DXLelouch153
Banned
people still buy physical PC games when steam exists?
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Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
That PC games section sure is looking hot
- Thread starter bananafactory
- Start date
Leafhopper
Banned
Yup.
Never buy a full priced game on steam, with a little bit of looking around it is quite easy to find a GTA V code for around 45 on sites like green man gaming. If you are willing to take the risk and use VPN software it will be even cheaper.
Isn't part of it the slow/non-adoption of Blu-ray drives in PCs? Looking at mine, I still have a DVD burner, but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I used it. I had a physical copy of Bioshock Infinite, but never installed it because I didn't want to go through three discs to do it (and I come from the floppy disk era, so I'm no strange to swapping for installs). Publishers who still do physical releases on PC are stuck with DVD, which suuuucks.
bananafactory
Banned
I guess so, I have a blu ray drive in my tower and figured that was pretty common these days, didn't think they were that much more than DVD drives.
Maybe not?
Goldenroad
Member
I'm really not sure how this is actually a "problem" for anyone. It's good for publisher in the way of digital distribution having lower costs associated with it than boxed copies, and those savings get passed onto the consumers. The only people I can see it being a problem for are the retailers, but with the tiny margins retailers make on new video games anyway, I don't see it being that huge of a problem for them either. PC game boxes are bigger and take up more shelf space and overall it's much better for everyone on down the line not having them in retail stores. You can still order new physical copies of PC games online and if you don't have access to the internet, I'm guessing you probably also do not play PC games so it's not a problem in that situation either.
bananafactory
Banned
Here's how it looks in a Polish Media Markt.
The first row of shelves in this image is all PC games. There's probably more - in my city's Media Markt there are I think 3 rows like that dedicated to PC.
Wow! Also that's a very nice looking store. Organized and clean!
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I don't think it will go away because people like to buy boxed copies of Blizzard games and MMO's. And those "starter kits" for F2P games, which usually have a disc. Most of the discs are useless after you have to patch the game twice over, but at least they have the physical thing there.
bananafactory
Banned
GAF tells me Sony/MS are buying them tho
bengraven
Member
Somebody needs to. That aisle is pathetic.
PC games just about to be released sure are looking good these days.
Real life or PC, it is getting harder to tell. YOLO.
What is the point of this? rofl
ChackanKun
Member
Im all about the lowest price, retail or digital!
Trigonometrize.
Member
It's funny, that's how I feel for all games.
Well, that's how most big chain electronic stores look over here. They're usually very spacious and to be honest I haven't really seen one that hasn't been organized and clean.
go_la_clips
Member
how fry's these days? They used to have a big section.
Rhomega Beta
Member
Last I saw, they still had like a million copies of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls on an end cap.
Agreed. The PC sections are pretty much one rack with 2-3+ year old titles. If they simply filled the pre-orders and that's it, I'd probably pre-order through Gamestop for the box and faster "download"/installing instead of going through Steam (while having the benefit of tying the CD-key to Steam in case I lose the DVD's)
I find the PC Gaming section in these stores to be wholly sufficient.
I wish Wal-mart and others would do this for PSN and MS Points. Print the code on a receipt and put that paper code buyer back on the shelves. Would save SO MUCH landfill needless bullshit.
I love Steam and any good digital service for PC games, but I really hope that if some companies - like CD Projekt RED - care for the retail versions of their games, that boxed PC games are still going to be a thing..
And the prices are still good when it comes to boxed versions - Witcher 3 on Steam for 50 euros, and here in Slovakia the standart boxed edition with many physical and digital bonuses for 30 Euros.. yeah, the choice is clear in some situations
And the prices are still good when it comes to boxed versions - Witcher 3 on Steam for 50 euros, and here in Slovakia the standart boxed edition with many physical and digital bonuses for 30 Euros.. yeah, the choice is clear in some situations
Digital-Hero
Member
Of Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft battle chests.
I probably should have added "and downloading said game takes a massive bite out of your monthly data cap."
Oh, and not everybody buys these games at launch.
Some of our supermarkets / Discounter already do this in Germany. Didnt see it for Steam cards yet, but Prepaid cards for mobile phones do this already. First time i saw it, I was like "WTF, is the cashier stealing the card?" ^^
Two things need to happen before I buy boxed PC games.
1. Stop requiring online activation to play what I have on my disc. Don't tie me to any online service whatsoever (Steam included).
2. Release the complete, finished game on said disc.
The last game I bought boxed was the Witcher 2 because it satisfied both these criteria at the time.
1. Stop requiring online activation to play what I have on my disc. Don't tie me to any online service whatsoever (Steam included).
