking out my library ...though becomes less and less and is honestly comparable to looking at a full fridge. Of course exceptions being...
- ...Situations like Nino Kuni. There's still some physical pieces that I want to own as a collector. Like my physical copy of LE MGS4, Deus Ex, MGSHD Collection set, etc. My main problem really is finding a non-tacky way to showcase them. As of now, yep, they're just sitting in a closet, which sort of eliminates the whole point. Which pushes me towards digital a little more...
- For aesthetic reasons, I still think owning a physical Blu-ray is very appealing

So yeah, a bit even but obviously tilting toward digital. Sony has definitely pushed me further than ever before though last year with their Day one digital.
Click to expand...

Pretty much went through most of that myself. I still like collecting some things to an extent but, losing the clutter feels too damn good.
 
Today is the first day I regretted my all digital Vita.

I got a new system, transferred my 32GB card with a ton of games into it.... It needs PSN online in order to give me access to my games.

PSN was down this morning, and looks like it won't be back until at least tomorrow morning. Double checked that I couldn't just do a full restore from my backups on my PS3 and PC, and no dice. PSN has to be up to validate the system.

I have a full 32GB card of games, and I can't play a single one because Sony's DRM network is down.

You know what they say... Fool me once...


Thus, I am now taking stock of which Vita games I enjoyed enough to re-purchase a physical copy of, and I'm checking out deals.

I knew in my heart (and brain!) this is how DRM can screw you, but I was seduced by all the wonderful apparant conveniences of all digital. I'm really not that bugged about a few days of PSN network outage every once in a while, but I'm thinking of the future. I'd like to take out my Vita in 10 (20,30..) years and play a game or two and its obvious the odds aren't in my favor if I stay all digital.

Tiny carts here I come.
 
I'd love to go all digital. I like the idea of my content following me from platform to platform. But, price still attracts me to physical quite often. Plus...even though I hate buying used...I'm a fan of selling shit back after I'm done. Such a hypocrite I know
 
Never ever ever. I always buy retail and if they don't have it I import from a country that does. DD is a last resort or for convenience if I want to play something I already have on another platform.
 
Wii U is the first console that I'm really pushing for digital only. Of course, with retail game prices dropping after a few months, I will end up with some disc instead of paying the $60 upfront.

For the 3DS, no digital except for eShop exclusive content. We have two 3DS units in the household and we need to share games. The couple of exceptions to this are Mario Kart, Monster Hunter and Animal Crossing.

Our PS3 is basically just PSN exclusive downloads, preferring the much cheaper price of retail games. I guess next generation, if we own the Sony console within its first few years, it could be mostly digital.
 
Wolfgunblood Garopa said:
On principle, I have a problem with a system that is in place to benefit the publishers, while I have less control and less physical product in my hands when I spend my money on a game. Regardless of the benefits to us, it's far more beneficial to them.
Click to expand...

I disagree. Digital benefits me greatly.

I get games cheaper, they're easier to access, and I don't have to worry about something happening to my physical copy in the next five years to keep me from playing the game.

The key thing to realize is that the game disc/card/cart is not the content. The game is the content. It's the same thing as with books or music. Whether you buy a song on CD or digitally, it's the same song. Whether you buy a book in paperback, hardback, or on Kindle, it's the same book. The physical item is not the content, just a delivery system for the content.

You just have to decide how much that matters, and where you put the value. As far as it goes with me, I don't need to pay five times the price to eat a meal on fine china, when the same exact chef is serving up the same exact meal in the same restaurant on a paper plate.
 
Htown said:
As far as it goes with me, I don't need to pay five times the price to eat a meal on fine china, when the same exact chef is serving up the same exact meal in the same restaurant on a paper plate.
Click to expand...

Unless the chef steps out for a moment and you signed a contract not to take a bite without his approval, so you sit hungry. ;) Otherwise, without DRM, I agree with you.

When DRM is gone from games, I'm all in. It was the same for me with iTunes; once they removed all DRM I decided that digital music was finally worth it for some music.
I also still buy lots of CDs and Vinyl, but that's a different topic :)
 
Reclaimer said:
Unless the chef steps out for a moment and you signed a contract not to take a bite without his approval, so you sit hungry. ;) Otherwise, without DRM, I agree with you.

When DRM is gone from games, I'm all in. It was the same for me with iTunes; once they removed all DRM I decided that digital music was finally worth it for some music.
I also still buy lots of CDs and Vinyl, but that's a different topic :)
Click to expand...

Ditto

Once iTunes/amazon went DRM free, I ceased buying CDs
 
Reclaimer said:
Today is the first day I regretted my all digital Vita.

I got a new system, transferred my 32GB card with a ton of games into it.... It needs PSN online in order to give me access to my games.

PSN was down this morning, and looks like it won't be back until at least tomorrow morning. Double checked that I couldn't just do a full restore from my backups on my PS3 and PC, and no dice. PSN has to be up to validate the system.

I have a full 32GB card of games, and I can't play a single one because Sony's DRM network is down.

You know what they say... Fool me once...


Thus, I am now taking stock of which Vita games I enjoyed enough to re-purchase a physical copy of, and I'm checking out deals.

I knew in my heart (and brain!) this is how DRM can screw you, but I was seduced by all the wonderful apparant conveniences of all digital. I'm really not that bugged about a few days of PSN network outage every once in a while, but I'm thinking of the future. I'd like to take out my Vita in 10 (20,30..) years and play a game or two and its obvious the odds aren't in my favor if I stay all digital.

Tiny carts here I come.
Click to expand...

Go a day without the Vita or the rest of your life juggling with carts and cases. I've made the right decision.
 
elektrixx said:
Go a day without the Vita or the rest of your life juggling with carts and cases. I've made the right decision.
Click to expand...

That's the choice now. In 20 years it might be "carts and cases" vs. "dead hardware = good-bye to all your games" because PSN doesn't exist any more.

I still have all my games, some of them over 30 years old. I've replaced a few systems that died. Some of the companies that made them don't exist any more. Good luck with your stuff.
 
elektrixx said:
Go a day without the Vita or the rest of your life juggling with carts and cases. I've made the right decision.
Click to expand...

My cases go in a box in the garage, the cards in a cart organizer in a drawer. I do agree that digital is much more convenient in a "juggling a bunch of shit around" sense.

But the "rest of my life" part is *exactly* why I'm switching back to physical carts. A day without PSN is fine, but PSN as we know it will probably be long dead (along with all my digital purchases) before these carts go belly up.
 
I still prefer physical copies. That said, I enjoyed the convenience of my PSP Go. I probably would have gone more digital if my Vita had onboard storage in addition to the 32GB card I have in it, but most of the time, I buy the cards.
 
With games that are going to get bigger next gen, I might go physical somewhat as downloading ~20+ GB of game on a 3 Mbps DSL is NOT fun.
 
I cannot explain why, but i just do not feel like playing my digitally owned games. Most of my games on Steam have barely been touched. There is just no attachment to these games, i dont feel like i actually own these games.

Its odd because most of my music is digitally bought, and the last album i bought was from 1998, yet i see no problem when it comes to music.
 
thecharrr said:
With games that are going to get bigger next gen, I might go physical somewhat as downloading ~20+ GB of game on a 3 Mbps DSL is NOT fun.
Click to expand...

This was the realization I had again today

Looked at potentially buying the Uncharted Dual Pack. That shit is 40gb!

Yeah, until prices get more competetive (PS+ is a good start) and bandwidth get's better, I can see myself still collecting hard copies.
 
I won't.. Like my disk's and the idea it is there always.. Like if Sony will go bankrupt al my downloaded games will go with them as well..
 
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