Digital Downloads or Physical Copy?

In these times, when everyone seems to download all their music and all sorts of bits and pieces, and people seem to be talking about games heading that way, the question is: do you really want to be downloading your games in the future, or do you want to carry on buying the physical copy?

This is already starting to happen with the 'Games on Demand' service and all the games on the XBLA, and the same types of services over on the PSN.  These services obviously aren't doing too bad, but this could just be because most of the games on them aren't easily found in-store, and it's easier for people to just fire up their console and download it.  However, it's expected in the future that new releases are going to be up for download on release day. So, what are the gamers going to do? Not bother going down their local games shop, or just download it straight onto their consoles hard drive?

Call me old fashioned but I prefer going out and buying my game on a disc, that way I can take it to a mates easily for a game night, they could also borrow it if they want, and also you can go trade it in if you really wanted to. Whereas, a download, you can't take anywhere or trade it in/get your money back if you decide you don't want it any longer.

However, I also appreciate that downloads could be better as that way you can't lose it, and if somehow you do accidentally delete it from your hard drive, you can re-download it, although with a disc, if you lose it or break it in anyway, then you can't just get a replacement, instead, you have to buy it all over again.  Also, if something is installed to the hard drive it could be quicker loading that if it was being read from of the disk, and lets be honest it's much easier to just start a download than have to go into town and buy it.

But, as I said, I prefer buying a disc rather than downloading a game, although I will download it if it's the only way I can get it, as there is no alternative.  I just think there is nothing better than unwrapping the cellophane, I always get a good feeling once I've taken that off and opened the case and then (*TA DA*) you see the disc for the first time. 

Overall, I can see that both have their advantages and disadvantages, but for me you can't beat going and buying the physical copy. Will others agree with me? Who knows. We will just have to wait and see how big the downloadable games become.