2. Release the complete, finished game on said disc.
The last game I bought boxed was the Witcher 2 because it satisfied both these criteria at the time.
Ain't gonna happen because developers these days, especially PC developers, keep working on the game as the discs are being manufactured and shipped.
Yes. They're usually cheaper at release and most games redeem on Steam anyway. It's pointless to pay more for the same product.
Chubzdoomer
Banned
I always feel like I'm one of the few people who misses having cool boxes and manuals to look at. Digital games just aren't the same.
D
Deleted member 125677
Unconfirmed Member
Haven't bought a PC retail game since Starcraft II; Wing of Liberty (and that was only because it came with some hardware I bought 
).
Digital games just demolish the retail competition when it comes to PC games.
). Digital games just demolish the retail competition when it comes to PC games.
ebullientprism
Member
Half a day would be a miracle. I am on 4MBPS here and it would take me 2 full days to get GTA. Thank fuck for PC retail here.
Infernal Monkey
Member
Amazon Germany's upcoming physical releases for the next three months, download codes in a box not included:
PC - 122
PS4 - 39
XB1: 28
PS3: 13
3DS: 9
Wii U: 8
360: 4
Vita: 3
I mean shit, even stuff like this is due out in a few weeks at retail. <3
PC - 122
PS4 - 39
XB1: 28
PS3: 13
3DS: 9
Wii U: 8
360: 4
Vita: 3
I mean shit, even stuff like this is due out in a few weeks at retail. <3
SmartWaffles
Member
Batman Arkham Knight on PC is digital only so that's a start.
StarPlatinumTheWorld
Member
PC section in the UK is mostly really old games that are usually 3 for £10 or 5 for £10, Blizzard games (which I always buy physical copies of) and Steam top up cards.
I've gotten pretty into physical copies of PC games lately. Bought a few new bookshelves without much to actually put in them (had to furnish my new apartment somehow) and I want to fill them with things I'm into. So far I have a shelf with Binding of Isaac, Limbo and Rogue Legacy on it. Just ordered the Risk of Rain box from Indiebox like a minute ago and can't wait to get it.
Wish that Double Dragon box had a better cover, I'd buy that shit immediately... But these are mostly just decorations and that box is too ugly.
Wish that Double Dragon box had a better cover, I'd buy that shit immediately... But these are mostly just decorations and that box is too ugly.
I barely even see retail games at all these days! Game shops in the UK seem to be 2-3 shelves of new releases for all platforms, 2-3 shelves of pre-owned then 6 shelves of amibos and physical based gaming tat like shirts, bags, dumb accessories and posters.
That said PC section of retail has always been rather rough I think the only "new release" PC game I've bought in a retail shop was Theme Hospital! Everything else is usually bargain bin tat or bought digitally/physically online.
That said PC section of retail has always been rather rough
I think the only "new release" PC game I've bought in a retail shop was Theme Hospital! Everything else is usually bargain bin tat or bought digitally/physically online.Yeah add UK to the list of countries that have terrible PC games selection at retail - mostly just a couple of foot of shelving with World of Warcraft, The Sims, and game time code vouchers. I still buy physical from online retailers sometimes though, e.g Dark Souls 2 was cheaper physical from Amazon than from Steam.
Nah, the one near me had paradox games on the shelf and other shit I was surprised to see.
GAME in the UK do that as standard. Card on display is purely for display. It is convenient, but if you're buying someone a PSN/XBL voucher for their birthday - or FIFA points for instance, I'd like the choice of the nicely printed card instead of just a number printed on a receipt.
Im off physical releases for PC's now. Not worth it. I dont even buy my MMO and MMO expansions in physical boxes anymore.
I still like them for handhelds and consoles because of how often backwards compatibility is an issue. But its not that way on PC. I can probably go get my old copies of Savage, Quake 3 Arena and DAoC and still install them and play them all these years later.
Wow that is insane. Like a time trip back into the 90's when compared to the states. Nice though.
I still like them for handhelds and consoles because of how often backwards compatibility is an issue. But its not that way on PC. I can probably go get my old copies of Savage, Quake 3 Arena and DAoC and still install them and play them all these years later.
Meanwhile in Germany lol. Sadly I couldn't find a better pic, but I think it still gets the point across.
Wow that is insane. Like a time trip back into the 90's when compared to the states. Nice though.
Windom Earle
Banned
Yeah, buying physical on PC feels weird to me at this point.
Making an exception for GTA because I got a good deal on amazon and I like my maps.
Making an exception for GTA because I got a good deal on amazon and I like my maps.
My last was prey, lol. Thinking back on it, it was the display copy too at eb games. The whole experience turned me off buying things at eb/games top.