Owning a game and owning a license (to use) are essentially the same thing from a consumer pov.jfunk wrote:That's more of a botched DRM concern than a physical product concern, as you mention. In that respect, the DRM-free installer you get from either AH or GOG is just the same. The physical disc changes nothing about your "ownership" however. You still only "own" a license to use those old games, no different than today. The company's logistical ability to enforce their right to revoke that license is more difficult of course, but again the same thing applies to the stand-alone installer you get for Grimrock.Crise wrote:I always like something substantial for my cash if possible, because then there is no qualms about whether I actually own the game or not (ie. if digital distro goes under... where are my games then?), that said I have number of Steam and Origin bound games from retail, which essentially mean I now have stack of game DVD's that are basically only good for wall decor. I even have a few I never inserted into the DVD drive (just downloaded from steam instead).
For my money, it's FAR less likely that Valve will disappear and unceremoniously take all my game licenses with them than it is I will still have a working CD in my attic somewhere 10 years from now. I can't even tell you how many old games I bought multiple copies of over the years when I wanted to play them again. Simply can't keep track of them all over a lifetime nor be bothered to dedicate the space required. I think I bought Master of Orion 2 about 5 or 6 times. Almost every game I own on GOG is at least a 2nd if not 3rd purchase.
While it is unlikely that Valve will disappear indeed, with a solid proof of purchase (i keep the receipts in the boxes) I can more easily get my license (to play the game) verified and access reinstated (by going to the publisher and saying "Oi, your digital retailer just went bust I want my game back") in the off chance that were to happen. I think I can keep track of a physical box better than an Email, which is also digital, or a paper slip (as proof of purchase).
Edit: Also the ToS of the digital distro may not be same as the terms of the Eula, meaning if by some miracle, f.ex. GOG decided my account were to be deleted... that alone does not revoke a license acquired by purchasing the game. Hence the need to proof that you "own" the game would remain.
