Opinions on Game Streaming vs Download/Physical

[The Badger (née Poignion)]

I keep hearing that it's gonna take over the industry some day. I really hopenit doesnt come to that because if downloads stop being available and physical media is dead and gone I may consider stopping gaming. Its just too "controlled" if its streamed. Oh and goodbye offline play.

I do wish we were still in the time of physical games, hell I still buy some old physical PC games when I'm out shopping sometimes.

[FINAL_Bₒₛₛ]

The fact that Streaming requires at least 5Mbps upload speed, it will be difficult to take the industry. The majority of people don't have access to that speed because of different reasons. It will take a lot of time.

Meanwhile in the console audience use the retail stores as the primary way to get games, exchange or sell.

[sage2001]

I really don't like the idea. Having my game out of reach in some other state or country doesn't sound too comforting. Plus there's the fact that streaming takes up too many resources for people with data caps.

[Kargor]

"The industry" talks a lot. But then, if you look at it, you'll notice that really only 1-2 companies are talking -- and they just happen to be the companies that sell the stuff they are claiming will be the next big revolution.

It doesn't matter whether EA is selling "games as a serivce", or NVidia trying to sell streaming games. They are a side note in gaming history.

[TwinEdgedBastard]

I personally still feel icky for downloading most of my games instead of buying physical copies. If I were to stream my games I would feel physically ill.

My reasoning is due to how I don't like seeing games die. I'm one of the few people that own a copy of Darkspore, a game that I can no longer play despite being singleplayer because EA shutdown the servers which contained a lot of the games content. If companies were to start releasing stream only games, then they would all basically be on life support since at anytime, the streaming service could shutdown or the company could just be like "hey, we don't make money of this game, lets just remove it".

I would prefer if publishers leaned towards a Netflix for games. Idealy for old abandonware and other games no longer being sold, with the option to purchase any game to keep.

Also streaming games would suck gameplay wise due to input lag.

[Cassidy]

I wouldn’t support it. I enjoy modding my games and without access to the game files, I can’t mod them.

Plus, there are still many people with slow or capped Internet connections.

[Mr. Megidramon]

I don't like streaming things, i like having them on hand.

Which is why I have a 9TB raid array in my computer.

[sage2001]

Originally posted by veryboredgamer:

I don't like streaming things, i like having them on hand.

Which is why I have a 9TB raid array in my computer.

DAMN

[Flika1999]

Personally I would prefer a download or physical copy. That way I don't rely on a strong connection. I have friends who couldn't game if they needed a great connection, because they live in rural areas and only get around 2.5Mbps. If streaming is the future of gaming, gaming can't be in their future.

[aG| Wardog]

I'd much rather download or buy a physical copy. Though even downloading games is getting less ideal since it's starting to become buying a license, rather than the game itself, which means that the company can revoke your license at any time if they feel like it. I'm not too keen on that tbh.

[Dominic]

I like Physical the most, Then Download, Not going to touch Streaming.

[Hellsteeth30]

Streaming is right out. Not that it would happen, there's many a person who still doesn't have access to broadband or still has to use ADSL. In fact our respective armed forces and some people out in the wilderness have to use satellite internet.

I prefer physical but in PC land that's growing more difficult. In fact you have to build your own PC to even get a DVD/Blu-ray drive these days.

If it comes down to leaving the life or streaming, I'll be gone. I don't even like live streams of other people playing stuff.

[Gus the Crocodile]

Originally posted by TwinEdgedBastard:

My reasoning is due to how I don't like seeing games die. I'm one of the few people that own a copy of Darkspore, a game that I can no longer play despite being singleplayer because EA shutdown the servers which contained a lot of the games content. If companies were to start releasing stream only games, then they would all basically be on life support since at anytime, the streaming service could shutdown or the company could just be like "hey, we don't make money of this game, lets just remove it".

I would prefer if publishers leaned towards a Netflix for games. Idealy for old abandonware and other games no longer being sold, with the option to purchase any game to keep.

Isn’t “a Netflix for games” precisely the kind of thing you’re worrying about in the first paragraph though? Distribution reliant on a centralised streaming service that could always remove items or shut down entirely?

[TwinEdgedBastard]

Originally posted by Gus the Crocodile:

Originally posted by TwinEdgedBastard:

My reasoning is due to how I don't like seeing games die. I'm one of the few people that own a copy of Darkspore, a game that I can no longer play despite being singleplayer because EA shutdown the servers which contained a lot of the games content. If companies were to start releasing stream only games, then they would all basically be on life support since at anytime, the streaming service could shutdown or the company could just be like "hey, we don't make money of this game, lets just remove it".

I would prefer if publishers leaned towards a Netflix for games. Idealy for old abandonware and other games no longer being sold, with the option to purchase any game to keep.

Isn’t “a Netflix for games” precisely the kind of thing you’re worrying about in the first paragraph though? Distribution reliant on a centralised streaming service that could always remove items or shut down entirely?

I was referring to something closer to Microsofts gamepass where you have access to a bunch of games to download for a monthly fee rather than have them being streamed, as well as an option to buy said games. Rethinking my previous statement, I guess streaming games would be fine as long as the option to buy and download still exists, though I have my doubts that companies would do this with every game.

[mikel3113]

I think it will work for current console gamers, but not PC gamers. I have an Nvidia Shield and Shield tablet and the streaming service Geforce Now they have is pretty solid ...... but it's for use on your TV or tablet and with a controller. My friends and wife like it, but I just prefer PC gaming. I even have some of the same games on PC that is offered through the service, however I would always play them on here instead.

Now If they opened it up to run on my PC then maybe, and save games work already and if they could firgure out multiplayer ( maybe have haven't used it in a minute) then still maybe. I'm one who buys the Vinyl or CD+ MP3 download combo for all my music because I still want to own the music. Just not for me, but I bet it will catch on at least to some degree at least with console gamers.

[🍋 Lemonfed 🍋]

still prefer downloading the games in order to play them.

If they came up with games that had so much realistic graphics that no home computer can run then maybe I'd say that playing a streamed game could be interesting in some case.