We've long worried that we were the only ones who would gladly trade the convenience of downloaded games for the visceral, ritualistic thrill of slicing open a new game case and burying our snouts inside to take a luxuriously long pull of that "new game smell." According to a new study by the
NPD, 75 percent of players share our preference for retail (though not necessarily our fetishistic odor hang-ups). Group analyst Anita Frazier revealed the findings at
DICE last week.
More surprisingly, 58 percent of those surveyed say they've never so much as downloaded a game. Guys, we love new game smell too, but not being able to give it up even
once? Not to pass judgment on alternative lifestyles, but that's a little much even for us.
{ Feb 23rd 2009 at 9:10AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Travis @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:22AM
to those who can afford every game at retail... I salute you
JXCgunrunna @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:23AM
If MS lowered their HDD prices some, I would download more games off of the Marketplace. There are only a few games that I really want the cases for and those are the ones i get the Collectors Edition of so i get extra shit anyway. I prefer not to get off my ass to switch my games.
hfm @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:24AM
The new game smell is intoxicating, but i'd rather go digital as long as there's an option to download the game for a very long time (in case of fire, HW failure, etc..). I got Burnout Paradise off PSN, and its a good model. But there will always be a place for physical media (gifts, no broadband, the smell). As long as there is a HD install option I don't mind it.
And lets be realistic.. Steam owns..
cheez @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:38AM
thought I was the only one who liked the new game smell, also I like to have the instruction booklets.
Pimliconite @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:06AM
The last game I bought at retail was a dvd case with a disk and a pamphlet that basically said "the manual is a pdf on the disk. register at our website for spam."
The era of The Big Box full of Neat Stuff is dead. Collector's Editions don't count.
The Baron @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:47PM
I missed a lot of good games due to not having a good PC or a console for years, so I buy a lot of those 'Sold Out' ranges of budget old games. It pisses me off that they all look soulless and identical on my shelf, and all you get inside is the disc.
Dr. @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:29AM
Retail died when games stopped coming in nice big boxes. :(
WorMzy @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:59PM
Someone didn't read the article. ;D
john @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:31AM
the main issues with download for games and movies for me are: inability to easily transfer to future consoles or another hdd, and inability to sell the used game/movie if i decide i don't like it or want something else instead.
if you read the fine print on some of the movie download agreements you don't actually 'own' the movie you're just 'leasing' it indefinitely and have no legal right to transfer it to another machine or make backup copies - this needs to be fixed and gamestop will benefit in the meantime.
Biggie @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:33AM
Digital distribution would win this popularity contest if they just corrected its two biggest failings. One, that it is often priced higher than retail copies of game because of their strict commitment to MSRP and two, if licenses were transferable. I think the second point is the most important as gamestop much as I dislike them is correct, many gamers use their old game as a means to subsidies new purchases.
Then again I agree with hfm, new game smell is intoxicating, especially in Canada where we get bigger manuals because of a french english language requirements.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:45AM
im not usually too upset by the pricing personally in most cases but i do hate the fact that if i buy something online, i can't take it to a friends house as easily. i usually have to lug the whole console over there to have all my stuff. and though i love my PS3, it makes taking games to friends houses even harder with it's mandatory installs that take like 30 minutes, further delaying the actual game playing.
The Baron @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:44PM
In Britain the pricing is usually pretty bad. Games on Steam are often about £28 or even £30, whereas places like amazon sell PC games for less and then cut the prices considerably a month or so after launch.
Even worse is the PS3 store, where old games are released digitally for about £30, when I can pick them up for £20-25. How come it's cheaper for a company to get a game box and mail it to me than for me for to get it from Sony's own servers?
Gemini Ace @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:38AM
I prefer having physical media any day. I stopped buying XBLA games because they got too expensive and they can't be shared or traded.
butaneko @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:55AM
I can justify paying $60 for a game if I know I can trade it or sell it for $30-$50 down the line. There's no way I'll be paying $60 for a downloadable game in the future unless it's a Quadruple A slam dunk title.
As for $5-$15 XBLA titles, sign me up.
WiredKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:34PM
Actually, you can share them. Of course it means lending your HDD to your friend, but it is possible. I think you can even do it with a memory card, as long as you've got space.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:39AM
i still prefer retail personally. i still buy a decent amount of games from the PSN Store and Live Marketplace but i just only buy them up to a price that i wouldn't really care if i lost (usually around $10). fully downloadable games are very convenient but i guess i still have my superstition about not actually owning anything.
CyberKnight @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:30AM
It's not a superstition -- you don't own anything. All you have is a digital copy of the content and a license to use it. Just look at what happens when a 360 console is replaced and the license isn't correctly transferred to see what happens when that license is revoked. Funny how, with all the complaints of people not being able to play their XBLA games anymore, you don't see a complaint of their disc-based games suddenly not working on their new consoles.
You don't own it. You can't borrow it, lend it, rent it, resell it, and if the controlling entity decides at any time, even play it anymore.
And that's what literally scares me when I hear publishers and corporate execs say things like "digital downloads are the future", because in reality, it's not about your convenience; it's all about their control.
