For those who have lived The era of computer games in the 1980s and 1990sthis “Big box” packaging Today, they remain an important part of his experience as a gamer. Rather than being presented as simple digital licenses, these games were presented in stores in large, richly illustrated cardboard packages, often containing floppy disks or CD-ROMs, manuals, and in some cases tchotchkes such as stickers, maps, or other small collectibles. Obviously, they have a completely different effect compared to the digital versions, although they cause considerable space consumption issues.
In recent years, these packages have undergone something of a rebirth, in response to the dwindling physical market. Sony’s announcement that it will stop producing future PlayStation game discs has reignited the debate over the value of physical ownership of video games, while some game enthusiasts have begun making their own physical versions of Steam games.
Sensing trends, digital stores GOG has been decided with Big box collectiona collection website run by enthusiasts who Preserve 3D scans of PC game packaging.
Games are included
Inside GOG Conservation ProjectFive games to count on Printable version in original packaging. These include StarCraft: 25th Anniversary and Ami Krog, which have just been added to the program, while games that have been around for a while like Arrival, Hitman: Codename 47, and Myst will also receive the same treatment.
The idea is simple: GOG provides printable versions of the packaging that users can cut, fold, and glue to independently build replicas of the classic big box. As the platform explains, “This is a real project for those who missed having shelves full of merchandise” computer game box”.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has entered the GOG preservation program
The move comes at a time when interest in physical media appears to be far from dead. The return of attention to old packaging is actually part of a wider focus on Reevaluating the concept of video game ownershipwhile digital licensing and streaming services are making the difference between buying a product and simply gaining access increasingly clear.
Of course GOG will never come back Selling computer games on CD-ROM. However, this platform is probably the most suitable of the major PC digital stores for such an initiative: in fact, the GOG catalog is characterized by being DRM-free, allowing users to freely download game files and, if desired, burn them to a CD or DVD to save as a physical archive. in short, It is the store that pays the most attention to consumer rightsthis is no small thing in an age where people focus more on metrics than the owners of the products they buy.