Physical vs Digital

[Xannidel]

So I just got an email from Nintendo saying the new Layton demo is available and then at the bottom there was a bonus if you wanted to buy the game from their eshop (it was the original Donkey Kong arcade game) and that got me thinking. Do you guys like physical or digital copies more? I am mixed, some games just do not have physical copies and Steam is also digital only and I am content with that but then I am torn with my handhelds/consoles where pretty much all my games are 100% physical. So I ask you all which is your favorite?

[A Zombie Riot]

I love Physical games more than anything. I can see the benefits for Digital (like Steam), but Physical is my only option (excluding XBLA and the such).

[BumblebeeCody]

I'm both. I prefer having the physical copy of games.

I'm a collector of games see, so I prefer physical copies. One good reason being (my recent purchases) Tekken Tag 2 and Borderlands 2 special edition. Get the awesome art books, bobble-heads, soundtracks, posters, mini guides, maps and some other random crap like USB sticks or replica guns. If I was a PC gamer I'd mostly likely be the same when it comes to special editions. I like looking at my collection that I've built over the years. You go into someones room with shelves full of games or go into a gaming room with a single hard drive with everything on it...meh.

Another good point is that you don't need to install the games or wait for a download. Whether your online or offline, you can buy the game and play it on a console instead of having to download it. Obviously a downside is your disc being lost, stolen or damaged.

Lastly I find digital copies to be overpriced at times. I don't see the point in paying £40 for a digital game when the physical copy is the same price and you get all the physical parts of a game. Digital copies should be cheaper since there are no shipping costs, manual printing or case manufacturing.

Pretty much the same for comics. I prefer the physical copies but I HATE digital versions. Music and films I prefer digital.

[SERIOUSLY THOUGH]

Bumblebro basically nailed it on the head.

I much prefer physical copies. There's something much less satisfying in a list of names on your screen compared to a row of cases on your shelf

[Ouberry_13]

Yea, I prefer the physical disk as well. There's a small bit of satisfaction of going into a physical place, buying a game and talking to the people at the register. You can't get that interaction with buying something online. Plus, I love being able to see all my games in a set order on my shelf.

[Zaliphone]

I much prefer physical for consoles, but digital for PC. I'd like to get into buying digital retail for the 3DS, but because I don't have a credit card of sorts, I can only use the prepaid cards. And sometimes Nintendo fucks you over and won't let you buy Link's Awakening because of one goddamn cent.

[Shirahime]

Physical. Mainly for bragging rights and the loverly special editions you can get that come with actual STUFF, but also because I have a shocking boonies internet connection meaning I might as well still be on feckin' dial-up.

[Hexadecimal]

Team physical! So much better to have the copy in your hands!

...Plus I don't know a lot about digital downloads. What happens when a new system comes out? Can you transfer what you downloaded onto it or is it stuck on your old one?

[BumblebeeCody]

(10-30-2012 11:39 AM)Hexadecimal Wrote:  Team physical! So much better to have the copy in your hands!

...Plus I don't know a lot about digital downloads. What happens when a new system comes out? Can you transfer what you downloaded onto it or is it stuck on your old one?

With consoles (Xbox and PS3) you have an account history which stores all the information on what you have downloaded and/or bought. When the new consoles come out, I wouldn't be surpised if all you have to do is recover your Gamertag/PSN ID to re-download your Games and DLC. Or use a USB to transfer the content (which you can do on current gen).

[Artwark]

As Bumblebee said physical is best. But I can really see the benefit for nintendo e'shop. What if they no longer sell the physical copy of the game? if its still out there in e'shop, it plays a huge role for digital. So in the case of retro gamers like me who want to play the old games, digital is best.

[Gahmstead]

Physical, for most of the reasons already stated. I've been collecting games as long as I've been playing them. Some of those games I'm really proud to have. I'm the same way with my music.

[Arjahn]

It really depends for me. With modern gamess usually I just download them online since it's so much easier, but you can be damned sure I like going to a used game shop and picking up some old Genesis cartridges, even when I could just download some ROMs or something... which I do not endorse in any way *cough*
On a related note, if anyone has a Mortal Kombat cartridge they're not using, I'll give you ten bucks for it :/

[Altair xD]

I prefer both.It doesn't matter if is digital or physical because it's the same game.The only advantage of having a game in digital version(on Steam for example) is that you can install it anywhere,without needing the DVD.

[Fozzle]

Definitely physical. I'm the same with CDs and DVDs. There's something about actually having a physical thing that you own, and can take round to a friends house etc. Recently though, I got halo 4, and (and Gow3 last year) and neither had instruction manuals? This bothered me for some reason.

[Earthboundy]

Well, I guess I am in the minority. Digital. I like not having to change the disk, or worry about the disk cracking, but I don't mind physical.