How many people cares for physical copies?

[bakauchuujin]

I am a huge fan of having things physically rather than only having it digitally and as such I am a huge fan of being able to buy visual novels physically. One thing that I am wondering about is how many people are like me and care for physical copies vs those who only buy digitally or mainly buy digitally. I know the poll isn't going to give a good representation of the visual novel community in general, but figured I might as well make one as I think seeing some numbers would be interesting. It would also be nice to hear arguments people have for why they prefere physical copies or why they prefere digital copies.

Edited October 18, 2018 by bakauchuujin

[Dergonu]

You set the thread to poll only content- if you do that people can't comment. |дﾟ) Fixed it for you. I take it you didn't want it that way, seeing as you ask for people's opinions. (/ω＼)

I love physicals, though I don't buy them too often for a few reasons. 1) Shipping tends to be as expensive as the item, if not more, so I can only afford physicals now and then. I tend to just pick the games I really like because of that. 2) I love special editions. If it's literally just a box and the CD and nothing more, I probably won't get it. I like artbooks, drama CDs etc to come with the physical so there's a bit more to it. 3) Norway sucks. There's a bunch of games I can't import due to Norway's laws, so I can't get all the physicals I want. (Like anything from Clock Up etc.) Have to stick with digital games in those cases.

[bakauchuujin]

15 minutes ago, Dergonu said:

You set the thred to poll only content- if you do that people can't comment. |дﾟ) Fixed it for you. I take it you didn't want it that way, seeing as you ask for people's opinions

Ye screwed up, not used to doing polls.

15 minutes ago, Dergonu said:

Norway sucks. There's a bunch of games I can't import due to Norway's laws, so I can't get all the physicals I want. (Like anything from Clock Up etc.) Have to stick with digital games in those cases.

Btw I have imported things from Clock Up, eroge sex... and euphoria.

Edited October 18, 2018 by bakauchuujin

[Kiwi]

I like physical, it's nice to have a collection to look at. Physical also feels more intimate, if that makes sense (not in the lewd way lol). Digital is usually more convenient and cheap though, which tends to be a priority for me. Kinda depends on how much I want something on my shelf.

[Dergonu]

11 minutes ago, bakauchuujin said:

Btw I have imported things from Clock Up, eroge sex... and euphoria.

Yeah, I have a couple of hardcore games too. But, the laws in norway do technically say that even fictional rape etc is illegal, which is why I don't want to import too many games like that. The chance of it being confiscated and it actually becoming an issue is like, 1%, but it's still not a fun risk to take. That being said I did just import Legend of the Overfiend last week, so I guess I only think that sometimes, lol.

[snowbell55]

I used to not really be bothered by if a copy was physical, but now I've decided I want to start a collection of physical copies and I'm going to start buying and collecting those if they are available, though (like Dergonu said) that's usually if they have extras that make it worthwhile like a soundtrack or an artbook or something else. If it's just a disc and reversible cover then I think I'd prefer more goodies (this is a big reason why I'm not quite as sold on the hard copy of ef: a fairy tale of the two). Also, I want to focus on the VNs I really care about, and not just go for "it's physical therefore buy" which will mean a smaller collection but that's okay. I also don't quite like the ones that are more overtly sexual: Snow Sakura's for example, I wanted, but found that it has one of the heroines pictured in a more NSFW position/situation and I'd prefer to avoid that if possible. 

I do think digital is more convenient - it takes up less (physical) space and if it's on Steam it's easier to use and download. Also it's just a line in the Steam library so noone would be the wiser as to what it actually is unlike if it was like Snow Sakura and sitting on the shelf, but there's something about having it in your hand and holding it, and staring at it on your shelf that is appealing. Plus, I really really enjoy this medium and I figure that buying the ones that do come out in English will hopefully help convince devs and localizers to bring over more. 

Edited October 18, 2018 by snowbell55

[Hetzer123]

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Edited October 2, 2019 by Hetzer123

[bakauchuujin]

6 minutes ago, Dergonu said:

Yeah, I have a couple of hardcore games too. But, the laws in norway do technically say that even fictional rape etc is illegal, which is why I don't want to import too many games like that. The chance of it being confiscated and it actually becoming an issue is like, 1%, but it's still not a fun risk to take. That being said I did just import Legend of the Overfiend last week, so I guess I only think that sometimes, lol.

