75 percent of US core gamers prefer physical copies

[Morreion]

Analysts: 75 percent of US core gamers prefer physical copies (Massively)

According to sales and marketing analyst NPD Group, 75 percent of American core gamers prefer physical game copies to digital distribution. The firm surveyed 7,900 core gamers to arrive at its conclusion. It defines "core gamer" as someone who plays at least five hours worth of action, adventure, fighting, flight, MMO, racing, RTS, RPG, shooter, or sports games per week on PCs, Microsoft or Sony consoles, or Macs.

The firm concludes that 34 million US gamers fall under its core definition, with the average core gamer playing 22 hours per week.


This is interesting. I would have figured at least half of gamers were downloading games by now- I guess because I do I like having hard copies of games, but I long ago ran out of space to keep them. I have kept a small amount of game disks with classics like UO, DAoC, SWG and WoW (not to mention stuff like Homeworld, Total Annihilation, Masters of Orion II) but now I'm happy to purchase downloads- and I'm a big Steam fan, even if it takes me a long time to get around to playing those sale games I buy!

[dortmunder]

I generally buy Collector's Editions because I like the cool stuff that comes with them. Nothing to do with a hard copy really.

I'll often buy a Digital Download and a CE if available, and not even open the CE

Dark Souls 2 CE didn't even come with a install disc, it came with a piece of paper with a Steam key ><

[Regolyth]

Well, at least they got their core gamer right, for the most part. They didn't include mobile devices, which is great. Although I think that core gamers probably play a little more than five hours a week. More like ten. I don't consider myself a core gamer anymore. Although, I have probably played enough games in my life that I have time built up that I could not play for the next five years and still be considered a gamer.

5 hours a week? That's today's "core gamer"? No wonder MMO quality has been dropping like a rock over the past 10 years. Now it makes sense why they cater to the casual gamer so much. Interesting info.

That's a quote from the comments. I'm inclined to agree.

May 21, 2014 9:04:11 GMT -5 dortmunder said:

I generally buy Collector's Editions because I like the cool stuff that comes with them. Nothing to do with a hard copy really.

I'm with you there. If a CE is available, I'll usually get it. The thing I like most about CE's are the soundtracks; I'm a big audiophile. Specialized USB drives are a nice thing that usually come with them as well. I really like my Raynor's dog tags that came with my CE edition of Star Craft II.

I like physical copies of games, but I'm starting to enjoy the digital downloads. I just feel like if I can't hold the game in my hands, then at some point someone could say that I don't own it and I can't download and play it again.

[Laethaka]

I like when they have big fold-out maps or art to put on the wall, but ever since the box size overhaul in the early 2000's the manuals haven't seemed worth it. I still have the art poster that came with DAoC. One of the last physicals I bought, my friend and I each got copies of Dungeon Siege 2 at GameStop and making fun of the crappy included comic was more fun than slogging the horrible first area (otherwise a good game!). Nowadays neither of my computers even have an internal disc drive.

ugh, 5 hours a week. Kids these days.

[Regolyth]

Before Collector's Editions, they had preorder stuff you got, specifically I think at Electronics Botique. I preordered (or reserved as it was called then) my copy of Metroid Prime on the Gamecube. With that came this t-shirt that looked kind of like a mechanic's shirt, but read "Samus" on the name tag and had some "logo-style" writing on the back. I still have, and wear, that shirt to this day. It's held up remarkably well.