Xbox 720 vs Used Games: Microsoft Asks Gamers If They Prefer Physical Copies or Digital Downloads

GR - "Prepping to announce the next Xbox at E3 this year, Microsoft has put up a poll on its official Facebook page to garner the reactions of gamers about their purchasing habits."

[Nyxus]

I will always prefer physical.

[Relientk77]

Right with ya on that one

[blackbeld]

Yep, for example if I own a lot of great games digital and I finished it. So now I want to sell it cause i don't play those games anymore.

The question is how I gonna sell it? With physical I can sell but digital it's not possible unless I sell my account and that is crazy.

.

[Welshy]

I like to actually OWN something.

Despite it literally being the same thing, the fact i can stick the game on a shelf and play whenever i want is a freedom i don't feel with digital distribution.

I don't like just having a file sitting on my hard drive for £40 that is subject to 3rd party rules and DRM.

I get that a console itself is technically DRM, but i can take FIFA to a mates house for a few beers and a tourny, i can't do that with a file on an HDD and i'll always buy physical so long as it's available.

[Scenarist]

not only that.. but when the next system comes out i want to be SURE i can play my old games on it... unlike the wii u (atm)

[dasbeer88]

It's amazing that for the first time in history, Microsoft asks gamers for their opinion and advice.

[blackbeld]

@Above

Really amazing! This is Breaking News!

Not only gamers but overall. They ignore with even windows 8 metro style. And now they ask opinion from gamers? How come?

Maybe they are really desperate this time.

[Campy da Camper]

What they might not be saying is that future physical copies could be system locked. Just because they offer discs doesn't mean they dont get rid of playing used copies. I'm not dissing them but it is a possibility.

[mananimal]

@dasbeer88

There not really asking, but getting a feel for how much work they & others still need to do to convince the masses to buy into "Digital Distrubution" imo.

[adorie]

Seems like there was some kind of truth to the rumor that Microsoft wanted to go with digital only-games. For them to be asking "gamers" their opinions about this matter seems really positive to me. They still care...

[extermin8or]

Assuming they listen ofc

[delboy]

It's a trick question, think about it.

[OhMyGandhi]

I like something I can actually hold, something tactile. I suppose (in a more dramaticcontext)it's like knowing that you have cash stuffed in a mattress instead of a bank account, there is that degree of safety in knowing that it's there, and cannot be taken away.

[omi25p]

I love having a collection of games.

[deSSy2724]

Me too on consoles, but on PC i prefer Steam because of very good "Steam deals".

[morkendo23]

I like to own my "PHYSICAL" games.
compare to non-physical data.

[Relientk77]

There is nothing like a physical copy, the disc, box, and instructions. I go for complete copies and always have ever since my first video games.

There is no value in a digital copy, my complete retail copies of old games are worth way more than a digital copy will ever be.

[NeverEnding1989]

I used to say the same things about music. Now I buy 90% of my music digitally. I haven't seen the latest CD sales, but I'm assuming they're continuing to fall while digital is continuing to rise.

Like it or not, I'm betting within 10 years most gaming will be done digitally. You should still be able to buy your physical copy, but the industry will change. Publishers will soon be counting more on digital sales than physical sales, etc.

[sway_z]

Sadly it is more probable than not...but now is not that time ;/

[extermin8or]

No music is such a small file size, whereas games are so much larger and although compression techniques improve every generation, at the start of a new generation the file sizes tend to be massive....

[TheSaint]

That's different, you can't play Xbox 360 on the move.

[fermcr]

If Microsoft goes only digital and no used copies... buy buy Microsoft, you can keep your console.

[Gazondaily]

Bye bye*

I doubt they'll go all digital. This poll should have made it clear to them even if they didn't know already.

[inFAMOUS_KRATOS]

i agree digital is almost a cheat, because you really don't own it.

[ACEMANWISE]

Physical copies that aren't controlled.

[IAMERROR]

Shouldn't you be focusing on PS3 news? bwahahaha
I miss gamepro :(

[ACEMANWISE]

PS3 news thread died last month. I'm searching for a new, and active forum to post news and videos.

P.S. List 3 AAA 360 exclusive titles released this year :)

[IAMERROR]

Released? or going to be released? well... ummmmm GOW:J? I'll admit you win this time Acey *shakes fist angrily in the air* I will get you next time!

[Ripsta7th]

@ACEMANWISE why the hell would MS release 3 AAA exclusives when they are about to release their new console? clearly MS has all their studios focusing new hardware

[ACEMANWISE]

The PS3 is still getting excellent releases this year. The PS4 is well into development.

