Buying games online, good or bad?

Paratech · November 26th, 2004, 04:09

I guess I'm starting to sound like an old fart, because I like my games on a medium, whether it be CD or DVD. The idea of buying a game online, downloading it to a PC, and not having an archive, in case of a virus or hard drive crash, is scary...

I like to play my games for years. I keep games I like, trade/give away ones I don't, so the idea of having no hardcopy of a game, just doesn't appeal to me...

I also don't like being forced to register a product. I don't think I should have to 'prove' I own a product I bought before I can use it, and then, when the company decides, I won't be able to use the product anymore because it won't be registered when I upgrade or need to reinstall it in the future...

I also like buying used games *I'm cheap, no apologies, it's just what I am* and I don't like the fact that some games that require registration can't be purchased used...

So I was wondering what the appeal to downloading games from companies is, or having to register games before playing them is, because, I for one, don't get it... :cuss2:

**Razor Blade** · November 26th, 2004, 04:53

Well I guess I like to buy hard copies as well. You just feel safer that way. This whole new wave of having to register things does piss me off as well. It's bad enough that games are so large it takes 20 minutes jus to install them

Let alone taking 10 minutes through their complicated registration papers and "activation" sites ...

If it comes to having to download games, I think that would suck. I mean, so what? We are all gonna have to buy DVD burners with the huge size game files that games are today? (I mean I have one already) But what about everyone else? And people that can't afford high speed internet? What about them!?

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**DarkAurora** · November 26th, 2004, 04:56

Yeah, my computer can play all the latest games but what's the point if I can't buy them because I don't have broadband internet!

KanedA · November 26th, 2004, 07:52

and what about backing up all possible data? even registry?

I'm sure there's a way to back it all up

and if there will occure a need you will just load that data back

__________________

D.D. · November 26th, 2004, 07:59

i believe u wud have to be very, very skilled ( a la emporio, but we dont know whot they are now do we

) ...otherwise u'd just be ghosting the entire drive :P

__________________

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KanedA · November 26th, 2004, 08:03

even if I had to... I'd do it if it's worth

__________________

Kaiser Sigma · November 26th, 2004, 11:06

Digital mean of commerce sucks... I'm a purist, I can't live without the fancy box, the pretty painted cd/s and the manuals...

**Ryos** · November 26th, 2004, 12:17

I don't mind doing online ordering, but ordering something and downloading it seems kind of strange to me. I like having tangible evidence of the game, especially since there's usually art in the manuals. If it's cheaper, I'd think about it, but usually they cost the same thing.

As for registering...what a waste of time.

__________________
Sanity is overrated.

Toshiro · November 27th, 2004, 16:14

For online ordering for games that require d/l and registering, if they charged oh say $20 Canadian (should be around $10 - $15 USD) then I will consider doing the registering/activation and having full rights to download whenever I need to then yes If they charge the same prices as todays games there is no way I want to pay around $50USD for a game that has no media or anything tangible.

Also I am known as a COLLECTOR, and so hence I prefer anything in a Limited Edition + toys

Last edited by Toshiro; November 27th, 2004 at 16:26..

November 27th, 2004, 16:31

I got LFS...which is only available online, but I ordered a version with cd.
I like a real box you can hold much better too...

RF · November 27th, 2004, 18:39

Yeah I like to have my cases and cd's aswell. Its nice to show off your collection and its a solid proof of purchase

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Mr. Killjoy · November 28th, 2004, 00:49

Well, concerning HL2, the good part is that you have nothing to do but to wait till it's completely DLed through Steam, then you have autoupdates and some -badly done- features. The bad part, you must have broadband internet to get it, and I know some guys that are still on 56k. Backing up is easy, just burn all the Dled content to CDs/DVDs,
of course having a box still appreciated. But on HL2 the retail box contains only a DVD and a stupid card as a booklet, doh' .... looks like they found a way to make buy online ^^

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Modem1 · November 28th, 2004, 03:02

It's called "backup game files", hehe.

