LavitzSlambert
Member
Physical media enjoyer here. Vinyl, 4K bluray, and game discs/carts. There are some advantages to digital, and I will pay small amounts for it, but physical is king.
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Physical Media Making A Return
- Thread starter Lumpyoatmeal
- Start date
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
I prefer digital. But not the "I don't own anything PlayStation store digital". I like the "GOG you download the installer and own it forever digital".
I don't care about trash like cases, manuals, posters or other shit.
That said, I can appreciate a nice and tidy collection. And for the games I truly care about, I do own a physical copy. Think Fallout New Vegas, Prey, etc..
I don't care about trash like cases, manuals, posters or other shit.
That said, I can appreciate a nice and tidy collection. And for the games I truly care about, I do own a physical copy. Think Fallout New Vegas, Prey, etc..
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ValiantInstance
Member
You'll own nothing and be happy.
HerjansEagleFeeder
Member
I have long given up taking any post on here serious that doesn't take into account all of these:
- question of ownership
- question of DRM and proprietary formats
- question of quality, compression and performance
It's fascinating how 95% of the users here are blind to at least one of those.
- question of ownership
- question of DRM and proprietary formats
- question of quality, compression and performance
It's fascinating how 95% of the users here are blind to at least one of those.
Cyberpunkd
Member
This. My parents have stack upon stacks of DVDs they watched once and that's it - wtf am I going to do with them when the die? It's thrash or sell for pennies. Incredible waste of money. I can MAYBE get if you curate an incredibly tight collection with the same release art, spines, etc., but 99% of people just buy tons of plastic shit.
Cyberpunkd
Member
That's because they figured out what a sweet mark ups they can get out of all the hippies.
Ownership for what purpose? How many movies have you watched more than once? It's hoarding, pure and simple. If it provides you with emotional benefits - ok, but at least be honest. On the subject of quality - 99% of people buying are going to be listening on their shit wireless setup, etc. Seen vinyl players with BT connection? Yeah, that exists.
Londo
Member
Physical media forever.
That said, in the last year or so the Blu/4k discs market has expanded a lot, more and more boutique labels churn out many titles with lovely packaging and special features. This presses the big ones to keep up their game and better their discs too (except Disney, their physical media department is clearly run by blind monkeys).
If something similar would happen in the gamesphere how would you react?
Imagine if a game can be licensed to be sold by other companies, and they would be in charge to produce some bells and whistles to make you buy their editions , like documentaries, interviews, arts, sketches... would you be interested?
The main issue is that a lot of current developers likes too much to stir shit on social media, I don't know if they could be professional enough to gave an interview without championing their beliefs.
That said, in the last year or so the Blu/4k discs market has expanded a lot, more and more boutique labels churn out many titles with lovely packaging and special features. This presses the big ones to keep up their game and better their discs too (except Disney, their physical media department is clearly run by blind monkeys).
If something similar would happen in the gamesphere how would you react?
Imagine if a game can be licensed to be sold by other companies, and they would be in charge to produce some bells and whistles to make you buy their editions , like documentaries, interviews, arts, sketches... would you be interested?
The main issue is that a lot of current developers likes too much to stir shit on social media, I don't know if they could be professional enough to gave an interview without championing their beliefs.
Londo
Member
This is an interesting point.
I always collected movies, among other things, and I own thousands of DVDs (now stashed in the attic), because it was a true leap from what I was coming from, VHS and LD.
I jumped on the blu-ray bandwagon very late, and I'm lucky enough to have have distanced myself from the "collect for the sake of collecting" mindset.
Now I buy only the things I know I'll watch more than one time, like the movies and serials I'm most attached to. Currently my collection of blus is less than 150 titles and grows at a satsfying slow pace.
For all the rest I can download it, watch it and delete it.
Phobos Base
Member
Deerock71
Very Poor Hoice of Wor
I've regretted quite a few drunk purchases over the years.most of my videogame purchases are dictated by the availability of a cart
ill spend more for it... if it's a game i want bad enough, and i've had a few beers i might spend as much as $100
CentralScrutinizer
Member
Yeah digital is more convenient but it's not an asset. Physical games are good because when you're done with them their value can be liquidated and returned for partial payback.
I am not a collector BUT I do view physical games as an asset I can leverage in the future. For Switch 2, I sold off 40 Switch 1 third party games I either would never play again or got for free on Epic Game Store after the fact and it paid for my entire Switch 2 day one haul.
I am not a collector BUT I do view physical games as an asset I can leverage in the future. For Switch 2, I sold off 40 Switch 1 third party games I either would never play again or got for free on Epic Game Store after the fact and it paid for my entire Switch 2 day one haul.
This is music to my ears this.
I love collecting physical games, and movies on blu ray and uhd blu ray. It's a major part of the hobby for me.
Completely anecdotal but I'm starting to see quite a few people in the movie section of hmv when I go shopping there.
I think people are starting to realise that subscribing to the streaming services is quite expensive
I love collecting physical games, and movies on blu ray and uhd blu ray. It's a major part of the hobby for me.
Completely anecdotal but I'm starting to see quite a few people in the movie section of hmv when I go shopping there.
