Download vs Hard Copy

Lately I see that a lot of the publishers are offering the download versions of newer games.

I was wondering the reason's for this...Is it because it is cheaper? I would think DVDs & packaging are expensive.

Also is it cheaper to download...Is the price the same for both?
I do hope that hard copies don't become extinct.

You're asking about publishers.

There are many factors involved in selling games. PR, middleman which can be the distributors in specific areas; then the retailers that get the game from the distributors, boxes which can include graphics, designers...; legal matters...

Ah. It's like any business trying to get the product faster, cheaper to the consumer.

I prefer boxed versions - but many times - the wait for those boxes seems (and can turn out to be) forever. Or they are released, but for a variety of reasons (limited retailers who only ship locally, or they do but the shipping doubles the price of the game etc) well you get the point. Yep the game is out there - but not in a way YOU can get your hands on it - no matter what.

Well I like the idea I can DL the game and get the game in some format. Sometimes that may even be the ONLY way to get a game.

So I think any way that enables gamers - wherever they are to get their hands on a game in the language version they need - can't be a bad thing. And as long as people still like their boxes (which a good many do - even action gamers) I don't think they'll do away with boxed versions any time soon

Thanks MaG & gatorlaw..

I was really concerned about this..Cause alot of people still have dial -up...Which would make it impossible to download..

Also..tweaking a game that is downloaded I think would be a problem..

Mainly distribution I think. Finding a distributor/publisher in certain countries is problematic



It's also expensive to maintain a server that can accomodate large downloads at a reasonably fast speed.


Sometimes, sometimes not. Check the prices for individual games. The Awakened was $30 for the download when it first came out. When the US version was released it was also $30.

Boy, tell me about it,
I,m one of those poor souls who still has dial-up, thought I was going to download some game demos until I saw the size of the


files, and just laughed or cried. Whatever. Dunn Tawkin

I also prefer games on cd. I can't put download in my collection

CU

danyboy

I have two games that I bought via download both Blackwell games. I burned both game files to a cd for safe keeping. Over the years I have learned files on the hard drive are not always safe. or for that matter are they on the cd. So you make two copies. Why did I download them? Because I was in a hurry to get them. Not always the wise and prudent choice. The downloaded copies present another problem as well.

I don't imagine you can trade them on Gameboomers! Can you Ana/mods? So had I been patient and spent a couple dollars more I could trade the hard copy version if I chose. In my opinion, which may or may not agree with other people's, downloads should cost less. I don't know the total cost to produce one form versus the other nor do I care. Downloaded versions limit the purchaser's ability to use them which is far more restrictive. That is why I can't see paying the same or higher price for a product that limits how I can use it. Give it to me on the cheap and I'll consider your restrictions. But don't try to sell me a restricted product for the same price or more because of convience. In the long run the download is far from convienent

You are correct in your assumption oldmariner. Downloads may not be traded or sold so it does limit your ability to recoup some costs after you played.

Ana

Some games I enjoy the big boxes - they look nice on the shelf (adventure games to me are like books) but lately they've been coming in those tiny dvd sized boxes. The Longest Journey I didn't buy when it was new, so by the time they re-released it it was only in a small little CD case. Same with Black Mirror. I might as well have bought them downloaded.

I make an exception for casual games because they range from 10-80 megs. 80 is still a bit much, but adventure games are like 500mb and up.

When publishers started selling e-books, the blogosphere was talking about how it's going to kill the printing industry and bookstores...didn't happen. I love my hardcovers.

I prefer the CD .Even if it costs more .Just a daft question .When you pay for a game and download it onto you computor is it illeagal to put it on your own CD ta

I don't know if it is or not. What I do know is it is mine! I bought it they sold it to me. Therefore that particular "copy" no longer belongs to them. If I want to back it up on a cd I will. It's like if I buy a shirt you can't tell me how to wear it.

Even in regular boxed CD games, you are allowed to make a backup CD.

but are you allowed to trade like we do with the CDS

Dragon -- as Ana mentioned earlier, you are not allowed to trade a game that you have downloaded onto a CD.

There is only one thing that I feel strongly about.