As for the subject. This is the only game I've bought online that I've had to download. The rest, I'll just purchase via Amazon.com or some other place and have it shipped.

- Modem

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N1ghtw0lf · November 28th, 2004, 03:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modem1

- Modem

Meh, all those games and you don't even have the only HL mod worth playing -_- *cough* NS *cough*

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RF · November 28th, 2004, 04:43

N1ghtw0lf: Check out The Forsaken Mod. Sounds pretty cool

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scottlc · November 28th, 2004, 10:02

I've bought download software online before, Activestate Komodo. Never bought download games before though.

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Mr. Killjoy · November 28th, 2004, 11:07

Nightwolf, NS is isn't an official mod but it's the 1st in the 3rd party games

Anyways, those 3 pasts months, it's become hard to find a decent NS servers, either they're full/empty, either they're filled with noobs/massive script users

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furbyhater · December 9th, 2004, 17:49

If I could download it, burn it on a cd, and then be able to reinstall from this cd alone (without requiring acces to the internet or some other kind of registration, as with most offline retail games), i would think about it (of course the price would have to be lowered, since the manufacturing & selling costs are near zero). But Half-Life 2 disgusts me. Even with the retail version, you have to register online in a way which disables trading/selling of the product, and doesnt guarantee permanent ability to use the product. I will never buy such a product.

Modem1 · December 9th, 2004, 19:39

Once you have it, you can back up the big big big files, then if you have to reinstall Steam, put them back in their original folders. I'd think the only thing you have to do is log into your account once if you have to reinstall Steam. They just want to make sure you have it legally. And I don't get it. If someone no longer wants the game, they can give it to a friend (for a price

) and just give them their steam account to log into. Then they can just change the password at their leasure. Or, if it's a password you commonly use, you can just change it then give it to them. It's not hard. You'd just have a tough time of doing it online.
- Modem

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Paratech · December 10th, 2004, 03:34

I think the point is you can't trade the game in at stores like Electronic Boutique...Once you buy the game you're stuck with it.
And since you have to download part of the game, if you're on dialup you might not be able to get the 'reast of the game.'
Then, once the company stops selling the game, you'll no longer be able to reinstall it. I still play games I bought 10 years ago, like DOOM '95' ... Do you think you'll be able to play Half Life 2 10 years from now? I doubt it!

November 26th, 2004, 04:09	#1
Paratech Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 8,011	Buying games online, good or bad? I guess I'm starting to sound like an old fart, because I like my games on a medium, whether it be CD or DVD. The idea of buying a game online, downloading it to a PC, and not having an archive, in case of a virus or hard drive crash, is scary... I like to play my games for years. I keep games I like, trade/give away ones I don't, so the idea of having no hardcopy of a game, just doesn't appeal to me... I also don't like being forced to register a product. I don't think I should have to 'prove' I own a product I bought before I can use it, and then, when the company decides, I won't be able to use the product anymore because it won't be registered when I upgrade or need to reinstall it in the future... I also like buying used games I'm cheap, no apologies, it's just what I am and I don't like the fact that some games that require registration can't be purchased used... So I was wondering what the appeal to downloading games from companies is, or having to register games before playing them is, because, I for one, don't get it... :cuss2:

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November 26th, 2004, 04:53	#2
Razor Blade Locked and Loaded Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I AM CANADIAN! Posts: 12,032	Well I guess I like to buy hard copies as well. You just feel safer that way. This whole new wave of having to register things does piss me off as well. It's bad enough that games are so large it takes 20 minutes jus to install them Let alone taking 10 minutes through their complicated registration papers and "activation" sites ... If it comes to having to download games, I think that would suck. I mean, so what? We are all gonna have to buy DVD burners with the huge size game files that games are today? (I mean I have one already) But what about everyone else? And people that can't afford high speed internet? What about them!? __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Core 2 Duo T7300 2.0 GHz ● NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS ● 2GB DDR2 RAM Hitachi 120GB HD ● Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive ● Windows Vista Home Premium ● Dell 2007WFP LCD ● Dell XPS M1330 Laptop ● 1TB Western Digital MyBook External HD ● Logitech Z10 Speakers ● PLAYSTATION 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November 26th, 2004, 04:56	#3
DarkAurora Back from the dead Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Seymour, TN Posts: 3,741	Yeah, my computer can play all the latest games but what's the point if I can't buy them because I don't have broadband internet!

