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10:34 am
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February 12, 2013
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Which do you guys prefer; physical copies or digital copies of games?
I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the massive eBay collection (going for around $500,000). Everytime I see a collection like that go up for sale, I wonder; will that be me someday?
For these reasons, I find myself wary of building up too big a physical collection. It’s great to have the original games, but there’s is definitely a point where it can become too much. I think I’m pretty much at that point.
On the other hand, digital games (virtual console games, compilations, steam games, etc.) offer the same experience without the clutter. There’s something to be said for that as well.
To me, a happy medium is the “compilation” disc (or cart). One of my favourite games is Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection. 40+ games (many great ones) for $20 seems like a fair price and a great trade-off between having a physical and digital collection. I wish Nintendo would offer similar compilations (at comparable prices)
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
10:42 am
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August 21, 2012
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Since most digital games have DRM of sorts (except games sold on GOG and a few other sites), I pretty much prefer physical games at the moment.
Check out my deviantart! - http://marktheshark274.deviantart.com/
10:48 am
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February 12, 2013
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marktheshark said
Since most digital games have DRM of sorts (except games sold on GOG and a few other sites), I pretty much prefer physical games at the moment.
Good point. It really sucks that Nintendo is making folks rebuy their VC games from the Wii to the Wii-U.
I keep coming back to “compilation” games as a happy medium between being space-efficient while still being in your physical control.
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
10:58 am
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May 23, 2012
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Your blasting some great topics off that’s for sure 
I’ve had this discussion with a friend before. To make it short my view is that I’m a bit of a dinosaur in terms of gaming despite still being in my 20’s. I grew up in an age of physical copies and prefer that style and everything that came with it. I’m not opposed to digital media, far from it. But in terms of gaming I have long ceased to be a cash cow to these gaming companies. After the Gamecube era I went retro and haven’t looked back with any regret, I just buy old games at this point in my life. I dislike the practice of the DLC scene such as certain content being missing, excessive costs etc. I’m sure you know what I mean, but I’m just one person that’s set in my ways. A lot of people don’t think twice about it, especially the upcoming generation that might never have to purchase a physical copy of a game. If I feel the urge to go modern again no doubt I will but at the minute I’m having great fun with the 16-bits.
The market for physical gaming media is certainly very high right now. Someone once said to me a couple of years ago that prices have peaked for SNES games… well they are rising still. Do I think It will bottom out? Perhaps but only when physical copies are no longer desirable and that could be many, many years from now. You have to remember that in industry terms the gaming market is still young so it’s almost impossible to say whether physical games are gonna be worth X amount in the future. Speculation and hindsight… Can anyone predict what will happen.
11:57 am
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February 12, 2013
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physical games, you never know what could happen with a digital copy. I’ve read articles of people losing all of their digital copies, easily 500 dollars worth of content and not getting it refunded. that sounds like a complete nightmare to me.
12:06 pm
February 12, 2013
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I personally prefer physical copies of my games, as well as books, movies, and music. It’s probably nostalgia, but I don’t care. It’s just as legitimate of a reason as any other.
Currently looking for the following SNES games:
Chrono Trigger
EarthBound
Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV)
Secret of Mana
Illusion of Gaia
Super Castlevania IV
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
TMNT IV
Contra III
12:10 pm
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May 23, 2012
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^ I wonder if physical copies of books will become hightly-prized possessions.
Just thought of that scene from Water World where that crazy guy tries to bargain ~ “Paper!, Paper!”
12:34 pm
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February 12, 2013
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Interesting points all around.
What would it take for you physical guys to become digital guys? DRM-free games? Unlimited re-downloads in the case of lost files, etc?
Another big pro for the digital side of things is availability. Anyone can download Chrono Trigger, but it’s next to impossible to find a SNES copy in the wild.
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
1:03 pm
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February 12, 2013
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I wouldn’t say it’s next to impossible to find a copy of chrono trigger. dedicated retro stores make it a lot easier to find these games. the whole issue with direct download is even if they do offer unlimited re downloads, that could be an issue with the system itself such as things being tied to 1 console like the Wii U.
1:23 pm
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February 12, 2013
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Perhaps next to impossible is the wrong way of phrasing things. I meant next to impossible to find it at a reasonable price. Though to be fair, the rereleases have reduced the price of the physical copies somewhat.
I imagine a virtual console rerelease of Earthbound would have a similar impact.
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
4:05 pm
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February 12, 2013
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at my local retro game store Chrono Trigger is listed at 55 dollars. I am Not sure if that is a great price, but I would hope that a release of Earthbound somewhere else would lower its price significantly.
4:09 pm
February 12, 2013
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I don’t think I’ll be converted to being a mostly digital copy gamer anytime soon. I got NSMB2 for the 3DS via digital download. I like the tactile pleasure of seeing the boxed artwork and paper booklet. Again, it’s just something from my past.
Currently looking for the following SNES games:
Chrono Trigger
EarthBound
Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV)
Secret of Mana
Illusion of Gaia
Super Castlevania IV
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
TMNT IV
Contra III
4:21 pm
Site Veteran
February 12, 2013
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The manuals are usually good to look through in the bathroom, let’s be honest here. That’s the main reason I love physical 
5:36 pm
February 12, 2013
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That’s so true. I don’t have a smartphone and my parents cancelled our newspaper subscription.
Currently looking for the following SNES games:
Chrono Trigger
EarthBound
Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV)
Secret of Mana
Illusion of Gaia
Super Castlevania IV
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
TMNT IV
Contra III
5:49 pm
Site Veteran
February 12, 2013
Offline
Bummer! I do tend to use my smart phone a lot when reading about games.. No newspaper either? Yikes!
6:18 pm
February 12, 2013
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I practically live like a caveman. We just got rid of dial-up internet five weeks ago.
Currently looking for the following SNES games:
Chrono Trigger
EarthBound
Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV)
Secret of Mana
Illusion of Gaia
Super Castlevania IV
Super Mario RPG
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
Zombies Ate My Neighbors
TMNT IV
Contra III
12:11 am
Site Contributor
Site Contributor
February 12, 2013
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I hope that was on a 56K Dreamcast modem!
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
12:12 am
Site Contributor
Site Contributor
February 12, 2013
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t3tr1s said
at my local retro game store Chrono Trigger is listed at 55 dollars. I am Not sure if that is a great price, but I would hope that a release of Earthbound somewhere else would lower its price significantly.
I think Earthbound is a bit more scarce then CT and it would likely only get a Virtual Console rerelease (unlike Chrono Trigger which has been ported everywhere).
I bet a VC release would drop the price to around the $100 range, but what do I know?
Now playing: SNES - Phalanx, R-Type III, Genesis - Bio Hazard Battle, PS3 - Dragon's Crown
10:44 am
Site Veteran
February 12, 2013
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Earthbound really isn’t a rare game. There are usually around 40 to 50 listings on Ebay alone. The demand for whatever reason has gone so far up, and the worst part is, people keep buying it. Sellers keep jacking the price up and people just keep on buying it thinking its a rare game. If you look up a rarity guide its a kettle above average if I remember correctly. There were plenty of copies sold in north America alone!
11:41 am
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May 23, 2012
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So true, Earthbound is not a rare game, though not a huge number were released. It seems to of acquired a massive following though and so prices are artificially increased you might think, but these are what people are paying for it. Hey, if you got the cash then you can get it I suppose. I don’t have the funds to be purchasing Earthbound at this point in time – priorities suck.
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