I prefer the digital downloads as it is all held in cloud storage therefore freeing up my system allowing me to uninstall and reinstall without the problems of scratched or lost discs due to sticky jammy fingers.
But I can honestly say that for some Digital Download is not guaranteed due to download caps from their providers or slow connection speed, I am lucky and have 120Mb Broadband and download speeds over 12Mb/s, my friend has 3Mb/s D/L at the best, until the UK really wants to provide faster internet connection all over, then you really need to have the option for high street sales of games.

The choice is still required!

I definitely prefer Physical over Digital copies but the only time I have digital copies is on my PC. If it's a console then I buy a physical version of the game. I really like physical versions because it feels like I actually own it, whereas when it's a digital copy it's just there, it doesn't really feel like I own it. Plus I feel much better knowing I have a physical copy of something rather than relying on technology not to fail and make me lose all the games I've downloaded, that would be a pain having to re-download all the games again...

The last time I brought a game from the High Street was last week actually. I brought Tales of Vesperia, which is pretty much impossible to find in stores, I only managed to get it because I'm friends with someone who owns a video game shop, so she can basically get me what I ask for, but I do also shop at Game too and also online retailers, Shopto.net being my main site to buy games from.

I don't think physical copies of games will ever go away. Even if all video game stores do die out, we still have the option to purchase physical copies from online retailers, but I think many will turn to digital downloads in the future, simply because it's less hassle and you can purchase, download and play without leaving your home. It's a shame, but I think that's the way it's going to go.

I definitely prefer physical copies. I'm sorry, but while I like digital media in some ways, some companies have a lot more restrictions on digital media compared to physical media, which really puts me off. For example, from what I can recall, on PSN, you have to pay for a product again after a certain amount of downloads. I can understand why they do it, and I know most people may not be bothered by that, but restrictions like that wind me up, especially with the way Sony are with releasing consoles, and those restrictions kinda make me feel like I don't actually own the game, unlike physical copies where you don't really see those types of restrictions. And PSN have also got a thing for charging more for digital media. I remember seeing them charge over £25 for Dissidia 012 on their store, despite them selling a brand new physical 'essentials' version for less than £10 at the time.

The only time I personally would buy digital media was if I couldn't get a physical copy of the item (e.g. FFVII,VIII,IX), if it was significantly cheaper than a physical copy, or if it was DLC.

The last game I bought was from GAME just after christmas. I usually buy a large amount of pre-owned games from there. Thankfully, the staff in my local GAME are really friendly. But I can't say that about every store... The amount of times I've bought damaged/not working games from one GAME store in particular is ridiculous. I do buy from online stores as well, but only if I can't find the game on the high street, or if it's way cheaper than on the high street.

I hope that future consoles continue to use physical media. The only thing that would change my mind was if some of these stupidly designed restrictions (particularly those from Sony) were to change. If that happened, then I would be more than happy to pay for digital games over physical ones.

Definitely physical copys of my games. I don't have such a big interest in games as I used to have, so the few games I do want I'll be getting a physical copy if possible. Usually the collector edtion if the game has one. Just like the new Tomb Raider. I'll be getting the collectors edtion of that game.
The last game I bought was the collectors edtion of Tekken Tag Tournament 2 at my local retailers.


I don't have anything against digital games. I think it's pretty nice to be able to have the choice of digital or physical. Thanks to PSN, I'm able to play most of the Final Fantasys on my PSP whenever I want, so they definitely have some advantages over physical games.

I prefer physical over digital media, but only by a slight margin. In fact, I prefer to have both physical and digital versions of my favorite games. Physical versions are better for collecting while digital versions are better for playing.

For example, if Final Fantasy Type-0 came out, I would buy several versions of the game; Hong Kong digital and physical versions (assuming they would have Japanese voices with English text, something you should either pack as an option on global version or offer DLC) and UK physical version.

I highly prefere buying games over downloading them of anything, PSN, steam, whatever it might be.
Because for me it doesn't feel like I have the game unless I can see the box, the book that comes alnog with it and the (mostly) weird descriptions of the game on the back.

Special editions joining in with that. Above all I want the games with their boxes. This is also why I'm importing a game soon. It's for download and it would be a lot easier, but it wouldn't be the same.