November 26th, 2004, 07:52	#4
KanedA PS2 PAL[v9], PS3Slim PAL Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: PolanD Posts: 5,362	and what about backing up all possible data? even registry? I'm sure there's a way to back it all up and if there will occure a need you will just load that data back __________________

November 26th, 2004, 07:59	#5
D.D. band Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: HERE Posts: 4,912	i believe u wud have to be very, very skilled ( a la emporio, but we dont know whot they are now do we ) ...otherwise u'd just be ghosting the entire drive :P __________________ 1. Small, Cheap, Powerful - you can have only two 2. Everytime you engineer something foolproof, the world comes up with a better idiot. 3. 「学問とは虚栄である。」 The PS3 Cell Processor Explained Page, IBM Research's Introduction to Cell Multiprocessor and Cell Processor Programming Guide

November 26th, 2004, 08:03	#6
KanedA PS2 PAL[v9], PS3Slim PAL Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: PolanD Posts: 5,362	even if I had to... I'd do it if it's worth __________________

November 26th, 2004, 11:06	#7
Kaiser Sigma ~ Lord of Darkness ~ Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: A place darker than the night. Posts: 15,309	Digital mean of commerce sucks... I'm a purist, I can't live without the fancy box, the pretty painted cd/s and the manuals...

November 26th, 2004, 12:17	#8
Ryos Bearsona Join Date: May 2001 Location: Nowhere Posts: 11,307	I don't mind doing online ordering, but ordering something and downloading it seems kind of strange to me. I like having tangible evidence of the game, especially since there's usually art in the manuals. If it's cheaper, I'd think about it, but usually they cost the same thing. As for registering...what a waste of time. __________________ Sanity is overrated.

November 27th, 2004, 16:14	#9
Toshiro Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Small island in Japan Posts: 822	For online ordering for games that require d/l and registering, if they charged oh say $20 Canadian (should be around $10 - $15 USD) then I will consider doing the registering/activation and having full rights to download whenever I need to then yes If they charge the same prices as todays games there is no way I want to pay around $50USD for a game that has no media or anything tangible. Also I am known as a COLLECTOR, and so hence I prefer anything in a Limited Edition + toys Last edited by Toshiro; November 27th, 2004 at 16:26..

November 27th, 2004, 16:31	#10
Samor Guest Posts: n/a	I got LFS...which is only available online, but I ordered a version with cd. I like a real box you can hold much better too...

November 27th, 2004, 18:39	#11
RF Canadian Spaceman Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 8,767	Yeah I like to have my cases and cd's aswell. Its nice to show off your collection and its a solid proof of purchase __________________ CPU: Core i7 920 \ MB: EVGA X58 \ RAM: 12GB OCZ DDR3-1600 \ GPU: ATi 5870 HDD: 2x 150GB VelociRaptor R0 / PSU: Enermax Galaxy 850w / OS: Windows 7 x64

November 28th, 2004, 00:49	#12
Mr. Killjoy Translator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Somewhere I don't belong (La Rochelle, France) Posts: 7,829	Well, concerning HL2, the good part is that you have nothing to do but to wait till it's completely DLed through Steam, then you have autoupdates and some -badly done- features. The bad part, you must have broadband internet to get it, and I know some guys that are still on 56k. Backing up is easy, just burn all the Dled content to CDs/DVDs, of course having a box still appreciated. But on HL2 the retail box contains only a DVD and a stupid card as a booklet, doh' .... looks like they found a way to make buy online ^^ __________________ CPU: Core 2 Q6600@3.2GHz - RAM: 4GB DDR2 (Corsair PC6400) VGA: GF GTX460 1024MB - Monitor: H233H 23" 1920x1080 Mobo: Gigabyte EP35C-DS3R - PSU: Antec NeoPower Blue 650w 24Mb/1Mb ADSL - Windows 7 Ultimate --------------------------------------------- All ePSXe plugins up-to-date http://mrkilljoy.deviantart.com/

