Front page poll 04/04/07

[Queue]

How do you feel about digital distribution?

It’s the future of all game distribution.
Give me a CD/DVD any day of the week.
It’s convenient but I’d rather have the box art.
What a horrible idea!

[MasterChief]

Right now I kind of like it because I live in an area where it's not very easy to get games unless I order them online, which of course takes several days....but I do like the box art and the added security of having a DVD copy around in case my computer goes kaput

[RangerRick]

Aside from being able to get the game sooner, and without walking out the door, there isn't any real benefit.

You're charged full retail price for just the data.
They have no overhead except the server and connection to the web.
Dirt cheap compared to the disc/discs, box, manual, shipping and shelf space!

Give me the hard copy anyday! There's less chance of the hard copy to have a problem. Downloads can(I have had at least 4) be corrupted.

If I want to remove the game and then install it later, having the hard copy makes life much easier. And if I want to install it on a second machine, I can. I have not done that in a long time, as I want to refrain from using my work laptop for games.

If my son wants to play any game I have on his system, he can.

But, they want you to believe that digital distribution is the greatest!
What a bunch of hogwash!

[Jaffa]

For me it's having a printed manual in my hands to read while the game installs. Granted half of them are only a few pages but still I want it. That and having a disk to stick on my pile when I'm done playing it. That's a trophy pile you know.

[Rob]

I pay full price for a game maybe once a year. Other then that I have enough games at the house to tide me over until there is a price drop. Unfortunately, price drops from online distribution is either non-existent or painfully slow compared to retail. And price is the only advantage digital distribution could offer me.

I also prefer having a hard copy of everything I own. So the only way I would buy digital distribution games is if they can significantly undercut retail (hey, that is the benefit they have been telling us since the beginning, but have truly failed to deliver on) and second, if I can order hard copies of the disks. I don't need a box or anything fancy, just the disks for a very reasonable price.

Seriously, the convenience factor, I am not a 12 year old kid anymore, I can wait a day or two for an online order, or take the 20 minutes to drive to the store. Not enough incentives to do otherwise.

[Ojnod]

It all depends on the system. If it is set up well like steam where I can install the application and let all my games re-download if I reformatted then I prefer that to purchasing the box copy. However, if I have to track down some site, dig through my email to find a code and wait 3 hours before I can start playing every time I want to reinstall then I'm not interested.

[Rob]

I do like how Steam is set up. Having one major distribution point over many smaller ones has a real benefit. So, I would have to put that as a third requirement. The forth would have to be an easy offline experience where if I lose internet connection, I can still play my game, essential for when I take my laptop on the road.

[SwaroG]

There is no real point to it unless they charge you less than a retail copy.

But they don't.

In fact, they charge you the same.

When you buy online, you get the right to download a game. Some D2D games have to have special patches released for them. All you get is a bunch of 0111101001011.

When you buy retail, for the same price you get the CD/DVD, manual, box etc, I say you still get a lot more bang for your buck.

Even though lately PC Gaming boxes started to suck. Bring huge oversized boxes of the good old 2000 :)

[Kalbrecht]

I love it. I've never had problems with Steam.

It saves unnecessary boxes and packaging that go into the trash.
It makes it easy for me.
Cheaper than buying retail (since I'm paying US prices, not Australian)
The ease of accessing and installing games/demos etc is very handy.
Steam in particular has an excellent backup built in for disks.
I could finally find Psychonauts easily. heh.

[Rob]

I like the DVD style cases but I can't wait until they get smaller. The big collector boxes were great when I only had a handful of games, not that I have 100+, I have no room for large boxes.

I agree with the rest though, especially about the specialized patches from D2D. Doesn't Steam automatically install all the patches? That too is a good thing.

[Cloudw4lker]

Steam automatic patching is awesome, I have trying to find a game in BF 1942 when only 1/10th the population has any given patch.

Friend I know plays BF2 on CAL, they use a patch one previous the most recent release because of the changes it makes. I prefer (for multiplayer) a single game, and everyone plays the same.


I still like my game boxes, although they're overflowing my shelf now and I'm probably going to lose them when I move out. I still get the collector's edition at almost every chance I get because of the extra fluff that is so much fun for a couple hours.

[Shoboy]

CD/DVD all the way.

I want to replay the game years from now, and what would I do about Thief or SystemShock2 is it was DD and LGS is now gone??????????

Shelf space is limited so selection is getting to be crap, but prices will ALWAYS be lower for boxed copies, even though DD is SUPPOSED TO BE EASIER AND CHEAPER?!?!?!?!

Yea, my a*& it is......................

[Eddie Ismail]

I prefer the hard copy, but unfortunately digital distribution is the future, and one day it will be the only way to buy games.

[Jagndeke]

Give me a CD/DVD any day of the week.