Topic: Cartridges vs. eShop?

The Switch brought me back to buying physical media after going digital for years. I don't like disc media; they brake, they scratch and the boxes are too big and look awful in my opinion. Cartridges make me feel like I'm a kid again. I can lend them to my family, I can hold them without worrying I'll damage them with my clumsy hands and the box is small and cute. But I do buy some digital games. I love Collector's Edition boxes and won't open them. So I buy the games digitally too when I'm ready to play them. I find myself wishing that Nintendo releases all the games from their online service in cartridge form... I can't stop playing Super Mario Bros 3, it's my favorite NES game. I still remember how I had to convince my dad to buy it for me when it was so much more expensive than the other games next to it. Nostalgia wins over convenience in my case.

@Magician I hope physical NEVER goes out, two reasons, I prefer to live off the grid when it comes to gaming, I don't like being forced to buy some expensive 128/256/400/512 card extra, they cost too much, because at the size of a lot of the games, even a 256GB card can get eaten up real quick for games avail as cart, and the bigger/better the game, the more space it takes, heck, I have a physical copy of DOOM, but when I downloaded the "update" data, it ate up 7GB alone ,

Just the project name for the next Xbox. Phil Spencer mentioned it on stage during E3 this. The rumor is that MS will offer two differ SKUs for the next Xbox. One that will be a budget-priced streaming-only console and the other that will be the standard, premium-priced console.

I understand and appreciate your reluctance towards digital-only. Online infrastructure still isn't all that great for a significant portion of people who enjoy gaming. Then there are data caps, which is scary in an era of 4k gaming, with games that require 100GB+ downloads. But this is the direction the industry is headed in. Dedicated game stores like Gamestop are going out of business because a majority of gamers purchase their games digitally.

@Magician I don't like the idea of a digital only and a full function one, the costs of even the cheaper "budget" one will be no less than $300-$400, what if you decide later you want the upgraded version? how about a system like a tower, a basic may have no cdrom and a small 1TB HD, but can purchase a larger HD and/or cdrom and slide them into unused "upgrade slots", might sell better

So no short replies huh, hope this meet the requirement.

I had a few bad experiences in life where I had friends and family “borrow” my games and either return it in bad condition or never return it because they lost it (or secretly stole it). Some of those games are rare or expensive to replace like N64’s Conker’s bad fur day or disc 2 of FF7 (PS1). It didn’t help that prior to digital downloads; all my games would easy for other to see and get their hands on it which is a lot on show. With digital it’s all in one place that is easier to supervise, manage, and hide if need be.

It’s convenient for switching games on the fly. This is useful for when I’m playing on the train (especial around rush hour) and I feel like playing something else but don’t have the freedom or entertaining others without wondering if I brought all the right games with me.
I live in a typical NYC apartment so space is limited. Digital helps with the clutter since I have Nintendo games and systems (not counting Virtual Boy) starting with NES and Gameboy Color along with PS1 and 2, Sega Genesis and Dreamcast, collectibles and amiibo.

I very rarely sell my game, so no lost on physicals for that. This also plays a role with the limited space (game hoarder) and guest checking them out part of reasons.

Side note, I also buy my eShop cards when they have it on sale for 10% (rarely 15%) off from eBay, PayPal, or Best Buy, and avoid the sales tax so at least 18.875% off not counting gold coins.

I do have some carts but that was either from a collector’s set (BotW, FEW), a gift (MK8D, Mario +Rabbids), or a game I got on sale with a low price compared to the eShop that have less replayability when complete (L.A. Noire, Kirby).

Sorry I got carried away with the typing, it was more then I expected.

@Magician @jhewitt3476 We've been hand wringing about the end of physical games for 15 years. We've been hand wringing about the end of physical movies and music for 20. We still have all 3.

Companies go where the money is. We'll get to a point that some big games will not be physical and will be digital only, but so long as there's a sizable market for physical games, and Nintendo is proving clearly there is, companies will cater to that market. Maybe not for all games like it's been, but enough to keep a physical gamer happy, no doubt. Perhaps you won't be able to get Spider-Man, or Assassin's Creed physically, but there will be games to play physically for a long time I think. Enough people are willing to pay for it, and willing to pay more for it. If the big companies pull out of physical it creates more space for smaller companies to maneuver in that market.

