Topic: Cartridges vs. eShop?

Digital. Game is always with me, which is important when it comes to a portable system. 5% cash back for eshop purchases. And less money spent overall as I buy games when I'm ready to play them instead of when they release because digital downloads don't tap as deeply into that irrational psychological vein that compels me and other people to hoard consumer goods. Less of a fetishistic fixation on the paraphernalia associated with physical releases also allows me to focus more on the content of a game. Also, I'm not tempted to sell a game when I'm done with it. And there's none of the clutter associated with physical releases. And digital downloads can't be lost like cartridges can.

Which isn't to say I never go physical. I will for some larger games that I'd prefer not to waste a ton of space on, and I also will if I really can't resist the trappings associated with a physical release.

I prefer physical for the simple fact that I more truly own the games. I still have games in storage that I bought (or rather my parents bought for me) 20 years ago, when I was a kid. While it hasn't really been an issue yet, because it would likely spark major backlash, when you get games digitally, you don't really own them. You just bought permission to download and play them. The company could take that permission away. Or the company could go bankrupt and their services shut down or bought out, and the new rights holders could pull that permission. But that physical copy of Mario 64? Still sitting on the shelf. Mine

@Ralizah I understand some of your outlooks, I don't always sell my games, but i like having the option, especially if I get to the point where I just haven't wanted to touch it for an unreasonable amount of time.
as for clutter, true sometimes physical copies of games get up there space wise, but as I am a little over organized, I never really have a problem with clutter, for me, other people, I understand, I have a system, some may not, I try to see things from other's points of view, because I can pick up some good ideas or knowledge, or just because a mile in one person's shoes is a great way to make friends.

thanx for the input friend.

I wish Nintendo could come up with a system that would allow us to install cartridges to the Switch itself. Then we could have the best of both worlds: the security of owning a physical copy and the convenience of being able to quickly boot up any game in one's library.

But then I'm not sure how Nintendo would guard against using one cartridge to install the game on multiple systems. Perhaps a unique code on the cartridge that would have to be checked against an online database before the game could be installed.

@Mountain_Man that would be an interesting idea, but unreal, no one would make any money, services would pop up everywhere offering to rent games for a $1, download the game, then send back, theoretically, millions of dollars would be spent on game development, but only 10,000 games would be sold worldwide and system hacking and rom stealing would become more prevalent than ever, Nintendo would get bought out by Micro(you know who) or Sony and we'd never see any more unique and creativness that Nintendo's always trying to do

@jhewitt3476 @Mountain_Man Each Switch cart does actually have a unique ID which is how Nintendo have blocked individual game carts. Its also how it know that a cart's gold points have already been redeemed. This is very doable and could be implemented with what is already there. This is essentially what Microsoft wanted to do with the Xbox One but everyone kicked up a fuss and they changed it.

@jhewitt3476
When i buy the games, that means i want that things become mine forever, unless if i disappointed with the games and i will sell it.
If i buy the games, played until finished then straightly sell it to buy another games, for me that's NOT the meaning become gamer.
My games are like part of Family members, i choose them from my heart. I will NOT sell them whatsoever unless they are completely worthless.

@Anti-Matter I absolutely understand the collection gamer, and as I mentioned, I keep games that I can't stop playing, but games like Mario Galaxy or Zelda Skyward, I played through mainly out of financial obligation, I spent the money, gotta try to get something out of it, but both games were so underwhelming for me and the replay value was non-existent, I had to get rid of them, or I may play a game like Doom or L.A. Noire once a year, they got replay, but not a huge amount, so I will keep, ect. but as I mentioned on one, I do carts because I can buy or sell as needed or borrow to try, but I understand your side too

Here's my take there are give and take for either but price will always be less for Digital then Physical that is a known quantity.

But the factor most buy Physical is just that Physical plus you can give it away and or sell it off. Digital is tied to your account no selling or giving away. Digital makes it easy and more portable but that means you need to get a larger MicroSD like 400gb to hold the game and game download. Physical is the game download and update so Digital can end up taking more space then you expect in the end. Physical case/game takes up space and they do overtime but if you only buy a few over the years then that isn't a problem. But if your like some of us Gamers and Collectors at the same time it can be a chore where to keep the inventory stored. I for myself take the game out and use the 24 case holders for the game so I don't have to worry about the Case itself. But both will take up space to store and be kept safe.
Numbering system is not reflective of 1 to last just listing the pro/con of each.

