LelouchZero
Member
Goodbye then. Be safe, friend. Don't you dare go Digital.
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The Digital future IS ALREADY HERE. Physical fades...
- Thread starter ajb1888
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Goodbye then. Be safe, friend. Don't you dare go Digital.
ecosse_011172
Banned
Suits me, physical can die in a fire. I'm digital only on all platforms.
UncleSporky
Member
Whichever major console leaves physical behind first is ceding a ton of advertising space at brick and mortar stores. Space that their two competitors can claim instead.
Goldenroad
Member
Yeah, poor Amazon seems to really be suffering.
sleepwalkcapsules
Member
Physical media does not equal Retail stores
Probably Amazon and other internet stores are getting more ground with such an tech-savvy consumer crowd. That AND digital games together makes the current scenario.
Probably Amazon and other internet stores are getting more ground with such an tech-savvy consumer crowd. That AND digital games together makes the current scenario.
poodaddy
Gold Member
I've been digital only since roughly 2010 so yeah in my case you're right, but not for the average gamer. I'd say I'm in the minority, not majority, and that doesn't bother me at all. I don't really get why digital only people want physical only folk to convert; I mean why should I give a shit, literally at all, about whether other gamers prefer physical or digital? Ill continue being digital only for my own reasons and y'all can continue preferring physical for your own reasons and I believe we'll all be just fine.
Yup. OP makes it sound like an ugly and scary cult, and I say this as someone who went 100% digital several years ago. I don't want physical games to disappear, it's good that people have a choice.
ChoppedandScrewed
Member
Generally, you can look to less advanced forms of media to get a good idea of what's in store for the future of gaming. I would predict there's going to be one more generation of consoles with disc drives before moving on to digital only.
The whole idea of physical media is dying, slowly but surely. I don't know anyone who buys blu-rays anymore and it took me a month to realize that my new car doesn't even have a CD player.
The whole idea of physical media is dying, slowly but surely. I don't know anyone who buys blu-rays anymore and it took me a month to realize that my new car doesn't even have a CD player.
Stilton Disco
Member
People are still buying vinyl for fucus sake, physical media isn't going anywhere.
Besides which, for any truly global brand, where most of the world, even in places as rich and technologically advanced as the US, often has at best shitty download speeds and data caps, turning your back on physical retail is a fucking stupid move that will prevent expansion into new markets and industry wide growth.
Sure it will go away eventually, and with it so many of our rights and ability to truly own games, but we're several generations away from that dark day, thank goodness.
Besides which, for any truly global brand, where most of the world, even in places as rich and technologically advanced as the US, often has at best shitty download speeds and data caps, turning your back on physical retail is a fucking stupid move that will prevent expansion into new markets and industry wide growth.
Sure it will go away eventually, and with it so many of our rights and ability to truly own games, but we're several generations away from that dark day, thank goodness.
karasu
Member
People are nuts.Physical is a relic? Most of us still buy our games this way lmao. And I thought Gamestop was closing stores for reasons completely separate from the threat of digital distribution.
Hard Drive space is too much of an issue for me to go digital only. I don't have money to be throwing around for large hard drives and I don't even want to begin to install one or add some external shit to my collection of big boxes sitting under my tv.
Hard Drive space is too much of an issue for me to go digital only. I don't have money to be throwing around for large hard drives and I don't even want to begin to install one or add some external shit to my collection of big boxes sitting under my tv.
LegendofLex
Member
Meanwhile, in Other Media land...
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/may/13/printed-book-sales-ebooks-decline
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...nyl-hits-25-year-high-and-outstrips-streaming
I'm anticipating we'll see an ebb and flow for a long time among power media consumers about which formats are better.
Besides, the rise of digital was never going to be about killing physical. It was always going to be about making it easier for people to spend more money on content.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/may/13/printed-book-sales-ebooks-decline
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2...nyl-hits-25-year-high-and-outstrips-streaming
I'm anticipating we'll see an ebb and flow for a long time among power media consumers about which formats are better.
Besides, the rise of digital was never going to be about killing physical. It was always going to be about making it easier for people to spend more money on content.
FantasticMrFoxdie
Mumber
Nope. Just cause retail is faltering doesn't mean people aren't buying physical games.
I doubt it. Computers hit a roof at 500GB to 2TB, and I imagine consoles will as well. Hell, Nintendo hit one at 32GB. We have games pushing 100GB, and next generation will be even worse.
The end of net neutrality in the States will also lead to a dark age of data caps and fees for downloading games and all sorts of draconian practices. At least until the Republicans are voted out again.
The end of net neutrality in the States will also lead to a dark age of data caps and fees for downloading games and all sorts of draconian practices. At least until the Republicans are voted out again.
liquidfox00
Neo Member
I was all for it, and for a while was only buying digital because of the convenience factor of not going to the store or waiting for shipping on console games (PC = digital) but the last few months I've realised that far too many games are shipping in awful states.