@jhewitt3476 Well space is a lot cheaper for HDD based consoles with a 6TB drive costing less than a 400GB SD card, but sizes are also way larger, averaging 40-100GB per game.

Edit (meanwhile Comcast the biggest ISP in the US has a 1TB/mo limit, and most people stream hundreds of gigs of 4K tv now....... )

@ultraraichu chill out, if you noticed on the first post (mine) I encouraged about going into detail and gave example by doing myself, you're all good friend, all I've been trying to ask is remember that no one's preference is right or wrong so not to get wigged out on someone else, which you are also doing, (respecting others), so open your mouth and sing the praises of carts or download

@jhewitt3476 It’s my bad; I didn’t mean to come on as threatening. I should of add a to the first line. I’m trying to post on forums now to be more socially engage (way less toxic than comment sections:) ). Funny thing is it was half as short before I did a revise and over explain

Didn't we have the exact same lists and reasons in another thread a couple of weeks ago?
It seems like you're all on repeat.

Here's how I see it...
1. Is it going to be a game I'm likely going to love the heck out of? I choose Physical.
2. Is it a game that's more than 10 GB? Physical.
3. Under 10 GB? Digital
4. eShop prepurchase incentive or sale? Digital
5. Retailer sale? Physical

Obviously these guidelines can cancel each other out. Super Mario Odyssey is under 6 GB and I got that physical but it fit guideline no. 1. I prefer physical, but digital has its perks. The only retail game I have right now is Super Mario Party (well, the prepurchase). I'm probably going to get Dark Souls Remastered digital as well. But Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, I have every intention to get a physical copy of it.

And most games are sold by Amazon and BestBuy so will you stop going there as well. One should stop being bias unless they can show otherwise.

@SwitchForce

You must realize on, some level, that what you just typed made absolutely no sense.

No, I don’t have any issue with Best Buy or Amazon. Well, I’m not a fan of Amazon’s business methods (labor exploitation), but that’s a different conversation.

Having said that, GameStop is in a league of their own in regard to shady business practices. There are entire YouTube summaries on the subject, many from former employees. Not to mention my own terrible, personal experience with GameStop over the last twenty years.

In any case, that’s the second time you’ve come back at me with some nonsensical, ornery garbage. You should stop.

@ultraraichu !!! !!! Oh dude, i apologize, my comment "chill out" was a good thing, you seemed apologetic for putting so much, but I thought I said that was a good thing and I also thought I reiterated that you WERE being respectful of others, I sometimes missword myself and I can confuse people, again I apologize my friend, I was trying to imply that you were showing great fervor for your preferences WITHOUT being an ass, there was no sarcasm friend, forgive, I appreciate everybody's ideas here even if they are not mine, so I hope you don't think less of me for inadvertently coming off harsh bro

@jhewitt3476 @ultraraichu

Will you guys stop chain-apologizing to each other?

😁

@SwitchForce @Ryzaerian oh boy, I do hate used game super mega-fanchise, they really can rip off, but at the same time, they do have their uses, I purchased an elite membership at beginning of year $30, withing a month, I saved over $60 with discounts, by August, I had saved over $360, plus the bonuses from trade ins, then the free credit from the bonus point from the membership, probably total of over $850 I did NOT have to spend, I feel almost like I've been raping them (forgive the phrase).

@Ryzaerian then you should stop watching all those videos they aren't improving your outlook on life in general or online forums.

ok, ok, let's play nice now everyone

@jhewitt3476 like I said someone needs to get a life outside of the internet. Used chain are good and bad and if one expect them not to make a profit to keep operating then your in a world of hurt already. If that was the case why are people selling and buying on eBay. Going by someone delusion train of thought eBay should be closed. They'll go defending eBay. But no loss on my side. I have my places to buy and that is good enough for me.

@SwitchForce

[removed]? You don’t know a thing about me.

This was a thread where people were asked to list their reasons for going digital or physical.

You latched onto the least significant of my 5, and thought you were gonna lecture me about market economics? Are you for real?

I’ve seen you post. This is your style. [removed]