For casual games and MMO’s the online option is obvious yes (even though I suspect WoW has such a big success because it had many boxed, pre-paid three-month subscriptions in stores very soon after release), but for other games it isn’t. Boxed retail (something more than just a box, the DVD and a lousy piece of paper pls) should exist next to options like Steam, DirectDrive, Gamersgate or TotalGaming.net.

Call me crazy but the big PC cardboard boxes (filled with all the fluff manuals, posters and what-not) era should return. If people buy a PC game in stores they should feel like they buy a luxury product, preferably devoid of any stupid big labels on the cover. The game experience should begin when you first open that package, not when you begin to install it.

Doesn’t sound economically viable perhaps but if some publishers wonder why people rather resort to just downloading games (il-)legally on PC they should look at what value they are really offering online and in the retail boxes. Believe me, in most cases it’s an absolute atrocity compared to the good old days, especially in Europe.