Off-The Shelf Software- Soon To Be A Thing of The Past?

[Hammy]

It's a question for the discussion of Software as a tangible object.

"Off-The-Shelf-Software" that is, in a box or sleeve, you buy in a store, or have delivered to your home. There is a medium format such as a USB Drive, a Compact Disc, or a mini-disc where you insert the format into a drive or USB port to either access or install said software on your personal computer.

Yesterday, I was in Best Buy, and the store was very busy. The store was fully stocked except in one place-

Games and Software.

In fact it was so light it was depressing. I have never seen a games section so light in my life. And then I started to think about where else I can peruse the games. (by the way I was looking for Hawx on the PC and a flight stick- and they didnt have Hawx in stock except for on the Playstation 3)

Anyways- I could only think of Gamestop, EB Games, and Toys R Us. All of those choices are geared to console gaming. They only carry the most popular titles for the PC and bulk carryovers that they bought at auction somewhere for pennies on the dollar (think of those TYCOON games that there always seems to be plentry of).

So basically, the cost of shipment, the cost of stock, the cost of packaging, and etc- why do it? If the customer is used to downloading things now (music and movies as an example) why not games?

Anyways, in 3 years a CD for a game is probably not going to be likely.

What do you guys think?

[Skud]

Hmmm.

Could be, though it truly would be sad. I detest downloading things, would much rather have the CD and key to lose in my place than something to lose when drive goes...also don't like having to create accounts in insecure evironments for every new thing I get. But my install of Dawn of War II was, I think, another step towards what you are pondering, Hammy. Need internet, Steam, etc. for download...and now can play game without having the CD...just link to my steam account.

And yes, Best Buy is about the only place left for same day purchases of PC games (consoles I could care less about...but since they're cheaper than gaming rigs, I suppose, they are available to more folks)...and their selection narrows. I'd like to see sales percentages by numbers for departments for the last ten years, profit, etc. PC games have left the shelves of many department stores....I truly is a frightening world!

[JohnyRico]

Gamestop took over EB and closed all the stores near me. The best place I still have available is a Game Crazy that actually has about a 20' section of wall that is nothing but pc. I picked up Overlord there last week for $5.99. Gamestop is worthless now and Best Buy is only half of what it was a year ago.

I would MUCH rather have the cd/dvd. Example: I can't get on any Northern Strike servers in BF2142 because due to some glitch I need to uninstall and then reinstall NS. Unfortunately I had to download NS via EA download manager and can't remember what I used for an account name and password.

[Rand{CLR}]

This was the one area where Circuit City was better than Best Buy: PC game selection. The Game Stops have almost stopped carrying PC games, limiting them to a single small end case rack in many of the ones near me.

Amazon is your new PC friend.

But I agree, the selection in brick and mortar anywhere leaves much to be desired. The biggest PC "score" I've ever had was picking up both Deus Ex and No One Lives Forever on the same day at $20/per. That sort of thing won't happen again, two AAA games for that price in a brick and mortar.

-Rand

[Trooper110]

Personally for some things I like having my hands on the actual product....especially with the old EA setup where they only made downloads available for 2 years to you, or pay extra for longer. On the other hand, they "could" lower prices if they don't need to pay for art and material for a box. I can see it in both lights, I use both, and I like both.

Plus it gets a game out there where lots of people can see it. How many people do you think buy a game because they notice it in a store as they look at other games and think it looks good? I know a lot of us here follow games and what's coming out, what's hot, etc, but there's plenty of people out there who don't, and will go to a retail store to see what's new.

[JohnyRico]

The biggest PC "score" I've ever had was picking up both Deus Ex and No One Lives Forever on the same day at $20/per. That sort of thing won't happen again, two AAA games for that price in a brick and mortar.

-Rand

Two of my all time faves and probably the only ones I've played start to finish multiple times.

[Hammy]

I broke my power cable. Thank god I recalled that Fiery lives down here and he saved me a 25 min drive to the nearest Best Buy.

Fry's however, was much closer, and to my surprise, not only had the most salivating Software presentation, but have opened at least 10 stores outside of california recently.

Fry's will be replacing Circuit City as I predicted- and you know what? In 'Diego, they actually speak politely, care, and are very helpful. In the SF Bay Area, they are soooo rude!

Anyways- Off the shelf might be okay once Fry's rips the guts out of Best Buy and Wal Mart (another place a colleague says is kind of respectable on Software for gaming)