The huge problem with digital games and why physical copies DO matter
So there's a large issue that is going to become apparent in a number of years from now, or maybe even a few months from now. That problem is the fact that there are large numbers of games going strictly digital, with no physical copies of the game able to be obtained. Steam is a good example of this, and while I have many games on Steam, I do wish I could also own physical disc copies of most of them. The large problem isn't having enough space or anything, or having them able to be stolen simply by someone obtaining my password (though that is a large problem)...
Let me ask a question. What if all of Valve's servers and backups were destroyed in a bombing? What if all of their records were burned down? What if every internet database were shifted incorrectly, or data was lost and became irretrievable? Not only is that lots of money for the company gone, but that's also everyone else's data, games, save files, profiles, everything. For a person who has spent hundreds of dollars on Steam games, this sounds rather harsh, because what if you had to write down every single game that you ever owned and somehow prove it again to Steam so that you could receive valid copies should they ever get their services renewed? That may not sound like much now, but keep in mind that this is a thing that could very well happen.
Physical copies of games don't come without their issues, though. The discs/cartridges can break, they may become damaged over use and soon become unable to be read by a console or disc reader, they may be cumbersome and require management in a physical space, something that not everyone has to access to in any easy form. But the perks are that they do look nice stacked on a shelf or organized neatly, you can show off pictures of the game in your possession, share it between friends, etc. There's also the added perk that installation for the game...well, they USED to be faster. Nowadays, games still insist on that day one DLC download that can take longer than the installation process for the base game. But still, older games DO install faster, without the need to download the whole game off of the internet. It's a convenience to have them physically, then.
That's not to say that digital copies are without their perks, though. Yes, it does take a while to download them, but you can rest assured, in most cases, that it is a working copy of the game and will not suffer the same problems as a physical copy. They're easier to organize, only take up space in the lists of databases, and are easy to uninstall and put away until you wish to download it later. The convenience of having them always available is there as well, without having to switch out discs or cartridges in order to play a different game.
So if you are worried, I would not say "don't go and go fully physical". I haven't, and there are games that are digital exclusive. Instead, see about obtaining a physical record of the games. Print out and keep your receipts from games you buy...or find ownership proof in some fashion and make sure you have official documentation to show to Valve, GOG, or anyone else you're buying from digitally to ensure that, in case of a total memory wipe, you can mail in copies of your information to them to restore your status as soon as they get back up and running. It's the only way to be sure...and it may come to be that you will need to do this, so do be aware of that. Digital games are the way of the future and I don't wish to deny or halt that, because I like it. There is some novelty, though, and a hell of a lot more safety from loss in physical copies.
Let me ask a question. What if all of Valve's servers and backups were destroyed in a bombing? What if all of their records were burned down? What if every internet database were shifted incorrectly, or data was lost and became irretrievable? Not only is that lots of money for the company gone, but that's also everyone else's data, games, save files, profiles, everything. For a person who has spent hundreds of dollars on Steam games, this sounds rather harsh, because what if you had to write down every single game that you ever owned and somehow prove it again to Steam so that you could receive valid copies should they ever get their services renewed? That may not sound like much now, but keep in mind that this is a thing that could very well happen.
Physical copies of games don't come without their issues, though. The discs/cartridges can break, they may become damaged over use and soon become unable to be read by a console or disc reader, they may be cumbersome and require management in a physical space, something that not everyone has to access to in any easy form. But the perks are that they do look nice stacked on a shelf or organized neatly, you can show off pictures of the game in your possession, share it between friends, etc. There's also the added perk that installation for the game...well, they USED to be faster. Nowadays, games still insist on that day one DLC download that can take longer than the installation process for the base game. But still, older games DO install faster, without the need to download the whole game off of the internet. It's a convenience to have them physically, then.
That's not to say that digital copies are without their perks, though. Yes, it does take a while to download them, but you can rest assured, in most cases, that it is a working copy of the game and will not suffer the same problems as a physical copy. They're easier to organize, only take up space in the lists of databases, and are easy to uninstall and put away until you wish to download it later. The convenience of having them always available is there as well, without having to switch out discs or cartridges in order to play a different game.
So if you are worried, I would not say "don't go and go fully physical". I haven't, and there are games that are digital exclusive. Instead, see about obtaining a physical record of the games. Print out and keep your receipts from games you buy...or find ownership proof in some fashion and make sure you have official documentation to show to Valve, GOG, or anyone else you're buying from digitally to ensure that, in case of a total memory wipe, you can mail in copies of your information to them to restore your status as soon as they get back up and running. It's the only way to be sure...and it may come to be that you will need to do this, so do be aware of that. Digital games are the way of the future and I don't wish to deny or halt that, because I like it. There is some novelty, though, and a hell of a lot more safety from loss in physical copies.
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