How do PC game discs work?

[Madluri]

Hi I'm pretty new to PC gamng. I wanted to buy a new game. I'm not sure if I should buy the download or the disc. With the disc do I also get a game code, so I can download it too? And do I need to insert the disc in every time I want to play the game? Thanks

[Enderman]

Steam.

[Speedbird]

Depends on the game. Most of the time you get a code and don't have to insert the disc every time. I would go with the download if you have decent internet.

[Madluri]

The game I want isn't on steam. "The crew"

[Semper]

it's essentially the same. If you buy the digital version, it's tied to an account, I.E. Steam, Origin, Uplay, ETC. You usually don't need to activate it with a key, there are exceptions to this rule, however.

If you buy a boxed version, you get a disc with the core game files loaded onto it (which would eliminate download times, if you have slower internet speeds) as well as a key somewhere on the ox to activate the product. Digital distribution is considered the norm for PC gaming these days. In recent history, the only boxed game i've bought was Diablo III

[Semper]

The game I want isn't on steam. "The crew"

I believe The Crew is a Ubisoft title, yes?

If so, check Uplay. http://uplay.ubi.com/

Also, isn't The Crew due to be released later this year?

Edit:

Yeah, it's still in BETA.

http://thecrew-game.ubi.com/portal/en-US/beta/index.aspx

And it also appears that it is on steam.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/241560/ However, keep in mind that it's basically just a shell to open uplay.

[TeddyMcSwag]

There are arguments to be made both for and against both disks and downloads.

For disks: you get a copy that you can share with your friends, carry over to new systems, you get a manual, a chance to sell it for some money n the future.

Against disk: the disk might break, more nconvinent, you might lose the disk, often slightly more expensive, need to buy it in a store/pay for shipping.

For download: continent, cheaper, no need for worry about damage.

Against download: no physical copy's of your game, you need internet.

There are more arguments, but this should give a rough idea of the pros and cons of the methods. It's really up to personal preference.

[LancerBG]

The game I want isn't on steam. "The crew"

 

you can preorder it on steam.

[MeFakeScientist]

 

 a key somewhere on the ox to activate the product.

Wow! Where can I get my game delivered by Ox! 

 

Sorry...

[Semper]

Wow! Where can I get my game delivered by Ox! 

 

Sorry...

Gamefly has a new Ox delivery service... Didn't ya know?

[Grrizz]

Whichevers cheapest/most convenient, going to the store and buying a game (and disc drive ;P) isn't convenient for me and is often more expensive so I pretty much always download them these days. On the odd occasion I might get a physical collectors edition if I really like the game/series just to get a physical bonus but even then most bonuses these days are in-game content so its unnecessary.

 

...

For disks: you get a copy that you can share with your friends, carry over to new systems, you get a manual, a chance to sell it for some money n the future.

...

Most modern games still require you to register your key with an online DRM so they aren't resellable anyway, the DRMs (Steam, Origin, etc.) account will be available on other systems and its not uncommon for the manual to be on the disk or just a download to cut costs.

These days a disk is basically just a way of validating taking up shelf space or slightly more convenient if you are stuck on dial-up (I say slightly because most games seem to have multi GB day one patches now lol).

[threadysparrow]

optical media is almost dead anyways. I KNOW I'M AN ASSHOLE FOR BRINGING IT UP BUT LISTEN!

 

It saves the publisher a lot of money by going digital. And whenever a company learns how to save money, things tend to follow that path in the future. The demand for physical media's still there, but it's not much and it costs them money.

[Semper]

optical media is almost dead anyways. I KNOW I'M AN ASSHOLE FOR BRINGING IT UP BUT LISTEN!

 

It saves the publisher a lot of money by going digital. And whenever a company learns how to save money, things tend to follow that path in the future. The demand for physical media's still there, but it's not much and it costs them money.

I don't know if I can agree with that. Boxed versions often include some extras completely free.

Diablo III (the only boxed version of a game i've bought in recent history) was the same price on Disc/Digital, the boxed (standard version) version included a designed notepad (insignificant, yes, but does cost something to manufacture and package), three guest gameplay time for Diablo 3 (This was before starter editions) and two for WoW (again, before starter editions - gave you actual game time beyond what the demo allowed), and a booklet that gave you info on the base characters and gameplay. None of that is really cost-saving.

http://i.imgur.com/pasKEP6.jpg

[threadysparrow]

I don't know if I can agree with that. Boxed versions often include some extras completely free.

Diablo III (the only boxed version of a game i've bought in recent history) was the same price on Disc/Digital, the boxed (standard version) version included a designed notepad (insignificant, yes, but does cost something to manufacture and package), three guest gameplay time for Diablo 3 (This was before starter editions) and two for WoW (again, before starter editions - gave you actual game time beyond what the demo allowed), and a booklet that gave you info on the base characters and gameplay. None of that is really cost-saving.

http://i.imgur.com/pasKEP6.jpg

They sell the games for the same price because that's the market value of the games. That's what people will pay for them. They make more revenue from digital distribution than from disc. This is why they're moving to digital. They wouldn't just move to digital distribution for no reason. Blizzard likes to entice people with their games because the games are such a large phenomenon that if they were to go digital only, they would lose a segment of their players since not everyone has the bandwidth to download their games. If COD were as large of a hit on PC as it is on console, then you would see a lot of disc copies of that game too. 

[Semper]

They sell the games for the same price because that's the market value of the games. That's what people will pay for them. They make more revenue from digital distribution than from disc. This is why they're moving to digital. They wouldn't just move to digital distribution for no reason. Blizzard likes to entice people with their games because the games are such a large phenomenon that if they were to go digital only, they would lose a segment of their players since not everyone has the bandwidth to download their games. If COD were as large of a hit on PC as it is on console, then you would see a lot of disc copies of that game too. 

In that case, how could optical media be almost dead?

And, how are all the extras included (notepad, guest keys printed on fiberboard paper and the full-color print booklet) cost saving methods?

I won't deny that Digital Distribution is the future, it's cost saving, and all around more effective than physical media, but Much of the U.S. (one of the largest markets of gamers) still lags behind in bandwidth capability. I know in my area, I pay a hefty premium for the best service we have available, $70/month for (hereforth, all numbers will be Mbps) 15/1... and i'm far from what you'd call rural. Aside from that, it's $20 for 4/1 and $10 1/0.5... 15.1 is tolerable, but far from optimal. Anything else below that is effectively useless for digital distribution.

[threadysparrow]

In that case, how could optical media be almost dead?

And, how are all the extras included (notepad, guest keys printed on fiberboard paper and the full-color print booklet) cost saving methods?

I won't deny that Digital Distribution is the future, it's cost saving, and all around more effective than physical media, but Much of the U.S. (one of the largest markets of gamers) still lags behind in bandwidth capability. I know in my area, I pay a hefty premium for the best service we have available, $70/month for (hereforth, all numbers will be Mbps) 15/1... and i'm far from what you'd call rural. Aside from that, it's $20 for 4/1 and $10 1/0.5... 15.1 is tolerable, but far from optimal. Anything else below that is effectively useless for digital distribution.

because when you make something cheaper and if more people would rather just download it than go to the store to buy it, it's only a matter of time before things shift. I think it's sad because those with low bandwidths will suffer, but it's what is happening. There are many games now that don't even have a disc version. Most of the disc games you have to buy on Amazon and some of them don't even have a disc, they just have the CD key. It's a sad reality that is going to make disc copies almost non existent in the next 5 or so years.