If you download a game it should be cheaper then the hard copy.
I think packaging & distribution would be more expensive

Not only that on a download you can't trade at all..

I thought so .Thanks Becky .I think it should be cheaper for a downloaded version .Still prefer the cd so I can trade .I guess sooner or later it will be all down loaded games .

I prefer to buy a game in a "box", either CD or DVD, doesn't matter. Like books, I like to see them on the shelf.

Even though I have a 100Mbit connection, I would never even think of downloading a game instead of buying a real copy.

I used to think that I would only buy a hard copy of a game. Then my garage, closets, office, living room, etc. started filling with boxes and jewel cases that I had no intention of re-visiting. Though I know alotta folks in here like to do it, re-playing a game reminds me of the definition of insanity. To wit: doing the same thing over-and-over, hoping for a different outcome.

So, I joined Gametap, download games, play them, delete them, and move on. Life is good. I got to play a good game (or not). And I have more room in my house for other useless junk to collect. I also downloaded Half-Life, and I have never regretted not have a dust-collecting box in my way. I played it....it was great....Next!

Like the old TV ad used to say: "Try it, You'll like it." There is just too much great new material coming out there to keep re-playing "Stairway to Heaven" over-and-over, because they just don't write them like they used to.

Bob

I much prefer dvd-cases or cd-boxes, simply because I like to look at and feel the dvd-box for the game. As I've mentioned before, I really like the dvdbox for Jade Empire and Secret Fiels:Tunguska and other games.

I have downloaded Fate, The Shivah and Morning's Wrath as well as have a an account on Steam. I have chosen Steam since you'r allowed to burn your downloaded to a cd or dvd, and to keep your downloaded bought games on your HDD for very long time.

On top of that many downloaded games also require you to activate them via the internet. What if Still Life and Post Mortem only could be downloaded via the internet. This would have meant that new gamers wouldn't be able to play these games as Microïds Canada went the way of the dodo --- gone...

/Karsten

Hi

"Though I know alotta folks in here like to do it, re-playing a game reminds me of the definition of insanity."

Yep, BaldBob !!

That's me for sure .... I much prefer a boxed disk version of a game AND re-play old games all the time .... Explains a lot !!

Cheers.

Mad

Well......
I went & did it...I downloaded Cleopatra...
I just had to play it...

One thing I have to say...I am glad we have a choice..
I do prefer hard copy, but I just couldn't wait for the DVD release...The download was too tempting

IMHO, the reasons mentioned above are excellent reasons for getting the cds. Recently, I had serious problems with my full time HP. I'm not sure what happened, but it could have been worse. I got updates to the harddrive with Norton's, and I had to get dvds to burn the updates TO. I needed passwords/codes for everything! I was going crazy getting pssswords changed (Online stuff, a thesis, writing, and all kinds of other passwords) to even think about the casual games I had via downloads. (BTW, Gameboomers, heads up for what you do quietly). I like casual games but had quit the club. Didn't think it was legal to burn them to cd even though I'd paid for them. I have written down and tried to save every password both new and old, but paper is just so much garbage when you can't remember what it means. I do not think I will ever get the info for the downloaded games. In addition to everything else out of pocket, it chills to think, what if the downloads had been $30 a shot...

I think its foolish to release games only for download. Publishers cut their customer base in half by doing that.

I just looked at the Nancy Drew games. They are 20.00 in store,25.00 if shipped and 25.00 if downloaded! I think if they want to push the idea of downloaded games they should drop there price. To say at least 15.00. They would stand to make more money because of production costs and the resale would stop, forcing others to also pay full price to play.

Hi

"the resale would stop, forcing others to also pay full price to play"

People who depend on buying used games because of not being able to find the money for new ones might then have to give up playing - which would be rather sad

Cheers.

Mad

I like my games in a box so if I want to put it on a new computer or delete it from the one I have to save space I can do it.

Hi Mad, I agree,I was just pointing out what would have to happen in order to make everybody happy. most used games sell for about haft the retail price so maybe download them for that. As for making a copy you can burn a copy for yourself as a backup.

Ray