Poll of the Day > "Most of our games..."

(+) Yeah! (+)

....aren't digital. Let's keep it that way.

I could have answered that poll more effectively if the option was there and correct. I don't trade often because my roommate lives with me. /surprise

digital is pretty much better in almost every way tbh
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If you're lazy. The fact that they can take your game away at any time makes it not better in any way.

they can do that with physical, too, bubby
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If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

so, go read the legal stuff in the manuals.

they have the right ro revoke your access to your game, regardless.

you do not own it. you own a piece of plastic and a license to play the game.

if they wanted to, they could come to your house and literally take your game and there would be absolutely nothing you could do about it since they would be legally within their rights to do so.

the odds of this happening are the same as the odds of your digital library being taken away.

0.
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Which poll exactly? None of the ones from the past week seem to fit and the poll at the time you posted was something about game trading. (And it was missing "No, because none of my friends are gamers.")

helIy posted...

so, go read the legal stuff in the manuals.

they have the right ro revoke your access to your game, regardless.

you do not own it. you own a piece of plastic and a license to play the game.

if they wanted to, they could come to your house and literally take your game and there would be absolutely nothing you could do about it since they would be legally within their rights to do so.

the odds of this happening are the same as the odds of your digital library being taken away.

0.

Not really true by any stretch. For starters, if you get banned on a service, you can lose all of your digital content. However, something like that is never a risk with physical copies.
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I don't have a game manual with me at work. Could someone please post the except that allows the makers of the game to break into my house and take my property.
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helIy posted...

digital is pretty much better in almost every way tbh

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helIy posted...

digital is pretty much better in almost every way tbh

Even if you download a 10+GB game and gotta wait 14+ Hours?, Patches excluded, Games can be installed from their disc onto the Hard Drive MUCH faster than it takes to download a full game.

Plus I got more Physical space for games than Digital, sad when 1TB doesn't seem like enough space in the long run, To each their ow, but I still stick with Physical over Digital, always.
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Kaguya_Kimimaro posted...

Even if you download a 10+GB game and gotta wait 14+ Hours?

If it's taking you 14+ hours to download a 10+ GB game, you might wanna consider getting off that 2MB DSL connection.
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Smarkil posted...

Kaguya_Kimimaro posted...

Even if you download a 10+GB game and gotta wait 14+ Hours?

If it's taking you 14+ hours to download a 10+ GB game, you might wanna consider getting off that 2MB DSL connection.

We[d be more than happy to upgrade our internet so much that we can download loads of GB's in minutes compared to hours, However, We're not made of money, even after upgrading our internet I think twice now, it still takes a while, doesn't help that local internet is what we're stuck with ATM.

In the end, like a lot of other things, it all comes down to amount of Monet, like always....
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helIy posted...

if they wanted to, they could come to your house and literally take your game and there would be absolutely nothing you could do about it since they would be legally within their rights to do so.

It's adorable that you think this is true.
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Both have pros and cons tbh. BotW is a great example of both for me. While it was sold out everywhere within a 200 mile radius of me, I was able to download it. Boom. Huge pro. Of course, that came with a few cons, one being the download time of ~3-4 hours, and the other being the space. Had to delete SSB4 to make room for BotW because there's literally no way for them both to exist digitally (on Wii U).

In general though, for readily available games, I prefer physical too. Takes me 10 minutes to go to gamestop and find what I'm looking for.

As for this whole conversation about "they can kick down your door and take the disc" - I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure they might own whatever you do online, a la rankings, multiplayer scores, unlocks, and other stuff, but they can't take your damn disc.
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helIy posted...

digital is pretty much better in almost every way tbh

Except in 10-15 years when the servers shut down and you don't happen to have that one game you wanna replay again installed and can't download it cause the servers are not there.

Not that that will apply to everyone.
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zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire.

Unless the system's patched to not allow you to play the game, which is definitely a possibility.

_AdjI_ posted...

zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire.

