I know, that's how I played FO:NV



My collection of FO3 patches takes ~200mb. Archiving an install of each version of FO3 would takes dozens of Gb.




There's drawbacks to both ways.


(and re: music downloads vs. 78's.... that's actually a terrible example, because audiophiles are a group notorious for disliking the more "modern" formats, because they throw out audio data. The reams of articles on how terrible audio compression is on CD's and digital files could bury this forum. )

My primary gaming PC is also my recording studio machine. It is not allowed on the internet. Everything is transferred to it via USB external drive.
I do not deal with any online game peddler...but before 11-11-11......I will be getting a new PC for Skyrim and will be kicking and screaming and steam will be emanating from my ears.

To quote..."When I buy something, I like to physically own it."

ok here is an anology (and maybe a bad one but here it goes):

For consuming tobacco, it makes more sense to smoke a cigarette. It's cheap, quick ,and does the job, no hassles.
but...despite this..some people prefer tobacco pipes..even though there is more involved with it. it isnt rational in a purely functional sense.
with pipes, people like the feel of the pipe, the smell of the tobacco and how it can wisp around more. they like the artisty of the pipe. they can become collectibles and put on display.
They have to be cared for, not thrown away.
there is a sense of nestalgia with them .the characters and history, (real or imagined ) that they invoke.
There is ritual with pipes that doesn't exist in cigarettes.

I hated steam when it was launched because my clan and it's network had invested a lot time on the old won system (anti-cheating), steam wiped it all out, but I've grown to prefer it simply because it's the best way for me to buy and play games. I agree that forcing someone to use steam isn't cool, but I don't think anyone is suggesting that should be the way forward for Skyrim.

Because my internet svcks ass and I can't be arsed to download the game if I have to uninstall it. I also enjoy the security of having a physical copy. I won't ever need a connection to the internet to install my game.

I'm the same way; though the EULA usually explains that you own only the plastic itself.

I only buy from Steam if its a toy or something I absolutely cannot find somewhere else. *I don't make this exception for GOG though... I'll buy from GOG any day.

EA phasing out manuals not withstanding,the only real reason for physical copies now is; "I want readin' materials for poopin' time."

That's why I prefer Physical copies at least.


Electronic downloads are seriously great though. I lost my Sins of a Solar Empire Discs, and had to reformat my PC sometime after that, I didn't even take notice until I saw the GDC announcment of Rebellion and scrambled to find the discs, only to find a third of one. Luckily, Impulse was there to save the day!

Luckily, I still got the manual too! So best of both worlds!!

Civilization IV required an Internet connection once for activation. It has the ability built right into the game itself for downloading updates. It does not require the disc in order to play. It does not require additional software, which behaves by default like malware, to run on my computer (offline mode or not). I get a disc. I get beautiful manuals, foldout diagrams, and artwork. All this in addition to an outstanding game.

This is the obvious and only path to excellence for Skyrim.

physical copy because of that new game smell...

I havent bought any pc games for years, so I missed all the digital copies and digital rights crap.

Anyways, I prefer a hard copy in case my computer gets wiped so I dont have to download again (if you can do that at all). Also, before digital rightz i liked to install on many computers or lend to a friend, etc... Plus, I like cover and box art.

& yet I hope Bethesda doesn't force that system on us again, Steam option = great, Steam requirement = :shakehead:

At least for Skyrim & other SP titles

The majority of the pc market is digital base, watch this house burns down i loose everything still have my steam purchases.

Some of us that praise Steam do so as a download store. As in, if it has online DRM I want it to be Steam. It's not that I want it in particular to have Steam, rather it's that I think Steam is by far the best choice if it does that.

I plan to get the physical release. If they use Steam DRM, I hope it adds it to Steam so you can download it from Steam whenever you like.

when I buy something, I like to have it in my hands.

this

I respond with a question myself: WHY PEOPLE PREFER TO DOWNLOAD THAN BUYING THE REAL THING?
useless topìc....

I have over 100 games on steam. Its a great service but all of those games were purchased at a huge discount. I own the CE of oblivion, but got the goty on steam when it was 7 bucks so I could have the DLCs. I also have several other franchise CEs sitting on my shelf.

That said, I buy all of the games I consider of high importance retail. Any RPG I buy falls into that category, but games like BFBC and Just Cause are through dd because I don't need extras. And while they're good games.... Eh... I probably wouldn't miss them.. Well.. Maybe battlefield.... Anyways!

I guess it comes down to my desire to be able to say I own a physical copy, a collectors edition at that, and know that I can own a collection of some sort. I don't really have an answer for you OP. I just know that I require a physical copy of the game. Call it an odd form of kleptomania... I don't care. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

That's easy.

With a digital copy, I wouldn't be able to do the most important step: Before even touching the game disk, I sit on my couch and read the game manual.
It's like a ritual for me, getting all hyped up just reading about the adventure soon to begin.

Plus I don't trust most online companies...

Usually i pre-order my games on steam, but not with games as special as TES. I'll buy the collector's eddition as soon as it comes out in a real store .

IT all depends on the game.

Stuff I'm getting to amuse me for a while? Digital.

Stuff I get to play the crap out of, then restart? Physical.

It's just a matter of how high the anticipated value of the product is as to what I prefer. (What I actually pay is an entirely different matter). That said, when a AAA title I'd like to get is 50% off on Steam, I'm getting the digital version. Do I look stupid?

Normally I wouldn't post in a topic I have no interest in but shouldn't have this thread been moved a long time ago? What does it have to do with Skyrim?

Because I'm a collector, I like to collect things and display them.

My cat likes to lick the plastic wrap of new games, he'll be upset if I ever buy digital copies.

Well, the OP seemingly only wants us to get the Digi-Distro of Skyrim

For every game that I really like I want some material content like the game box, manual, map etc. The game's picture in a digital distribution service just doesn't feel the same. The actual game content I prefer to be downloadable these days. Why? It has always worked for me. My Oblivion Collector's Edition CD got scratched, and I had to rebuy the game.

So I'm hoping for that the game needs a Steam activation even if you buy the box version.