I think people are starting to realise that subscribing to the streaming services is quite expensive
OLED_Gamer
Member
PC- digital. Steam is very consumer friendly so I'm comfortable with that.
Console- mainly physical.
I will say that, given how our rich overlords are trying to take away more and more ways to own things, I have been purchasing more physical on my PS5 Pro lately instead of digital on PC.
And save me the "license" speak- I can't sell a digital license, but I sure can sell my physical disk. And buy used disks. Etc.
Console- mainly physical.
I will say that, given how our rich overlords are trying to take away more and more ways to own things, I have been purchasing more physical on my PS5 Pro lately instead of digital on PC.
And save me the "license" speak- I can't sell a digital license, but I sure can sell my physical disk. And buy used disks. Etc.
HerjansEagleFeeder
Member
Are you suggesting there aren't any people out there who regard films as potentially works of art, rewatch them and don't treat them as disposable consumer products?
AnotherMillo
Neo Member
Hearing the disc spin, opening the box, flipping through the artbook before playing… it's part of the launch experience. And from these posts, lots of folks still appreciate that, even if digital is more convenient.
Lumpyoatmeal
Member
Just bookmarking this to collect my receipts when the remaining of you come running back to physical media.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
I think it's great to see physical media making a comeback, and I think the continued success of vinyl against all odds has been encouraging. I still buy all my movies on blu-ray or 4k blu ray. For music, I'm pretty much all digital and buy FLACs or DSD from qobuz, because you're getting the best of both worlds in terms of quality and convenience. But I like that CDs are seemingly having a resurgence of sorts. I've really gotten into buying more books lately, and getting fancy editions of stuff from Folio Society, Broken Binding, Dragonsteel, etc.
For games… I still just don't think it makes sense in the same way since unlike those other media, games aren't really a fixed thing anymore - I can buy a game on disc, but it'll be missing a lot of updates and dlc… sure you have Limited Run and the like doing "complete" releases where they can, but it's not a consistent thing where I can reliably just go buy a physical game and get all of the content. Which sucks. I really wished Nintendo would treat Switch 2 carts better and make them rewritable so you could update them with patches and dlc, but of course they chose the shittiest option possible. So until something big changes, I'm basically digital only almost all modern stuff. GOG is basically the ideal solution moving forward, at least for PC stuff that actually gets released on there.
For games… I still just don't think it makes sense in the same way since unlike those other media, games aren't really a fixed thing anymore - I can buy a game on disc, but it'll be missing a lot of updates and dlc… sure you have Limited Run and the like doing "complete" releases where they can, but it's not a consistent thing where I can reliably just go buy a physical game and get all of the content. Which sucks. I really wished Nintendo would treat Switch 2 carts better and make them rewritable so you could update them with patches and dlc, but of course they chose the shittiest option possible. So until something big changes, I'm basically digital only almost all modern stuff. GOG is basically the ideal solution moving forward, at least for PC stuff that actually gets released on there.
sliiiiiiick
Neo Member
The lack of physical experiences are what actually pushed me away from physical to digital when I first got my PS4. First, there was no manual. Huge bummer. Just a flimsy piece of paper with legal mumbo jumbo.
Then I inserted the disc. Loved a good disc startup ever since my first PS1. Wait, what's this? Installing? From a disc? What the fuck did I just buy? A digital game that I needed the physical disc inserted to be allowed to play? Nah, this ain't it. And now games are even worse with gigantic required patches. I guess I'm just old school, I miss popping a disc or cart in the system and pressing start.
I don't know what physical experience you're talking about, but that died decades ago
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Bark
Member
Tapes are really niche. All i have found is the Guardians of the galaxy soundtracks and Sabrina Carpenter as new. but CDs are still going. Got GNX last year.
IDKFA
I am Become Bilbo Baggins
I'm back on the physical media train for films and I've always valued physical books over digital.
I want to have my own curated library of books and films that I can access whenever I want. I'm sick of streaming services removing films, having to sign up to multiple sites to access my all time favourites, or a film I want to watch not being on any service at all.
Fuck streaming and fuck digital.
I want to have my own curated library of books and films that I can access whenever I want. I'm sick of streaming services removing films, having to sign up to multiple sites to access my all time favourites, or a film I want to watch not being on any service at all.
Fuck streaming and fuck digital.
OmegaSupreme
advanced basic bitch
I still buy 4ks and blus for movies. I want my favorites forever. Games and music I'm not as concerned about. I did dig out my cds recently though.
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
You mean Digital is easier to pirate?
Yeah pretty much
awwr999999
Member
Digital can bypass the brick-and-mortar shops that refuse to sell AO rated console games in the US.
IDKFA
I am Become Bilbo Baggins
What made you change your mind?
A little more than two years ago, you were into physical books, Switch games and vinyl records.
This is it, or at least one of the reasons I've gone back to physical media anyway.
There is also the fact that some filmd you can't get digitally. One of my favourite films of all time is Zatoichi (2003), but it's not available to stream anywhere in the UK. Luckily I now own a physical copy that I can watch whenever I want.
TheAnt
Member
Renting movies on a Friday evening because you get to keep them for the whole weekend. Rent 3 and get 4th for free.
