Let's get physical, physical. I wanna get physical.

Olivia knows what's goin' on!

Olivia Newton-John sure is an extraordinary woman. Successful singer, actress, and as we've recently discovered, a pioneer and forward thinker of the video game industry. When she Xanadid her way to the top of the charts back in the 80s, she foresaw the evolution of the gaming industry and the advent of digital media, and she cried out on our behalf "I wanna get physical!"

And of course, she was right. Nowadays, more and more games are being released as "digital only", even more so if you're looking at the Sony Vita. Yes, the Vita is still a "thing" and if I may say so myself, saw/will be seeing several high profile releases this couple of months. Unfortunately, many Japanese localisations have been hit with the "Digital Stick". Oh Olivia, if you only knew.

I do understand the business decision with "digital only" localisation releases. The Vita isn't exactly selling particularly well, and Vita games with it. And I would rather a game be "digital only" than "Japanese only", so I'm not complaining, just wishing things were different.

Keep your Digital Stick away
from my games please!

See my mind set is still living in the 80s. I like having pretty game boxes (most of which still in their original factory sealed packaging) lined up on my display case. I like to be able to look at my collection and go "wow". Also having the physical cartridge means the game won't take up valuable space on the Vita memory card (while I do have a 64G card, I am thinking about the future). And then there's warm fuzzy feeling knowing that I own this game forever. And in the event of a cyber apocalypse where internet and cloud storage gets destroyed, I will be happily enjoying Tales of Hearts R (pre-ordered!) and Danganronpa, while everyone else is back to playing Tic-Tac-Toe.

I am not against digital media. They certainly are very convenient and sometimes affordable (hello Steam!) Not on the PSN however, and especially not in Austra-ripoff-lia, where physicals are generally cheaper than digital. Hang on a minute. You're not giving me anything tangible and you want to charge me more?

Fran's got the right idea
when it comes to shopping.

So when i comes to digital, I have one policy, and that is the Fran Fine policy. "If it ain't half price it ain't on sale!" And of course, I'll only buy when its on sale. It just doesn't feel right to pay full price for something that I can't see nor touch. But when that Flash Sale hit you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be filling up my virtual shopping cart with everything I can get my hands on, especially with a PSN Plus additional discount.

So over the last 2 weeks I've been playing Toukiden, which is like Monster Hunter set in period Japan. And of course, Toukiden Kiwami, the more-is-more rerelease, has just been announced for localisation today. But I wanted to play this game and just didn't want to wait, and thankfully the game was on sale on PSN at the time. The game is a little repetitive, but much better than the actual Monster Hunter. (Played MH Freedom Unite on PSP. Couldn't cark it as the weapons we either slow or slower).

Bows are the only reliable way to hit
certain parts of bosses.

So with the sales over the last few weeks I've picked up: Atelier Roroa/Totori/Meruru Plus, Sorcery Saga, Toukiden, Soul Sacrifice Delta and Mind Zero. And in physicals I've picked up Danganronpa 1 and 2, Ys, Demon Gaze, Disgaea 4, and have Tales of Hearts R and Freedom Wars. To hell with the nay sayers, viva la Vita!