Unless the system's patched to not allow you to play the game, which is definitely a possibility.

The law around this is that companies are within their rights to release a patch for their console that can do whatever they want it to (including locking out games, or even bricking your console - which they will sometimes do if they detect an illegal mod), but you are within your rights to decline to download/install the patch and you also have the right to modify the console as you please, including to get around patches (console makers have tried to get modding declared illegal for years, without success).
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zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

Oh what my digital 360 games can be downloaded onto my one? Looks like they are safe for another generation!
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JoanOfArcade posted...

zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

Oh what my digital 360 games can be downloaded onto my one? Looks like they are safe for another generation!

Your digital games are safe for as long as Microsoft continues to support them. Which could be decades or it could be days - it's impossible to say.

Me, I prefer not to tie my games to the continued fiscal health and goodwill of a software company whom I have no control over and who owes me precisely nothing. But that's just me being me...
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darkknight109 posted...

JoanOfArcade posted...

zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

Oh what my digital 360 games can be downloaded onto my one? Looks like they are safe for another generation!

Your digital games are safe for as long as Microsoft continues to support them. Which could be decades or it could be days - it's impossible to say.

Me, I prefer not to tie my games to the continued fiscal health and goodwill of a software company whom I have no control over and who owes me precisely nothing. But that's just me being me...

Right because me backing up all my games to a 360 hard drive doesn't keep them safe at all.
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JoanOfArcade posted...

darkknight109 posted...

JoanOfArcade posted...

zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

Oh what my digital 360 games can be downloaded onto my one? Looks like they are safe for another generation!

Your digital games are safe for as long as Microsoft continues to support them. Which could be decades or it could be days - it's impossible to say.

Me, I prefer not to tie my games to the continued fiscal health and goodwill of a software company whom I have no control over and who owes me precisely nothing. But that's just me being me...

Right because me backing up all my games to a 360 hard drive doesn't keep them safe at all.

Which will work as long as your 360 hard drive remains functional. Which, like my earlier point, could be days or decades depending on how well it was manufactured and how good you are at taking care of it.
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darkknight109 posted...

JoanOfArcade posted...

darkknight109 posted...

JoanOfArcade posted...

zebatov posted...

If you have the physical game, you will always be able to install it to the HDD. The system will check for the disc and it will fire. If you have a digital copy, and you delete it or try to transfer it after they have removed it from the servers, it will give you an error code.

My games on my 360 and down the generations will always work. Anything digital without a disc can be taken from you. This has happened to me.

Oh what my digital 360 games can be downloaded onto my one? Looks like they are safe for another generation!

Your digital games are safe for as long as Microsoft continues to support them. Which could be decades or it could be days - it's impossible to say.

Me, I prefer not to tie my games to the continued fiscal health and goodwill of a software company whom I have no control over and who owes me precisely nothing. But that's just me being me...

Right because me backing up all my games to a 360 hard drive doesn't keep them safe at all.

Which will work as long as your 360 hard drive remains functional. Which, like my earlier point, could be days or decades depending on how well it was manufactured and how good you are at taking care of it.

Same to your discs your house could burn down today or tomorrow but chances are it won't
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Zeus posted...

Not really true by any stretch. For starters, if you get banned on a service, you can lose all of your digital content. However, something like that is never a risk with physical copies.

uh, you can get completely console banned and have your console completely disabled now.

Kaguya_Kimimaro posted...

Even if you download a 10+GB game and gotta wait 14+ Hours?, Patches excluded, Games can be installed from their disc onto the Hard Drive MUCH faster than it takes to download a full game.

yep. because you have to install and download the several gig update either way.

with digital, if you preorder it you pre-download it so you can play exactly when the game comes out, otherwise you can still just download it exactly when the game comes out, mitigating the need to go to a store or wait for it in the mail.

JoanOfArcade posted...

Same to your discs your house could burn down today or tomorrow but chances are it won't

or someone could break in and steal them!

with proper account security, that's not even a risk for digital.
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helIy posted...

