• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

At equal pricing, would you buy a game on Steam or from Retail?

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Steam, Digital Distribution, or Retail?

  • I would buy from steam

  • I would buy from steam only if it replaces the drm included in the retail copy

  • I would buy from a download service that does not require me to be logged in to play

  • I would buy a retail copy

Results are only viewable after voting.
Only reason I wouldn't buy it from Steam is if for some strange reason I was buying a Special/Collector's edition that came with items (maps, toys, etc.) However, I very rarely buy those so it's unlikely to be the case.

Steam offers me the game right away (after download) and I do not have to leave my house. I don't have the box and manual clutter which is good for me since I see no need to save those things.
 
I haven't bought any Steam games. It looks like the future though. I like having the physical game and box/manuals. Guess I'm old school.
 
I would buy from retail or a d/l service that doe snot require me to be online to play.

I am amazed at the results. I am not surprised that people would buy from steam, but even at the same price as retail or less restrictive download services, that surprises me. I would have thought it was less than 50%, not more.
 
Steam. I have enough crap laying around my house. It's odd, I purchase buttloads of movies and like having the physical discs, but for games I have no interest in having the discs/cases laying around.

KT
 
Retail for me. Steam is OK, but I like having the physical copy. I can always find a no-cd exe file for my games, so that point is moot. I also order my games online, so I don't have to venture to the store either way.
 
Steam all the way, unless the retail copy comes with something really special. I used to always go retail because I liked having the physical box, but nowadays I just like to reduce clutter. At 1.8MB/s average download speed, it's just as fast and going to the nearest game store anyway, and I don't have to worry about losing the disc. I also rarely pay full retail for a game on steam anyway because the sales are so frequent.
 
Rebel44 said:
That may be true, but 99% of people will ignore that...
Click to expand...

And in the next couple years 99% of the people will be crying like little girls with skinned knees. The government has been working hard to set up laws that force online retailers to track and report payment or nonpayment of sales taxes between states.
No one up top gave a shit until somebody realized the MASSIVE amount of online business wasnt being taxed at all.
Big Brother doesnt like it when you steal from him.
 
Generally speaking, I find Steam more convenient then retail. If it's a big name release - so there's a chance the local stores might actually carry it - and it's not preloading, I might go retail to save the download time. But that really doesn't happen to often.
 
KeithTalent said:
Steam. I have enough crap laying around my house. It's odd, I purchase buttloads of movies and like having the physical discs, but for games I have no interest in having the discs/cases laying around.

KT
Click to expand...

Why is that odd at all? Odds of loaning that movie out are significantly higher than loaning out a game (and non-existent in the case of DRM games).
 
Saga said:
Why is that odd at all? Odds of loaning that movie out are significantly higher than loaning out a game (and non-existent in the case of DRM games).
Click to expand...

It's odd because I complain about clutter and I've run out of space for all of my movies. I do re-watch movies much, much more often than I ever replay games though. I also find game boxes kind of annoying and awkward; they never really appealed to me.

KT
 
depends on the title.

ive been burned by steam a few times now, and they policies are pretty retarded, so I'm edging back towards retail unless its a steam sale purchase.

even then I am starting to make new steam accounts
 
KeithTalent said:
It's odd because I complain about clutter and I've run out of space for all of my movies. I do re-watch movies much, much more often than I ever replay games though. I also find game boxes kind of annoying and awkward; they never really appealed to me.

KT
Click to expand...

Haha, probably because they're all different sizes! I have a CD case of games from back in the day when I used to buy physical media. So like 3-4+ years ago. I'd just ditch the cases the games came in entirely and store the CD's and CD-keys (which were taped ont he CD's). Shit like Bioshock, FEAR, SupCom, SC-BW, WC3 etc..

So even when I had physical media I didn't have clutter. The best part about Steam, though, is being void of CD-required DRM.
 
Saga said:
Haha, probably because they're all different sizes! I have a CD case of games from back in the day when I used to buy physical media. So like 3-4+ years ago. I'd just ditch the cases the games came in entirely and store the CD's and CD-keys (which were taped ont he CD's). Shit like Bioshock, FEAR, SupCom, SC-BW, WC3 etc..

So even when I had physical media I didn't have clutter. The best part about Steam, though, is being void of CD-required DRM.
Click to expand...

Yeah, so annoying. Some are giant boxes, some are only DVD-like; it's all over the place. Movies are easy, unless you start going into the weird special editions, which I very rarely do.

KT
 
Steam is best, then I don't need to worry about physical media.
Ideally, no DRM, but, I tolerate DRM if it's on Steam.
 
Craig234 said:
I don't think you 'own a copy of the game' any more on Steam than retail.
Click to expand...

if anything you own it LESS on Steam than retail.

you have a physical copy of a cd key for the game.

what if steam takes a dump and 'loses' their records of you owning some games?

I hope you have receipts to prove to steam then!
 
Zargon said:
if anything you own it LESS on Steam than retail.

you have a physical copy of a cd key for the game.

what if steam takes a dump and 'loses' their records of you owning some games?

I hope you have receipts to prove to steam then!
Click to expand...

Or you can make back-ups of your Steam games...

KT
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top