64% prefer game discs to download

A survey has found that 64 per cent of people prefer physical copies of console games to digital ones - a higher figure than for newspapers, films or music.

The Ipsos MediaCT research, reported by MCV, discovered that 63 per cent preferred hard copies of newspapers, 51 per cent physical copies of films, and only 45 per cent wanted their music in a form they could touch.

A combination of a collector's mindset and the brisk trade in second-hand games was propping up boxed game sales, said Ian Bramley, director of the pollsters.

"I believe the preference for physical discs amongst next gen gamers reflects the potential value they derive from the pre-owned market, which is holding up the preference for physical - this is unlike the music and film markets," he said.

Further analysis of the report published by Thinq points out that the survey included console games only. Polling gamers on the PC platform - where digital distribution platforms such as Steam have taken hold, and where the trade in pre-owned games is largely curbed by anti-piracy measures - might have returned a different result.

55 per cent of those polled said that a lower price would be a key factor in their interest in downloading a game, while just 27 per cent thought that earlier availability would swing them towards a digital copy.

17 per cent of respondents said their console wasn't connected to the internet. Interest levels varied according to platform, too. 82 per cent of Xbox 360 owners were "interested" in downloading games versus 76 per cent of PS3 owners and 62 per cent of Wii owners.

23 per cent of 360 owners, 17 per cent of PS3 owners and just 8 per cent of Wii owners said they had downloaded a game for their console in the last 12 months.