Zeus posted...

Not really true by any stretch. For starters, if you get banned on a service, you can lose all of your digital content. However, something like that is never a risk with physical copies.

uh, you can get completely console banned and have your console completely disabled now.

Kaguya_Kimimaro posted...

Even if you download a 10+GB game and gotta wait 14+ Hours?, Patches excluded, Games can be installed from their disc onto the Hard Drive MUCH faster than it takes to download a full game.

yep. because you have to install and download the several gig update either way.

with digital, if you preorder it you pre-download it so you can play exactly when the game comes out, otherwise you can still just download it exactly when the game comes out, mitigating the need to go to a store or wait for it in the mail.

JoanOfArcade posted...

Same to your discs your house could burn down today or tomorrow but chances are it won't

or someone could break in and steal them!

with proper account security, that's not even a risk for digital.

Silly Helly due to our timezone unless you aren't in Central games generally come out at 11 PM here so we get to play them before they are out and not have to wait in a line at a gamestop *shudders*
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yeah, games typically release at 12 Eastern time, so anywhere before that gets them earlier.

which is weird, considering microsoft is based in PST and not EST.
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zebatov posted...

If you're lazy. The fact that they can take your game away at any time makes it not better in any way.

If a publisher actually did that the Internet would fucking crucify them.
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Final Fantasy2389 posted...

Except in 10-15 years when the servers shut down and you don't happen to have that one game you wanna replay again installed and can't download it cause the servers are not there.

Not that that will apply to everyone.

I'm not gonna justify piracy...
Oh wait, yes I will. Pirate it then.
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JoanOfArcade posted...

Same to your discs your house could burn down today or tomorrow but chances are it won't

Which would take out your hard-drive/consoles too, so that's a wash. You can, of course, re-download your games, if the servers are still up; but I can use the insurance money and re-buy my physical collection off eBay, so once again, not really a point in digital's favour.

helIy posted...

or someone could break in and steal them!

Given that a) I live in a remote, very difficult to access locale, b) I work from home, so I'm home just about all the time and c) My video games took up more than an entire SUV when I moved out here and the collection has grown since, I'm not particularly worried about the threat of theft.

Plus, y'know, theft insurance is a thing.

Zareth posted...

zebatov posted...

If you're lazy. The fact that they can take your game away at any time makes it not better in any way.

If a publisher actually did that the Internet would fucking crucify them.

It's happened before:
http://kotaku.com/5780876/how-saying-bad-things-can-keep-you-from-playing-a-video-game

Zareth posted...

I'm not gonna justify piracy...
Oh wait, yes I will. Pirate it then.

Piracy is largely only an option for PC games; most digital console games don't get pirated.


Really, though, the thing that always bothers me about digital is how fragile the system is. For physical games, the onus and responsibility is on me - if I lose access to my games, it's usually because *I've* done something wrong or preventable. *I* scratched the disc, *I* dropped the console, *I* stored a cartridge in the toaster. Those things are all within my control to prevent. And even for things that aren't my fault - like a sudden hardware failure - the damage is usually limited to one game or console that can then be re-bought at minimal cost.

For digital, all the infrastructure is in someone else's hands. If someone decides to take their servers down or remove a game or the company just flat-out goes bankrupt, those games are gone and are impossible to re-acquire (piracy is an option in some cases, but piracy is no substitution for legitimate commerce, for several reasons I won't bother segueing the discussion into).

And it's not like this hasn't happened already! Have you played Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game? If you haven't, you likely never will. The game was launched in 2010 and taken off all digital stores in 2014 because the licensing agreement expired. (See also: Marvel vs. Capcom Origins). Oh, and it's not an Xbox One backwards compatible title (and likely isn't going to be made one, given it isn't sold anymore), so you better hope your 360 doesn't kick the bucket.

