Current Events > The fact that digital game copies are overtaking physical ones is saddening

(+) Yeah! (+)

It's spelling out the death of game ownership as we know it and people are just merrily marching into it head first. I'll never understand how you can want a game without there being physical proof you own it.

The day games stop coming on physical media in general is the day I finally give up gaming
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Physical media is an annoyance to deal with

Digital is superior in every aspect

For modern consoles it barely seems to matter tbh. Good luck trying to figure out which physical games on PS4/Xbox One are still good on your PlayStation or Xbox when they can no longer can connect to online services when you're old and retired.
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I only do digital if I need multiple copies of a game to play with other people. If they ever remove the ability to download onto two systems are once then I'm just not bothering with digital unless it's massively discounted.

I do it for nostalgia. Plus I like seeing a visible, physical game collection lined up on my shelf. Guess I'm old-fashioned.
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ok boomer
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Digital would be better if they didnt charge 60 for it we arent getting a disc or case or instructions why are we paying like we are?
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I was attached to physical games for a while but like...what am I attached to?

I'm not playing my PS3 physical copy of Uncharted Drake's Fortune anymore and I doubt I ever will again. I've got my wife's Nintendo 64 in the house but none of my TV's can display that thing well at all and even if it did it's probably got some PAL fuckery going on.

Meanwhile I can play PC games I bought last generation with a simple click and bump up the settings to play at HD resolutions and smooth framerates.

The Xbox One X is rewarding me for keeping old Xbox games is neat but it only works for specific games. Unfortunately over the years I've given up a lot of those games thinking that I couldn't play them anymore anyway. Ultimately the best archival experience for me is PC. And that's completely digital. Those old PC physical games are basically worthless.
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Convenience > all

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getting the physical copy was a viable way to save memory on your console once upon a time.

not anymore, lol
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MarthGoomba posted...

Physical media is an annoyance to deal with

Digital is superior in every aspect

Until you run out of space.
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SauI_Goodman posted...

Until you run out of space.

Physical installs use the same space. Expect for Switch, but SD cards are cheap enough you won't ever have to worry about that

Having all my games on my Switch was the best idea ever.

I got the idea from a friend who lost his 3DS and ultimately had his entire collection transferred to his new one with no problems. Can't do that with physical games.

Preloading being standard on pretty much all consoles now lessens the difference too
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I see the advantages and disadvantages to both.

Physical:

+ Can be played offline/when services are down.
+ Can be resold/traded/loaned.
+ You have it in your hands. Many people enjoying holding a game/the visual aspect of the case.

- Can become unplayable if the disc is damaged/lost/stolen. (Much easier to damage/lose/steal a disc as opposed to an entire system.)
- Can be significantly more expensive than digital if the game is obscure, rare, no longer in print/discontinued.
- Have to get up and change discs to play something else.

Digital:

+ Games are often available the second the game officially releases, and can often be pre-loaded for added convenience. (Of course, physical copies of games sometimes make it into the world weeks before an official release, but someone had to break the law for anyone to be playing it early in the first place, so I don't it against digital.)
+ Many games that are difficult to find can be purchased digitally and played.
+ Switch through games quickly.
+ Can do things like gameshare.

- If console is banned/you lose access to your account, you potentially lose everything you've bought.
- Servers shutting down can mean you lose the ability to play certain games in the distant future, or you may not be able to redownload them.
- XBL/PSN/Steam being down means your games may be unplayable.

They both can benefit from sales.
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MarthGoomba posted...

Physical installs use the same space. Expect for Switch, but SD cards are cheap enough you won't ever have to worry about that

When you have a physical version you're more free to delete install data when you're done with a game and not going to play it again for a while, and easily reinstall from the disc later. Obviously some games with huge patches can throw a wrench in that, but there are plenty of games that don't have mandatory patches, or have complete GOTY versions.

With digital you have to back up everything constantly in case the digital store tries to disable your ability to obtain the game you bought.

Lets say you want to play Spider-Man on your PS4 Pro after the servers are shut down.

You put in your disc. Despite owning a PS4 Pro you're stuck with the 1080p resolution because Pro Mode needs a day one patch. You also can't play any of the DLC.

Like is it really practical to think that'll be the best way to play the game in that hypothetical future scenario? Unless society is post-apocalyptic which in that case playing Spider-Man on your PS4 probably isn't a priority.
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For PC gaming Digital >>>>>> Physical

But only because it's really easy to buy them and there are sales and bundles all the time.

Physical >> Digital for console gaming
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Meh. I dont resell any of my games. Digital is awesome.
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I agree with ZombiePelican? Did the world end while I was in the bathroom?

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I hope every cuck chicken enjoys the grave they dug
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Games will eventually go to streaming services like film and tv. No one will care about owning them cause it will be pointless to.
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Solid Snake07 posted...

Games will eventually go to streaming services like film and tv. No one will care about owning them cause it will be pointless to.

Nah. I'm glad I own music digitally because even if I'm in the middle of the desert I can listen to it.

I don't have interest in owning music physically, though.
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Damn_Underscore posted...

Nah. I'm glad I own music digitally because even if I'm in the middle of the desert I can listen to it.

You can do that with Spotify too fyi
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Damn_Underscore posted...

Solid Snake07 posted...

Games will eventually go to streaming services like film and tv. No one will care about owning them cause it will be pointless to.

Nah. I'm glad I own music digitally because even if I'm in the middle of the desert I can listen to it.

I don't have interest in owning music physically, though.

You can download albums from streaming services to listen to if you dont have internet access
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ZombiePelican posted...

how you can want a game without there being physical proof you own it.

Movies/music/smartphone games(apps)

Nobody gives a shit anymore and thats a good thing.

This archaic shit about games being tied to specific non-upgradable proprietary hardware with its own eco system needs to fucking die.
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Convenience will always win out with the mass market. Physical media just seems so... outdated today.

Duncanwii posted...

I agree with ZombiePelican? Did the world end while I was in the bathroom?

I'm not that unreasonable of a person, jeez

Lordgold666 posted...

This. You're essentially handing complete industry control to companies like EA and Take Two. Is that REALLY the future you want?
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I prefer Physical over Digital myself.
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