I went almost entirely digital when a burglar/thief taught me this wasn't really true.
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Do you fear the digital only future?
- Thread starter Bioshocker
- Start date
I went almost entirely digital when a burglar/thief taught me this wasn't really true.
No. I already have 0 physical games out of a library of 2000. I jumped in complete as soon as I could. Convenience trumps all. Besides who wants all that plastic shit cluttering up their home?
I'd only fear the digital future if GoG dies and pirates can't crack games, which would hurt preservation in the case of games that have DRM linked to servers that could go down eventually.
Honestly, I don't really see much value at all from physical games anymore, unless they're cheaper, and digital pricing could be better on consoles. Otherwise they take up space, need patches + DLC/expansion data downloaded anyway, install to hardrives because discs are slow, and those discs will last less time than digital games where I can back them up endless to hardrives or even use cloud storage. Emulation also lets me run most of my old owned console games on one PC, and can run those games better with higher resolution + framerate in some cases.
Streaming could only pose an issue if some game devs exclusively release on that, but given how TV/Movies work, there will likely always be a pay to download option.
Honestly, I don't really see much value at all from physical games anymore, unless they're cheaper, and digital pricing could be better on consoles. Otherwise they take up space, need patches + DLC/expansion data downloaded anyway, install to hardrives because discs are slow, and those discs will last less time than digital games where I can back them up endless to hardrives or even use cloud storage. Emulation also lets me run most of my old owned console games on one PC, and can run those games better with higher resolution + framerate in some cases.
Streaming could only pose an issue if some game devs exclusively release on that, but given how TV/Movies work, there will likely always be a pay to download option.
Yes different products are different. PS now and game pass let you rent a bunch of games a month at a time until you stop paying. Digital downloads let you use one game at a time until it's no longer available, the timing of which is not up to you and you have no other rights to that content, i.e. renting/leasing/not owning.
Yes. As it currently stands. I can get a job that pays better etc. But it means I would have less freedom in my daily life and that includes playing games. As it stands right now even though PC is my primary choice when I can afford it. I rely on physical games to have access to a steady stream. Being able to resell my titles on top of deals is the only reason I can afford to play the way I do.
There's also just an inordinate amount of drawbacks from pricing control. To agency what you do with the game/software. To preservation etc.
There's also just an inordinate amount of drawbacks from pricing control. To agency what you do with the game/software. To preservation etc.
I am not scared for it, I don't like that some digital games now get Limited Run/Super Rare versions, can't decide if to buy the expensive physical version or the cheaper digital version.
Have not played Hollow Kinight or Celeste yet because of that
Have not played Hollow Kinight or Celeste yet because of that
No. I don't fear it and I welcome the technology. I watch movies on Netflix, listen to music on Spotify. I couldn't care less as long as I can experience my entertainment. Everything on those platforms is for my entertainment, I'm not going to build a shrine for them. Besides. I'll take instant access over anything. Don't have to sit through a game that isn't fun for me and trying giving it more chances just because I spent 30, 40, 60 bucks on it.
Music and movies are not all digital. Blu-Rays still exist. CDs still exist.
Hell, Blu-Rays offer much better quality than streaming and digital downloads.
Honestly I think streaming would be a good option for people who have little to no time to game. It would be adaptable for where you need to play and when. No waiting for patches or installs or downloads just click and play a game on demand anywhere.
Nope, not at all. I made the switch prior to this generation and I won't ever go back.
I do understand the issues that people have with an all digital future, so I hope that things like data caps, slow speeds and bad consumer laws for digital goods will all be improved on and become a thing of the past.
I do understand the issues that people have with an all digital future, so I hope that things like data caps, slow speeds and bad consumer laws for digital goods will all be improved on and become a thing of the past.
Physical is pretty much dead to me at this point. I currently own 1 physical game and over 2000 digitally across all platforms.
