Digital Distribution of Games

Patapon 2 has been released in the US. Big so what. Whats Patapon you may ask? Its a rhythm battle game for Sony's PSP, and has widely been regarded as one of the better games on the platform. The reason you should care about the release of the sequel to the original Patapon is that it will only be released in digital form in the United States. There will be no disc to insert, keep track of, or display proudly in your game came. You are able to go to your local Target and buy a box; however, there is only a download code for the game inside. This is the first major release for a game console that is only available in digital form.
Is this a ploy to get you to buy more memory cards for your device, or eventually buy a bigger hard drive for your home console? I honestly don't think so. There are several advantages to the digital distribution which we have already seen for other forms of entertainment. Itunes has really changed the way we buy music, movies, and TV shows. It's about time the gaming industry catches up.
There is really a plus for everyone. For the careless - no more discs to scratch. For the pack rat - no more boxes to store and display. For our granola eating friends - no plastic boxes or packing materials produced. For the gamer - faster load times. For the game makers - cheaper production costs and faster time to market. For the forgetful - you cannot lose the game, just re-download should it be deleted accidentally For the consumer - cheaper and more games. The only loser here is the bum friend who refuses to buy things for himself, and likes to steal other people's stuff.
Game boxes are no longer badges of honor. They have been replaced by online trophies and achievements. It's time for console and portable gamers alike to take advantage of cheap memory cards and hard drives. So grab a $10 4gb memory stick, download Patapon 2, and embrace your boxless gaming future.