Next Gen Owners, Do You Like Downloads Better?

[Gabriel]

OK, I'm talking about the PS3, X360, and Wii here. All three have downloadable game services. Speak only about the consoles you own, all right?

 

Do you find yourself more interested in the game downloads available than in the game discs available in stores?

 

Personally, I'm now eagerly awaiting VC Mondays, Live Arcade Wednesdays, and PS Store Thursdays every week. Meanwhile, there are only a tiny handful of upcoming X360 and PS3 discs I'm interested in, and none at all for the Wii. And I'm more hyped about Double Dragon, Mortal Kombat II, and TG-16 games than I am about most of those upcoming discs.

 

What is everyone else currently thinking?

[Tempest]

My main problem with the Wii downloads is that I already own almost everything they have for download, and in those few instances where I don't I find the prices to be too high. $5 for a NES game I can emulate on my Wii? Pass. $10 for a N64 game? Geez! It's not that I wouldn't like to play all those classics on my Wii (playing N64 Zelda in 480P would be cool), it's just not worth the money. I think they really need to lower the prices or give some kind of discount if you purchase several titles.

 

Hell, why not give me free Wii points for all those games and systems I register? Wow, exclusive wallpapers!

 

Tempest

[moycon]

I love the Live Arcade, Not every game interests me, but enough do that I have around 30 of them. Right now my fav is the Heavy Weapon, I think I still need to clear two screens to get to the end. The fact that many of these games are playable with friends over Live is awesome.

 

I have the same issue with the Wii store Tempest does, I have or can play almost every game thats available already....why would I repay to play the same game? I did get 2 of the Wii games, mainly because I got a Wii points card with the bundle I got. I'd probably get more if I could play with friends.

[Gabriel]

Not to derail the thread into a discussion of the merits of the different stores, but I have the same issues with the Wii downloads as both of you. I've downloaded precisely one NES game, and it was because I never could find a copy of the old Mario Bros arcade game anywhere. I'm not interested in N64 downloads at all, and similarly the SNES library doesn't appeal. The majority of my downloads are TG-16 games which I never had a chance to own or play, and then there's Bio Hazard Battle, which I never bought back when it was available.

[Video]

I don't really care for the arcade or VC, mostly cause of the fact that most of the games I am intrested in, I already own the REAL console and REAL software of. So....why emulate?

[AtariJr]

my opinion is mixed...

 

what i love : that you can play all those games on one system.. and im really loveing that

 

 

what i dont love: that there is no packaging.. when i show people what i own for the wii, i always have to say "oh and i also have ____" . another problem is i cant sell them... there is NO resell value in a dload. therefore, if i buy a bad game, like r-type one (sorry.. i dont get it.. if i want a good tg16 shooter id buy star soldier or something), i cant sell it, and im stuck with the pos that ill never play.

 

on a slightly related topic... as far as future formats.. yes i think they will eventually be dloads.. but i really hope there is always a disk option even if its just for resale value alone. what will be the point of collecting when games will be just like a collection of emulators on a harddrive.. how can you take pride in that collection. i take pride in all the wii disk games i have, i dont for the vc ones.

 

for casual gamers dlaods will be fast, convenient and easy. for collectors its a nightmare

Edited March 11, 2007 by AtariJr

[Bilnick]

I like downloading games for the 3 systems. I have downloaded games for all three systems and each service has its positives and negatives.

 

Wii

+ has a great selection of games. Releasing 3 a week is very nice. Many top of the line titles.

- no demo versions of any game. I never played a TG16, would be nice if I could try a level of Bonk before I downloaded it.

- no extras. No online leaderboards. No online head to head. Might be fun to play Streets of Rage online with someone wouldn't it?

- no original games.

- no demo versions of Wii games.

- the games seem too pricey. $10 for a N64 game? PS Store sells PS1 games for half that.

- Wii internal memory seems kinda small. I am down to 1700 blocks (I think I started at ~2500) after only a couple weeks of owning the system.