[GameGuy]

Physical copies and the ability to make copies of my physical copies.

[tigertron]

Physical copies are superior.

[PhantomTommy]

Both have merits but I'm certainly not ready for an all digital system yet. Internet speeds are still tragically low here in Ireland and I'm sure it's the same story in many other countries.

[BLAKHOODe]

I don't mind having digital copies of my absolute FAVORITE games.. games that I never ever want to get rid of. But everything else, it's nice to have the CHOICE to get rid of, loan it out, trade it, sell it, whatever.

[aquamala]

I have some 350 games on Steam, if they are physical copies I don't even know where I would have space to store them all lol

[tehpees3]

There are still consumers who prefer hard copies. I do.

[sway_z]

For the love of gaming please choose retail option, and thanks for asking MS ;)

[thebudgetgamer]

Olivia Newton John said it best
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[landog]

it depends, will they be $30 or less for day one, AAA games, cause if you expect me to fork out $50-$65 for a game, it damn well better have a nice case, manual and some cool art on that cover

the only way i buy digital is if its an awesome deal, hence my 300+ steam games, console digital sales are a joke, i think halo reach is still $40 on the ms store, gimme a break...i vcan grab it new/physical off amazon for $15-20

prices on games need to be way cheaper...thats why pc/apple are killing consoles in revenue

[BLAKHOODe]

Keep in mind that it is Microsoft. They like to over-charge for EVERYTHING. We don't want to see Bill Gates on welfare.

[grassyknoll]

There's no need to choose, people should/do have access to both! It's a non argument. It's DRM which is the real issue.

[Plagasx]

For PC games, Digital, for console games, physical.

[Many-hat5]

I'm with you guys, it's gotta be physical. Physical is for life, not just for the life of the console. I love going through my back catalogue of old games from yesteryear,pluging in an old ninnty cartridge or maybe playing a PS1 game.What would happen to digital downloads once the console becomes defunct. I can't image console manufactures keeping servers available for twenty or thirty years so you can download purchased games again? Even just looking through the artwork that comes with the physical media can be an experience. But hey, I'm an oldie maybe I'm just missing the point.

[SkyGamer]

BOTH! It is nice to have everything on a hdd and not having a disc to load.

[KillrateOmega]

While it's obviously not the majority-supported opinion, I would actually be quite fine with digital downloads. I can understand the novelty of being able to hold your game in your hands or put it on a shelf for display, but that's not really important to me.

With a digital download there is no need to get up and manually switch out discs (Faster start-up) or worry about them being scratched or misplaced. They're safely located on your drive. It's just more efficient.

Within the next decade, gaming will have likely moved to digital downloads. It's cheaper for the companies producing them. Similar trends can be seen in the music, movie, and book industries.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

The no used games rumor was all black PR and MS is not going to block used games.

And the timing of this story and certain Wiii u related rumors comes just as another fierce rival is about to make a major announcement in the coming weeks. It also comes just as that same rival reveals some very bad financial news. A story that proves that rival is not on track for a comeback as everyone hoped.

[OcelotRigz]

Well i always loved the simple experience of getting up early on a certain games release date, head into town, buy the game, head home, opening the plastic wrapping, checking out the game box and having a glance at the manual and then finally popping in the game. Its such a straightforward procedure but its just a habit i grew to like, like a small tradition. Im also a hoarder and have a huge collection of PS3 games, could never trade in games.

Then again, i also got a gaming PC before Christmas and went the digital route with Steam. Im delighted with the convenience of it all and have no complaints.
But still, i think its way too soon to forget about retail and it would be ridiculous to do away with it. At the end of the day not everyone has fast internet speeds, hell there's still gamers out there who are old fashioned and just buy a game and pop it in and who just dont know and/or care about the digital aspect.

When i get the PS4 im still going the retail route, because its a tradition for me that i like and plus i like having a physical collection of games like i do with my PS3.

So Retail.

[yewles1]

They just saved their asses at the last minute.

[Evil_Ryu]

Why do i have to choose one? why cant we have both?

[Dms2012]

The value of a digital only game seems somewhat diminished to me, but I don't mind downloading an older game. Just got Dead Space 1 and 2 from Steam.

[Shani]

Someone fix the link.

[Tzuno]

Physical any day. Digital means selling the game close to 60$ and reducing the costs for them while they still winning big money for them and you get the rent feeling, with the physical copy you do what you want. Digital is worse like blocked used games is the same s..t. Don't embrace the idea people chose PHYSICAL. what collection of games you show to your friends? you plug in your console to show them? :)