All Game Collectors Should Unite Against Downloadable Games

[SonicnTails]

As a devoted game collector of collecting games for 20 years, I will not buy this game till it gets a full and original retail release. Usually, the realm of downloadable games is confined to cheap, casual, and low-budget games. That's where it belongs.

However, Beginning with Mega Man 9, suppose-to-be-major titles have been published in downloadable formats only, Although I see Mega Man 9 and 10 are not HD so it seemed reasonable.

But Sonic 4 is HD, yet downloadable only. Sega already announced their another major HD blockbuster, Afterburner Climax, is going to be downloadable only. If this trend persists, the next-next gen consoles will more and more resort to downloadable formats. Eventually we will face the END of game collecting when the internet can hold 50GB per sec. Much like niche of music and book collecting is completely devastated by MP3s and Adobe PDFs.

Downloading is for those who play games. Those who play and CARE games should not endorse a ghost product without a body, which is deprived of a box, a manual, and a medium itself.

Before and around the time when Episode 2 and 3 come out, I think all fellow collectors should sign petitions that combine all episodes and release it into a physical and complete version.

[ElKameleon]

Totally agreed, but it's not going to stop me from buying it now.

[Mulberry Tweedcork]

Relax babe, Its pretty damn obvious that when all of the 'episodes' are released they will release it on disk as a collection and call it 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4' to maximize sales.

[Kooichi]

Relax babe, Its pretty damn obvious that when all of the 'episodes' are released they will release it on disk as a collection and call it 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4' to maximize sales.

Exactly what I was going to say.

[Tailsfox321]

Relax babe, Its pretty damn obvious that when all of the 'episodes' are released they will release it on disk as a collection and call it 'Sonic the Hedgehog 4' to maximize sales.

Actually seeing the word episode made me wonder this. If Sega does this, then I guess we wouldn't have to worry.

I'll still download episode 1 to play it, but if it did come out as a physical format, I'd still buy it just because I like having physical formats.

[Setnaro X]

If you want the game in physical format, download the game, save it on a memory card, and put that in a game case

[Tailsfox321]

If you want the game in physical format, download the game, save it on a memory card, and put that in a game case

You can do that, but it might only work on the system it was bought from. At least that's how it is on Wii, not sure of the other systems.

[SonicnTails]

By the time when all major consoles have nothing on the front but a cable hole (or a place for a wireless modem) in the back, That's where my game collecting ends. (Unfortuately, PSP go already took that step and it's a black prophet of doom.)

[DDefiance]

It may be possible that brick-and-mortar game stores will get phased out in the future in favor of download-only means to acquire games. Steam, iTunes and Napster have paved the way for anyone to find new content without ever leaving the home. Sometimes it is nice to have a physical copy to have and to hold, but even I think it won't be like that forever. Manufacturing discs can take lots of money and materials, so it is more economical to release games digitally.

[SonicnTails]

Personally I doubt the longevity of Steam, For example, In order to install Half-Life 2, the game must be activated by online, even for a single play experience. This means if Steam ever goes offline, there is no way to install this product ever again.

Suppose it's 2016 and Valve bankrupted. What if an old computer with Half-Life 2 installed malfunctions? Well... let's buy a new comupter, but there is no way to install Half Life 2 again because Steam is out-of-service!

Maybe they could release a patch that renders the game to be installed without an online activation, but waning companies are not that kind. they just simply disappears, with no responsibility of old products.