 

Nintendo seems to have gone quantity over quality with thier download service (not the games, as there are some very good games available). Just classic games....no extras. The other two systems have taught me to expect demo versions, online head to head, leaderboards, etc. The VC seems very bare bones vs Xbox Arcade and the PS Store.

 

PS3

+ classic PS1 games at a resonable price ($5 each compared to $10 for N64 games on the VC)

+ demo versions of upcoming PS3 games

+ a mix of classic games and original games

+ movie trailers etc. available to download. Not something I do all that often, but at least they are there.

- Small selection of games so far, especially compared to the VC.

- PS1 games for PSP should have the ability to be played on the PS3 as well. It would be great to be able to play Crash (or whatever) on both the PSP and PS3.

- not all games have demo versions. Qbert didnt have a trial version last time I checked.

- Maybe it is just my connection but the PS Store downloads take alot longer than either the VC or Xbox downloads.

 

The PS Store is very similiar to the Xbox Live Arcade in most ways. PS Store has a clunkier nav system in my opinion. Would like to see more games available to download. Are there extras available for PS3 games yet? Extra maps for Resistance for example?

 

 

Xbox 360

+ nice mix of classic and original games.

+ large selection of demo versions for 360 games.

+ many extras available for 360 games

+ TV shows and movies available to download.

+ All XLA games have a trial version. I have probably bough 6-8 games I wouldn't have if there had been no demo version.

+ online leaderboards and head to head play are nice. It is nice to be able to play Gauntlet or Smash TV with a real person. Online leaderboards let me know just how bad I am at some of these games.

- need to have a more consistent release schedule. 1-2 games a week is not much to ask for.

- 360 hard drive is small if you like to download movies or TV shows. I have 10gb left on my 360, but I only download game related stuff myself.

- some shady extra policies. It seems that there is a charge for some things that are already on the game disc. EA seems to be the biggest culprit. Extras should be stuff not available on the game disc.

 

XLA is the best of the three services in my opinion. More games would be nice.

 

Overall I enjoy downloading games on my next gen consoles. I don't mind not having the box or instruction manual.

 

I would not download full price games yet. I prefer to have the disc of Resistance or Zelda. I like to trade games with my friends and relatives.

[IronMongeR]

I like downloading new games on XBLA but to be honest, there haven't been a lot of games I've really liked. I'm waiting for Castlevania & TMNT, and possibly something like Streets of Rage/Sonic or even QUAKE in the future?!?!

[xenomorpher]

Quake would be perfect for XBLA. I usually download demos and trailers on both services. I own a decent amount of Arcade games on my 360 and downloaded Syphon Filter for my PSP on my PS3. I do miss the box and booklets time to time, but I love how when you're playing an arcade game on the 360 you can exit anytime and pick a different one without having to get off your ass.

[BydoEmpire]

I enjoy the VC system, though I still play more "real" Wii games. I didn't have a TG-16 very long, and I didn't have that many games for it anyways. So $6 to play Bonk (with a suspend point)? Definitely fun. Most of the Genny games are available on the PS2 compilation, though, and the disc is a much better deal. I did get TJ&E for VC because I never had the game, and I haven't seen it at Flea World (and it's not on the ps2 compo). But for the most part I like the service. If I had a 360 or ps3 I'd probably be downloading games for those, too, as they both have things I'd like to play, but they're not the reason to get the system, imho. It's just a nice extra feature.

Edited March 13, 2007 by BydoEmpire

[chrisbid]

ill agree with tempest about VC selection and price... with the exception of the tg16. 6 bucks for these is a great deal

 

i just wish you could transfer these to the DS. a wireless download would be pretty cool

[Ze_ro]

I've never liked the idea of digital distribution... but I think it's safe to say that none of the games on XBLA had much chance of getting released in brick & mortar stores. There are a handful of games on XBLA that I've really enjoyed, but I end up playing my full-release games far more often.

 

The VC on the Wii doesn't really interest me at all... like the rest of you, I still have all these systems around, and in most cases I already have the games too. Plus, I can usually find the actual games on eBay for cheaper than Nintendo wants to sell them to me.

