Market survery shows 64% of gamers prefer physical copies

It seems that a recent study conducted in a UK-based trade magazine called MCV concluded from their sample group of over 1000 gamers that roughly 64% said they would always buy physical copies of their games where ever possible. The study then went on to gather reasons for this and hypothesize a few of their own. Chief among their possible explanations were “collectors’ syndrome” and the fear of losing digital copies. Here in SA, it would be a lot easier to understand – even paying the full whack for a new physical release might be cheaper for some people than getting online to download a 4GB+ game. Personally, I’d go with collector syndrome myself. I admit, I am part collector – there’s no way I’d have enough time in the rest of my life to play all the games I’ve collected… but I feel like I owe it to the developers to support their work. Well, that’s me. What about you?

Ho-hum. Yep, yep, not bad kid. You'll get there some day.

2 Responses to “Market survery shows 64% of gamers prefer physical copies”

1. Nimble says:

   July 8, 2010 at 9:32 PM

   If you don’t have a physical copy it’s like you only have half the game! Like a rifle without the bolt or a car without an engine
   • Matthew Vice says:

     July 12, 2010 at 11:20 AM

     I wanted to reply on Friday last week, but for some reason the system kept logging me out.

     Anyway, I feel similarly to you there. Although I have a few downloaded games, like Wipeout HD Fury, which, for some reason, I don’t feel compelled to rush out and buy on disc.

     To me, if I buy a game, particularly some of the rare PS2 games, which I was unable to buy at the time and can now only find online or by visiting the UK — when they are missing the manual or something, the I do feel like I’ve got a gun without bullets, or an incomplete set or something. Or worse, when you’re forced to take one in bad condition — what the hell do people do to their games? I’ve seen some that look like people have been giving it to their dog to play with, but then they hear that they can get R10 for it towards their rugby braai with their chinas, so they hock it at Cash Converters. Seriously, what the $^$!?