Jeramy @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:22PM
@ cyberknight
your last paragraph sums it up perfectly. couldn't have said it better myself
VelociRapido @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:42AM
Retail:
Pop in my disc into an unlimited amount of consoles.
Digital Distribution:
Download onto an "unlimited" amount of consoles as long as I always can afford broadband, transfer my licenses, deactivate a console, and sign in to my account.
Yeah, I will still go with retail for major games. What we need is something like CD's and mp3's where you can buy a disc, rip it to your console, and play without the disc.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:47AM
while something like that would be ideal for us, it would be a nightmare for game devs because someone would find a way to pirate those ripped games one way or another (or just pass the game on to someone else for them to rip too).
greg (peevmyster) @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:55AM
I don't mind downloading small games. My first DL game was NHL 3 vs 3 hockey. That is a great game, but only took like 20 minutes to download. I wouldn't want to wait 20 hours to download a full game. If they improved DL speeds dramatically then i might think about it, but i would definately miss the box.
Danshini @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:03AM
I personally prefer retail, just because of the convenience of going to a store and buying it, rather than go through to process of downloading, installation, etc.
And VelociRapido that is why Microsoft applied the system of when installing a game on the hard drive, the game always needs to stay in the disc tray.
And like SoCoolCurt says its a nice idea, but then again there is always a way to pirate the game, and sell it to everyone you know while still having the ability to play the game you originally purchased.
And for the people that say they don't download games, must never download demos...
rohan @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:52AM
i am part of the few that only buys from retail and have never downloaded a game other than demos
ZaxCG2 @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:13AM
So that means you're not a heavy PC gamer, really. ANYONE with Steam has probably purchased a game off of it. Its hard not too. I always get mine (IE. Left4Dead, Orange Box) when they allow for pre-downloads. 5$ off. WAY better deal than your full priced + taxed games at retail.
You might want to check out GoG.com. They have tons of great downloadable titles for cheapy mccheap cheap + DRM free. All these games could probably run on any PC, so it's definitely a very win deal.
tmacairjordan87 @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:03AM
I find when I download a game, after the first day or two I end up basically forgetting that I have it for years at a time. I dont' really know why, but my mind just doesn't attach as much importance to downloaded games compared to retail, even though theoretically I could have paid the same price downloading it. I'm wierd like that.
Duke @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:20AM
I am the same way. I forget about the dl titles I have all the time. The other day I went through my PS3 games list and was surprised to see some in there that I can't even remember buying. Though I'm not saying that titles like Flower & Fish Frenzy get no love at my house. I also find I buy more crappy dl titles on impulse than I should and then regret it.
I prefer retail to dl games because I enjoy the process of buying it and then bringing it home excited to pay it. Its a much more fun build up to a new game than dl'ing offers. Also, I prefer having games on disc so they are not taking hd space. My 360 has been full for a while now and I hate dealing with that issue.
kevin @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:23AM
I personally hate the idea of buying games from retail. Those cases, unused manuals, and annoying discs! Not to mention having to deal with the local games retailer, which is always an annoying experience at best. I personally would buy way more console games if it were as simple as queuing it up, and giving my CC info. As for PC games, I exclusively only purchase games available for download.
andrew @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:23AM
I prefer retail, but I don't' prefer Game Stop. The employees are always these arrogant, know-it-alls who actlike they're doing you a favor by selling you a game. Also, if I'm buying a new game I want it sealed.
Robert @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:31AM
Ditto - stopped going to GameStop for that very reason (non-sealed new games).
Batman @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:41AM
I will only buy new games there if they have a sealed copy. If not, chao. Off to another store. For me, GS is closest, then Target, then.... Anyways, I hate how they open all of their games. Stupid. They could almost take nice used copies and sell them as new.
Mind-of-Madness @ Feb 24th 2009 5:48PM
Exactly. How can a new game still be considered "new" when it isn't sealed when you purchase it? Not to mention that the often dim-witted employees rarely know how to handle a disc. I almost bought Rock Band 2 from GameStop, but the clerk dropped the disc, picked it up, and then wiped it off on his shirt. No thanks.
RPGJock @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:25AM
As long as I can get rid of a crap game that i mistakenly bought and redeem an ounce of what I paid for it (and that exactly get what I get at gamestop) then I will never fully adopt downloads. Because that is what I want, a game that is complete tied to the system that if I lose the system, i lose all the games also? NO THANK YOU!
Hell, i refused to buy music online until it became DRM free and I have it backed up in three different locations. I buy something, I expect to keep it as long as I want and do what I want with it, otherwise you can keep it.
I'm just saying...
I Like Corn @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:30AM
There's definitely a place for digital distribution in my world. One thing I absolutely love is Telltale's system:
-They release the Season monthly. I pay for the season up-front, get the game every month for 5 or 6 months for a $30 cover charge.
-Season ends, I have the whole thing. Woo!
-They release a disc version. Season subscribers like me? We get that disc free, plus shipping.
It's going that extra mile that really makes digital distribution work for me. The less DRM, the better. Or when the terms of the DRM are reasonable(I'm fine with a download cap of 20 times for a game).
