New kind of media physical-digital enabler

[VanceIX]

DM235 said:
If anyone what happened to PC games many years ago, you would get a physical box with a disc for installation. However, there would be a piece of paper with a digital redemption code on it (that you could scan or type in).

Retailers would be happy because they are still selling you a box.

You can throw the box away when you are done with the installation, as the digital code would let you redownload the game if required.

Sony / Microsoft just need to create a digital marketplace where you can sell your code. Once you agree to a sale (where Sony / Microsoft and the developer get a cut), your code becomes invalid and you can no longer play the game. Whoever bought the game from you now has a digital copy.

Everyone wins (except for the environment, because of all of the thrown away plastic boxes).

Once everyone has gigabit Ethernet connections to the Internet, retail stores can just sell you cards with codes -- until Sony / Microsoft bypass retail altogether and sell everything digitally.

Yeah, and that has been almost completely eradicated for most PC games. Retailers aren't the main problem when it comes to digital liscencing, since they can just sell gift cards for the service and take a cut from that. The main problem comes from resellers such as Gamestop who depend on ripping off the end consumer with bloated pricing on used media, and the publishers not liking that their profit margins are being cut due to having to manufacture physical media and packaging, along with shipping. 

In the end, digital v. physical is going to be a slippery slope until Sony, MS, and Nintendo adapt the sales practices of Valve and offer massive discounts, thus making consumers happy and willing to switch over to a digital-only future. It happened with books (Kindle), PC games (Steam), and console gaming is next.