There's No Need To Be Afraid Of This Day One Update For Luigi's Mansion 3

Anata mo, Nintendo?

Thats great and everything but can I play at midnight?

So a physical copy is pointless now since you'll need to get an update anyway to play online or even with local multi-player if other people updated.

@Kalmaro You can still play the game.

@tobsesta99 Sure, but if you want to play with anyone else you'll have to update if you want to play online or with friends who also probably updated.

That and you'll need the update if you want all the stuff they fixed. It doesn't bother me since I get everything digital, just felt like pointing it out.

@Kalmaro maybe I misunderstood your comment but how is the physical copy pointless. Didn’t luigis mansion 2 need a update when playing co op or online with others and that was 2013 or Mario kart 7. Most online games need patches. Look at arms. Mario kart 8d. Kirby star allies. Smash. Mario aces.

@Luigi-number1 That's my point. Often I'll see some folks claiming that they want physical versions so they don't feel limited by needing to depend on Nintendo's servers in the future.

However, the current trend is that your physical copy is essentially a worse version of the digital copy since you don't get all the patches and you can't play online, or as mentioned here, even locally with friends if they have a patch you don't.

So the physical copy is kinda pointless in a way. May as well just get a decent sized memory card and be done with it.

Patches, that's not very Nintendo.
I mean I don't care about online MP, but I do care about local.

@Kalmaro but my physical copy of luigis mansion 2 still works. How does the digital version seem better. I don’t understand. I can still trade my physical games or let friends and family borrow it.

@Luigi-number1 I'm referring to the current game, not older ones. If you want to play with friends with the current game, you will all need the same patch, which means you have no way to avoid having to download data from Nintendo. So that's one less reason to have a physics copy.

If you want to play by yourself then your fine, but you're still missing out on psyches, which means that your physical copy is not actually a complete game, it's missing updates to make it run properly, according to Nintendo.

@Kalmaro : Update data can be shared wirelessly between consoles.

Backing it up manually for prosperity, however, is problematic as data on the microSD card is encrypted and can't simply be copy/pasted to another microSD card and used with multiple consoles.

DLC is also another problem altogether, with no way of being able to get them back in the event that the servers are terminated (and hence why I am so apprehensive about supporting the practice at all, given how widespread it has become, with so many of Nintendo's own games having ugh "season passes").

I would not have had such a problem with patches if there were a means of backing up the data manually without needing to hack the console.

@Silly_G That still means that someone has to be there locally if you want to get everything, that's a bit of a hassal but at least the option is there. You still need to update if you want to play with friends online though.

@Kalmaro
I mean, you can still play this game 20 years down the road with no internet on Switch(hypothetically speaking), where as download, once the internet is no more ..... No game.

So I don't see what's the issue. It would be an issue to need the physical AND need internet to download huge chunks of the game.

This is an update for stability and better connection for online. If you never downloaded the update and wanted to play it, you can.

The thought process of some people is kinda bizarre. In order to play ONLINE you need to connect to the internet anyway, which will download the patch automatically.

How this makes physical worthless is beyond me. Surely digital is more worthless, since if/when the eShop closes up shop, there’ll be no way to access the game if you don’t already have it installed on the SD card.

Patches are a good thing, regardless of what people say. If a publisher rushes out a game, only to fix it later with patches, that’s when things become terrible.

However, if it’s just to fix some minor issues/balancing post-production, I really don’t see any negatives. But hey, I’m thinking about now, not 30 years into the future.

@Kalmaro I’m still maybe missing the point. Example. New or old in 2013 you had to download a patch for luigis mansion 2 to play online too. 2019 and we do the same thing with luigis mansion 3.

So none of the Nintendo switch physical games are complete but all of the digital ones are. Makes sense

@Luigi-number1 My point is that there's less reason to have a physical copy if you're going to have to download stuff anyway to play the game properly on the first place. The way I see it, physical copies are basically pointless now unless you just really like having a cartridge.

@Ttimer5 Well if you have the game downloaded, you can play it 20 years down the line as well, so less reason to have it physical, technically. As was pointed out by someone else, you can share updates locally with friends so that's less of an issue, I wasn't aware of that.

You do still need to download patches to play online though, which again, is why I see less advantages to physical.

Again, I am not saying that physical is bad or worse/better/etc. I'm just pointing out that there's less reason to get a physical copy these days.

