I still buy retail software, but wouldn't mind all digital in this case.
games are different. maybe because of the fun factor of what's included. And there is more nestalgia with games, so it is the tangible sensory elements that make them attractive.

The only things I keep around in boxes are my games and my OS (and other disks that came with my pc, though I don't really need any of that). I use freeware programs for all my other needs, don't feel the need to make backups for those.

Digital will never fully replace hardcopies. Thats why even though we have computers and microsoft word ect. There are still mountains of documents in phyiscal form.

Digital media is great, as a supplement and alternative but because it isn't tangible it can never fully replace a physical copy. There will always be demand for people to get their hands on something tangible. Not to mention that in a digital form there is always chance of corruption and data loss. When you have a physical copy in the form of a CD/DVD/BR, only physical damage can effect the software onboard.

Physical damage on a tiny strip of plastic really isn't so far fetched - a digital copy back be backed up. I think we're slowly moving to digital only whether we like it or not, software sales have been overwhelmingly digital for a while, and it just makes more business sense, you get significantly more money per sale. I'm sure it'll be a long time before physical copies stop being printed, but we're already at over 50% digital and that shows no sign of stopping. It really wouldn't suprise me if the next generation of console had some real digital distribution.

I'm sure books will still be around for quite a while. Games and other software on retail discs, however, I'm not so sure about.

They are already digital files, simply encoded on a disc instead of downloaded, which is a very different situation from books.

The most recent game I own a copy of that has a proper manual, is Neverwinter nights 2. The manual for that surpasses the manuals for Morrowind and Oblivion.

As for the subject of the thread, I prefer physical copies over digital ones.
I like having all the physical stuff that comes with a game.
As others have noted, you can't, yet, get digital versions of the physical things that come with the CE of a game, in the digital edition.
Like others in this thread, I like being able to look at my collection of games in my bookcase.
I have a poor, at best, internet connection, so DVD sized downloads takes me several hours.
Needing to always alt-tab to read a PDF manual gets old real fast as it continually breaks you out of the flow of a game, that is providing the game is stable enough to cope with alt-tabbing.

Jenifur Charne

Most of my hate towards digital content is the fact that they put protection on it so I can't back it up. I like having the security of a back up just in case the service ever goes down, which can eventually happen. I know on PC you can back up content, but on PS3 you can't. Plus I'd much rather have a physical object that I can put on display. Also, if you don't like a game you paid for physically you can trade/sell it. With digital content you are stuck with it.

I like retail, I like mixing with the fellow gamers to talk smack about games, or playing some games before I buy them, or just having a browse... you can find some gems sitting quietly, on the wrong shelf, between new releases waiting patiently for you to spot it. I've bought DLC from GFWL, but only because it hasn't been available on hard copy, or has but it's part of a GOTY I don't need as I have most of what it offers already. I see the upside of DD software, and obviously it's all kinds'a class for putting a community together and for matchmaking and multiplayer. It's just whether or not a gamer chose to use it, or had it pushed on them, that's gets my goat about 'some' of it. Players perfectly at home with Steam are forced to install GFWL, which just seems pointless to me. If you don;t like or want a service you shouldn't have to even come into contact with it. lol

The mods should sticky a thread with a poll about DD versus retail, about required DD software, and about game activation and stuff in general. Maybe restrict the comments to one per forumite, just to allow forumites to clarify what they voted and why.... it'd save on the multiple and threads and generate a good idea as to where players stand since it'd be stickied. If they do though, they should include an option that asks the forumite if they already use the service... and if so, did they install it by choice or because it was a requirement. Heh ha.

Digital. I don't need disks. I don't need cover art or manuals. I buy games for the game. It's the same game whether you bought a physical copy or downloaded it. Steam is about as convenient as it gets. The second-hand PC market is already pretty much dead. Games with CD-keys that must be linked to some account, and then anyone who you might sell your game to would need to buy a new CD key anyway, which costs just as much. I only buy retail if it has Steamworks. Installing from a disk is faster than downloading, but I want the option of downloading it in the future, and not needing the CD at all.

I think you missed the pop-culture reference

Anyway, to comment on the topic, as I posted somewhere else: there are 3 mayor reasons why people prefer to buy retail:
1.- people like their goodies: they enjoy the box art, they enjoy the line of titles on the bookshelf, they enjoy reading the paper manual. they enjoy the CE stuff.
2.- People dislike being forcibly tied up to an intrusive 3rd party.
3.- internet issues.

Simple as that.

I ile the feeling of holding the game in my hand. SO I can break it if I nerdrage.jpg

The only non-game software we've gotten digitally is small utilities from minor companies.... the "indie game" equivalent.

And, for productivity & utility software? We keep the important stuff - the manuals. Shelves & shelves of them, including the additional third-party tips & tricks books. Gotta know how to use your software, after all.

Pretty much this. If the retail version only includes only a leaflet "How to start your game and prevent epileptic fits" and the game disk, I might as well just get the game digitally. I sorely miss the old big boxes. The last new game I purchased this way was released in 2004. Maybe that explains why I NEED! to get the CE for any game I want that has one.

I love big butts and I cannot lie, you otha' brotha's can't deny...cause when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist....

I mostly buy retail. I do not have nor want a credit card. (I'd be in trouble real fast.)

I do, from time to time borrow my friends credit/debit card (She uses debit rather than charge.) when I see a killer deal on Steam. (Batman AA for $7 was the last thing.) I don't want to abuse the privilege so I don't ask often.

I am a materialist. I like physical things. Therefore I like my games to come in boxes, on disks.

Also, I love new game smell. Fresh plastic - yum. I'm convinced Rockstar add something to their games as the GTAIV, GTAIV Stories... and RDR boxes smelled even nicer than other new games.

I stand corrected, you didn't miss it.

Wow, I didn't realize there was a smell involved.

The smell is what makes the game.

I almost always go retail (unless the game is only available in a digital format) and then with my retail copy I make a digital .iso backup, mount that onto a virtual drive and play away. my discs are all stored in my closet.

I feel better knowing that if something goes wrong with my computer or I don't have internet access (which is the case) I have a foolproof way of re-obtaining my games.

Steam is the only choice for me.

It's like a new car smell, but 10 times more intense. :hehe:

Are you sure you might not simply need some new air freshener?

No, no... the smell comes from taking a good whiff of the box or manual. Yeah it's weird, but rewarding. :bonk:

lmao, that is perhaps the funniest thing I've read in forever. Exactly how fast do you expect to be able to download a game that would normally come on a DVD(Say, anything over 2 gigs)? I mean, if I could download an entire game in a few hours, I would be very content with that, lol.