Would you go back to physical media if the format moved away from discs?

Would you go back to physical media if the format moved away from discs?

  • Yes - Physical still has a place

    Votes: 51 62.2%

  • No - Not going back

    Votes: 31 37.8%
  • Total voters
    82
bitbydeath

bitbydeath

Gold Member
I moved away from physical games/movies because discs are simply too fragile.

If we got something new, that could:
-read as fast/faster than an SSD;
-was not prone to breaking and;
-was easily inserted.

I know I would be tempted to go back, would you?
 
When I was young I dream that physical media will someday use a mini disc. But it did not happen. Mini disc is convenient, cool and very portable. Sadly it was discontinued .
 
I actually like (self-contained) cartridges. Those Nintendo game-key cards can fuck right off though.

If producing them were as cheap/cheaper than discs, I would definitely fill up my collection with them. I'm not gonna pay a $10-20 premium fee to get them, though.
 
Would need to be multi port. eg: have two or more cards installed simultaneously. Thats the biggest pain point for me, having to swap discs when I'm playing a few games over the same time period. First world problem I know, but irritating nonetheless, especially if you remote play.
 
Only way I will use physical media is with DRM free games that I can load in a hard drive.

Not dealing with stacks of games. Dont have space for that.
 
I've moved away from physical games in current-gen games because they are largely now dependent on servers to download additional data day one, on top of patches down the line that fix core problems. Other than resale and the pretty box, I don't get much value out of them when the server can be turned off. PC digital games have already outlasted Wii Virtual console games, and some games can be found DRM-Free, so I prefer that.

Physical movies/tv...complete opposite. Streaming services have risen in costs, licenses mean content will drop off them, some shows get censored (Ex. Always Sunny in Philadelphia), I can see ad-free options fading, etc. 1080p Blu-rays look better or just as good as 4k streaming (minus HDR), and can be found for dirt cheap along with DVDs. I just wait for them to drop, rip them to a digital file, and self-host on my Jellyfin server for my personal Netflix I can remote into whenever I want.
 
It's a very strange thing to think about when I primary game on Steam. For one, games require constant updates, so the idea of having a physical version without those optimized patches would bring us back to the Vampires: TMB scenario where the community has to issue a non official fix. It wouldn't be that issue had Steam became the standard then.
 
Last edited:
I buy 4k movies on Blu-ray because the Bitrate is like 10 times higher than shitty netflix.

If you really like movies, its impossible to not like physical. Netflix 4k is so bad in comparison it should count as false advertisement.
 
I've been all digital (with very few exceptions) for all of my media for several years now, and I love it.

I don't think I'd ever want to go back to physical media.
 
I prefer the GOG way. Simply download yr game and than you can put it on any physical media you like.
 
I can't go back because I never left it. Weird that there isn't an option for that in the poll.
weird-snow-white.gif
 
Im just saying guys, thats pcie 4.0 x4, so nothing crazy fast but very good and cheap af(ps5 ssd is rated at 5,5 MB/s, this one is 4,7-4,8 MB/s so almost as good), 1TB of disc space at 53$, could fit perfectly 5-10 modern games as a collection
For most casuals such 1 drive filled with games would last half a year to a year of gaming time, bonus thing- u could use it hundreds of times too :)
Imagine we could legally do downloads of games/games bundless at stores instead(its basically modern day reneveable cartridge).
 
Nope, they take up too much room.
Just like other physical media.

I do understand how some people really like physical, It's just not for me.
 
CliffBronger said:
Nope, they take up too much room.
Just like other physical media.

I do understand how some people really like physical, It's just not for me.
Click to expand...

I echo this sentiment. I've probably got about 1500 games between platforms, where the hell would I put physical copies? I'd essentially have to double my living space.

I understand how some people like having a collection of physical copies. They want to see it, touch it, they want to play on original hardware and have crt setups. I get it, I do, but it ain't for me.
Emulators and emulation mean that I can access almost any title instantly. Select various visual filters, adjust controls to my liking, and have stuff like save states and rewind. I'm 150% happier with this stuff than original games/hardware.
 
Modern bluray discs can withstand quite a lot, I still remember being super worried about how easy it was to scratch a CD or even DVD (even a laser could do that, not because you were clumsy). They're also extremely cheap to make. I don't see a good alternative, a small pendrive-like device would be more expensive and that would speed up the process of physical games becoming rare and expensive collectors items.
 
Last edited:
No, though I couldn't rule out ever going back to physical, I've become way too accustomed to the convenience of digital to go back now.

I do agree, that there are valid reasons for a physical option atm. And DRM is a big issue that needs to favour the consumer imo.
But it also wouldn't bother me if some of my favorurite games of the past got 'delisted' in the future.

It sucks, but I've got infinitely more important things to worry about than being able to play through Witcher 3 for the 10th time. Same with films/music.
 
I am divided on the matter. I do really think that cartridges are cool as fuck. That's why I buy my Switch games physically. However, the physical game is just the cartridge in a plastic box. Back in "my days", a game came in a big box (PC), with a manual that had lore and other cool stuff written in it. Maybe a map was also in the box or some other trinket. And of course the discs. The box itself was also designed with more care. I was already having fun with the game on the backseat of my Mom's car while looking at the box, the manual and whatever else was in the box. Nowadays, you are lucky if the inside of the box art sleeve has some artwork and isn't just white (Nintendo do this quite often with their first-party stuff).
 