I can kinda understand this one. Clearly they wanted to get it out by Halloween so it's possible they didn't have as much bug testing time as they otherwise might have, in order to meet the deadline.

Guys,

In my opinion, it appears @Kalmaro is pro digital and is speaking sarcastically to the pro physical guys.

The way I'm reading him, its as if he just wants to let physical collectors know that its pointless to own physical and just go digital already.

That is his opinion, but my opinion is that while yes, the DLC and patches pushed out to games post launch do make an incomplete physical version, this still does not eliminate some of the advantages of having physical. Physical owners can still let friends and family borrow games, or sell them when they are done. We still save GB's of space on our SD cards by not having to download full games. We also get great looking cases and artwork. To me the only thing digital has on physical is the easy ability to just click play.

@B-Locks 100% agree. I can kinda understand with PS4 and Xbox One games though, because you have to install the entire game on the system anyway.

But even then you can still share the game with friends/family.

@Kalmaro but if I buy a physical copy my children can share it on their switches. They can’t do that with digital. It’s also a plus that I can resell the games I don’t like.

@Kalmaro I fail to see the issue, since you would need to be connected to the internet to play online in the first place, so updating the game shouldn't be an issue.

@Kalmaro the pointlessness of physical versions is usually discussed in terms of losing access to updates many years down the road. By that logic, many of the people one may want to play with will be in the same boat by then.

@nhSnork I agree, if you had physical or if you got it digital, you'd be out of luck either way, so I see less reason to see physical as better than digital in terms of not needing to download stuff. In both cases you still have to download something anyway.

@Anri02 I don't have a problem updating a game at all. Instead, it's the fact that you have to update in the first place that makes having a physical copy less advantageous since you're going to be downloading something no matter what.

@Luigi-number1 true, you can share the game, though you could also just let them play on the Switch itself. Not exactly the same but the option is there. Plus, I pointed out earlier that this is less of an issue if you're playing alone. If you want to play with friends then that means everyone is going to need a copy

@B-Locks That's basically what I was saying. I agree that it's easier to share a game if it's physical. Everything else though is not an issue to me. You can buy a case separately and you can always just get a bigger SD card if you want to fit in more games.

@Kalmaro I mean I specifically bought this game physical because I foresee it being something that I won't be playing long term, and I'll want to lend out to friends. That plus having the option to resell it are the main factors for me.

Some people want physical game collections, totally valid too. Your entire argument seems to rest on the fact that people only buy physical to avoid having to take up space on an SD card. I'm sure those people exist, but they're definitely not the majority (plus the fact that the patch will presumably be far smaller than the actual game).

@Kalmaro
You don't need any update to play with friends locally.

@Flammy I actually haven't said much about the games taking up space. That's certainly a reason to get physical but sd cards are cheap. For me, I see physical releases as superior mostly because it's 'complete'. Lately though, games keep getting patches so the games you buy aren't actually a finished product.

Sharing a game and being able to re-sell it are the only advantages now imo, and sharing it only works if you're playing solo, unless the game has local multi-player.

@MrBlacky you do if they updated, but you can get said update from them. That's what it says in the article.

@Kalmaro I made a throwaway account here just to say you really like to crusade against physical copies. You've been at it for a few hours now. lol.

@Thr0wawayAcc0unt You misunderstood, I don't have anything against them. I just thing all the post game patches have been making them obsolete.

If anything, I'd prefer a physical copy but since we're always downloading patches, I just don't see the point anymore.

Just plugged in Super Monkey ball yesterday and that had an update, then this morning turn on my switch and ANOTHER update was installed.

My problem is that now my physical is pointless and this is just stupid, they are shipping games which aren't finished and not caring because they can just send a patch later.

I guess this patch doesn't fix the annoying beeping noise when you're running low on health.

Years of being a PC gamer who primarily uses Steam have made me very fond of digital-only games. The ease of access and not having to devote physical space to store cartridges / CDs are the best perks of being a digital owner.

However I can understand people wanting physical copies because they can loan out / sell the game after playing. That to me is probably the only compelling reason to go physical.

For any other reason I think Kalmaro has made excellent points why digital is more attractive. I'll just add that if people are concerned about no longer having access after the eShop goes down - why not consider just downloading the game and keeping it forever on (one of) your SD card(s)? The things are becoming so cheap nowadays and digital games also get frequent discounts; pound for pound the digital route is cheaper and less of a hassle than keeping a physical cartridge with an unpatched game (which is likely to be sans DLCs too).

