Digital vs Hard Copy Games

[Mitsuki]

We all have our own preferences, so I'd like to know whether you prefer digital or hard copy games. Any particular reason why you like the other more, or does it matter at all?

I can see the pros for digital. You don't have to worry about the discs being scratched or lost for one thing. I'm afraid to insert a disc on my XBox360 for fear of ruining an expensive game in seconds. But despite that, I still actually prefer owning the hard copy of a game. I guess I'm the collector-type -- I don't sell any games, even after I've finished them. I like being able to touch my games, though I don't fondle them too much, but it brings me much excitement nonetheless. But mostly, I really just like seeing my games on display...I don't even let it collect dust. I'll go through each one and wipe the cases every few months.

I do have digital games on the PSN though, that being FF6, FF7, FF8 (<--- I have the hard copy for all three as well), Vagrant Story, and a couple others that came free after the hack.

 

[~Griever~]

I'm a bit of a hoarder myself and I find it strangely satisfying to have a shelf with all my games on. It's the same thing with books actually. Digital can be convenient and quick etc. but I'm a bit of a nerd who loves his hard copy collection

 

[Linnaete]

I normally like to physically have the object there, particularly if it's something I adore enough that it has some sentimental value to me. I want to physically see it and grab it. I have my PSone and PS2 collections neatly organised in alphabetical order and shelved next to my relatively depressingly small PS3 collection in comparison and it's good when at home to casually take a glance at them to see with my own eyes in front of me my cute little library of games.

Though nowadays, as I spend more and more time away from home, I don't really mind anymore what form of medium I have my games on. Obviously, digital has become the most efficient way of attaining games, particularly with services like Steam. I only have my PSP and my laptop with me at the moment, and when I do use the former, it's for the digital games I have in its memory stick. My laptop has my little Steam collection so far with some GOG stuff, and it's growing gradually.

 

[greenyxi]

I've always prefered actual disks until recently...but now I'm running out of room (I have the box room). I'd much rather digital now that this is the case.
It's the same reason why I'm buying a Kindle...I just don't have the space . I will miss actually heading out an buying games/books though. That and waiting by the letter box like a mutt.

 

[Tyler Breeze]

I'm a bit of a hoarder myself and I find it strangely satisfying to have a shelf with all my games on. It's the same thing with books actually. Digital can be convenient and quick etc. but I'm a bit of a nerd who loves his hard copy collection

Pretty much all of this. However, I also have a very bad fear of all my games being deleted if they are digital. I'm gonna stay with hard copy for as long as possible.

 

[Squid]

I enjoy owning hardcopies of games, I like seeing them on my shelf, I like having the instruction books and the cool cases and stuff. But if it's a small game off of PSN then I am really not too bothered by owning a softcopy. I'm not anal about it. But I do prefer a hardcopy.

 

[Espurr]

I'm a bit more on the side of digital myself. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. I will usually buy digital versions of older games or current gen games that I can find for cheap. They save me some needed space around the house and I need every bit of space right now as it is. It is also already on the hard drive if I ever need to take a console with me then that's less stuff that I need to take with me. The downside is that I can't sell them if I don't like them but since I don't buy games that are more than $20 it is not a big loss for me though the main games I buy digitally are usually games I've played before already so I usually don't have that problem.

With physical copies, assuming I'm given the choice, I will buy new games physically over digitally. If I don't like it I can just sell it and get a decent amount back before the game becomes cheap. Also physical copies sometimes come with more buying options via Special Editions and sometimes steel game cases are nice to look at.

 

[Martel]

If given the choice, I'll take a hard copy, if only to save myself the space on my console. Digital PS3 games are absolutely massive, and not only do they take forever to download, but they also take a lot of space on the machine...it's aggravating, to say the least. The DLC and update data are big enough already, without adding the entire game on top of it. Storage space isn't really an issue, because the cases aren't really THAT big. It's not like I'm running out of space for the things. And, as far as I'm concerned, if a console ruins a disc I'm having words with the manufacturer, and I WILL get compensated for it, because that kind of thing should not happen.

On the current generation, I tend to get everything in hard copy, unless a) it's significantly cheaper not to (which it never is - games remain at full RRP on the store long after they've dropped in price in retail) and/or b) it's a PSP or PSOne game. With either PSP or PSOne games digital is infinitely more advantageous, because I can put them on my Vita or PSP, and store them on my PS3...and digging up my PS1 or PS2 would be a freakin' pain. Unlike PS3 games, they're not very big at all - most are under 500MB, in face, the later FF games are a notable exception - and they're always cheaper than tracking down a hard copy that will probably cost me an arm and a leg to get. I mean, spend £8 or so on FFVIII in digital, or try and track down an original copy that will cost me upwards of £30 and I won't be able to play curled up in a chair? Doesn't take a genius to figure out which one I'd go for.