Last edited:
I'm not a fan of delayed gratification and clutter, so will never be going back to physical. Swapping discs/cartridges was such a pain in the arse and getting new releases at midnight without leaving your sofa is neat.

The only good thing about physical were the interesting, giant PC boxes and the manuals - but neither of those are coming back whatever happens - it will be generic DVD cases and tiny little plastic cartridges with no manual.
 
bitbydeath said:
I moved away from physical games/movies because discs are simply too fragile.

If we got something new, that could:
-read as fast/faster than an SSD;
-was not prone to breaking and;
-was easily inserted.

I know I would be tempted to go back, would you?
Click to expand...
Physical Media = Permanent contracts with continuous paychecks
 
PeteBull said:
Im just saying guys, thats pcie 4.0 x4, so nothing crazy fast but very good and cheap af(ps5 ssd is rated at 5,5 MB/s, this one is 4,7-4,8 MB/s so almost as good), 1TB of disc space at 53$, could fit perfectly 5-10 modern games as a collection
For most casuals such 1 drive filled with games would last half a year to a year of gaming time, bonus thing- u could use it hundreds of times too :)
Imagine we could legally do downloads of games/games bundless at stores instead(its basically modern day reneveable cartridge).
Click to expand...
You can make your own with GoG installers!

Edit: And for movies/TV shows I do try to get Blu-Rays (preferably 4K) and DVDs. You have to watch it as some studios released crap quality media that can have disk rot.
 
Last edited:
Buy and prefer physical as it is.

Especially movies. Disc is so much better than streamed, even just regular blu-ray.
 
Last edited:
I probably wouldn't. I don't collect games anymore and I don't want the clutter that comes with physical media. Trying to trade or sell them when I'm finished with them isn't worth expending the effort. Digital is simply more convenient for me.
 
bitbydeath said:
I moved away from physical games/movies because discs are simply too fragile.

If we got something new, that could:
-read as fast/faster than an SSD;
-was not prone to breaking and;
-was easily inserted.

I know I would be tempted to go back, would you?
Click to expand...
I moved away from disc as well, but the Switch has been a nice console to have a physical collection. I don't need every game as physical, but I like to pick a few collectors on my Switch.

So I feel like the solution already exists ? Do you have a Switch OP ?

Otherwise movies, music, series : all physical. DVDs, CDs and Blurays. Can't fucking stand having to depend on internet and going through advertisements.
 
Last edited:
cireza said:
So I feel like the solution already exists ? Do you have a Switch OP ?
Click to expand...
I do.
The solution isn't good enough for AAA games however.

As for movies/TV, there is no reason we couldn't get new tech that allowed for entire series of shows/movies in full 4K on a small chip/stick.
 
Last edited:
I think USB key could do the job today. It's cheap, easy to make and they make a lot. It would come with a box and a manual.

And yes, I would like to have some box of some of my great game.
 
Last edited:
I buy 4k blu rays but don't buy physical games anymore, there's nowhere to trade in games anymore other than CEX which gives you fuck all. And I can't be bothered with eBay/Facebook marketplace.
 
Would love to but in my country digital is better.. in the last two decades I had to import many games and it was hell, digital saved me much trouble and wasted money on shipping, import tax and lost packages.
 
The entire value of physical media to me personally was monetary. In the PS360 era and before, I needed to buy games cheap, be able to trade and borrow with friends, and then trade them in at a used game shop. I didn't have a lot of money so I needed to be as efficient as possible.

By 2010 (I was 30) and finally making enough money that I could afford to spend more. Seeing the digital sales on Steam made it clear that it would be as cheap or even cheaper to just buy digital on sale and not have to spend any time driving to B&M retail. Once I built a PC, traded in all my consoles and games for Steam gift cards, and got into that ecosystem, it was all so much more convenient.

I was never a collector and I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to owning things. I don't decorate at all, so no collectibles. I just have no need for physical games.

Being able to open an app and tap a few buttons, then my game is ready to play within an hour is maximum convenience. Getting games cheap enough that I don't need to sell them to recoup costs is great because I like to go back and replay older games.
 
rm082e said:
I was never a collector and I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to owning things. I don't decorate at all, so no collectibles. I just have no need for physical games.
Click to expand...
I learned 20 years ago that all this stuff piling up eventually loses its meaning. Worked at a game store part time and saw multiple people with fantastic collections dump them. They almost looked relieved. People with good taste, some imports, some rare stuff. It becomes fairly unwieldy pretty fast. You're not really able to hook up most of your systems. You're not able to easily browse your library. A lot of stuff in perfect condition doesn't work. Your house or apartment is filling up, making your house look like a Blockbuster video from a bygone era. Even the top physical collectors we have on this site, eventually they will hit that point where they suddenly offload it all, and it will feel like a weight lifting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Xbox reportedly moving away from Physical Media
Rumor Platform  2 3 4 5 6
267
3K
Signalis replied
MMO fans, would you buy the move master?
20
374
March Climber replied
Do you think third party developers will ever go back
21
167
DonkeyPunchJr replied
An update from the founders Of Splitgate 2 Its going back to beta
33
431
kevboard replied
Sony Senior Vice President: We are moving away from a hardware centric business model
23
373
MisterXDTV replied
Top Bottom