Buy Physical or digital copies of games?

[NatureSun]

Hey!

As you know digital games are becoming more and more prominent. You can even preorder them digitally in today's age.

So my question is this, do you prefer to buy physical copies of the games or do you like to buy digital copies from PSN?

I for one like to buy them physical disks as I really like to build my own library of games.

What about you?

 

[Haze]

As I said in the other thread about GTA V, I will always prefer and go out of my way for physical copies. Always. The only times I will purchase a digital copy of a game (or anything) is if the price is too good to pass or very hard to find.

 

[lindbergh]

I like to get physical, physical. So let's get physical, physical.

Yeah, I dig games when they are in discs. They feel more valuable. Games that are downloadable feel like they have very little value. Also, I like showing off my collection at our house. You can't do that with digital downloads. So if there was a physical version and a digital version of a game and they both sold at the same price, I would always choose the physical one.

 

[Oberon]

Hard copy every time if I have a choice.

 

[AvalonX]

The only time I see value in digital is when the price is cheaper, like on some kind of sale. For day 1 purchases I buy physical. You cannot trade, lend or sell a digital game. I think if they really want to push digital they need to discount the prices. I know retail will never allow this but really a digital copy does not have the overhead that a physical one does.

 

[Starblazer]

Physical. I just like having a wall full of games.

 

[BlackSolaris]

Always go physical, i hate it when a game is digital-only and you can't get a sweet box to go along with it. I know that it's cheaper going with this, but for digital i am already satisfied with my PC games, the rest i prefer to own physical.

 

[OniBlackMage]

Physical, for so many reasons. My main is that I love collecting and building a library, especially when that physical copy comes in special packaging or with bonus goodies. Next I know that its something I actually OWN, and can give, trade, or resell if I want to. Also, given how shaky current consoles are with their heating issues, I don't have to worry about my game or license dying with the system.

Also, I don't see most people discounting the digital release at all versus the physical, so I say get more product for your money.

 

[wowtgp]

I have never bought any physical edition of game since 2011. Yes, it's been 2 years since I have bought any physical game. I prefer to purchase all my games online now.

 

[SpiralArchitect]

Always go physical, i hate it when a game is digital-only and you can't get a sweet box to go along with it. I know that it's cheaper going with this, but for digital i am already satisfied with my PC games, the rest i prefer to own physical.

This. Having a physical copy is so much more satisfying when you are buying for your console. Sure it is slightly more expensive but really I have a hard time shelling out money for something which I don't have in a tangible form.

 

[NatureSun]

The only time I see value in digital is when the price is cheaper, like on some kind of sale. For day 1 purchases I buy physical. You cannot trade, lend or sell a digital game. I think if they really want to push digital they need to discount the prices. I know retail will never allow this but really a digital copy does not have the overhead that a physical one does.

Yeah, seriously man! What's up with that?

Surely they save a few bucks not having to bundle the game in a case and disk etc. Not to mention the packaging. Why the hell are they offered at the same price regardless?

This really makes no sense and I hope next gen we would have cheaper digital games than their physical counterparts.

 

[Starblazer]

Yeah, seriously man! What's up with that?

Surely they save a few bucks not having to bundle the game in a case and disk etc. Not to mention the packaging. Why the hell are they offered at the same price regardless?

This really makes no sense and I hope next gen we would have cheaper digital games than their physical counterparts.

Greed. They want more money regardless of how the person gets the game.

 

[The Unlosing Ranger]

I'll get whichever is cheaper at the moment of purchase. No strong opinions either way, unless we were talking about the Vita. If it's the Vita, I want me some of that digital magic. Digital on handhelds is fantastic.

 

[unwittyoneliner]

I think with most people that have grown up with physical copies of games, movies, and music (which is most people on the planet as of now), there will be that demand for physical copies. 10-20 years from now, there will be a larger consensus of people who have grown up with digital copies being the norm. For me, I prefer physical.

 

[Oberon]

Yeah,no doubt digital only is only a matter of time for us gamers but overall at the moment I think hard copies are better.
PS5 maybe,who knows,maybe it will be digital only but for now its good old discs.

Or,how about a hard copy but mem card or flash drive format? Now there's a thought.
Ive got a 64GB micro SD card in my Galaxy S3,they'd fit a shit load of data on that,more than a dual layer blu ray which is around 50GB..hmm,perhaps more susceptible to damage though than a disc,dunno.

 

[andy103]

I much prefer having the hard copies since it doesn't take up quite as much internal memory, but sometimes it is just easier to download them straight from the PSN store. I wonder if games we downloaded for PS3 will be able to be downloaded for the PS4, which would make it more worth it I think.

 

[corporatenoun]

I don't buy too many video games, but I collect music physically and not digitally. I have some number of CD's piled up in my room. Everyone walks around with their iPods on the bus, on the street etc, but I love to just lay in bed, pop in a CD, and let the whole album play out. I have a feeling I'd be the same way with games if I could spend a lot on them. There must be a part of my brain that finds hoarding rewarding or something.

 

[4justice]

I chose physical. I have nothing against digital. But my preference is physical. If a game comes in both forms, I always go with the physical version. I only go for digital when that's the only way it's sold.

I'll always prefer tangible items I can hold in my hand.

 

[Esperahol]

I like physical because that way you have choices and it isn't like it's just going to disappear or something. You don't have to worry about a hardware failure, you don't have to worry about a digital hiccup, it just works and also it tends to be much cheaper for me (used games FTW).

 

[GetFresh]

I prefer buying the tangible disc all the way. I like to think of my collection of games as a library, not filled with books, but straight up games. With digital copies you have to take the time and download the game, while with physical copies you just pop the disc right in.