NeoHumpty @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:33AM
Damn Comcast and their DL limits. They tell me if I DL more than 5gb they are allowed to slow my connection the rest of the month. It's BS, but I need to watch my limits in today's downloading world. I can hit 5gb easily with just movies, let alone them throwing a bunch of games at me.
Quattro @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:10AM
5GB in a month or day? Because lord knows I've downloaded over 5GB in one day, I couldn't imagine being limited to 5 a month.
NeoHumpty @ Feb 24th 2009 5:18PM
A month. That's what I said. The sales rep said they don't always do it, but they reserve the right to limit it to assure even connectivity for all who are on the grid. This was back when they were having all that hoopla over torrents about a year ago, though. But I asked, and he confirmed it.
JWC @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:32AM
I agree with most of the people here, the problem with digital only is threefold: 1) you don't own the copy necessarily 2) can't resell it when you're done playing it 3) it's not any cheaper. Digital only would be attractive if they were 50% of the cost of retail versions.
Einhanderkiller @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:59AM
Because of Steam, I rarely buy at retail anymore. I don't even remember the last time I stepped into a GameStop.
ZaxCG2 @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:08AM
I've been doing that for a while... But I've been recently paying Gamestop visits for more Wii and PS2 games... PC gamers really don't have to leave the house-- BUT YOU SHOULD.
Just stop by every now and then. Look for good deals (good luck for that) and make friends with the guys behind the counter when they're not busy...
I've seen the same freakin' guy at my Gamestop for like 4 years. I should start bringing him a couple beers for being able to do that.
Einhanderkiller @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:15PM
I tend to find better deals at places like Target, Circuit City, Fry's, Best Buy, etc.
Matt @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:16AM
I do not like buying downloadable games because I know I won't be able to play them years from now. I can still play my 14 year old earthbound snes game but I know I won't be playing braid in a few unless I rebuy it. Plus I just like the packaging.
aj @ Feb 23rd 2009 11:48AM
EXACTLY.
On top of everything else, no one is going to be able to play these games in 20 years. There will be no online servers anymore for multiplayer. Nowhere to get the bug fixes for games that came with bugs on the disc.
There is nothing wrong with making the process simple. Buy game. Insert into console. Play. Why mess with that timeless formula?
ZeroCorpse @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:02PM
I don't do retail if I can help it. Instead, I trade games at Goozex.
I do use retail on occasion, but only when I'm getting deep discounts. I just bought Lost & the Damned, but I used a gift card to do it, so it cost me nothing.
I won't pay new prices for 99% of the games out there. I might for a franchise I follow (GTA IV was a first-day purchase), but not for something I know I can wait to play (I was very glad I waited and traded to get The Force Unleashed. I kept it about 3 days and then traded it to someone else.)
$60 is too high for most games. I just finished Assassin's Creed. It was very good, but it's also kind of short and once it's done, it's done. That's not worth $60 to me. For $60, a game has to have replay value above and beyond the main story. Oblivion is still worth the money I sank into it. GTA IV is still playable. Orange Box is worth the price.
In the next few months, I may purchase Resident Evil V, Ghostbusters, and perhaps one other title. . . But the rest of the games coming out this year will probably be purchased used or I'll trade to get them after they've been out for a few months.
And by the way, MS has to lower the price on X-Box originals. When I can get them used for $5.00 or less, it's pretty ridiculous to charge MS Points equal to $15 or $20 considering I don't get a case, manual, box art, or physical media for that price.
Brett from Atlanta @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:24PM
"Mama said knock you out!"
nice reference Justin.
EndlessShadow @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:32PM
I think having a physical disk just makes me feel better about the future of my games and whatnot. Also I like displaying the boxes to show what I have to people at a moments notice.
Vegnagun bwf @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:47PM
I never buy used. It's only a little bit less money than a new copy, but the condition is far worse.
Misfit Toy @ Feb 23rd 2009 12:49PM
My opinion is a bit of a mixed bag on this one. I prefer retail as well, but I also love where I can launch games right from my console. If I could have where I could download it to my system, yet keep the retail disc this would be ideal. The 360 download game to hdd is closer, but I still have to have the disc in the tray.
I don't have a solution. Perhaps there is no way to have the cake and eat it too. But I like the mobility and re-salability of a retail copy. And I like the convenience (and lets face it...laziness) of having something just stored on my hdd.
Juan @ Feb 23rd 2009 1:47PM
there are several reasons why it is not in our favor to do so.
1) we cant sell or trade a digital download
2) prices drop faster when stores have to make space for newer games.
3) the idea/spin of digital downloads and in-game ads where that they would reduce the price of games for gamers but that has not proven to be the case. You never see a digital download price be less expensive than a disc copy. and a sixty dollar game with in-game ads cost as much as a sixty dollar game without ads.
The Dark Wayne @ Feb 23rd 2009 1:17PM
I'm glad to hear it, the way DD has been working so far means it deserved a kick in the ass.
Strategy_Panda @ Feb 23rd 2009 1:53PM
the last 24 games I've bought have all been downloaded