Digital Distribution: Imagined Fears

[Rydian]

• "When my harddrive/memory stick dies, the game is gone with it!"
  Yes, and when your GBC cart of Pokemon Crystal dies, the game is gone with it.
  
• "Digital copies often have DRM or protection which means you can't copy them without hacking!"
  Last I checked my Sega Genesis didn't come with an official cart copier. Last I checked my copy of Diablo 2 had DRM to prevent me from simply copying and using the copied discs. Last I checked the Wii altered the DVD spec just enough to prevent most computers from reading+copying the discs.
  
• "Digital copies often want internet access to play the game!"
  And we all know that physical copies don't do that! Oh wait, they do... this is not an issue with digital distribution, it's a global DRM issue. (And there's plenty of digital titles that don't need internet access to play anyways.)
  
• "Digitial distribution will encourage game makers to make lazy/unfinished/buggy shit!"
  Action 52 says "hi". Hey, remember how Big Rigs was so unfinished it didn't even have collision? Game companies have always produced shit mixed in with the good titles. Reading reviews on games before buying them is always a good idea.

Now, there are ACTUAL downsides. Games are often many gigs nowadays and downloading them for some people can take ages, you don't get to show off the packaging, and so on... but a lot of the main reasons people list don't make much sense when you compare the complaints to how gaming with physical copies works too.

 

[Law]

"If Steam goes down, all my games will be gone forever!"

Gaben is a Microsoft billionaire.


edit: also that first point is sometimes true with some really shitty digital distributers who have sleazy tactics (like EA Downloader used to do). Sometimes you can't redownload it, so unless you backed it up you're fucked.

 

[Scott-105]

I love digital distribution. Steam is like, my best friend. I have over 200 games in my steam account, and I've payed, like, maybe $1000 for all of it. The sales are fantastic. If my harddrive ever does fail, I can just redownload the game. I don't see why a lot of people have it. If I had physical copies of all my Steam games, I have no idea where I'd put them all. And the physical packaging to show off, doesn't appeal to me, really. Unless it's like, a super expensive collector's edition, which I usually don't buy anyway.

 

[Rydian]

"If Steam goes down, all my games will be gone forever!"

Gaben is a Microsoft billionaire.

Not to mention Steam's offline mode severs future dependencies on the servers.

edit: also that first point is sometimes true with some really shitty digital distributers who have sleazy tactics (like EA Downloader used to do). Sometimes you can't redownload it, so unless you backed it up you're fucked.

I was going to make a "But some digitial companies treat users like lying dirtbags!", but covering all the companies that do that with physical copies would have tripled the size of the first post...

 

[Law]

"If Steam goes down, all my games will be gone forever!"

Gaben is a Microsoft billionaire.

Not to mention Steam's offline mode severs future dependencies on the servers.

Except for if you need to download a game or verify the integrity of it's cache to fix a corrupted file.

 

[Deleted_171835]

Archiving. That's my main issue with digital distribution (at least when it isn't done in tandem with physical copies).

With services such as Steam where games are cracked pretty quickly, it isn't a problem. The issue comes with platforms such as the DSi where there is still no way to preserve games from the DSi Shop. The DSi is reaching the end of its life so we may lose access to some games forever when Nintendo decides to eventually shut down the shop.

 

[retKHAAAN]

Well over half my xbox 360 games are digital downloads. There are a few reasons why I choose to download over purchase retail...

- Saves on storage in my entertainment center
- No discs for my 16 month old to get a hold of and destroy
- Decent deals from time to time (though not nearly as many as I'd like). Left for Dead 2 is $30 on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and $40+ at all the game stores in my area. Same with Orange Box being $20 on LIVE. I'm sure that looks ridiculous to you Steam users out there, but I also am not investing $400-$2000 on a gaming PC so it's kind of a wash...
- Don't have to drag my lazy ass to a store...
- Don't have to get my lazy ass up off the couch to insert/change discs...

The only thing I wish were different would be games up for download on release rather than months later...


As far as distributors closing up their online shops...it would not be in their best interest to do so. Would make more sense to carry purchases over to the new shops and integrate.

 

[pokefloote]

Archiving. That's my main issue with digital distribution (at least when it isn't done in tandem with physical copies).

With services such as Steam where games are cracked pretty quickly, it isn't a problem. The issue comes with platforms such as the DSi where there is still no way to preserve games from the DSi Shop. The DSi is reaching the end of its life so we may lose access to some games forever when Nintendo decides to eventually shut down the shop.

Lose access to buy them from the shop, but not the ability to play them on your system after purchasing, correct?

 

[Rydian]

Except for if you need to download a game or verify the integrity of it's cache to fix a corrupted file.

If I lose my cart of Chrono Trigger I don't get to download a new one, and if some of the ROM get corrupted I don't have access to a service to fix it for free...

Archiving. That's my main issue with digital distribution (at least when it isn't done in tandem with physical copies).

With services such as Steam where games are cracked pretty quickly, it isn't a problem. The issue comes with platforms such as the DSi where there is still no way to preserve games from the DSi Shop. The DSi is reaching the end of its life so we may lose access to some games forever when Nintendo decides to eventually shut down the shop.

I agree that archiving closed systems is a concern. This is partially why the movement behind more accurate/wholesome emulation is taking off. A few years ago people scoffed at BSNES and what it represented, but now it's doing things most other emulators can't, all for preservation.

 

[Law]

Except for if you need to download a game or verify the integrity of it's cache to fix a corrupted file.

If I lose my cart of Chrono Trigger I don't get to download a new one, and if some of the ROM get corrupted I don't have access to a service to fix it for free...

