Is physical media important to you?

[Dyne]

Physical isn't important to me, but actual ownership is.
This is why I always prefer owning ROMs and I'll use GOG over Steam when possible.
I also always get a game on PC over console when possible because of this.

But for game consoles I do tend to just buy them digitally.
I don't have the physical space to collect them all physically, plus it doesn't always make sense financially. I figure that eventually I will end up owning ROMs of all those games years from now when emulation catches up to current systems, anyway.

 

[DragonMals]

I know I am a person that gets games through other means nowadays, but what's stopping me from grabbing a physical of a game that I like? Not too long ago, I went to a Retro gaming convention, and I was on the lookout for the original Gradius cartridge to keep it as a shelf in my room. Couldn't find it, but having physicals for me to not only play but be reminded of me having is something that i always wished to do.

 

[ZEGA ZONIC]

Yeah, I still have some PS3 games. Once I get a PS3 again, I'll put them to good use.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Depends;

All my pc games are cracked, but nothing quite beats the old big boxes or a good manual when it comes to the cool factor...

Still, especially if you dont live in the us or japan, 9 times out of 10 you will get the best version of a game if you buy a copied cd and a modded console or you emulate it

As for music, I do like vinyl cds and cassettes (especially when cds went the extra mile and had cool extras in the cd case)

But Id never say no to having a fuckton of albums on my psvita and phone in flac quality and they're mine forever

For books and comic books Nothing beats paper, even on the best tablet, it cant hold a candle to actually holding it in your hand and reading throught it; ESPECIALLY comics
Cbr/z files are more for sampling or comics I cant afford

As for handhelds, everdrive/internal storage all the way (but still, manuals from the game boy to the ds are so nice..)

 

[Tonberry]

For books and comic books Nothing beats paper, even on the best tablet, it cant hold a candle to actually holding it in your hand and reading throught it; ESPECIALLY comics

Hard agree. Reading digital comics makes it feel like a chore most of the time.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Hard agree. Reading digital comics makes it feel like a chore most of the time.

Remember when the pspgo let you read digital comics? You can still do it if you mod it, its slow as hell

I grew up reading comics from the 70s to the 00s, and theres a certain feel paper from that time has I love, it feels different now, both in japanese and western comics (same for books)

I do also love how many creative ways of storing shit people came up with

 

[Tonberry]

Remember when the pspgo let you read digital comics? You can still do it if you mod it, its slow as hell

I grew up reading comics from the 70s to the 00s, and theres a certain feel paper from that time has I love, it feels different now, both in japanese and western comics (same for books)

I do also love how many creative ways of storing shit people came up with

Holy shit thanks for reminding me of this dude's channel, I used to watch him alot but totally forgot about him.

 

[Lee__Kanker]

Holy shit thanks for reminding me of this dude's channel, I used to watch him alot but totally forgot about him.

He still uploads, as high quality as ever
I apso recommend techmoan if you havent already watched him

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

As for music, I do like vinyl cds and cassettes (especially when cds went the extra mile and had cool extras in the cd case)

I have a copy of the Pokemon soundtrack from like 1999-2000 or whenever it came out. Has a fold out poster with the lyrics to the Pokerap on the back

Hard agree. Reading digital comics makes it feel like a chore most of the time.

I definitely feel that. It's a shame there isn't a more convenient way to read new comic books & manga physically.
I do buy physical copies of the ones I'm really interested in when I can, but digital is usually how I check new ones out for the first time.

 

[Zerpina]

Is physical media important to me? Ehhh... not so much, no real reason. I don't mind digital copies or anything.

<Whistles, hoists the colors>

 

[MajesticSiN]

Is physical media important to me? Ehhh... not so much, no real reason. I don't mind digital copies or anything.

<Whistles, hoists the colors>
View attachment 113416

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Is physical media important to me? Ehhh... not so much, no real reason. I don't mind digital copies or anything.

<Whistles, hoists the colors>
View attachment 113416

Aye, cap'n!

 

[Turbo Kid]

I used to be a casual comic book collector. Stuff like Fables, Buffy, Batman and various Marvel/DC stuff, but comic books pile up so fast and then you have long boxes everywhere that are really heavy to carry around. I just can't do it anymore. And I need to leave space for other physical things that I care about more like video games. If I want to read anything now I go digital. Honestly, the best part about buying comics was chatting with the people in the store. That's what I miss

 

[Livekraft]

It used to be, but over the years, I've given my collection as gifts to my nephews and the sons of my friends. Nowadays, I focus on hardware.

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Honestly, the best part about buying comics was chatting with the people in the store. That's what I miss

There's never been any sort of dedicated comic book shop where I'm from, so all my physical comic books were purchased online. I've not really had that experience, but I can see how it would have an impact like that

 

[GardeniaSky's icon GardeniaSky GardeniaSky]

Not as much anymore. I've been priced out of ever having a good retro collection. I'm happy emulating and tracking with RetroAchievements.

 

[Another Iori]

The digital is the easiest path in the short term (reactive method), but it is a total failure in the medium and long term (proactive thinking).

Initially the consumer is attracted by the fact that the digital price costs less and the physical one costs more, but the digital price in some cases seems to be made by Nintendo's accountants, because it never goes down or decreases by very little (even if it's a rather old title), meanwhile the physical version starts with a bigger peak, but then it also has a bubble burst where the title becomes quite accessible compared to the start of its commercialization.

The physical also wins for the simple fact that the copy is effectively your property and not a long-term rental, where Steam states that when the consumer dies they legally cannot leave anything to any of their family or friends, with a real copy you can make a gift to whomever you want and in case of need or lack of interest, you can also resell it to get a small sum, an equal amount or even encounter a lucky investment.

I then have a weakness for physical, because beyond the well-made cases and manuals, I am quite 'gluttonous' for the illustration books or the interviews released solely as exclusives for the physical version (even some toys can be great reminders of what you've lived through virtually).

Physical then also wins on the question of preserving the game as it was originally commercialized.

Today's political parties are all a big pile of shit that pushes blindly in a single direction, but as a consumer I don't give a fuck about the corporate fears, about not wanting to invest in renewing licenses or in the personal feelings of haters, who don't actually buy the title.

I just want to use my shit in its complete form.

I'm investing a sum of non-renewable money and I'm not doing you a favor for a product damaged by stupidity, laziness or the morality that is in fashion in that specific historical period and then abandoned in the next one.