Do You Want Your Video Games As Downloads Or Discs?

[ian h]

if we're talking about the psp here, then i think its ridiculas releasing the go with no umd slot, because sony are going to still have to make umd games for people with psp's released prior to the go (1000,2000 and 3000) plus not everyone in this world has access to the internet

[ruyor]

I wouldn't mind digital downloads if I had high-speed internet, but the only affordable thing available in my area is dial-up. The only high-speed services in my area are satellite or cell, both about $60 a month
So for people in my situation, all digital downloads with no physical media means no games

[JDvorak]

I have too many games that are scratched and won't play that the digital download is a great way to go. Besides you are talking about not being able to reinstall the game if you hard drive crashes and you lose the download. That is a valid point but people will hack the installers so you can put them back on without having to pay again. They will also create backup programs that will let you backup your entire game to a DVD/CD or several with all the registry keys, serial #'s etc. so you can install it later. In other words you will be able to create a physical disc of the digital download and not lose it. But if you are fearful of your hard drive crashing then why aren't you doing mirrors of your drive. I always do and have never lost anything unless I tell it to delete and use a program to wipe the sectors the program was on so you can't recover it.

[osgeld]

kinda ironic that you take good care of your hard disc data, and yet dont take care of your cd's

[oooooomonkeys]

Disc only i buy arcade games as downloads but would NEVER buy full retail games as a download i love having the box and instructions, downloads would mean no more special editions like my gta and fallout. downloads disc:thumbup:

[masterchief929]

I would definitely say discs. Not only would downloads kill the retailers and make people that work for places like EB Games and GameStop go unemployed, it would aggravate people. And what happens for people who don't have fast speeds? I wouldn't mind the ability to download games as backup with a serial number, but i will always want a disc.

[Pilot_51]

When I was deciding on whether to buy UT3 on Steam for $12 or eBay for cheaper, I made a list of the pros of each vs. the other.

Steam:
Instant download
Achievements
Can easily download/install anywhere with broadband internet
Key guaranteed to work
Environmentally friendly (no materials/shipping)
Supposedly less likely to be lost (depending on Steam)
Doesn't wear out by using it a lot

CD:
Box for collection
Cheaper on eBay
Better Xfire support (UT3)
Able to use one copy for LAN multiplayer (many games)
Internet connection not needed to install
Can be registered in Steam (UT3)
Ownership doesn't rely on a third-party

So, it took a lot of thinking to decide, but when I found out that the CD version of UT3 can be registered on Steam for the best of both worlds (except for instant download immediately after purchase and the environment bit), it was an easy decision. I managed to get it for a total of $4.04 in very good condition.

In summary I think disk is the way to go as long as there isn't any insanely stupid copy protection as with Spore or Bioshock, although typically in those cases they also do it on digital distribution in which case I can only boycott the game. If I wasn't so anti-pirate and I really wanted one of those games, I'd probably just pirate it for a clean version and find a way to pay the developer, bypassing the overpaid publisher which to my understanding is where the copy protection comes from. Anyway I think I've drifted far enough off-topic...

[kaferenza]

Disc, cartridge, tape, anything physical. The choice to be able to direct download is a nifty one, but what happens in an event where you loose your downloaded copy of the software and the company you downloaded it from goes bye-bye? I'll take physical media any day over direct download.

[vopinhimer.dodon]

I'd have to agree with everyone. A digital copy is really swell because it is uber portable. A cd copy is also uber swell because if the game company or online hosting server stops supporting that specific game then you still have a copy that can be played anytime anywhere. Overall I would like to be able to have both a digital and a cd copy. It's the only acceptable way.