Times when you came to the shop and physically browsed the shelves, judging which movie seemed good by looking at the cover and reading the synopsis.
You didn't watch 5 reviews, saw metacritic scores, got spoiled while reading about the movie and then decided it's not worth the watch.
I want to go back bros ...
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GHound
Member
In theory, but none of the consoles allow AO rated titles on their digital storefronts to begin with.
Hollywood Hitman
Gold Member
Yea I miss it all, best times of life
IDKFA
I am Become Bilbo Baggins
I wish there was an equivalent for films.
The problem with buying films digitally from Amazon or Google etc, is that you're not buying a digital copy and are instead buying a licence. However, if Amazon lose the rights to the film, that film is purged from your library, even if you think you "bought" it.
That's why I'm forced to go physical for films.
awwr999999
Member
Steam does and PlayStation needs to be competitive with Steam.
MidGenRefresh
*Refreshes biennially
I don't know if I can share the direct link to the tool so I won't but just Google "open source video downloader Amazon Prime".
Fabieter
Member
You coud start renting digital hardware from amazon so you have even lass junk in your house.
Hector Hall
Member
I buy most of my games phisical.
Digital vapourware, only under 10 euros.
Digital vapourware, only under 10 euros.
lifa-cobex
Member
I always felt this saying was wrong.
I can understand not owning anything and being happy.
*You'll pay for nothing and be happy.
TheSHEEEP
Gold Member
Except for some very special stuff, it is digital only for me.
More storage space for things that actually need it, less stuff you really do not need.
Unless you are a collector, but I'm really not.
If I had all the games I got on Steam and elsewhere as physical media, I'd need another house
... and wouldn't touch 90% of them anyway as most games you play once and then you're done.
So that whole "you lose access if Steam closes shop" argument really has drastically less weight than some people seem to think. Technically true, but I wouldn't care (with some exceptions, and those exceptions I could back up quickly if it ever became a threat).
More storage space for things that actually need it, less stuff you really do not need.
Unless you are a collector, but I'm really not.
If I had all the games I got on Steam and elsewhere as physical media, I'd need another house
... and wouldn't touch 90% of them anyway as most games you play once and then you're done.
So that whole "you lose access if Steam closes shop" argument really has drastically less weight than some people seem to think. Technically true, but I wouldn't care (with some exceptions, and those exceptions I could back up quickly if it ever became a threat).
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KungFucius
King Snowflake
It's just so much more convenient. With Switch 2 we have a case that holds 5 games so only 6 carts can travel with the system easily. On PS5 the physical games I bought are scattered in draws and cabinets. For digital they can be played immediately if installed. For physical the experience depends on platform as much of the Switch game resides on the cart and PS5 installs it all, often from multiple disks.
I really wish we had something like MS proposed with the xbone only better. Transfer the license from disk to account, but also let me transfer it back to the disk. For carts you could probably design an electronic indicator that tells you if the license lives with the cart. For disks there probably isn't much you could do beyond showing the disk ID and some online system that says whether the license is associated with it or not. Being able to buy and sell used while getting all the benefits of digital would be great. Being able to install a disk game on a system without a disk drive would be great. Consumer friendly shit instead of closed stores, expensive disk drives and no resale of digital games is not great.
poodaddy
Member
The irony.
ValiantInstance
Member
There are these magical things called bookshelves.
Aurelius
Member
I'm not too keen on physical media (just takes up too much room). Only exception are Switch 1 games for the kids. I do want to become less dependant on streaming services so I am slowly making a curated collection of classic older games (roms), mp3's and movies on an external HD. Quality over quantity.
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I'm trying to reproduce a classical console experience as much as possible and that includes physical media of course. Part of it might be nostalgic, my "collectors ocd" and part of it is just practical: the internet connection here is utterly slow, to download a recent game with..lets say 50gb I'd literally would have to wait a day or so, installing from disc is much more convenient for me. My consoles are offline and I utilize doesitplay.org a lot, a community effort that tests disc/module builds and checks if you can play them offline. There are some unfortunate cases like Doom: The Dark Ages which had a disc with pretty much nothing on it but at the end of the day I have more than enough to play and it works fine for me.
Some might think this hermit style is a bit over the top but I found it to be the most enjoyable experience actually, at least for me.
I understand the convenience of digital games of course and understand that the vast majority prefers it but I just hope that down the line we will still have both options.
I hear the space argument a lot and I kinda get it but when I look at other people, they dropped physical media for games, movies and so on completely, but they have so much other shit flying around, I'd say I can put my couple of hundred games easily in a couple of boxes and be done with it, much more sane than garages or closets full of crap.
Some might think this hermit style is a bit over the top but I found it to be the most enjoyable experience actually, at least for me.
I understand the convenience of digital games of course and understand that the vast majority prefers it but I just hope that down the line we will still have both options.
I hear the space argument a lot and I kinda get it but when I look at other people, they dropped physical media for games, movies and so on completely, but they have so much other shit flying around, I'd say I can put my couple of hundred games easily in a couple of boxes and be done with it, much more sane than garages or closets full of crap.
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