New research claims that consumers consider physical product to be more important in games than in newspapers, films or music. A survey of over 1,000 people by research firm Ipsos MediaCT found that 64 per cent preferred physical discs for their games over digital copies. Newspapers followed closely with 63 per cent opting for hard copies. Conversely music and film were considerably lower, with a respective 45 and 51 per cent shunning digital. “I believe the preference for physical discs amongst next gen gamers reflects the potential value they derive from the pre-owned market, which is holding up the preference for physical – this is unlike the music and film markets,” said Ipsos MediaCT director Ian Bramley. “Physical games discs have a long and well-established history, which is a deep mindset to change – particularly when gamers build a physical collection as they fear losing digital versions. And in-store browsing is also important to buyers.”
Yeah I can agree with that. Physical copies are certainly better in my view and allow for easier usage(mostly). If a friend wants a game I have, just install off the disc, but if it's locked to an online service, they'd have to take the tonnes of time to download it using my account.
I will buy which ever is cheaper, this is usually discs 99% of the time. Steam is usually significantly more expensive than buying a retail copy of the game, same with Games on Demand for the Xbox 360.
^This. The reason I rarely buy DLC is because it's almost always retail, and it kills me to pay retail for anything. So, I go the cheaper route and buy hard copies, new or used, it doesn't matter to me.
Unless there's a (Steam) sale on where I can buy the game cheaper through Digital retail I'm the same. Much prefer to have a disc.
I perfer Disc's over download anyday at least it works straight off the disc no need to wait for it to download or muck up if the data on your hard drive gets corrupted.
On PC I prefer digital distribution if its done right, aka Steam. Its nice just having to click one button and having the game download, install and patched to the latest version. Some games will even sync my settings and saves which is really nice. The 360 has spoiled me, i'm used to games just working.
I too prefer to have the actual disc. As stated above, you can trad in the physical disc if you are done playing it. Helps cut down the cost of new games now and then .
I prefer digital distribution, most of the time. Mainly as with small kids the discs will get damaged due to them continually swapping them out, or in the case of my youngest, she likes to use them as toys, so most discs get damaged over time. However, I'm currently without internet at home because we're moving house this week and without internet access Steam refuses to start so I can't play any of the games I have installed We're currently playing a lot of free indie games and listening to mp3's while we await the connection of our internet at the new house. Digital distribution for PC games, music and movies makes since, but only as long as you have a backup.
As far as I'm aware Steam should start up in offline mode if it has no internet connection. The only thing I can think of is your Steam client knows it needs an update and refuses to start till it can update itself but I've never had that problem myself and I'm sure if others had Valve would've fixed that anyway. Hope this link helps: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-AGCB-2555
In my experience you actually tell steam to use offline mode when you are online for it to work without an internet connection. I have never had any luck getting in to start in offline mode without doing that.
Right now I'm not too worried about playing my Steam games, mainly because I haven't set the computer up in the new house. Plus I was having some ATI driver issues prior to breaking down the computer for the move, so I'll be working on that either starting tonight or this weekend after the whole bloody mess of a move is completed.