Well I just find those kinds of laws to be stupid and as such I don't care about them. For instance it is not enforced with things like game of thrones which contains rape due to the pure stupidity of banning game of thrones even though it breaks the rule. Also having looked at the norwegian obscenity laws it seems like those laws are so broad that many ecchi manga/anime breaks it as well as lots of literary works, this is regarding their law against minors in porn which pretty much include chacters under 18 years or who look younger in sexually revealing situations (don't have to have sex) which both apply to drawings and written text. Unless they can define laws that aren't broken openly on a regular basis due to how broad they are I will not care for laws that aren't related to actual humans getting harmed. If they want me to follow a law the least they should do is to make it specific enough that there aren't multiple mainstream titles that breaks it.

[Plk_Lesiak]

16 minutes ago, Hetzer123 said:

Most of the time, I avoid physical for entertainment media because physical price are relatively expensive, lack of space, and strict laws against any controversial content.

Aye, similar case here, minus the laws (they're not as strict and no one enforces them). I couldn't possibly afford buying physical copies most of the time and I have no space for them whatsoever. Plus there are actually very few VN for which I could possibly want them (just Flowers and Yurirei probably). In general, I'm very happy with the conveniences of digital releases and would quite likely keep everything on Steam if I could, neetly sorted, reviewed etc. 

[Dergonu]

1 minute ago, bakauchuujin said:

Well I just find those kinds of laws to be stupid and as such I don't care about them. For instance it is not enforced with things like game of thrones which contains rape due to the pure stupidity of banning game of thrones even though it breaks the rule. Also having looked at the norwegian obscenity laws it seems like those laws are so broad that many ecchi manga/anime breaks it as well as lots of literary works, this is regarding their law against minors in porn which pretty much include chacters under 18 years or who look younger in sexually revealing situations (don't have to have sex) which both apply to drawings and written text. Unless they can define laws that aren't broken openly on a regular basis due to how broad they are I will not care for laws that aren't related to actual humans getting harmed. If they want me to follow a law the least they should do is to make it specific enough that there aren't multiple mainstream titles that breaks it.

Yeah, I pretty much agree. Like I said, the chances of it becoming a problem is probably 1% or less, (and it would have to be something pretty disturbing, I'd imagine). I have never heard of a case where someone were prosecuted in norway because of fictional stuff. Still, better safe than sorry is what I think. (At least about physical items, as they do go through customs, while digital items aren't "discovered" as easily, especially when you use a VPN to download them.)

[Ranzo]

I've no need for the physical, no desire for the physical. I've transcended it all and have arrived at a new state of consciousness bereft of pity or remorse. I also like have no room in my room for a bunch of small boxes filled with lewdness. 

[namiultedjapanXD]

I've never got a physical copy before because it has never really interested me and it just seems like your are paying more money. However, I saw someone make a post showing their collection and it was actually kinda cool. I get physical copies of WoW expansions so I get the appeal. 

 

Unfortunately the appeal of having them on display is ruined by the fact that I keep it a secret that I play VNs xD

[Hetzer123]

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Edited October 2, 2019 by Hetzer123

[Dreamysyu]

I've never bought a physical copy. The reasons are the same as for the people who commented before: the physical versions are too expensive, I don't know where I could keep them, and I'd rather not order anything questionable from abroad if it could bring me legal troubles. That said, I probably would care about physical versions if these problems were solved somehow.

[Yuuko]

1 hour ago, Dergonu said:

You set the thread to poll only content- if you do that people can't comment. |дﾟ) Fixed it for you. I take it you didn't want it that way, seeing as you ask for people's opinions. (/ω＼)

I love physicals, though I don't buy them too often for a few reasons. 1) Shipping tends to be as expensive as the item, if not more, so I can only afford physicals now and then. I tend to just pick the games I really like because of that. 2) I love special editions. If it's literally just a box and the CD and nothing more, I probably won't get it. I like artbooks, drama CDs etc to come with the physical so there's a bit more to it. 3) Norway sucks. There's a bunch of games I can't import due to Norway's laws, so I can't get all the physicals I want. (Like anything from Clock Up etc.) Have to stick with digital games in those cases.

How come your shipping costs that much when for me it is usually in the 5-10€ range www

[mitchhamilton]

never bought one but i would like to. prefer physical copies over virtual ones.

