Poll of the Day > How big of a difference do you think digital distribution is compared to disk?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I mean sending and supplying hard copies of games does have a decent logistical cost to it. But so does maintaining multiple server banks and the cost of ongoing large bandwidth internet for people to download the games.

I am by no means someone who knows the financial requirements of either. But working in networking it seems like the digital distribution wouldn't be cost effective for most of the more popular games.

I think digital platforms are far more efficient than making physical disks and shipping them everywhere, but I've never seen any hard data on the topic.

The only point to physical disks is for console gamers stuck in the past or people who don't have stable internet.

Basically every game has day one updates and physical releases are prohibitive for indie games which are basically the only way to get games in my preferred genres now days for the most part.

https://www.serkantoto.com/2020/12/30/price-video-console-game-digital-physical/

BlackScythe0 posted...

The only point to physical disks is for console gamers stuck in the past or people who don't have stable internet.

Dont forget resell value.

BlackScythe0 posted...

The only point to physical disks is for console gamers stuck in the past or people who don't have stable internet.

Basically every game has day one updates and physical releases are prohibitive for indie games which are basically the only way to get games in my preferred genres now days for the most part.

I get physical to share with friends and family, personally I would think digital would be cheaper, and sometimes it is. But not all the time

rexcrk posted...

Dont forget resell value.

This is one negative reason why physical is probably going to disappear. It's way more of a chore to get a refund for digital content outside of Steam. Even if it can be done in egregious cases, most people won't deal with the hassle and just accept they bought crap they can never get money back on.

BlackJackCat posted...

This is one negative reason why physical is probably going to disappear. It's way more of a chore to get a refund for digital content outside of Steam. Even if it can be done in egregious cases, most people won't deal with the hassle and just accept they bought crap they can never get money back on.

If you give up on clicking a link, filling out a couple of fields, and hitting submit as being too much work...

ZangsBeard posted...

If you give up on clicking a link, filling out a couple of fields, and hitting submit as being too much work...

I think the big problem is there have been horror stories of vendors doing everything in their power not to accept a refund, especially in cases of games that bombed hard on release. You're never guaranteed anything, where as a trade in of physical is usually almost always a sure bet to be hassle free.

ZangsBeard posted...

If you give up on clicking a link, filling out a couple of fields, and hitting submit as being too much work...

If that works, sure. If the vendor doesn't provide that option, though, or requires people to go back and forth with a rep for a while before accepting the return, a lot of people are going to give up on getting their $20 back because it's not worth the hassle, which is exactly what those vendors are counting on.

Of course, that can also be true of physical returns, and they have the added hassle of having to physically go to a store. Even once you do, for games in particular, you're very unlikely to get a full refund unless it's still shrink-wrapped (which pretty much just leaves the niches of returning gifts that you don't want and having buyer's remorse before playing the game). The trade-in option still exists, which isn't true of digital games, but not so much refunds.

The big problem with digital is what happens when the company no longer wants to operate the service with the games? Physical games will work for as long as you have a system that can play them, or until the media itself wears out or breaks.

captpackrat posted...

The big problem with digital is what happens when the company no longer wants to operate the service with the games? Physical games will work for as long as you have a system that can play them, or until the media itself wears out or breaks.

Not if it's a "game as a service"

captpackrat posted...

The big problem with digital is what happens when the company no longer wants to operate the service with the games? Physical games will work for as long as you have a system that can play them, or until the media itself wears out or breaks.

Yar har fiddle dee dee...

rexcrk posted...

Dont forget resell value.

"Best I can do is six bucks"

BlackJackCat posted...

This is one negative reason why physical is probably going to disappear. It's way more of a chore to get a refund for digital content outside of Steam. Even if it can be done in egregious cases, most people won't deal with the hassle and just accept they bought crap they can never get money back on.

Reselling and refunding are not the same thing. Refunds are protected under law upto a period of time depending on whatever country you are in.

Nichtcrawler-X posted...

Reselling and refunding are not the same thing. Refunds are protected under law upto a period of time depending on whatever country you are in.

Fair point, but still more reason for publishes to push for digital only, as it ensures potential customers must go to their source, and not buy used.

While I like physical for resale value and practicality of use (I have it therefore I can use it), I recognize the convenience and ease of use of fully digital content. I'd suggest it probably takes a lot less 'energy' to digitally distribute a game via servers. Even big games aren't really that big, so they don't take up a lot of server space, and server space is likely available for rent/purchase most of the time. Producing physical material takes way more resources. I think!

Digital has the detractor of 'it could disappear', but physical also kinda has that detractor in that it can break down. Ultimately, it'd be great to have both in the way that you can buy a record/CD and get a digital copy too.

Obviously we can also parse how Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo compare in regards to whether or not they'll let you play a digital game that you purchased in 2008 in 2022. When they don't, that's when I don't feel bad about emulating something. Like bruh, I already bought it.