It is completely unacceptable that I can easily buy and play a game from 1977, but a game released seven fucking years ago has now disappeared into the mists of time, never to be seen again. But this is the inevitable outcome of digital games and will continue to become more and more commonplace as digital games age and their parent companies slowly go out of business or some legal bullshittery causes more situations like this.
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darkknight109 posted...

And it's not like this hasn't happened already! Have you played Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game? If you haven't, you likely never will. The game was launched in 2010 and taken off all digital stores in 2014 because the licensing agreement expired. (See also: Marvel vs. Capcom Origins). Oh, and it's not an Xbox One backwards compatible title (and likely isn't going to be made one, given it isn't sold anymore), so you better hope your 360 doesn't kick the bucket.

as a neat flip to this, physical copies get the same treatment.

As a result, on November 7, 2012, Silicon Knights was directed by the court to destroy all game code derived from Unreal Engine 3, all information from licensee-restricted areas of Epic's Unreal Engine documentation website, and to permit Epic Games access to the company's servers and other devices to ensure these items have been removed. In addition, they were instructed to recall and destroy all unsold retail copies of games built with Unreal Engine 3 code, including Too Human, X-Men Destiny, The Sandman, The Box/Ritualyst, and Siren in the Maelstrom (the latter three titles were projects never released, or even officially announced).[14]

i can still download my digital copy of the scott pilgrim game, as well. so while some games get removed from being sold, you can still download them. y'know, because you paid for it.
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darkknight109 posted...

Zareth posted...
zebatov posted...
If you're lazy. The fact that they can take your game away at any time makes it not better in any way.

If a publisher actually did that the Internet would fucking crucify them.

It's happened before:
http://kotaku.com/5780876/how-saying-bad-things-can-keep-you-from-playing-a-video-game

Just to be clear, that is not a digital vs. physical thing, that is a DRM thing, which has nothing to do with if the game is a physical release or a digital one. He would have the same problem regardless.
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This argument come up rather often. So long as publishers continue to release both does it really matter which format someone else buy their game in? Do either sides gain any advantages if one format or the other were to disappear?
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helIy posted...

darkknight109 posted...

And it's not like this hasn't happened already! Have you played Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game? If you haven't, you likely never will. The game was launched in 2010 and taken off all digital stores in 2014 because the licensing agreement expired. (See also: Marvel vs. Capcom Origins). Oh, and it's not an Xbox One backwards compatible title (and likely isn't going to be made one, given it isn't sold anymore), so you better hope your 360 doesn't kick the bucket.

as a neat flip to this, physical copies get the same treatment.

As a result, on November 7, 2012, Silicon Knights was directed by the court to destroy all game code derived from Unreal Engine 3, all information from licensee-restricted areas of Epic's Unreal Engine documentation website, and to permit Epic Games access to the company's servers and other devices to ensure these items have been removed. In addition, they were instructed to recall and destroy all unsold retail copies of games built with Unreal Engine 3 code, including Too Human, X-Men Destiny, The Sandman, The Box/Ritualyst, and Siren in the Maelstrom (the latter three titles were projects never released, or even officially announced).[14]

That's weird, because I can go on eBay, look up Too Human and X-Men Destiny and buy them for less than $10 apiece. You mind pointing me to where I can buy Scott Pilgrim vs. the World?

helIy posted...

i can still download my digital copy of the scott pilgrim game, as well. so while some games get removed from being sold, you can still download them. y'know, because you paid for it.

And what's your point?

This doesn't counter anything I said above - that the game is now unavailable for anyone who hasn't already purchased it which, considering I can buy nearly every single game ever released last century, is flat-out ridiculous.

See, here's the thing - if one of my physical games gets lost or destroyed, I can go buy a new one. If you lose access to Scott Pilgrim - because your XBL account is banned, because Microsoft decides to remove the game from its servers altogether, etc. - you're shit out of luck. No aftermarket options for digital.
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what's your point though?

we've already established that this works exactly both ways and neither scenario is ever going to happen

and you're fooling yourself if you think there's no "aftermarket" options for digital.
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helIy posted...

what's your point though?

we've already established that this works exactly both ways and neither scenario is ever going to happen

I already wrote my point, as well as rebutted the argument for "this works exactly both ways":

darkknight109 posted...