[bakauchuujin]

On MG shipping to Bergen in Norway is $8.00, hardly the price of a VN, also it is possible to reduce the cost on shipping slightly by ordering more than 1 item at a time. Rightstufanime has a rather expensive shipping with one VN for $13.49 at least that was the shipping for Saya no Uta. On J-list i had to pay $10.72 for shipping of normal edition of Eiyu*Senki and $12.60 for limited edition of Starless. Denpasoft has shipping of $14.00 for normal edition of VNs.

[alpacaman]

2 hours ago, bakauchuujin said:

Well I just find those kinds of laws to be stupid and as such I don't care about them. For instance it is not enforced with things like game of thrones which contains rape due to the pure stupidity of banning game of thrones even though it breaks the rule. Also having looked at the norwegian obscenity laws it seems like those laws are so broad that many ecchi manga/anime breaks it as well as lots of literary works, this is regarding their law against minors in porn which pretty much include chacters under 18 years or who look younger in sexually revealing situations (don't have to have sex) which both apply to drawings and written text. Unless they can define laws that aren't broken openly on a regular basis due to how broad they are I will not care for laws that aren't related to actual humans getting harmed. If they want me to follow a law the least they should do is to make it specific enough that there aren't multiple mainstream titles that breaks it.

Depicting rape or intercourse between minors isn't illegal in general, but it is in pornography (at least in Germany, 3 minutes google search told me it's more or less the same in Norway, but I could be wrong). It's still stupid imo that drawn or written depictions are treated the same as photographic ones, but the laws themselves aren't that ambiguous. By judicial standards GoT isn't porn (in almost any country) so its depiction of sexual violence is legal in any country without strict censorship laws.

 

Back to topic: I don't own any physical copies for the same reasons as everyone else.

[Dergonu]

1 hour ago, Kiriririri said:

How come your shipping costs that much when for me it is usually in the 5-10€ range www

 

1 hour ago, bakauchuujin said:

On MG shipping to Bergen in Norway is $8.00, hardly the price of a VN, also it is possible to reduce the cost on shipping slightly by ordering more than 1 item at a time. Rightstufanime has a rather expensive shipping with one VN for $13.49 at least that was the shipping for Saya no Uta. On J-list i had to pay $10.72 for shipping of normal edition of Eiyu*Senki and $12.60 for limited edition of Starless. Denpasoft has shipping of $14.00 for normal edition of VNs.

I generally buy physical copies from Japan, not TLed games, so the EMS costs gets me. I have bought some games from MG in the past, and the shipping there wasn't too bad. Though, it does depend on the site, whether I use a third party shipper and so on. But yeah, I meant when ordering tokutens from Japan, not games from western publishers.

[Yuuko]

3 minutes ago, Dergonu said:

 

I generally buy physical copies from Japan, not TLed games, so the EMS costs gets me. I have bought some games from MG in the past, and the shipping there wasn't too bad. Though, it does depend on the site, whether I use a third party shipper and so on. But yeah, I meant when ordering tokutens from Japan, not games from western publishers.

Stop using EMS w

[TexasDice]

I never liked physical copies of any media ever since Steam became a thing. You never have to wait 2 weeks of shipping for a download.

[Testarossa]

I am a born collector so I always prefer physical copies for all medias. But as others here in this thread, affording to buy physical VNs is too much for me, and I also have mangas and LNs to buy (Lots of them, actually, mainly LNs). Sometimes I feel I'm spending too much with things I shouldn't, but what can I do?

[bakauchuujin]

Seems like there is quite a clear pattern of most people mainly only going for digital, well it is what I expected, hopefully there will still be enough people buying physicals in the future to make the publishers still produce physical copies.

[ittaku]

I can't vote because I try to only buy download only versions, but when in Japan (which happens only infrequently) I'll buy physical copies, rip the disk image, then throw out the physical copies...

[ciel_yuri]

I'd love to have everything physical, but I can't afford it. Especially, since there's so many out of print and that I missed the Kickstarters for and stuff.  I've been thinking of trying to put together art and everything, burn copies, and make my own physical editions, but I'd have to learn how to use Photoshop or something. Is there any communities into that type of stuff like there are for regular games and movies? If there was something like thecoverproject, but for VNs I'd do it in an instant.