How Much Is Too Much For A Digital Download?

[CFFJR]

I have to say, if ALL new games went to digital distribution only, there's a good chance I'd stop buying new games. In general at least.

Having said that though, I guarantee there would be at least a couple of releases I'd consider must have, and I'm not sure what I'd be willing to pay for them. Paying for downloads kinda pisses me off in general, so I guess it would just depend on my tolerance for the situation and how badly I want whatever game it is.

[Xeogred]

That makes me want to say, I don't mind digital downloads when it comes to PC games, old (GoG), or new off Steam or whatever. But when it comes to consoles I'd much rather have the real deal and the original hard copies, especially over straight ports on XBLA, PSN, VC, and the PC or whatever.

[Bradtemple87]

Arcana Heart 3 is $30, but this price covers a full retail quality game. I think that is about as steep a price I would justify.

[Inazuma]

All depends if it has DRM or not.

If there is anything that restricts how I can move, copy and use the file, then I wouldn't pay anything for it, unless it is an online only game that won't last more than a few years anyway. For example, an MMO type game that is download only with DRM I would consider paying for, but anything else that has a single player or offline aspect to it I refuse to pay for.

If it is a download but it has no DRM and no restrictions whatsoever, I would consider paying up to $30 for it, depending on the quality of the game and how much content there is. GOG on the PC is doing downloads right but unfortunately it doesn't have many games I like, and the prices are a bit on the expensive size, if you compare to buying a used copy of a physical version for the same game.

If we reach a time where every game is a download with DRM, I will probably pick one MMO game to play and not buy anything else. We are heading in this direction, sadly.

[Purkeynator]

I think about $15 is the limit for me. I've bought very few games for that much, usually I will wait for a sale and try to get it for $10 or below. Typically I buy my retail games used at Gamestop for around $17.99 each and then use a buy 2 get 1 free deal plus 10% off with Edge card to get 3 games for around $11 each. If I am not willing to pay more than that for a game with a disc, box, and manual, I sure as hell don't want to pay more than that for a file on my hard drive.

Seeing Deathsmiles II and Arcana Heart 3 come out for $30 really dissapoints me. I was interested in those games but it will be a cold day in hell before I will pay $30 for a digital download.

[irixith]

How much would you be willing to spend if all new games were to suddenly go download-only?

The same that I'm willing to spend on physical copies of course! My limit tends to run between $19.99 and $29.99 depending on how bad the "want" factor is. The most I've paid is $49.99, and I've only done that for each of the lego games, and most recently, The Witcher 2. (GOG's pre-order bonuses were all simply too good to pass up.)

Basically it depends on how much I want the game.

[Anayo]

I've yet to pay more than $10 for a downloadable game without a box or instruction manual.

[Weekend_Warrior]

But if I didn't have a choice, I'd pay $20-$30 for a full, modern-era game. And $5-$20 for XBox Live Arcade, WiiWare, and Virtual Console type games, depending on what it is and if it's an original game or re-release and whatnot.

Oh man, I liked when XBLA games were $10 max a few years ago, and now they're all $15. Next thing you know they'll ALL be $20 starting out.

Yeah I know. And you're probably right

[o.pwuaioc]

I have to say, if ALL new games went to digital distribution only, there's a good chance I'd stop buying new games. In general at least.

I'd think we'd see a rise in the indie gamer far more than what it's at now. We're already seeing a rise in popularity among 2d platformers. Sure the fanboys will download the newest FPS, but that will only be a fraction of the gaming population. I think we're due for a major shift.

[BoringSupreez]

I'm ok with spending $10 or less on a download. $15 hurts, and I'll only do it if downloading is the only option. $20 is out of the question.