I've bought 2 physical games in the last 5 years or so. Octopath Traveler because I got a great deal on the collectors edition which I then sold to someone on here when I finished it. Sekiro as again I got a great deal on it due to one of my colleagues receiving two accidentally the day before release.
I live the fact that I have access to thousands of games and it takes up no room and I don't have to swap discs etc.
I've bought 2 physical games in the last 5 years or so. Octopath Traveler because I got a great deal on the collectors edition which I then sold to someone on here when I finished it. Sekiro as again I got a great deal on it due to one of my colleagues receiving two accidentally the day before release.
I live the fact that I have access to thousands of games and it takes up no room and I don't have to swap discs etc.
Bring it on, I'm tired of listening to cheap disk drives whirr. And even worse, replacing disk drives.
I'm happy with Steam, I'm happy with eShop.
My biggest regrets come from selling/losing my old physical games.
I'm happy with Steam, I'm happy with eShop.
My biggest regrets come from selling/losing my old physical games.
Digital distribution is perfectly fine, it's the DRM that I hate. I can back up my GoG games and have them even if the service goes down, can't say the same for Steam.
Streaming doesn't interest me in the slightest. I'd stop playing games if that became the only way to play. Honestly, it would be kind of nice to have an "out" for the hobby. I could focus on my backlog for once.
Streaming doesn't interest me in the slightest. I'd stop playing games if that became the only way to play. Honestly, it would be kind of nice to have an "out" for the hobby. I could focus on my backlog for once.
I don't fear it but the idea of digital only can make the marketplace even worse for consumers, and with streaming even worse those are issues I think will make or break the industry.
I am rather surprised that so many in here are cheering this on given that we don't know the full consequences of digital only and in the near future streaming will have on the industry and consumers.
I am on the why not both bandwagon give consumers a choice.
Also the idea of preserving older games is something that has not gotten enough attention and will become a bigger issue in the future.
I am rather surprised that so many in here are cheering this on given that we don't know the full consequences of digital only and in the near future streaming will have on the industry and consumers.
I am on the why not both bandwagon give consumers a choice.
Also the idea of preserving older games is something that has not gotten enough attention and will become a bigger issue in the future.
I think consumer laws for digital goods will become even worse when it becomes digital only and even worse when it comes to streaming remember who the players are they have no interests in consumer rights that's why I am not cheering this on.
Unfortunately I think most people don't give a crap about preservation. They just want to play the new thing now, and forget about it in a few years.
I do not fear a digital only future. I fear a streaming only feature. Being a latin american gamer, it would be the end of my gaming days.
Deleted member 45957
Guest
I don't mind digital as long as my games are not tied to DRMs : No cluttering with plastic boxes, easy archiving and conservation.
GoG is the perfect solution for me : No DRM, optional Steam-like interface, and full installers for archiving.
I even set up an automatic script on my NAS to regulary download/sync the installers of all the GoG game I own, in case of sudden GoG vanishing.
Now all these games tied to shitty launchers (Epic, Ubi, Bethesda ...), there's almost a 100% chance that they'll be forever lost 20 years from now.
GoG is the perfect solution for me : No DRM, optional Steam-like interface, and full installers for archiving.
I even set up an automatic script on my NAS to regulary download/sync the installers of all the GoG game I own, in case of sudden GoG vanishing.
Now all these games tied to shitty launchers (Epic, Ubi, Bethesda ...), there's almost a 100% chance that they'll be forever lost 20 years from now.
I've never understood people buying digital games on multiple devices. Tens of thousands of dollars tied to machines that you may not even have around. Xbox has made this less of an issue but for people using a nintendo and Sony hand held or console, your shit just sits there never to be traded, given away, sold or played. If a game could be free of its attachment to specific hardware, I would be okay with digital games.
However, digital subscription services is something I see myself using. It will be more cost effective for me to play games on a service when and how I want than even buying physical. So I'm okay with the move towards that.
However, digital subscription services is something I see myself using. It will be more cost effective for me to play games on a service when and how I want than even buying physical. So I'm okay with the move towards that.
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