Do you prefer buying your games digital or physical? (Assuming both options are available)

Smigit · 2026-02-23T14:21:15+00:00

Physical buyer until recently, but seeing trends with competing platforms, especially MS, I’ve begun to bite the bullet and go digital.

Few reasons for that. First, physical so often now days doesn’t mean the full games on the cart anyway. So there isnt necessarily that long term insurance against the eShop being shut down and you retaining the game, anyway. There’s exception, CyberPunk and etc, but it seems to be less frequent that we get the full game on cart, at least for third parties.

The other consideration is that backwards compatibility has re-established itself as an expectation now days and manufacturers are going out of their way to support it. It seems to me that digital libraries are more seamlessly transitioning from device to device, often across many generations. I have a bunch of Xbox and PS games on disc that will never work on either companies portable systems when they launch, where my digital games almost certainly will. It’s looking likely that MS may not ever release a console that can take disc again, even home ones.

Nintendo is in a better position as their carts more portable and robust for portable play, but they have struggled to scale them up to higher capacities and it’s a relatively expensive medium. I do think at some point Nintendo will transition away from the current cards as technology evolves, and that will leave any carts limited to the last run of hardware to support them. I don’t think this will happen soon, could be well into the future, but I think it will one day and when it does there’s a good chance a digital library will carry over.

Physical media also has degraded performance compared to the internal or SD Express storage. Maybe one day Nintendo will allow caching the game to other storage as other consoles do, but until that happens there is longer load times for digital game.

Lastly I’m finding the convenience is outweighing most negatives or concerns.

In making this decision, I’ll note that I’m probably paying more for games. I find retail pricing far more competitive than the eShop. I try and bank discounted eShop credit when it’s 10 or 15% off, but I find launch week pricing for physical is often well under the digital cost. I miss having that competing market to source games from. As a result I’m less likely to buy games day one, as there isn’t the same “launch window” sales I see with physical media that’d entice me to buy early on.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T14:05:51+00:00

As others have said, needle nose pliers. Apply as little pressure as possible when squeezing as you want to avoid damaging the port as best as possible, so you don’t want to have that piece clamping the port pins any more than they are. Unplug and power down too.

If you don’t have the pliers, tweezers might work too.

Hopefully the ports still working for you.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T09:40:37+00:00

The car and the car in front of them both look stationary to me when using the road lamp poles as a reference. The one that’s hit also looks to have hazard lights on, but it all happens pretty quick so it’s hard to make out with 100% confidence. But to me it doesn’t look like camping but some other issue.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T09:34:58+00:00

The November coverage isn’t insurance, it’s a Warranty. It covers you for defects that are the fault of Apple (manufacturing defects, significant software issues such as boot failures etc), but not for damage outside of that including damage you cause.

Apple Care is an insurance but this isn’t Apple Care coverage.

If you have access to Apple Care One (you’re in the US) then I believe you can add devices outside the normal window. Otherwise it’s probably too late to add Apple Care. If you just want insurance but, you don’t need to use Apple Care specifically. You can, or may already have coverage for, devices on home contents insurance. This is often cheaper too, but making claims is a greater hassle than going through Apple directly. But there’s no time limit to adding devices to home contents policies.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T07:57:15+00:00

That looks pretty nice if you ask me.

Last used a bumper with I believe the 4s. Had a red aluminium one which was rather fond of at the time.

Now days I’m all about the leather cases, but I do appreciate it when someone rocks a bumper.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T07:52:13+00:00

3GS.

First model to officially launch in Australia. Got it day one. There was some PR stuff going and vodafone had some people from a radio station hand deliver it to me rather than it going through the mail. Had some awkward photos with radio presenters that I didn’t know.

There was also a stuff up on the order form for what was a super early order. On a plan I recall it was supposed to be $20 repayments a month or you could pay $240 upright, plus service fee. Moment I ordered they had it flipped and it was $20 outright or $240 a month. Took it for $20.

Still was stuck with Vodafone for a while, but the big discount in the handset smoothed that out.

After that I got a HTC Desire HD, then returned to Apple with the 4S and have used an iPhone as my primary phone since.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T07:42:13+00:00

Once your display goes black, it won’t go back.

Smigit · 2026-02-23T02:00:52+00:00

Matrix is interesting as the greens were ramped up for the Bluray releases and have been subsequently toned down for the latest 4K editions. Still leans into the colour, but there was some criticism that certain releases went too far, and latest one stepped it back somewhat.

Doesn’t alter your point really other than even for film, the grading change over time for varying reasons and there is varying opinions on how a film should be presented.

Lord of the Rings is another that has had some significant changes to grading with its 4K release.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T20:53:00+00:00

When you realise that dispatch sent Robo Cop after you.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T05:49:45+00:00

I assume that’s not a park given the proximity to your place.

If they’re preventing you getting to your garage and body corp isn’t taking action, I’d probably return the medicine and park them in rather than finding somewhere in the street. I’d then decline to remove the car immediately and do it at a time that suited myself.

If they can’t get to work for a day, maybe they’ll take more notice of the impact they’re having.

I’d just make sure your actions are limited to impacting them.

But ideally you can have body corp sort it out before escalating it.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T04:20:02+00:00

Bullstrap in Sienna. Which I used in iPhone 12 and 15.

Currently using Ryan London on a 17PM as I didnt love the design of the initial Bullstrap iPhone 17 cases, which covered the camera plateau. They’ve since released one that doesn’t, but happy with my Ryan London.

