Ok i just don't understand it so i had to start a thread about it. Now if you don't have an internet connection or a stable internet connection then its a different story, but hey who does'nt nowadays?
There are a lot of benefits IMO owning a digital version, i buy all my games on steam but you can use any other service too and they work fine. Here are the benefits of getting a digital download:
1. Instant delivery, no need to check in with your local stores if your game has arrived and then go pick it up. With average download speeds of more then 20 Mbps it does'nt take more then couple hours to download any game.
2. Easy re-installation, just backup the downloaded setup on your hdd or external hdd and re-installation is FAR more faster then re-installing from those slow dvd media. Also backing up dual layer dvd's is pain and quite un-reliable.
3. No need to keep track of your dvd's and if you own lots of games then they also take a huge amout of shelf space.
4. No risk of getting your installation media damaged/lost because you can always redownload your electronically purchased games (atleast thats the case with steam).
5. No hassle of putting your dvd in rom before launching or searching for those no dvd cracks which can be infected (you never know). For offline games you can put your steam in offline mode after authenticating once online so no you don't need to have a constant internet connection to play your offline games.
6. Easy access to dlc's.
7. Automatic updates (steam only)
etc etc so why most ppl still prefer physical copies, explain your point please.

I personally only buy physical retail copies when i want to buy the collector's edition, other then that its 100% digital download unless the game is not available on steam which i have yet to encounter with any recent game.

When I buy something, I like to physically own it.

Wrong board, and there is already a thread http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1178164-download-vs-retail/.

This to infinity.

Make a decision: do you want this thread to be about downloadable vs store-bought, or just another "Steam is great" thread?

When it comes to games that I really anticipate, I need a physical copy. But with everything else that I'm just kinda "meh" towards, I'll download.

Decision is i want to know why ppl would prefer a physical skyrim over digital regardless of which store/service they buy from. And i want to know why ppl would prefer physical.

I prefer Hard-disk because you get that new game smell :celebration: but with the tech today there shouldn't be a game that requires the disk to be inside the cd drive after its installed.

Of course if its a Valve game or a older game hard to find in store DL copy is fine

Also reason why i prefer it is because I did have issues with steam.. lost my account (hacked) around when it first became up.. They couldn't "retrieve" it for some reason so i lost about $80 of gaming.. ever since then I only buy Valve games on Steam or games that require steam on steam or old games you can't find in stores.

The rest like EADM are slow as hell and would never buy from there

^
This.

Well thats a typical response i ALWAYS recieve. I want to know the reason behind that. You would do it because of the fancy cover, you want to put it on display, prefer reading a physical manual or what? No offense but be more descriptive please :flamethrower:

There's no option for 'no preference.' I honestly don't care one way or the other. I like steam, and will bind Skyrim to it if it doesn't use steamworks, but I also like having the box. It's not a must have, just something that's cool. In the end though, it doesn't matter.

Obviously you aren't a fan of physical media.

Truely depends.


If it's a 20gb game, there's no way in hell I'd buy the Eletronic Version. If it's under 8gbs I'll buy it off Steam then.

I will be getting the collector's edition, so physicality is a must.

Also I'd like to see you make love to a digital copy

I like physical because it's a nice back-up. I just don't trust digital things.

thats alot of disks... largest game i know of is WoW at 16gb

Retail because of the tactile and sensory aspects. I am really hoping Skyrim (and other new games) still include goodies, like maps.

Wow's more than 16gb at this point...

Except that in this case you just can't own the actual thing in physical now can you? The only physical thing you will recieve is a plastic cover that takes 5inch shefl space.

Well for me, games aren't fast food. I want a nice manual and maybe extra stuff like a map or a guide to interesting places in the game (see GTA 4), and I actually like it that games take up space in my shelf.
Sure, casual games like Minecraft aren't games you'd buy at a store. But the GTA series, Max Payne, Total War, Myst, Lost Horizon, The Elder Scrolls, that type of games just doesn't go well with a system where you merely download the game.

not when i cleaned a friend's computer a couple weeks ago, it was 16 maybe 18gb didn't go past 20 tho

Do I get a physical map and CE goodies with digital?

You just listed the very same perceived "benefits" (and I put benefits in quotes for a reason) every pro-Steam poster posts, which are the same "benefits" Steam marketing peddles, and mentioned Steam a couple of times for good measure.
It is obvious that you prefer digital downloads, and more specifically, Steam downloads. You could've just asked the title question and leave it at that, but I guess you couldn't help throw in the Steam schpiel in for good measure

Anyway, to answer the question, is simply:
1.- people like to have the physical copy and the box because they enjoy the box art, reading the paper manual, and getting the goodies from the Collector's Editions.
2.- people don't like to be tied up to an unwanted 3rd party .

Two minute phone call plus 15 minutes to go pick it up. 17 minutes vs. the "couple hours" to download it. Physical copy wins.


In the first place, I don't believe that's true. File transfer speed doesn't change based on the source media and dvds can play fast enough to keep up. Beyond that, what do I care anyway? What's it take to install a modern game? Twenty minutes or so? Why on Earth would I care anyway IF it only too nineteen minutes instead?


Who needs to back up the dvd when you've got a physical copy?


I like having a physical copy. It's always there, whenever I want it, independent of some online company. And my entire game collection takes up a few shelves - and that's dating back to DOS games from the 90s.


I'm a grown up. I'm fully capable of taking care of discs.


I consider putting the dvd in a small price to pay for actually owning a physical copy. I've never understood the crybabies who use no dvd cracks. It's not as if it's painful or anything - just push a friggin button, drop the dvd in and push the friggin button again. Done.


Buy the GOTY edition and the DLC are included.


I'm a grown up. I'm fully capable of opening google and typing "skyrim patch" and seeing what's new and if I need it.

I prefer physical copies because I want to have something actually in my hand in exchange for my money. I want to know that it's MINE, and will remain mine, no matter what might come of the company from which I got it.

And now a question for OP - are you on Steam's payroll?

Not want to go offtopic but i just checked my WoW folder and its actually 24.2 GB, i have all expansions upto cataclysm and oh its also digital completely so yes i don't own digital games on steam only.