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Weekend Open Forum: Where do you buy your PC games?

By

On March 11, 2011, 6:26 PM

According to stats released by NPD last summer, digital game downloads surpassed retail stores in terms of units sold. During the first six months of 2010, gamers bought 11.2 million digital PC games versus 8.2 million physical units. That trend is spurred by the incredible prices and convenience offered by services such as Steam. Valve's digital marketplace reportedly earned $1 billion in 2010 and the company claims it's more profitable per employee than Google and Apple.


With that kind of cash flow, it's no surprise that a ton of competitors are scrambling establish a presence in the digital PC market. Just this week, Microsoft promised to improve its Games for Windows Live platform. Given this year's intimidating list of anticipated titles, we thought it would be a great time to ask: where do you buy your PC games? Steam undoubtedly earns the bulk of my game purchases, but I won't ignore a good deal elsewhere, especially on new releases.

User Comments: 90

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  1. quinneypoo said:

    thepiratebay, bitgamer.

    "Buy? Who buys PC games?"

    For people that think that way PC Gaming its so ******* Held Back!

  2. Steam for sure...

  3. Steam, Gamestop or amazon if I want a collectors edition.

  4. EB Games store.

  5. steam

  6. Steam,Steam,Steam, and occasionally Walmart

  7. Steam, eBay or Craigslist.

  8. Steam, ozgameshop

  9. Steam for just about everything! If I rebuild my computer all I have to do is install the steam client and then log in and let all my previously purchased games automatically download, install and update while I sleep and by morning all my games are ready to play. Top that!!!

  10. Steam Holiday sales FTW xD

  11. Steam primarily, followed by Direct2Drive. Both have a large selection of games, between them, I'll usually go for whichever has a particular game I want for less money. Also, sparingly, GamersGate and Impulse, usually only whenever they have a great deal on a game I want. Amazon takes the rest of my money, such as when I'm trying to find an older title for as little money as possible.

  12. I buy all mine from Steam, though I usually get them when they're on offer rather than pay full retail price.

  13. I buy boxed games at the mall where there is a computer software store.

  14. i buy them from Demonoid and The Pirate Bay, they have very good prices

  15. Nima304 said:

    Buy? Who buys PC games?

    This.

    Is the problem.

  16. It get them for free, never ever bought a game legally

  17. Issun said:

    Nima304 said:

    Buy? Who buys PC games?

    This.

    Is the problem.

    This is the solution.

  18. Local shop for local people...

    Steam looks good but not on my connection.

  19. Steam

  20. I usually download games from torrent and try it as a demo.

    If I like it I go on steam and buy it if not available on steam and no other way to buy it over internet in digital format I am simply not buying.

  21. I buy all my games in store. Would probably buy from steam if I didn't stay in South Africa. Only way to download games form steam is to have a 4mbs or 10mbs internet connection (fastest home connections in SA btw), else it takes about 100-200 hours on a 384kbs line like most people in SA have

  22. I almost always buy physical copies of my games, either from local retail or online stores such as play.com. It's only the few small indie games that aren't available on physical copy that I purchase via download.

    Yeah, downloading is convenient and all that crap, but there's something special about having shelves filled with rows of games dating all the way back to Day of the Tentacle and Sam & Max, up to todays titles like Mass Effect 2 and Fallout New Vegas.

  23. I've always been buying my games from a local gaming-guru. But the municipality opened up a state-run game shop nearby and forced him out of his business (... greedy ***'s).

    Since I acquired Internet access (exactly) one year ago, I've been purchasing my games online. (Not through Steam - never got it up and working )

  24. Steam is way too expensive, I buy from Amazon/Ebay.

  25. Steam - but only if there is an offer on (+ I dont like selling my soul!).

    Otherwise depends on the age of the game and what it is! Amazon, Gamestation & Game are usually my go-to people for games.

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