And suddenly there is no point to using Steam (since apparently I don't deserve to be able to download/access games that I've bought). Back to physical media it is!

 

[retKHAAAN]

(since apparently I don't deserve to be able to download/access games that I've bought)

I read this as:

(since apparently I can't be bothered to take care of the shit I pay money for...)

 

[Gahars]

Digital distribution has its legitimate flaws, and they should be addressed, but people seem to be a bit too eager to make it their personal punching bag. No matter what form of distribution you take, there are always going to be some drawbacks.

 

[Rydian]

Except for if you need to download a game or verify the integrity of it's cache to fix a corrupted file.

If I lose my cart of Chrono Trigger I don't get to download a new one, and if some of the ROM get corrupted I don't have access to a service to fix it for free...

And suddenly there is no point to using Steam (since apparently I don't deserve to be able to download/access games that I've bought). Back to physical media it is!

The hell did you read my post as?

I'm pointing out that digital distribution has upsides in the form of replacement, no downsides (compared to physical media).

 

[marcus134]

• "When my harddrive/memory stick dies, the game is gone with it!"
  

Actually there are 2 situation:
steam like: let you re-download your game anytime (Makes the argument irrelevant)
1 time download link: In those case, you can back-up your software installation files on a external HDD or dvd (and you'd be a fool not to do it), which is better than game cartridge/disc where you can loose your game for good more easily.

• "Digital copies often have DRM or protection which means you can't copy them without hacking!"
  

that's a pc gaming quirk: you can't share games with your friend as easily as you can with console game cartridge/disc (depends which games, but mostly those that rely more heavily on online gameplay), it was that way before digital distribution (GOG is DRM free)

but I also am not investing $400-$2000 on a gaming PC so it's kind of a wash...

I always laugh when people say that cause people needs a computer anyway and the big difference between a well built office comp. and a decent entry level/mainstream gaming comp. is about 120-150$ (the price of a gpu) which is actually cheaper than a gaming console + accessories + office computer.

About game prices, in the computer game market there's a lot more competition and games are priced more aggressively, games never usually keep their full price tag really long which is a striking contrast with console game where you know that almost all of the games on shelves are priced 50-60$.

And when it comes to game availability, I've always had this problem with console game where I see a good game that came out like 3-4 years ago and no game retailer in my area has it (not even in the discount bin or used section), the clerk tells me that I can't order it either and I end up pirating it. ( well, after a few times I got bored and now I just pirate right away). The main ache about physical console game sales (and to a lesser extent computer games) is that you have to buy it during the 1-2 year shelf life of the game if you want sure to get a copy and most of the time pay the full price, even if you don't feel that the game is actually worth that much.

 

[Rydian]

It's not just PC things, stuff like PSN purchases and Wiiware can't be copied around freely either.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I just wish people stopped complaining about digital distribution. It has plenty of upsides and plenty of downsides. Physical distribution isn't superior and neither is digital. In the end we should just be able to enjoy games.

 

[retKHAAAN]

but I also am not investing $400-$2000 on a gaming PC so it's kind of a wash...

I always laugh when people say that cause people needs a computer anyway and the big difference between a well built office comp. and a decent entry level/mainstream gaming comp. is about 120-150$ (the price of a gpu) which is actually cheaper than a gaming console + accessories + office computer.

I'm on board with all the points you mentioned except this one. The big difference between a well built office comp. and a decent entry level/mainstream gaming com. may be $120-$150, but how much is a "well built office comp."? I can tell you that the only functioning computer in my home is a used laptop my wife paid $200 for so she could work from home when she was pregnant. Are you saying for $320-$350 I could have a gaming computer that will play all the latest games? How long before I have to update hardware to keep up with system requirements? I paid $100 for my xbox 360 (2 1/2 years later my wife bought me a slim for Father's Day) and I'm able to play all the games I want to play. I chose the xbox 360 because of price and convenience. PC gaming is not for everyone and cannot be done on every budget.

 

[Rydian]

"Used" is what throws pretty much every single comparison out the window, dude.

 

[retKHAAAN]

"Used" is what throws pretty much every single comparison out the window, dude.

And that was exactly my point.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

but I also am not investing $400-$2000 on a gaming PC so it's kind of a wash...

I always laugh when people say that cause people needs a computer anyway and the big difference between a well built office comp. and a decent entry level/mainstream gaming comp. is about 120-150$ (the price of a gpu) which is actually cheaper than a gaming console + accessories + office computer.

I'm on board with all the points you mentioned except this one. The big difference between a well built office comp. and a decent entry level/mainstream gaming com. may be $120-$150, but how much is a "well built office comp."? I can tell you that the only functioning computer in my home is a used laptop my wife paid $200 for so she could work from home when she was pregnant. Are you saying for $320-$350 I could have a gaming computer that will play all the latest games? How long before I have to update hardware to keep up with system requirements? I paid $100 for my xbox 360 (2 1/2 years later my wife bought me a slim for Father's Day) and I'm able to play all the games I want to play. I chose the xbox 360 because of price and convenience. PC gaming is not for everyone and cannot be done on every budget.

For that price I built my gaming PC. (Well, for $370 but close enough). This includes a case, Motherboard, CPU, RAM, GPU, 1TB HDD and PSU. Sure it's not the biggest baddest beast in the yard but its run everything I've thrown at it at medium-high to high settings. The trick is looking for deals.

What some people don't seem to understand is you don't need a $1000 PC to play games.

Anyways, on topic, the only problem I have with Digital Distribution is my slow internet speed/low bandwidth, but that has nothing to do with the service itself.