Sony: Consumers Prefer Discs Over Digital
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
Well between recent articles and quite a few posts on this thread, it is pretty obvious that tangible media is here to stay. And that is okay.
But somehow I am getting the feeling that the big companies are beginning to feel rather threatened by digital media. There really is nothing to be threatened by it. Physical media isn't going to stop overnight, because people still choose it. I enjoy Steam as much as the next guy, but when I do get into my next MMO, it will be physical media, as well as a few other choices.
Take a chill, gamers. You will still have a choice.
But somehow I am getting the feeling that the big companies are beginning to feel rather threatened by digital media. There really is nothing to be threatened by it. Physical media isn't going to stop overnight, because people still choose it. I enjoy Steam as much as the next guy, but when I do get into my next MMO, it will be physical media, as well as a few other choices.
Take a chill, gamers. You will still have a choice.
Wow.Redd the Sock said:
I am not sure where you get your information, but it really isn't anywhere near the truth.
Digital downloads have nothing to do with DRM coming about. DRM is included with all games, whether they are digital or physical. You still have to login to Ubisoft for Ass Creed 2 whether it's a disk or on Steam. You still have to register your purchase from EA whether it is on disk or from Steam.
Small hard drive to large file size ratios, well with physical media most of the CD or DVD actually is installed on your hard drive because even with a DVD these days, most of the files on there are compressed. So you will still need a decent hard drive if you are an avid gamer.
Mismatched prices...might want to talk to Best Buy about that. I was actually able to get a physical copy of Left 4 Dead for cheaper than what Steam was charging from BB.
Hardware failures. I honestly don't know what digital downloads have to do with that, but that cup holder you got with your PC? It's really your CD/DVD Drive.
The only thing digital media changes is removing the need to produce discs for games. On the digital side, it can actually help you do your part to be green, as well as save space in your home(or office). But with physical you do get something you can call yours, as well as having the sense of security that you will always have that game available to play. Unless it is from EA and you only get 5-10 or 10-15 installs off of it. Or Ubisoft shuts down its servers and neglects to provide a patch for your game they sold you so you can play it offline. But that's another jar of cookies.
Sony has only itself to blame for alienating the games publishers they work with. True digital downloads might look like the shiny apple alternative, but unless they make their own service they would have to deal with Steam, Direct2Drive, or other DD services out there. Which will want their own cut of the apple. But that is strictly in the PC market. Consoles are proprietary with their services. LIVE for Xbox, PSN for the Playstations and PSP's, and whatever Nintendo provides for the Wii and its handhelds(That service doesn't really get much exposure).
Owning a disc means I can take it where I want, use it when I want, on or offline, and cant have it taken from me by the company.
On a side note, been more and more starting to like Sony.
Edit: Also...new game smell. Maybe if they make a device that emits that smell when I download a game, but until then...
On a side note, been more and more starting to like Sony.
Edit: Also...new game smell. Maybe if they make a device that emits that smell when I download a game, but until then...
My friend said this is going to ruin Sony. I have no idea how. It excites me. I just bought Boarderlands and the 2 add-ons ON A DISK and I was very happy. I have XBL, but fuck downloading!
Last game I bought that wasn't digital was Supreme Commander. I really do appreciate being able to not have to worry about where my disks are.
Then again I don't even own a console.
I got a e4500 OC'd to 2.6 ghz, a 4850, and 4 gigs of ram. I'm good to go!
Then again I don't even own a console.
I got a e4500 OC'd to 2.6 ghz, a 4850, and 4 gigs of ram. I'm good to go!
I love digital distribution and I rather wish there was more of it. I'm slowly becoming inundated with piles of games that I have completed. Yeah I could go trade them in but I like to keep a robust library of games for days when I feel like revisiting something.(anyone up for a round in the first Mario Party?)
I think if digital distribution ever wants to gain the affection of the larger public they need to focus more on delivering games through it that are small, such as point-and-click adventure games. Something that's only maybe $5-$20 max and provides that need for something to do on a slow evening.
Frankly I'm just in love with the service Steam provides. I've got a full library of small games that suck up about an evening's worth of play-time, and the best part is I can get them from anywhere. Hell, I'll be going to London in about two weeks time and bringing my laptop with me, in the evenings when I want something to wind down with I'll be able to crank up steam and DL my copy of World of Goo, a Wallace and Grommit Adventures episode, or re-play the fan-f'ing-tastic second episode of The Devil's Playhouse.
Discs are a damn nuisance in my opinion, I'm constantly worrying about them getting scratched or lost. I guard mine like solid gold and give you the stink eye should you even so much as ask to borrow one. Why? Because you fuck up the disc and I can't play it anymore. Digital copies of games don't have that problem, they do, however, suffer from a bad case of "what happens when they shut the servers down?" syndrome.
I think if digital distribution ever wants to gain the affection of the larger public they need to focus more on delivering games through it that are small, such as point-and-click adventure games. Something that's only maybe $5-$20 max and provides that need for something to do on a slow evening.
Frankly I'm just in love with the service Steam provides. I've got a full library of small games that suck up about an evening's worth of play-time, and the best part is I can get them from anywhere. Hell, I'll be going to London in about two weeks time and bringing my laptop with me, in the evenings when I want something to wind down with I'll be able to crank up steam and DL my copy of World of Goo, a Wallace and Grommit Adventures episode, or re-play the fan-f'ing-tastic second episode of The Devil's Playhouse.
Discs are a damn nuisance in my opinion, I'm constantly worrying about them getting scratched or lost. I guard mine like solid gold and give you the stink eye should you even so much as ask to borrow one. Why? Because you fuck up the disc and I can't play it anymore. Digital copies of games don't have that problem, they do, however, suffer from a bad case of "what happens when they shut the servers down?" syndrome.
I'm all for disc over digital. As long as they're the same price, mainly because I prefer a hard copy of everything that proves I own it instead of the current system. I do however like the convenience of DLC because you get it instantly without dealing with people. Why doesn't Sony offer on the PS Store the option of disc or download when purchasing through them or custom discs you can order through them with your choice of content at the same price as the DLC plus like a $1 charge for the disc and postage cost on top of that. Either way I'm fine for the most part because it'll have to be installed on the HDD so it's just a matter of convenience or physical ownership.
[EDIT] Come to think of it even if it costs a little more just having a physical copy seems like the best way regardless, especially in the case of downloadable games.
[EDIT] Come to think of it even if it costs a little more just having a physical copy seems like the best way regardless, especially in the case of downloadable games.
I like to have a physical copy of a game cause the last time I downloaded a game I played it four times before Steam apparently couldn't find all the files so I re-downloaded it and it STILL wouldn't work. Went out actually bought a hard copy of it and it installed with no problems. And I've been able to play it with zero problems as far as not being able to locate files is concerned.
In the past I've bought games just because I like the box or game manual. I like to keep it that way. Sure, some DLC doesn't hurt, but for actual games I want to be able to hold them.
I only really use digital distribution for cheap stuff, like getting Portal free or Super Stardust HD (the best thing on PSN, it's asteroids on LSD). Usually I prefer havinf the disc.
Yea disks are the shit, you get a box with cool cover art and a manual and all that jazz, you cant add a digital game into your games rack thing that sits in the corner can you?
I prefer digital downloads, because I move a lot. But something in me chafes at paying the same price for a digital download as for a packaged product, which seems to generally be the case. I really doubt the bandwidth costs as much as creating the discs and packaging and distributing them does.