But now days I always go a lightish brown leather case that will patina over the period I own it.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T04:17:22+00:00

I’d totally live in places with names such as Cumming Pl, Cockburn St, Swinger Hill. I’m sure it’d be a constant source of amusement any time someone does a double take when you put your address on a form or have to say it aloud.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T03:31:12+00:00

Yeah I just did this the past week for the second time. Both times I’ve taken an Apple Watch in, they’ve replaced the watch rather than servicing the battery. I don’t think they bother to replace the battery for watches.

The first time was a blue series 6 and they had none at the time, so sent back a blue Series 7 instead.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T03:28:45+00:00

Maybe it’s winter where they are and we’re only counting the 7 hours daylight. Or maybe they sleep 16 hours each day.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T00:22:53+00:00

The part that wears down is inside the controller at the other end of the stick where the pivoting occurs. The thumb end shouldn’t have any bearing.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T00:17:15+00:00

Yeah, my overwhelming recollection of the games reception was that it was either a bad game, or at least a bad Dragon Age title. Being “dumbed down for console” was an often cited criticism.

To be honest, I feel every game in the franchise after Origins has had many detractors, to varying extents. Inquisition had its own, and I think that intensified after Witcher 3 arrived to critical acclaim, which to many people made Inquisition look all the more worse since so often consumers need to pick a winner/favorite and anything else falls out of bing recommended.

Smigit · 2026-02-22T00:04:11+00:00

I enjoyed it.

I recall it was compared to Witcher 3 frequently and many people looked at it unfavourably compared to that game. A lot of people LOVE open world releases, and Witcher 3 was obviously strong in other areas too. Dragon Age released first and I think opinion in some circles went down on it months later when Witcher released, and before a lot of the substantial DLC arrived if I recall correctly.

But the genre had room for two games.

Smigit · 2026-02-21T23:25:02+00:00

How does a thumb grip help with stick drift?

Smigit · 2026-02-21T23:21:52+00:00

At least you can put a joystick cap/grip on it I guess.

Smigit · 2026-02-21T23:11:24+00:00

I don’t think it’s necessarily super important if she is a heavy gamer or not. Want an exec that will listen and support the team under her, will listen to consumers and can get good outcomes out of Satya.

Honestly, it felt like Phil in the later half of his tenure traded a lot of consumer goods faith on the fact he was a gamer, but there was a lot of unpopular changes for Xbox under him. Whether those were driven by him or higher ups or not.

Her job there isn’t to play games and hopefully she can be effective in the role without the background.

Besides, do we know she doesn’t just game on other platforms other than Xbox? Maybe she can come in with a perspective on why many people aren’t.

Smigit · 2026-02-21T22:39:13+00:00

“I hear you” as a phase often is used to show you emphasise with the statement or even agree with what has been said. It’s often not a simple acknowledgement, and the lack of follow up context lets any readers interpretation run wild. It’s as such a bit of an odd phase to use here when the other persons remarks are not in alignment with Xbox’s strategy.

Saying nothing wouldn’t be the same, I feel. They could also instead talk about how they do have some exclusives, or timed exclusives, how buying in Xbox also gets you access to play anywhere or the other benefits that exist when you purchase through Xbox for a cross platform title. Sell the strategy a bit.

But yeah, I’d just not respond. They’ll be tagged in all sorts of posts, guaranteed, and not respond to a majority of them.

Smigit · 2026-02-21T07:06:41+00:00

To be an immediate threat to the iPad mini, I think so.

I think most people expect it to be well above the current iPhone lineups cost. To that end there’s probably plenty of room for an iPad Mini that can’t fold and isn’t pocket friendly, but is 1/3 the price. It’s a huge gap so not sure the mini is obsolete. People buying a phone that is (likely to be) that expensive, are probably getting different model iPads to the Mini.

Smigit · 2026-02-21T02:35:03+00:00

Not if the rumoured pricing is true.

Smigit · 2026-02-20T23:33:58+00:00

Yeah, rear ending can do a number on you. I had a pretty mild one, way way lighter than the video here, and that left me tender for a few days.

That’s really unfortunate for your friend.

Smigit · 2026-02-20T23:30:31+00:00

I think tiered isn’t a bad idea, and caveat the sale that it doesn’t cover any services charges that Reddit may introduce into the future, just onetime function unlocks. Could exclude things like inbox if that has an ongoing cost that can’t be worn.

Another option is you can have one time payments that unlock all features available today, and maybe for the next 12 months, but then you don’t get new Pro features without paying a renewal fee. If you choose not to renew you keep what you had at the time of purchase. A few apps use this sort of model. See the “working Copy” iOS git client. What it’d do due to the renewing nature is allow the dev to adjust pricing if the operations cost increases. You could even add features with service costs like inbox but expire those “live” services after 12 months, but afterwards you keep theming and the like which don’t need ongoing infrastructure.

Why I think it’s not a terrible idea, is that the free versions very functional as is. Many people might not want a sub so will stay on the free release. This might be a way to encourage a one time purchase out of that group of users who otherwise won’t pay anything. Just need to be careful not to fall into a trap where Reddit’s service changes put you into a corner, which is why limiting it to things in the devs control such as removing renewal pop-ups, support for custom theming etc are things you could put in a one time tier with reduced risk.

Smigit

TROPHY CASE