Quote: Originally Posted by akathatoneguy No worries, I asked for it! You actually had a lot of well-thought out reasons, and a lot of it comes down to personal preference, which I can't dispute. If I may play devil's advocate on a few of your points, though: #1- Games have been $50+ for a long time. I remember NES games were $50, and most of them could be beat within a few hours or less. #2- I personally don't think we'll be looking at JUST digital downloads for a long, long time. The last time I looked up the stats, something like 20% of the United States does not have access to broadband internet (even if they wanted to have it), mostly in rural areas. Furthermore, if they stop selling games in stores, stores will stop carrying their systems. Whichever system became the first to do so would have to have massive balls, because if (for instance) MS decided to go all digital and Wal-Mart said "eff you then, we're not selling your systems if you won't have us selling your games", it would be a massive advantage to Sony. #3- That's another thing I don't see happening, at least not in the next generation of games. As far as the extra stuff (achievements, entertainment apps, DLC) I would say that you don't have to participate if you don't want to. Of course, with achievements you have no choice...I guess you can turn off alerts so it doesn't interrupt your gaming, but you will still be earning them regardless. And yeah, it sucks when story-based DLC comes out which is overpriced, but I personally just don't buy stuff on Day 1. Even stuff like Dawnguard I will just wait on until it's on sale. As far as game length, like I said, I remember the NES days of paying $50 for a 2-3 hour game (or at least, having your parents pay that much, ha ha). I'm always surprised when people say that games today don't have the value that they used to, since with every generation they have gotten longer and longer while prices have stayed right around $50-60. Anyway though, a lot of your points are very good ones (I miss manuals, too!) and many of them are about personal preference- which is "to each their own" territory. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

1 - Agree 100% but considering the technology, the console's power, resources, etc., it just feels like you're paying more for less. Maybe, its because of all the DLC, Complete/GOTY/Gold editions, etc. It just feels like as a consumer im paying more but getting less. Its probably just me but I do agree with what you said.

2 - Agree in regards to say, Microsoft going all digital but not Sony or vice versa but I think that there's still a chance that it could happen with Xbox 3 and PS4 because when you actually make a list of positives and negatives, the positives far outweigh the negatives for Sony, Microsoft and developers/publishers. If not next gen, then 100% with Xbox 4 and PS5.

By going all digital, the cost is dramatically reduced for the companies in so many ways. No manufacturing (except consoles) of discs, cases, no printing of manuals, no distribution costs, etc. Then add in that in order to play the game, you simply buy it at full price or you dont. Companies would never ever have to reduce the prices of the games because there would be no reason for them to do so. It would eliminate them losing money from someone buying a used game instead of brand new.

With games being focused more on online gameplay day by day, the reality of companies going all digital is getting closer and closer. Look at Sony, they have that "day one digital" promotion or whatever its called. People will buy the available games via DD.

As for stores not carrying consoles, it wouldnt matter because with online, you can easily order via your PC and never leave your house. As for the 20% that dont have access to broadband internet/Fios/Optimum, etc., it wouldnt matter to the companies because the money saved from going all digital at worse for them, breaks even.

The number one focus on gaming nowadays is online. There's a reason for that. Companies, developers and publishers know what they're doing. They're basically preparing everyone for when the day does come that gaming goes all digital.

The worse thing that I hate about gamertags is with online passes and downloading roster updates, they can only be used on the gamertag that downloaded them. You can play DLC and the games using different gamertags because the content is licensed to the console, not the gamertag but in those other instances, its the opposite.

As for games nowadays not having the value, the cost of the actual game $50 to $60 between the NES days and now are the same and while the games nowadays have far superior visuals, etc., that doesnt make them better or more valuable than the old school games. Take any game from this generation, keep it sealed as a collector's item and there's still no way that it would be half of the value of an factory sealed SNES classic like Chrono Trigger.

In twenty years from now, this generation of games will at most be worth the same price now where as old classics will still be worth more. So while the technology and whatnot have advanced a lot, the games nowadays just dont hold that "I have to keep this game forever" sentimental feeling.

A lot of it is own personal opinion. I used to be a hardcore gamer back in the day. Now, im casual. The games themselves are still for the most part fun, entertaining and enjoyable but everything else around the games arent.

Anyway, like you said, "to each his/her own". I'm not speaking for anyone but me but I personally will be done with gaming once 360/PS3 is dead. My interest is nowhere near what it used to be and more stuff that I prefer gets taken away, the more my interest becomes less and less.

In the end, im in the minority who prefers the SNES/GEN era out of them all. But again, to each his/her own.