Question of the Day, July 5, 2010

[The Escapist Staff]

Question of the Day, July 5, 2010



One would think that most gamers would prefer to get their games from direct download - it's convenient and quick. However, recent research shows that 64 percent of gamers still prefer to buy a game in-store. Which do you prefer?

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[Fusoiya]

Hard copy, mostly cuz I love to read manuals during bathroom breaks :<

 

[LTK_70]

I don't have an immediate preference, I download games from Steam and I buy physical copies from Play.com, so it always comes down on the cheapest of the two.

 

[iLikeHippos]

In all honesty, I have never downloaded a game of cost to my PC.

Sure there are games that really are free, and those are the only ones I download.

Other than that, games like Gears of War, Halo and Warcraft III... They all come from GameStop.

 

[Betancore]

I like having the physical version of a game. Much more tangible. Plus I like to have a chat about the game with the guys who own the stores I frequent.

 

[lewism247]

I Prefer to have the hard copy, sure you have to go to a store to get it but I get a much greater sense of value when I have the disk.

 

[Giest4life]

I download games if I absolutely have to, but I very much like to get a hard copy--a cover--for my money. It's more than just a game, it's an aesthetic element.

 

[UnravThreads]

I don't have an immediate preference, I download games from Steam and I buy physical copies from Play.com, so it always comes down on the cheapest of the two.

Pretty much this, although I do "prefer" digital if it means I get a better deal or if I get the game quicker.
I don't really care either way, though.

 

[Legion]

I voted hard-copy although I don't mind getting Steam games. On my PC most of them are downloads from there but I'd never download an Xbox 360 game from the Marketplace (although that could be because of the extortionate prices, how can they charge the same price for Fallout 3 as Dead Rising considering how old the latter is?).

Basically: I will go for the cheapest and quickest option in that order.

 

[Woodsey]

Digital downloads through Steam.

Cheaper, easier, better.

 

[LawlessSquirrel]

Hard copy carries much more value than a digital one in my opinion. When I pay for something, I like to know that I own it, and I will continue to own it until I decide otherwise. With digital it feels like there's the potential for the service to turn on you and destroy your investment. It's a little paranoid I suppose, but I've noticed it happen to people I know.

Then of cause there's the limited download quota to keep in mind, an issue not really notable with hard copies. And the whole artifact evidence of your purchase side that's always nice to have.

However, I will buy digitally if the price difference is significant enough. As is games are about 30-50% cheaper at minimum on Steam than they are as hard copies here, so for PC it's usually better to take the download if I can.

 

[Mr. Grey]

I prefer hard copies, but if there's a good sale on Good Old Games or Steam I'll pick it up off of there.

I feel more secure with a hard copy than I do a digital one. Especially since things like Steam, Good Old Games and Impulse are things that have a chance to shut down. And even Steam implements DRM such as SecuROM or Games for Windows Live with some of the games on their list while Good Old Games removes it entirely, I haven't had a Games for Windows Live become a problem for Good Old Games yet as there isn't a game on their list that uses it, yet. So that doesn't make it better. Not to mention Steam has decided to be a ***** regularly lately as opposed to just what EA has done with discs; install once and don't need to use it again till you want to install again.

Besides, there's nothing like the smell of a freshly opened and brand spanking new video game.

 

[Talvrae]

Hard copy that i order online... so it's a mix of both... i favor having hard copies, with all the extra that come with it than digital copy that i dont know how long steam or Ea or whatever will suport them... But with my time schedules, well i sleep when video game stores are open so, ordering them online is easier

 

[Ciler]

I like whichever one is cheaper... For PC games that usually ends up being download, while Console games are usually cheaper in the store.

 

[Ekit]

I picked "Download" since most of my games are from Steam.

 

[Anah'ya]

Nothing beats a neat row of game boxes on the shelf. Well, alright. A shelf stacked to the ceiling with collectors editions is even better. That, and the huge old paperboxes that have no value aside from personal attachment to them. Like my Thief and Thief, the Metal age cartons.

Couldn't be without them.

On the other hand I am developing a rather close relationship to Steam ontop of my collectors fancy. It's convenient when there's nothing interesting about the box the game comes in.

 

[dragonslayer32]

i buy the discs then install them to my hard drive as this is much quieter on the xbox.

 

[Wuvlycuddles]

Neither really, i tend to go for the best and cheapest deal possible, doesn't matter if its downloaded or a hard copy.

 

[Jared]

Prefer the hardcopy, happy to either go to store, or, order online, but, at least then I know, unless a theft occurs of catatrophy. I will always own it