That's a nice comparison, but the thing about books is that there are book readers who don't even know how to use a computer or a tablet and don't care to learn. Not that that's a bad thing, but the point is there's a pretty big difference between having a physical book in your hands and some electronic screen device, even if it's an e-reader.TheSwartz wrote:One thing I think of is the market for books.
10 years ago, everyone was predicting that digital books would entirely replace physical books. Yet, after a rapid and dramatic drop in physical sales, this leveled off with a large chunk of consumers still preferring to read physical books. What I've read in articles documenting this is, we currently have this steady state; with certain things published as digital only, but a lot of new books are selling at some ratio, like 80:20 - digital vs. physical. And, the publishers are continuing to print because there is enough demand to continue justifying it. And, from what I've read, this isn't expected to change anytime soon.
Similarly, there are nichè books that are almost entirely sold in physical form still (or at least sold at a 1:1 digital version with the physical version). An example would be tabletop RPG books. i.e. "D&D". And specifically all of the higher production value stuff, not the gazillion indie print stuff. These books are laid out in a way that's most appreciated in a large, physical format. These are often collectible. Plus, old grognards just want their hard-cover books dammit! Not the greatest comparison, but this makes me think of things like Limited Run games.
Lastly, think of books sold purely for display purposes. Like coffee table books, or art books, etc. Or how the manga publishers know that if they print the same issue, with 4 different covers, that many fans will feel compelled to "collect them all". All of this is similar to the Collector's Editions we see in games as a way to get you to give them more money, but in return give those fans a way to obtain a coveted physical product. However, look at the Fire Emblem 30th Anniversary Edition just announced for the Switch. It's a nearly perfect collector set except... you just get a digital code to download the actual game... such a bummer!
I'm not quite sure how these observations translate to video games. Not the greatest "apples to apples" comparison of media formats. But, I hope it's encouraging for physical media to stay, in some form, for a while longer. But, I'm not counting on it for the long-term... I think we should appreciate what we have, while we have it.
But with videogames there's not going to be any difference in the gameplay regardless if it's a downloaded game or one or stored on a physical cartridge or disk. You can't say your disk version looks better or feels different than someone else's downloaded version just because it's on physical media. The only exceptions are 1) The pure nostalgia of inserting physical media into your gaming computer or console and 2) If we're talking about the difference in gameplay and graphics between physical media on its original hardware vs. digital downloads of the same classic games on newer hardware via emulation or HD remakes.
What I like about physical media is
- I can keep the game as long as I want. It doesn't matter if my console spontaneously combusts. As long as my game carts or disks don't get damaged I can always repair or get another console.
- I can sell the games I don't really like. Back when I was a kid my brother would sell some of his (and sometimes mine, little stinker) games and use the money to buy a better game.
- There are many (used) games I can still buy on physical media without having to buy a new console or resorting to piracy. But that's not the same with downloadables. For an example, I have a Wii...