Para mi es mejor en forma fisica por para mi es mucho mejor

I really do prefer physical media. I love collecting special editions of games and I would be so, so upset if games were no longer sold physically, but only digitally. I only own a few digital games, the majority of my collection is physical.
Before the GAME store shut down where I live, I bought my games there (most were preowned, hard-to-find games), but since it has shut I buy online from places like Amazon. It's just much easier.

I like to own everything in a physical form. How can you show off a collection of final fantasy games through digital content... look at my impressive partition?

That being said i buy games in stores mostly because i know the people there and i like the goodies that come with preorders or collector editions.

As for prices...most of the digital content (mostly refering to psn digital games) is priced way higher then you would ever find it in a regular store. Expecially older games.

physical media forever ... i've donwloaded only 1 full game... because was free with my pc's motherboard
i love see my games i my bookshelf.
Online retailer make great prices so i buy often from them... i buy from stores near me only when i want a game @ day one

My personal preference (maybe I am just getting old...) is to have physical copies of my games.

You just can't beat that lovely cover art and showing off your collection on a shelf :D

Digital downloads they just feel cold to me. No love and affection that a box gives cradling your precious treasure inside ^.^

I definately prefer physical media over digital downloads, I don't have to worry about having enough memory if I get physical. And most of the time I buy from the high street, but usually from 2nd hand stores like Cex. If the game is new I get it from HMV 'cause there are no near GAME's near me but I only pre-order games from online retailers 'cause they're usually cheaper online and more convenient.

I'm one of those people that is attached to owning physical media. I love seeing al my books, CDs and games lined up on the shelf.

I like reading books from the Forgotten Realms D&D setting, and the past 2 years have been really annoying with them shifting some of their books from being physical a physical release, to an e-book only format as I don't really enjoy really books from a screen (even if its a tablet screen). Not all is bad though, since I can now easily purchase old novels that are out of print (though I'd much prefer a reprint).

I don't think that games are in danger of going digital only that soon. Not everyone has the bandwidth to download large games. I think its more likely that raising development costs of AAA titles will lead to a lot more indie-sized games being around though.

To answer the questions though:

- I always buy physical versions of games unless they are digital only.

- I buy some games from high street stores, but I prefer to buy new games from online retailers since I can buy them a lot cheaper than from a store. Unless I really can't wait to play, then I buy it from a store on release day.

- I think we'll still be buying physical games for at the very least the next generation of consoles. Personally I hope that physical versions of games never stop being sold.

Nice article Ben!

In answer to the questions proposed, I can 100% say, I prefer to download my games, HOWEVER ALL the games that I find for download actually cost MORE than they do on amazon!!
So if waiting a week for a bit of easily scratched plastic to arrive means paying a lot less I'll do it that way.
As for Game. Over priced rubbish with fairly unfriendly staff, and I could honestly rant about the prices for weeks on end. However, they did sell me my 3ds nice and cheaply since it was second hand (THOUGH I could have gotten a brand new one for less from Amazon ¬_¬; but I was in a rush)
And the collectors edition of 13-2 when Amazon didn't.

However, the only time I spent into the store on those two occasions, was actually to buy the ds. I ordered 13-2 online and had it delivered.
I believe that highstreet game retailers just don't stock enough of the games that people actually want to play. The majority of their stock are things that end up selling for 99p on amazon while Game/Ect are still flogging it for £30.

If they paid attention to what people wanted and the way the gaming market changed so rapidly, I think they'd be able to keep up quite easily. But nope. The impatient simply have to pay extortion.

Also, if the rumor from ages back about the PS-Orbis is true and not a VERY beautiful myth, wouldn't discs for gaming be going obsolete anyway? I would honestly prefer to buy all of my games online if they didn't come with goodies. I hate discs, they get lost/scratched/used as frisbees/chewed on by huskies which results in loss of game, many many tears and heart ache, and finally, I never get to complete the game because if it got destroyed or lost, it likely wasn't worth the money I paid for it in the first place.

Go environment!!
(Unless it comes with an art book!!!<3~)

Devs should never fear digital downloads but complete opposite as it's the Devs friend, you get more profit by selling a game on PSN 60 quid a pop.

so the Answer is No digital downloads will never be the Norm. >_>

You forgot to mention hmv been rescued :)