Really, though, the thing that always bothers me about digital is how fragile the system is. For physical games, the onus and responsibility is on me - if I lose access to my games, it's usually because *I've* done something wrong or preventable. *I* scratched the disc, *I* dropped the console, *I* stored a cartridge in the toaster. Those things are all within my control to prevent. And even for things that aren't my fault - like a sudden hardware failure - the damage is usually limited to one game or console that can then be re-bought at minimal cost.

For digital, all the infrastructure is in someone else's hands. If someone decides to take their servers down or remove a game or the company just flat-out goes bankrupt, those games are gone and are impossible to re-acquire (piracy is an option in some cases, but piracy is no substitution for legitimate commerce, for several reasons I won't bother segueing the discussion into).

And it's not like this hasn't happened already! Have you played Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game? If you haven't, you likely never will. The game was launched in 2010 and taken off all digital stores in 2014 because the licensing agreement expired. (See also: Marvel vs. Capcom Origins). Oh, and it's not an Xbox One backwards compatible title (and likely isn't going to be made one, given it isn't sold anymore), so you better hope your 360 doesn't kick the bucket.

It is completely unacceptable that I can easily buy and play a game from 1977, but a game released seven fucking years ago has now disappeared into the mists of time, never to be seen again. But this is the inevitable outcome of digital games and will continue to become more and more commonplace as digital games age and their parent companies slowly go out of business or some legal bullshittery causes more situations like this.

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that's not a rebbutal when we've literally already established

i'm not saying this twice, here:

helIy posted...

what's your point though?

we've already established that this works exactly both ways and neither scenario is ever going to happen

and you're fooling yourself if you think there's no "aftermarket" options for digital.

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helIy posted...

that's not a rebbutal when we've literally already established

Already established what?

The only thing we've established is that digital ownership has more holes in it than physical ownership.
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uh?

no, it has less "holes" in it, if anything. as has already been established.
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helIy posted...

uh?

no, it has less "holes" in it, if anything. as has already been established.

Except you haven't pointed out a single thing that would affect physical games but not digital; I've pointed out several that affect digital games, but not physical.
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darkknight109 posted...

helIy posted...

uh?

no, it has less "holes" in it, if anything. as has already been established.

Except you haven't pointed out a single thing that would affect physical games but not digital; I've pointed out several that affect digital games, but not physical.

but bro they can kick down your door and take your disc since it's totally legal to do that!
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I find it odd that every form of media has gone digital and when you look at the trends digital outsells physical in all media forms besides video games. That being said if you look at the statistics from 3rd party companies the trend is that digital sales keep rising every year compared to physical. Give it another 5 years and the majority will be digital over physical in the video game industry.
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Jiggy101011 posted...

I find it odd that every form of media has gone digital and when you look at the trends digital outsells physical in all media forms besides video games. That being said if you look at the statistics from 3rd party companies the trend is that digital sales keep rising every year compared to physical. Give it another 5 years and the majority will be digital over physical in the video game industry.

Not a surprise really. Back in high school I had about 30 music albums and they took up a pretty good sized chunk of my desk. If I wanted to take them with me, I had to carry a flip book and a portable cd player. Now I have over 100 music albums and can fit them on a drive smaller then my thumb nail. Plus the device to play those (assuming I don't use my phone) is small enough to fit in the fifth pocket of my jeans.

I have mentioned it before, but I have over a thousand video games. Half of those are digital, and the other half physical. The physical games need pretty much the entirety of my finished basement to store while the digital ones I can put on a few hard drives that take up a small corner of my living room. In fact the space they take up is about the size of 2-3 physical games. Yea, it is nice to see all those physical games on a shelf, but honestly the digital games are much more convenient and practical.
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