As an example I intend to keep Breath of the Wild with all of the DLCs installed forever on my card. It's a landmark title that I'll show off for years to come and I have zero compulsion to display its case in some dusty cabinet somewhere. If or when my 400GB card runs out of space I'll just get a newer (and likely, bigger capacity) card in the future. Problem solved.

@mlj11 Fellow PC gamer here, almost entirely digital on that platform too.
I do like that there are, usually, multiple providers and a more competitive market.
On console, where it’s more locked down, I’m often shocked by the prices digital sellers expect for older titles when compared to their physical counterparts.

@Luigi-number1 Actually the Switch allows games share with a Switch on which your account is not set as the primary account. (Only one Switch can be playing a game on your account at the same time though, but this is the same for physical game sharing )

@Kid_Sickarus Fair point and a good observation. I'm quite pleased by the frequency of the sales on the eShop though - it's almost as if Nintendo has taken notes on Steam's success and are implementing similar practices (including attracting lots of indie titles too). Most of my eShop purchases have actually been made when a title I've wishlisted goes on discount.

I agree they still sell for more as compared to Steam, but as you said it can't be helped. I think Humble Bundle are offering digital Switch games in their store (although it's not available in my country)? Hopefully this is the start of increased storefront competitiveness and lower prices.

@Ttimer5 why won’t I be able to play my digital copy of LM3 in 20 years when the servers are switched off? My digital copy is the exact same data but on a memory card instead of a game cart. Having no servers won’t make a blind bit of difference especially as I have downloaded my most cherished digital games twice on different memory cards for prosperity.

@Kalmaro "So the physical copy is kinda pointless in a way. May as well just get a decent sized memory card and be done with it"
I find this comment a little pointless really as if your buying the download version you obvioustly have internet so why just not buy physical, spend 10 seconds updating it, have something nice to keep and best of all have something to sell if you find yourself in the position of wanting to do so.cnothing worse than playing a game you've just spent 50 quid on and either, not liking it or it having no playability. If anything I find digital the more pointless of the options. I do however appreciate some of your points.

@Kalmaro but with physical I can play it 20 years from now
When the eshop gets shut u cant redownload it.so 20 years from now u cant play it.i cant go and redownload my stuff from the wii.since that store is shut down.

LOL What's with all the digital fanboys? Physical is obviously the way to go.

@Kalmaro
Gone are the days when games were full finished products. But now, we also have not only half baked games, but also half baked products from nintendo aswell("switch" lite)

@Kalmaro if you're playing online what's the issue with updating as you're already online? Also can't you just update the game from a local user anyway making this a non issue completely

Remember when Nintendo tested their games?

Well it's a thing now lately.. half game are sold as complete and then they patch it up... that is if people complain.. if not they will keep it as it as and so easy money for them. It's a smart business. But I rather they take more time before releasing the game unfinished.. i'm sure here and there needs some update, but they can test the game a several times beforehand and then adding that update in the card... but you still need to download. Well it's what it is.. as long there is a patch. Can't say the same thing to other companies who releases a patch after a year or never even. I can't support companies like that. I'm paying a lot and I want a good experience

@Kalmaro In a universe where online multiplayer is still up but you can't install updates anymore? Also a friend can wirelessly send you an update for a game, and it requires no internet whatsoever

@Kalmaro, I personally like physical copies. They are superior to digital. They do not chew up all the memory on the system or SD card. Physical cards are always gonna be transferable from one switch to another. You will never have to re-download the game or worry if the game is still available for re=download. Physical is just better in so many ways. But hey, to each their own.

It’s a wonder some of y’all have any teeth left after all the gnashing. This is just a psa about an update, not a TED talk.

Literally the only benefit of digital over physical is lugging and changing carts over to play. The possibly sale prices on the shop. But that is rarely a decent saving on Nintendo first party games. In fact the e.shop price for Luigi's Mansion has already been beaten by some online stores selling the physical copy.

Almost every game has patches now. Everything is digital. The physical cart is no more than permission to download and play the digital version. But still, the fact that you can sell or lend this permission makes it a better bet than a buy-forever digital purchase.