 

--Zero

[AtariJr]

im actually kinda scared as sony seemed to really be fond of the idea of digital distribution instead of disks when the ps3 was starting to come from behind the curtain. i really hope this doesnt happen. im sure many of us have bought a new game for 50 bucks and hated it... therefore selling it. i dont want to not be able to sell the game. also , when the service online is dead, getting games for the system may be a matter of whats on the harddrive. many make collecting in the future harder, and make places like gamestop going out of business.

[Clint Thompson]

AtariJr - That seems to be my exact and only real issue with the downloads. I mean sure, it doesn't really matter since they are usually only 5 or 10 bucks but you do lose something within all that.

 

The fun thing about collecting is owning something physical you can show off that can increase or decrease in value and as you stated sale or trade. Alas, XBLA wasn't intended for collectors... but actual gamers instead so I can live with.

 

$5 or $10 games here and there, fine... but I don't see the day that I'll be spending $50 or $60 on a game without the ability to transfer the rights or sale the game. There's a lot of games I'll enjoy for a limited time and then want something else. The nice thing about XBLA is that when you ask you friend if they wanna play that game we got last week he won't come back with "Sorry dude, I already sold it for X game! "

[AtariJr]

AtariJr - That seems to be my exact and only real issue with the downloads. I mean sure, it doesn't really matter since they are usually only 5 or 10 bucks but you do lose something within all that.

 

The fun thing about collecting is owning something physical you can show off that can increase or decrease in value and as you stated sale or trade. Alas, XBLA wasn't intended for collectors... but actual gamers instead so I can live with.

 

$5 or $10 games here and there, fine... but I don't see the day that I'll be spending $50 or $60 on a game without the ability to transfer the rights or sale the game. There's a lot of games I'll enjoy for a limited time and then want something else. The nice thing about XBLA is that when you ask you friend if they wanna play that game we got last week he won't come back with "Sorry dude, I already sold it for X game! "

 

yea i agree. even if you could in the future transfer the game file from yoru harddrive to someone and sell it that way, the fact that id have nothing on my shelf, no game, no box art.. nothing to have in my hand , on my shelf to show off, just a system.. would be really disheartening. one of the great things about many of our collections is that they are freakin massive, and they are awe inspiring when you see all the great games on the shelf. if all that was in a harddrive it would feel like that nes library disk for the dreamcast.. you go "ooo" the first time you see it, after that its really nothing important, no pride.

Edited March 15, 2007 by AtariJr

[MegaManFan]

I've certainly spent more money on downloads for both Wii and PS3 than I have for in-store games. The only new game discs I bought in the last two months for either system were Sonic and the Secret Rings and Def Jam Icon, but with downloads I bought at least a half dozen Wii VC games over the same time period, and on the PS3 I bought Q*Bert and Flow, and would probably buy more shit if they'd add more shit I actually want.

[Bivotar]

I can only speak about VC on the Wii, but I have been playing more VC than store bought games. This really surprised me. I also own the original consoles and carts, but have long since packed them up in storage due to many "life issues". There is a convenience factor with the VC games that is appealling. No extra cords, switch boxes, or TV/monitors. BOOM, all right there ready to fire up, and I love how they stay paused when I stop playing. Sure, I wish they were cheaper, but I don't see the cost as a barrier.

[Lord Helmet]

One thing I really like about the 360 is that the downloads of all content (games/videos etc) all happen in the background, while on the Wii you have to watch Mario run across the screen while waiting.

[Starscream]

I prefer downloads. I pick up quite a few XBLA games a month and never think twice. I am not a collector so I feel this is the best way for me to get games. I would really like to see full next gen game downloads on the 360 and PS3. I think Sony has a few planned already and I am all for it. I think I was one of the few people who really really liked the Phantoms general idea. I have also found myself downloading more movies on the 360 than I thought I would. They are more pricey than Time Warners HD movies on demand, less convenient than TW, but there are less steps involved to get them. I don't rent movies at all so those are my 2 choices. I think it's cool that all 3 companies have really given this a good chance and a very good option to have entertainment easily.