I've now stopped buying day 1 and am willing to wait for a few months to save a couple bucks as well as a patch.
My little plan was going great until I succumbed to Andromeda and bought it digitally because I saved $5 with EA Access but that's my own fault because I'm too invested in the series and couldn't wait even knowing full well all of its problems.
I've now stopped buying day 1 and am willing to wait for a few months to save a couple bucks as well as a patch.
My little plan was going great until I succumbed to Andromeda and bought it digitally because I saved $5 with EA Access but that's my own fault because I'm too invested in the series and couldn't wait even knowing full well all of its problems.
Altered Juice
Member
I prefer to actually own my games
not a license that can be taken away freely.
not a license that can be taken away freely.
I live in a VAT free jurisdiction which none of the digital stores account for. So every single time I buy digital I'm paying Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft/Valve an additional 20% which they get to pocket.
Take into account that the digital prices in the UK are a joke compared to retail and suddenly you're paying in the region of 30-40% extra for the luxury of not having the disc/cartridge.
So, no. Physical is very much alive and kicking for me.
right now on my consoles i go like this
Ps4 mostly physical
Xone mostly physical
PC only digital
Psvita only digital
3DS only physical
Wiiu only physical
NSwitch only physical
Right now i dont want to go digital on nintendo consoles, becouse they dont lock their digital games on your account..
Ps4 mostly physical
Xone mostly physical
PC only digital
Psvita only digital
3DS only physical
Wiiu only physical
NSwitch only physical
Right now i dont want to go digital on nintendo consoles, becouse they dont lock their digital games on your account..
Funny, because I've had more physical games taken from me than digital so far.
BackwardCap
Member
They need more than consoles to fill those shelves.
Dr. Black Jack
Member
Lock your windows? What the fuck are you talking about?
Phrozenflame500
Member
It definitely appears to be the way the wind's blowing since it's more efficient, but there's probably always going to be a niche physical market as long as ISP's remain shit in areas and console internet infrastructure stays a step behind.
On PC I am all for it, in most cases there is healthy competition between stores, key sellers etc as well as deep discounts not long after launch on many titles. However on console with digital you are typically beholden to one storefront which as others have indicated is often more expensive than retail. I want to go all digital on console, but most of the time it just doesn't make financial sense.
KingdomHeartsFan
Member
How much thought was put into that OP? Physical makes up more than 50% of AAA console game sales and your gonna say only embers remain...its time to come back down to reality.
I went digital only part way through the last gen. That said with consoles I think you still need to keep physical around as not all the world has the same access to the internet.
respawnIN10
Banned
How much do clothes cost in the Matrix?
Huge Succeeded
Banned
^this is after owning a gaming PC for a year and a half
I'd say about 200 of those games belong to me, and the rest belong to friends.
I've got like 20-something PS4 games and if I had to guess, I'd say I paid about as much for them as I have my entire Steam library
Stilton Disco
Member
CD's, Vinyl and even cassettes sales have actually been back on the rise in recent years, as has books after years of ebooks looking like they'd do to reading what the iPod had supposedly done to music.
About the only medium physical is seeing continued contraction is movies and TV series though. However, that's also true for cinema screenings and television stations. Unlike music, books and games, TV shows and movies are far more disposable, and consumable in quick, small chunks, with little 'replay' value. Streaming services simply fit the art medium better, as it's fundamentally more disposable than the other media, and even then, similarly has a very profitable enthusiast submariner that is catered to extensively.
Much as how the ever more successful and better and better selling Limited Run Games provides previously digital only games as hard copies for enthusiasts, and we've started seeing Indies getting later retail releases to greater capitalise on a simular higher spending dedicated, hardcore market infact.
Worrying about the hypothetical horror scenarios of losing all your digital games is silly when physical media is subject to and entirely different, and arguably greater set of risks like theft, damage, wear and tear etc..
Hands of Stone
Member
Yeah, slow ass internet in a digital only future will be fucking horrible.
Manmademan
Member
exactly. Gamestop has a completely absurd number of stores, thanks to absorbing EB games years ago.
There are about as many Gamestops as Burger Kings, which is nonsense.
also, gamestop declining in general doesn't mean that the business is going all to digital. Gamestop is being hit hard by physical goods being sold through Amazon just like everyone else.
SprachBrooks
Member
Can't wait until everyone realises this won't mean cheaper games haha.
Lionel Richie
Member
Jack The Nipper
Banned
if you aren't on digital on ps4 eh, I'd hate having to change my discs (call it lazy if you want) but being able to go anywhere, sign in and d/l without having to take my discs is a huge advantage.
I'm even a huge physical collector but that is the old way and it still sucks you have to play them at home and they take up a huge amount of room although I stlll love them and will keep collecting but digital is so much more convienient.
I'm even a huge physical collector but that is the old way and it still sucks you have to play them at home and they take up a huge amount of room although I stlll love them and will keep collecting but digital is so much more convienient.
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