The boxes of Hock Wah Yeo (2021)

In case it goes down again: https://web.archive.org/web/20230530021555/https://obscurito...

Fascinating article. It's a shame that this is an art form we'll never get back, now that software distribution is all digital. We'll probably see it in limited and collector editions, but not as widespread as it was in the 80s and 90s.

There's just something about unboxing a physical item that connects the user to the product in a much more visceral way than downloading something online. It's the same experience that vinyl fans enjoy; the entire process of unpacking something and the physicality of interacting with it increases enjoyment of the end product. