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Post by impulse on Aug 4, 2014 15:49:17 GMT -5
Again, the only issue is re-sale and it's not that big of an issue as it seems unlikely that the big players will go digital only any time soon. I know it may sound cliche, but it's not the issue of resale for me. It's the principle. If I buy something I want to own it with all of the associated benefits and risks. If I want to give it away, sell it, or break it into pieces or put it in the microwave, I can because it's my property and I paid for it. I don't like the idea of having to go through some other service to access my stuff if there is any kind of DRM or mandatory authentication. Plus with my physical copies I can create my own digital versions (rip CDs, movies, etc.) and maintain a physical backup. Maybe it's just an emotional thing, but to me it feels good to own something physical that is mine. It feels more secure and real if it's something I care about. It's also nice to feel the pages, smell the paper, or with music look at the album art, etc. A purely digital experience doesn't include all of those things, so I'm not inclined to pay the same for it. Different story for rental-type services like the $10 a month Marvel thing. That's a fantastic deal for access to read a bunch of content I don't care about owning, storing, etc. I also do see value in the digital as a supplemental/add-on to a physical purchase. If Marvel did ramp up their online service to sync with your LCS subs so if you bought that $3.99 floppy and you got it and the digital was automatically added to your account or something? There's value. If I buy a CD on Amazon half the time they also add it to your Amazon MP3 account to stream or download to your heart's content. That's value. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 4, 2014 18:47:02 GMT -5
I've never had the urge to create copies of any of my books so I can't say that's really an added benefit and you can "destroy" your digital copy too if you so chose by deleting your account.
Now, like re-sale, I can sort of see nostalgic need for the feel and smell of paper that goes with old comics as that just can't be replicated but at the same time I don't see that as a real draw back or lack of value because they aren't going to burn up all the old back issues and make you go digital.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 4, 2014 18:49:42 GMT -5
Personally, I Physical items have that same small risk though, someone could break into your home and steal your copy of Game of Thrones, your house could catch on fire and melt your discs, a watermain could burst and flood your house causing water damage to your discs. Like wise you can choose to lend your digital copy to friends by either letting them borrow your tablet or nook or simply letting them borrow your password. In the past when I've said that people have responded with, "What if my friend uses my account to buy stuff unauthorized? Or breaks my Tablet?" but that doesn't hold for me either as similarly your friend could damage or lose the physical copy after you lend it to them and if you don't trust your friend enough to not run up a huge bill on your account a) just disable the card while your friend has time to either watch or read the item, or b) why are they your friend in the first place if you can't trust them? Again, the only issue is re-sale and it's not that big of an issue as it seems unlikely that the big players will go digital only any time soon. True, but that feels alot more in your control, IMO. Also, most people have insurance on the things in their home. I'm sure most of us don't have specific insurance on their comics (It's far too expensive), but it does cover you for cover price, more or less. I'm pretty sure sharing your password violates the T&C of most of those sites, which, if you do it often, could get you in trouble, even lose your stuff... it's harder to prove these days with mobile the way it is, but it still exists. Certainly loaning out an expensive (and multi-tasking) item like a tablet is FAR more a big deal than a comic or book.. that almost goes without saying. I certainly wouldn't do it. Having someone having to replace a $4 comic is quite different than a $500 tablet. One is a small bummer, and no big deal. the other is a relationship-breaker. I don't think it's enforced at all as there would be nearly no way to prove it. And like loaning out anything, it all depends on trust. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 18:55:05 GMT -5
Password sharing is detectable, but only when used blatantly. If I decided to share my Netflix with one of you I probably won't get caught. If I decided to share it with all of you I'd probably have an email warning before the end of the week.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Aug 4, 2014 19:30:21 GMT -5
Oh yeah, blatent over use like that would, especially if we were all watching different things at the same time in different places.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 19:47:31 GMT -5
My grandpa got in trouble with Netflix for sharing his account with about six people. No telling if those six people decided to share it with anyone. But this is why I can't get HBOGO now.
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Post by hondobrode on Aug 5, 2014 21:32:27 GMT -5
Catching up on the thread here from the past few days I have to point out one thing dupont said that I have to correct.
Print sales for the industry are up, and digital is up as well. They're actually working together, and what retailers are hearing and reporting is that a lot of people dabble in digital and if they like it enough, come back to the LCS and buy the "real" thing. Still can't show off digital on a shelf, or coffee table. If I had a slightly larger house, I'd have my own library and still be buying paper, but as it stands I've become almost 100% digital.
Another point : I know of no comics publisher that prints their own comics. None. If indeed someone does, it's a very recent thing and I've somehow missed it, but I highly doubt it. DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, etc, are publishers but not printers, or distributors for that matter.
I'm shocked at the 70% figure quoted for Comixology's cut, but if indeed that's real, then that's an opportunity for someone else to compete with them.
I buy from Dark Horse as well as Comixology and my Dark Horse purchases are higher than they've ever been. Ever. and I'm glad to support them and partner Dynamite, and suspect later more will come aboard.
If anyone does break away, it'll be Marvel with Disney money and tech and it'll be used for Star Wars, Muppets, Disney, Marvel, the whole enchilada. I could see it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2014 23:50:20 GMT -5
Catching up on the thread here from the past few days I have to point out one thing dupont said that I have to correct. Print sales for the industry are up Industry wide yes, but as I understand it they're pretty stagnant for the Big Two, as they lose marketshare while the rest of the industry experiences growth. Either that or their growth isn't as impressive as the industry median. Either way, the industry is growing at a faster pace than the big two. |
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Post by Nowhere Man on Aug 5, 2014 23:56:16 GMT -5
Which is a good thing. Back in the day this would be bad for everyone, for the most part, but if Marvel and DC disappeared tomorrow to focus solely on movies, TV, video games, etc., I don't think it would be nearly as catastrophic as most people think in terms of the comics industry. Even Image, which is the most "arty" of the mainstream publishers, are operating on an almost completely different business model.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 0:03:59 GMT -5
I agree it's a good thing. I'm all for more variety. Just saying the people in charge at Marvel aren't doing whatever the more successful smaller publishers are doing to experience that level of growth. It may have to do with the smaller publishers being operated by fewer executives with fewer shareholders to answer to, allowing them to make changes and operate in a manner that the old crowd of investors may be afraid of.
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Post by hondobrode on Aug 6, 2014 7:39:42 GMT -5
Catching up on the thread here from the past few days I have to point out one thing dupont said that I have to correct. Print sales for the industry are up Industry wide yes, but as I understand it they're pretty stagnant for the Big Two, as they lose marketshare while the rest of the industry experiences growth. Either that or their growth isn't as impressive as the industry median. Either way, the industry is growing at a faster pace than the big two. Agreed. I think Marvel has risen and DC has taken the hickey. Everyone else is rising, apparently at the cost of DC, though I still here people whittling Marvel down to one or two titles, like myself. |
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ironchimp
Full Member
Simian Overlord
Posts: 456 
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Post by ironchimp on Aug 6, 2014 10:06:33 GMT -5
One glaring problem with digital is the potential problem of finding a pdf or cbr file reader in 30 years time. These formats are pretty primitive for what digital comics could potentially offer - ie. 3d, interactivity etc. For some stuff this probably wont matter as big companies will just change their files to the new standard formats of the future. But for publishers who have come and gone then users may need to do the conversion themselves or be quite techy to get legacy files to work.
we've already seen apple basically signal the end of flash by dropping it from their portable products (ok there are still work arounds at the minute but the vast majority of users wont know or care how to get flash working on an ipad) but the old flash comics format is going to be archaic in the coming years.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 14:00:08 GMT -5
I think streaming will be the standard for all media in ten years time. No more replacing the VHS with DVD, the DVD with Bluray, the Blyray with whatever comes next.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 14:29:06 GMT -5
I think streaming will be the standard for all media in ten years time. No more replacing the VHS with DVD, the DVD with Bluray, the Blyray with whatever comes next. How will media producers maintain profit levels if they can't get consumers to re-buy the same content over and over again? ...streaming is bad for big business  -M |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2014 14:42:44 GMT -5
I think streaming will be the standard for all media in ten years time. No more replacing the VHS with DVD, the DVD with Bluray, the Blyray with whatever comes next. How will media producers maintain profit levels if they can't get consumers to re-buy the same content over and over again? ...streaming is bad for big business -M But then again, nobody would be buying it second hand at a yard sale or a pawn shop. They'd also be taking the retailer cut away. I don't think physical media is ten years away from extinction, I just think it's going to be a specialty item. |
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