2 in 3 Gamers Prefer Discs to Downloads, Says Survey

[alexjones89]

i like things the way they are at the moment, with some downloads its better if i just want a mini game off a online store, but when i buy a new disk i do enjoy artwork and other bits and pieces you get. basically i understand the benefits of downloads but it would never replace the excitement of buying a new game in town and reading everything on the way home ha

 

[Weslebear]

For console games I much prefer disc copies.

However not a single shop around here sells PC games, so I resort to steam for convenience sake, I do love the steam community too though so that's an added bonus.

 

[ottenni]

Disks all the way. I just love the actual buying of the game. Its a nice thing to do buying a new game. And digital distribution just doesn't feel right.

 

[Dioxide20]

I like the digital downloads, especially Steam. I don't have to worry about disc's becoming unreadable, or lost. I never have to worry about losing a CD Key again, and patching, at least through Steam, is completely automated.

But I don't like buying the limited edition version of games because I don't get the cool extras like the concept art book from the Bioshock 2 limited edition.

I find they both have their ups and downs.

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

Buying games digitally never ever crosses my mind once. Its one of those things in the world that, to me, does not compute. I cannot think of one benifit to owning a digital version of a game that cannot be cancled out by its physical counter part.

 

[Continuity]

Whilst in theory I like the physical format, with discs/box/manual, it just isn't very practical - any gamer worth his/her salt will have in excess of 100 games and storing that number of physical boxes can be difficult for some.

Pros of Physical format:
1) A tangible item that can be traded/sold or lent to a friend.
2) You own a hard copy so don't have to rely on a service provider hosting the install files.
3) Box art and manual, eye candy plus a physical manual can be handy to refer to in game.
4) You don't need an internet connection.

Cons of physical format:
1) You need space to store all the boxes and discs.
2) Discs can get scratched or lost.
3) you have to get the disc(s) and put it in the drive every time you want to install or play.
4) you have to find and install patches yourself.

 

[Chipperz]

I always, always always go for disks. I hate Steam with a passion and hate the fact I have to have it for the few games that require it.

Those that don't go nowhere near that pile of crap.

 

[DSK-]

I like physical media because the game is there when I need it. I don't have to re-download a game. Plus there is also the possibility that a game is downloaded and corrupted.

 

[Jared]

Ill definetly agree to that! if I had a choice I would prefer a disc, to digital anyday

 

[Gaderael]

It'd be interesting to see how that split went in terms of PC gamers and console gamers.

Personally I much prefer digital distribution; with Steam it's dirt cheap with sales and I don't have to bother with boxes.

I read this on /. yesterday, and I'm pretty sure this survey only referred to Console Gamers.

 

[Plazmatic]

It'd be interesting to see how that split went in terms of PC gamers and console gamers.

Personally I much prefer digital distribution; with Steam it's dirt cheap with sales and I don't have to bother with boxes.

same here, and another bad thing about buying disks, is you have to deal with the retailer, like game-stop, who should not even be in business any more.

I may own some digital downloads, but I KNOW my disk is going to work and that I won't have it just taken off of my if some little shit reports my account for something I didn't do.

its actually the opposite.

 

[Woodsey]

I may own some digital downloads, but I KNOW my disk is going to work

You have some form of precognitive abilities then?

I've bought discs brand new and they've not worked the first time I've used them. There's no physical issue to inhibit you from playing when you download.

 

[Plazmatic]

Physical copies don't occupy bandwith; for instance, if I was to buy and download 3 games (which I would say I usually buy a month), I'd have taken up at least 80% of my bandwidth for that month, and I'm on the top BT package for places with no fibre optic broadband (<3 living on 3 hills and no where near a main town). 80% of my bandwidth gone equates to no image heavy sites, YouTube videos in anything but the lowest quality, or even for downloading various other tidbits. No frigging thank you.

And physical boxes just feel... right. You have the disc, and nobody else can feesibly take it from you without physically doing so. It isn't dependent on your computer, it's dependent on the disc itself; which is reliable in it's own right. I've grown up having discs; and I'm certainly not getting rid of them, unless any games I do download can be put on a disc. Pedantacism. <3

You do realize that in the most of use don't use that kind of internet payment system? right?

What the MAJORITY of us (who play video games, not necessarily the world) use a differant system, we pay a set amount every month for a cetain speed of internet, and now matter how much we download the rate does not go up.

for example 20$ a month for 500kbs or 500 kilo bits per second (not bytes mind you)

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Personally I love downloading games. For big titles like Red Dead Redemption, I like having a copy to place on my shelf. But the instant availability of XBLA is just too cool.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

It surprising that the misconception here is that gaming companies can't take away your gaming right if you use a CD. More and more games, even with discs, you're not so much buying the game but the right to play it. You can download a patch and oopsies... not that they would do that but there's no reason they would do that with a digital copy either. And with a digital copy I can't lose it. With steam I have all my places in the same place.

 

[theSovietConnection]

I much prefer physical copies. I like the box art too much, and I'm friends with the local EB Games and Future Shop managers, so I get massive discounts anyways.

 

[RatRace123]

Good to know I have allies in physical media preference.

I just like the sensation of owning a hard copy, if I download it, I don't have that same sensation. I don't own it, it's simply a bunch of data I have stored on my hardrive, but a disc copy. Hell yeah, that's mine.