November 28th, 2004, 04:43	#15
RF Canadian Spaceman Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 8,767	N1ghtw0lf: Check out The Forsaken Mod. Sounds pretty cool __________________ CPU: Core i7 920 \ MB: EVGA X58 \ RAM: 12GB OCZ DDR3-1600 \ GPU: ATi 5870 HDD: 2x 150GB VelociRaptor R0 / PSU: Enermax Galaxy 850w / OS: Windows 7 x64

November 28th, 2004, 10:02	#16
scottlc Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: St Andrews, Scotland Posts: 1,577	I've bought download software online before, Activestate Komodo. Never bought download games before though. __________________ Computer: White MacBook (late 2008) - OS: Mac OS X 10.5.7 - CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz - Memory: 4GB DDR2 PC2-5300

November 28th, 2004, 11:07	#17
Mr. Killjoy Translator Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Somewhere I don't belong (La Rochelle, France) Posts: 7,829	Nightwolf, NS is isn't an official mod but it's the 1st in the 3rd party games Anyways, those 3 pasts months, it's become hard to find a decent NS servers, either they're full/empty, either they're filled with noobs/massive script users __________________ CPU: Core 2 Q6600@3.2GHz - RAM: 4GB DDR2 (Corsair PC6400) VGA: GF GTX460 1024MB - Monitor: H233H 23" 1920x1080 Mobo: Gigabyte EP35C-DS3R - PSU: Antec NeoPower Blue 650w 24Mb/1Mb ADSL - Windows 7 Ultimate --------------------------------------------- All ePSXe plugins up-to-date http://mrkilljoy.deviantart.com/

December 9th, 2004, 17:49	#18
furbyhater Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Switzerland Posts: 41	If I could download it, burn it on a cd, and then be able to reinstall from this cd alone (without requiring acces to the internet or some other kind of registration, as with most offline retail games), i would think about it (of course the price would have to be lowered, since the manufacturing & selling costs are near zero). But Half-Life 2 disgusts me. Even with the retail version, you have to register online in a way which disables trading/selling of the product, and doesnt guarantee permanent ability to use the product. I will never buy such a product.

December 9th, 2004, 19:39	#19
Modem1 Ph33r teh hammy! Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Near Seattle, WA Posts: 496	Once you have it, you can back up the big big big files, then if you have to reinstall Steam, put them back in their original folders. I'd think the only thing you have to do is log into your account once if you have to reinstall Steam. They just want to make sure you have it legally. And I don't get it. If someone no longer wants the game, they can give it to a friend (for a price ) and just give them their steam account to log into. Then they can just change the password at their leasure. Or, if it's a password you commonly use, you can just change it then give it to them. It's not hard. You'd just have a tough time of doing it online. - Modem __________________ Hiya! Windows XP Professional VLE MSI K8N Neo2 Motherboard Athlon 64 3500+ 2GB PC-3200 Dual Channel Ram (2X 1GB) 2X 160GB 7200 RPM HDD's (Raid-0) 2X 200GB 7200 SATA HDD's (Not raided...yet) GeForce 6800GT 256mb ViewSonic 19" LCD Comcast Cable Internet - Local servers downloading at about 850KB/sec. Handy.

December 10th, 2004, 03:34	#20
Paratech Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 8,011	I think the point is you can't trade the game in at stores like Electronic Boutique...Once you buy the game you're stuck with it. And since you have to download part of the game, if you're on dialup you might not be able to get the 'reast of the game.' Then, once the company stops selling the game, you'll no longer be able to reinstall it. I still play games I bought 10 years ago, like DOOM '95' ... Do you think you'll be able to play Half Life 2 10 years from now? I doubt it!