Physical:
1. In hand or give away or sell for monetary return
2. For collectors nothing beats a physical item
3. bad - cost more to get and more if LE/CE/SE game
4. bad - need storage space for Game case
5. Only need MicroSD for game downloads/updates

Digital:
1. No physical tied down
2. Bad - tied to your account no giveway or resell options
3. Bad - needs storage space for Digital downloads
4. Cost less
5. Might need larger MicroSD for Digital storage game/game updates.
6. Bad - larger games will need bigger SD storage to download

If there is more I'll put them but this is what comes to mind now.

I used to say physical is always cheaper for me due to Amazon Prime, but that went the way of the dodo so...

I just do whatever now. Digital has the advantage of being able to play whenever the hell I want, plus more gold coins. Physical... has the box art and less space taken up on my big SD card? Whatever. But if I need the physical case like Smash Ultimate's limited edition, then I absolutely need it no matter what.

@SwitchForce a great and detailed analysis, trying for pros & cons on both sides, trying not to play favorites too badly or be pushy like you are right and everyone else is wrong, respectable. thank you.

a suggestion for organizing, Altoids containers, specifically the mini ones, the container is about 1" W & 1.5" long, (the mints themselves are teeny squares), the container holds 8 games, (or 4 DS/3DS games), I love them, great for catagorizing or separating your favorites

With the Switch I am definitely understanding the appeal of digital to not have to keep switching out cartridges, but I go physical whenever I can for one reason. This weekend I went through my games, found the ones I've beaten and will almost certainly never play again because there are just too many good new games coming out, and put them on Amazon. I have already made over $100 and still have more that haven't been bought. Now I can buy more new games and not be out any money.

That's the error of it all - it's not a all fit into one category. As such some games are just Digital unless a future publisher is willing to risk making it physical but they must know that there will be buyers but as with NSW there more likely will be but it comes down to how many will buy it vs the cost to get it to market. So that is a big downside we the buyers don't release clearly-if no sales they get burned and that will leave a bad taste for the publisher into the future NSW releases. My one hope for Digital is that they give the buyer a option to sell or give it to another NSW owner and release the current owner from being tied to that game that way buyers would have more options knowing they are not stuck with the Digital knowing it will never be freed from them.

That's why I said there would have to be some way to prevent installing a cartridge to more than one system, such as a pre-install online check to verify that the cartridge ID is not already linked to a Nintendo account.

But this is all theoretical anyway, because Nintendo will never do it.

No, what Microsoft wanted to do was "you must always be connected to the internet and there's no physical games". That's what kicked up suck a fuss, Microsoft was trying to eliminate the used game market in one fell swoop. The backlash caused them to retract that idea, but they then sneakily did stuff that encourages you to buy digitally only anyway such as games must install to play even if you have a physical copy. You know, as opposed to the 360's "you can chose to install the game for faster load times or just play from the disk".

This is false as far as I know. The reason they must be installed on both Xbox one and ps4 is the read speed of the blu-ray drives not being as fast as the hdd itself, not to steer people towards going digital only. The drives themselves are slower and because of the size of games nowadays trying to play them off the disc's would be a pain.

I appreciate both equally. On one hand, I enjoy having a box on a shelf for display and possible discussion piece, with the ability to sell or trade that game after the fact. On the other hand, digital is convenient, no need to drive to a store or wait for a delivery that could easily be delayed or stolen. Either way, it's clear that the industry is heading towards an all-digital future.

I feel as though the Switch, PS5, and Xbox Scarlet will be the last generation of console hardware to offer boxed physical copies of games.

I’ve been all-digital since it became a thing. Most of the reasons have already been touched on.

1) No clutter.
2) No lost, stolen, or damaged games.
3) Ease of switching between games.
4) Ease of purchasing a game anywhere, anytime without having to travel.
5) Keeps me out of GameStop. I hate GameStop.

I’m sure there are a few more, but you get the idea.

@Magician
Xbox Scarlet ?!

@Ryzaerian simple and blunt, Bam, * Bam*, Bam, LOL, very cool, the idea of being able to get a game anywhere, anytime is not a bad argument, very nice idea. I have a butt-load of 3DS & NSW games and they are so small and I have things that organise them greatly, I have yet to be convinced on that point, but I do understand why organization by minimalism can be preferred by some.

Thanks for your input amico