A Boxless Industry - Digital Downloads

Next Generation is running an article entitled Gaming's Digital Future, discussing the reality that digital downloads are likely to be commonplace in the industry in the near future. Today they've polled publishers for their opinions, with developer and distributor opinions later in the week. From the article: "While the digital distribution of music took that industry by surprise, and Hollywood is still figuring out the best way to utilize digital distribution for movies; the videogame industry has embraced digital distribution as a new revenue stream for videogames new and old, at least on the PC side of the games business."

Rest of the article quote

[yotto]

"I mean, really," said a publisher who refused to give his name, through teeth barred in a smile around a cigar, "We cut out packaging, artwork, manuals, distribution, and tack on $5 as a convenience charge. Heh. Heh heh. Convenience charge. I thought that one up myself. Oh, I love this business."

Digital downloads?

[ecumenical_40oz]

Digital as opposed to what? Those wax cylinders that they squeeze into telephone lines?

C'mon

[Rethcir]

I can't believe there's already about 15 comments and nobody's made the remarkably easy joke yet about how the tech/games industry is definitely "box"-less.