Yeah I get why people want physical games, but it just has too many downsides for me.
It is a visceral reaction from people who feel like your choices have actively harmed their gaming experience.
Really the gaming industry has been shit as a whole since Xbox tried to pull this crap in 2013. They just kicked the can down the road a decade and we are now feeling it
Kind of ironic how people here love steam but hate digital gaming. I just like the convenience of having my games in 1 spot.
I would consider Steam a special case compared to Sony or Microsoft trying to discontinue the production of physical games.
For one, the PC physical market was a mess of DRM solutions. Ones that either required middleware to be running on your PC like SecuROM or Denuvo, only allowed a limited number of installations before voiding the CD key, or required the disc inserted at all times, or a combination of all 3.
So Steam was a welcome disruption, it also didn’t outright replace big box software as a means of distributing PC games, it just phased out naturally. And there is nothing preventing a company from releasing a physical big box edition of any of their games on PC.
But with Sony ending production of discs, even people who want to release their games on disc, won’t be able to in the future
Not at all ironic considering Steam is competitive, offers great sales and allows code to be purchased elsewhere and redeemed on their service.
godsammitdam@lemmy.zip 6 days ago
Please list those pros and cons of digital and physical. I’d like to see the methodology here.
Visstix@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Well first of all I mostly game on steam, pc and steamdeck. And I don’t even know how that would work with discs.
But I do have a switch 2. Switched over from the switch 1, where I could just move my library over.
Anyway, the pros of digital? Convenience, pure convenience. I can go to the nintendo shop and see what there is and buy / play it instantly. I don’t have to go to a store or order online and wait for it to arrive at some point.
Then all the games I bought are in a list where I can switch between them instantly. I don’t play in handheld so I don’t have get up and find the game in the pile of games that I need shelf space for. And I don’t need to fiddle with the switch that’s hidden behind my tv to switch out the games.
I don’t sell or lend out games. And honestly if I finish a game I rarely play it again, and if I want to I don’t remember not being able to play a game anymore cause of digital shenanigans. Besides not having the console any more. I even gave away my wiiu to my nephew with mostly digital games and he could just play them.
So FOR ME PERSONALLY, I just don’t want physical. Like I said “I understand why people would prefer physical”. I am just lazy.
godsammitdam@lemmy.zip 6 days ago
Disc drives. Usb or otherwise. If you’ve ever activated a game on steam using a keycode, steam supported activating cd keys as well. There would be a CD keycode provided along with the disc. This is similar to BluRay movies that would come with both a disc and a digital download available.
As for the rest, I don’t think you answered my question. I asked for pros and cons and I only see pros with a “I understand the cons” at the end without listing them.
This one is heavily dependent on the corporation. Because switch 1 and 2 are essentially the same architecture, it’s similar to using your PS5 library on the PS5 Pro. There is no guarantee you will be able to do so in the next generation given digital keys. You actually allude to it yourself.
The Wii online game stores no longer exist similar to the DS game stores. Titles without physical releases simply no longer exist in most of these cases. And for your nephew to play these titles he has to use your hardware with your account. A digital only future with DRM protection would remove access in several ways, via an IP address change prompting a login, license changes or store server closures that would remove DRM auth keys when a title is launched, etc.
But yes, overall, you are correct, the rest of the reasons you list are isolation (not wanting to go to a store or discuss with others what games exist, instead using a storefront algorithm) or are out of laziness/impatience (waiting for a delivery, getting up off the couch, pressing a button.)
I doubt I would be able to convince you, so I will not try, but thank you for explaining. It helps the rest of us to understand the opinions of those who seek convenience over rights and freedom. You understood that you would be downvoted and that is because to us, your apathy and laziness is the same reason we also have a resurgence of fascism.
It’s a lack of empathy and selfishness focused purely on dopamine activation. We see someone empty of life and fulfilment as you’re not enjoying, reflecting, or introspecting on life or the gaming medium, you’re purely focused on self pleasure. That’s what we see and it’s both pity we feel and frustration as these actions and mentalities directly harm the rest of us, be it artists whose works are lost or individuals directly who lose access to art they purchased.
I’m reminded of a quote from Benjamin Franklin.
Liberty would be yours and my rights to ownership, the freedom to experience the medium and share it with others. And temporary safety is convenience.
Visstix@lemmy.world 6 days ago
What a pretentious nonsense. Give my answer and stil get downvoted and compared to fascism. Fucking hell. Insufferable place.