@Kalmaro

Depends on the game, and what features you want use. Of course you want to use the latest patch for online gaming. With most single player games can still be played without patches, although some games are released either incomplete or have more free content after release such as Kirby: Star Allies. Some people may also prefer to go physical to save space on their SD Micros, and collector like to keep games on display on their shelf. Digital or physical, it is your own call what you want to go with. One thing for sure, with every game released today, there will be a patch for it.

Yo, this discussion got pretty passionate and ii like seeing what all of you guys think about the digital vs physical issue when it comes to games.

Theres a ton of people replying to me so it's hard to respond to everyone at once so I'll just make a generic post.

I agree wholeheartedly that physical copies of a game has the advantages like you can:

Trade them
Let a friend borrow them
Save space on your switch
buy/sell them

I won't deny any of that since it's all stuff I agree with. I will say though that my sole reason for getting anything physical is because I like having everything on one package without having to download anything extra. This is basically impossible now though because everyone patches games after release so you still need to download stuff.

That's pretty much it, thanks everyone for taking the time to reply!

What if, in 50 years, I’m attacked by a mountain lion, and have to shove my bitter tasting game card into the mountain lion’s mouth to keep it from eating my face? Then I’ll be glad I bought physical... but I’ll also be kind of bummed I didn’t buy digital. I don’t know. Buy both.

For me the far bigger issue is the lack of inverted controls on the Y axis. In this day and age?!

@Kalmaro Pysical is still better to have in most cases. Especially since I can buy used games for cheap locally.

@Bunkerneath Ok boomer.

If no one was here to debunk this BS I would have left Nintendo Life a long time ago. You guys give me faith in the userbase.

Well, the ones debunking the “not complete” BS anyways.

@RupeeClock I'd just rather they finished it before releasing it.

@Kalmaro
Correct me if i'm wrong but you can still update your game card, can't you? What would make a physical copy worthless?

"Luigi's Mansion 3" comes with local and online multiplayer, stated on the rear cover, right? No mention of the need of a patch to play the online MP, correct?
But then the online MP is only(!) available after downloading a patch. So, a mode named being part of the game right from the start is missing... no uproar... instead a discussion about advantages/disadvantages of physical vs digital...
Is there anything I didn't notice? Is it because the publisher is Nintendo and not EA, not Ubisoft, not Activision?
Weird discussion, really.

Btw, Amazon Germany offers the physical version of "Luigi's Mansion 3" for € 47,99. The download code, they are selling, costs € 59,99.
Now I know why: it's the missing online multiplayer. 😉

@Sean161 If corruption of storage / media is a factor in your calculus then to be fair you should include that as a potential problem of cartridges too.

As for your other points I think I've already addressed that by proposing you just leave the digital game data perpetually saved on the SD card. At least in this way you have the full final game with patches and digital DLC.

@Kalmaro
I can assure you, I don't need an update to play with friends locally.👍

They need to give us the option to play the game properly, as in the Invert Y axis. How in 2019 this isn't the default option baffles me, and even worse when the option isn't even included. Can't imagine there are many gamers that play incorrectly, nature isn't wrong. Nintendo needs to patch this as the game is virtually unplayable right now, at least with any accuracy.

@Kalmaro Not really, patch data is much smaller than the full game, so that's all that will reside on your system after the update. And the entire playable game is still on the cart, so you can play it on multiple systems, lend it to a friend or sell it once you're done, unlike a digital copy.

However, in reading other people's comments, if there really is no option to invert both X and Y axis I might have to wait and not play this until there is. That is absurd, especially for Nintendo who usually has those options in basically every other game, Zelda, Captain Toad, etc. Only the terrible developers of Rime refused to ever patch an inverted Y axis patch in

@beazlen1
I was just saying like how many pure only physical gamers say.
I honestly have both. Depending on the game.

So in 20 or however many years when servers go down, most likely the games will be remastered or something for future consoles

(I was just wondering. My major games on my list are physical, except party games and others that are on sell online.)

@Sean161 "nah why bother go through all that? Just buy the cartridge." Wow. It's as if you have totally ignored every single point made above in favour of digital games... Best agree to disagree then.

@Kalmaro I didn’t realize when I pre purchased a physical copy I would need to download an update to have multiplayer functionality. My bad for not paying attention but looking at description on amazon where I purchased
“ Scarescraper mode can be played online or locally with up to eight players on four Nintendo Switch systems (additional games required; sold separately).”

@Kalmaro Sharing the game and being able to re-sell are HUGE advantages over the digital copy, why would you play them down? Silly.