MSE Forum poll: Do you still buy physical media?

MSE_JC

RAS said:

You don't have an option for newspapers and magazines?

Hi @RAS,

While we did consider adding an option for those, digital ownership and preservation is a bit of a hot topic (particularly when it comes to video games) so we opted to stick to the types of media people generally tend to collect and keep long term.

MSE_JC

Jenna_Appleseed said:

I buy a mix of both, your poll is invalid.

Hi @Jenna_Appleseed,

Due to the limitations of the poll function we're unable to provide options to cover every variable or circumstance (though we do try!), but the poll - and the others polls we post - are really just intended to give a general overview that kicks off an interesting conversation rather than be particularly scientific.

Are there any factors that determine whether you choose to buy something digitally or physically?

Personally, when it comes to things my young children might watch or play, I tend to buy digitally to save them have to scramble around finding a disc each time (as well as saving space in our already untidy home!).

Plus it helps avoid disappointment when one of their favourite movies disappears from a streaming service. For example, one of my kids is obsessed with dinosaurs and so loves the Jurassic Park / World films. The other day they asked to watch the first Jurassic World...which turned out to be the only one in the entire Jurassic franchise not currently available to stream on any services we subscribe to. I ended up biting the bullet and buying it digitally.

But when it comes to films for myself, if it's something I know I'll want to watch over and over again then I'll treat myself to a nice Blu-ray. I do very much miss the heyday of DVDs when they were packed with all kinds of extras. These days it feels like you're lucky to get a blooper reel, let alone a director's commentary!