Downloadable vs Disc

Definitely a disc copy for me. Just downloading my first game (RAGE) and its already put me off as its now taken 15 hours so far and a disc could do it in 20 minutes :(
 
I tend to just buy games off steam on sales :p (if they are cheaper than retail)

Failing that if a disc is cheaper and I can activate it on steam I will do that and then chuck the disk away after install. I don't like having discs laying about if possible to much clutter to keep.

I only tend to buy games new now if its a game I really really really want. Otherwise I shall await a steam deal.
 
voorhees1979 said:
lol, PC vs Console makes sense when you added those last two :)
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Thing is I always re-read what I've written.. and I looked over the list like "Yep that covers it, nothing wrong there at all what so ever so lets press the submit button because its fine and bullet proof"

Waiting for the gf to get back from work to look after the baby so I can go for a run, thank f0rk I only have to cross one road while running.. look left, then left then left again.. right!? I think I might not go actually.. its probably safer. Turned the oven on this morning to feed the dog to. Sigh.
 
Download.

More convenient, less **** laying around, if you want to play a game you haven't played for a year or 2 you don't have to raid your cupboard yelling "WHERE THE **** DID I PUT THAT ****ING DISK?".
 
I prefer games on dvd.
Why? They are always cheaper for new releases. Seems stupid that Steam games cost more.
Steam can be fantastic for deals on older games though, but for games to be obtained via download they need to be significantly cheaper.
 
I prefer disk as it saves me from long downloads, (poor net connection), i have a few gmes on origin and steam, but theese involved leaving the system on overnight for downloading them. Disk copies of new releases tend to be a bit cheaper as well.
 
Either, games I really really really really want (BF3, Skyrim, Batman) I will buy on disc and get delivered for (hopefully) day of release. It's something to put on the shelf and, like kd said, it makes it feel like I actually own the product.

Normally the games I buy via DD are ones that are in a sale. Although with that being said there has been a few titles that I bought on day of release or a few days later just due to sheer laziness (DX:HR, Dead Island) because with a 40Mb line it's actually faster to download it than to go out to town and buy it.

Steamworks games are the best of both worlds, you can have the physical copy AND have the game in your steam library to download and play at a mates house or if the disc gets damaged.
 
Disc, all else being equal. Makes reinstalling a lot quicker and don't have to worry about being online. If I had a decent net connection I might not be so bothered but I live in a right ghetto when it comes to internet (no ADSL2, no FTTC, no LLU, no cable, no 3G etc)

Although that said, it is very annoying when you lose a disc and can't find it
 
Since Steam really took off I'm not that fussed about having boxed discs now, it's not like I have a shelf to show them off, they're always tucked away hidden underneath the desk!

Probably prefer the convenience of digital copies now, knowing I'll have it on release day if I've pre-ordered, rather than gambling on the postal system shipping it on time.
 
i h8in having cds all over the place,, i think it must be 2 years+ since i paid for a game that came on cd/dvd, downloading games dont take long if u have a good connection these days so much better and less hassle, i dont mind paying £5 more for a game if it means i dont have to get my arse down a shop or w8 for royal snail to deliver it,, skyrim looks to be the only exception to the rule tho as i have it on pre order for £25
 
Disc. Excepting sales, you get more for less cash. Bit of a no-brainer really. However sales are a different story...if I can get a game significantly cheaper from Gamersgate or wherever then that's what I'll do. But I do like my shiny.
 
Still purchase some games on disc mainly because my Internet connection isn't fast enough and physical copies sometimes end up being cheaper anyway.

I'm starting to prefer the downloadable route though and I'll probably use it for most things in the future.
 
Digital distribution is definitely the way forward because the actual end product (the game itself) is the same no matter what media is used, and digital distribution is much more efficient. Additionally, the majority of games now tend to be played on internet-enabled devices. This is where it is slightly different from music, which often isn't lossless and people often want to play them on devices that cannot easily access digital copies (e.g. older car steroes, hifis etc).

Realistically once the games industry (publishers etc) accepts that the traditional bricks and mortar sales cannot be sustained indefinitely there will come a time when "digital only" policies start to take shape. This may exclude some people from gaming at times but it is a natural progression and indeed as time moves forward more and more services we receive are likely to start requiring an internet connection in the same way that certain services historically have required a physical postal address, or phonenumber. Online shopping can only get more and more dominant, the only issue I can see longterm is whether the cost of delivery (currently subsidised) is sustainable amidst rising fuel costs, or whether we will start to see a situation where the days of cheap/free delivery on small items fade away.

From an efficiency standpoint there is really no argument - manufacturing, distribution, shelfspace, sales assistants etc etc are all things that can be elminated which in the long term can only be a good thing for the majority, albeit not everyone.
 
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I don't care for being a fan of either. As a consumer I'll get whatever is cheapest and less obtrusive/restrictive, DRM-wise.

Hence, I've bought games on several DD platforms and countless retailers/e-tailers.
 
wnb said:
I would love to download all my games but I only have 1mb adsl due to where I live, couple that with 40gb per month line and one game would eat a large chunk of that. Also their is the fact that buying a new game dvd is cheaper than downloading it.
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Thats the problem I suffer. With 2Mb I have 5 more GB and even thats not much. So far I've only downloaded 3 games and whatever huge updates/texture packs. Going by F1 2011 etc, 10GB a game... that 45GB monthly usage is not long saying goodbye.
 
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