How Much Is Too Much For A Digital Download?

[fastbilly1]

Im with many of you in that $30 is the most, and its gotta be a good game on Steam or GoG. The most I will spend on XBLA/Wiiware is $15.

[SpoonyBard]

All depends if it has DRM or not

Totally agreed.

The thing that bothers me about getting games off XBLA is that one day those servers will be down and my license will be worthless. If I paid $60 for a game license I would expect to have access to that game forever, not until the server goes down and I lose my digital copy. If all games were like this, i'd drastically cut down on new game purchases and probably only be willing to spend about $10-$15 on a game ($20 if I was really anticipating the title, and knew for a fact I would enjoy the game). If, let's say, Microsoft went to the cloud for their next system and Sony didn't - I wouldn't even bother to get the new Microsoft system.

I wouldn't pay anything for it, unless it is an online only game that won't last more than a few years anyway

Agreed on this. I don't play MMO's, but when the game is only relevant as long as the server is up, what does it matter if it's physical or digital?

If it is a download but it has no DRM and no restrictions whatsoever, I would consider paying up to $30 for it

If there were no DRM, and I were able to freely make copies of games, I would reduce my spending to $1-$5, $10 for anticipated titles. Value would decline far too rapidly without DRM. If piracy were nonexistent, I could picture myself paying up to $30 for DRM free games, but the only reason I purchase games now is the fact that I like having tangible copies with artwork that work on the original system. If I have to pay to go to a publishers site to download a copy of a game that has no inherent value when I can get the exact same thing from another site, except its free - what's the point?

[Inazuma]

If I have to pay to go to a publishers site to download a copy of a game that has no inherent value when I can get the exact same thing from another site, except its free - what's the point?

To support the company! I dunno about you, but supporting the companies I like is very important to me. I don't care if there is a free pirated version available. If they made a great game that was DRM free, for a fair price, I want to give them money. I want to support this and encourage them to keep doing it.

[Hobie-wan]

If I have to pay to go to a publishers site to download a copy of a game that has no inherent value when I can get the exact same thing from another site, except its free - what's the point?

If you enjoyed playing the game, it has value. Free is cool, but don't be a jerk with entitlement issues.

[Wombatula]

If I have to pay to go to a publishers site to download a copy of a game that has no inherent value when I can get the exact same thing from another site, except its free - what's the point?

Ima and Obie are both correct a thousand times over. Your post comes across as not only being an ass, but being an ass who expects to be given what others pay or work for. How would you feel if some thief walked by and thought the same thing about your car or tv?

[GSZX1337]

Can we not have this argument again?

[BoringSupreez]

Can we not have this argument again?

No, this is one of our favorites. We need to have it every few months or we start feeling deprived.

[o.pwuaioc]

Can we not have this argument again?

No, this is one of our favorites. We need to have it every few months or we start feeling deprived.

Along with "what's the best game of all time" and "define platformer".

[SpoonyBard]

If you enjoyed playing the game, it has value. Free is cool, but don't be a jerk with entitlement issues.

Blah, that's not what I meant. I meant as it stands, games have an inherent, monetary value. When you remove the physical medium, and don't implement some kind of protection (like DRM) the game loses all monetary value. Yes. It costs money to make, and I believe the developers should get their share. But it removes the entire collectors standpoint. If games are simple enough to copy and paste, there are no more used games. There is no trading, there is no collecting aspect to gaming - which is a big part of it for me. With this system you're basically renting, and if I wanted to play games without owning them, i'd just use Gamefly.

To support the company! I dunno about you, but supporting the companies I like is very important to me. I don't care if there is a free pirated version available. If they made a great game that was DRM free, for a fair price, I want to give them money. I want to support this and encourage them to keep doing it.

I agree completely with this. We just appear do have a different opinion on a fair price. Considering the medium I mentioned that I would be willing to pay $1-10, or more depending on how they implemented it. For DRM games I also mentioned that I was willing to pay more, because these games have some kind of value, some actual means of ownership. I consider myself a collector, and items with practically infinite print runs, no extras, and no resale value aren't fun to collect. So I don't see a point in buying that. Not to say that I would pirate everything instead, just saying that I wouldn't even bother with that medium.


Not intending to have an argument about this, but hopefully this clears up my post.

[Hobie-wan]

Not intending to have an argument about this, but hopefully this clears up my post.

Well all righty then. The post came across on the wrong side of that fence.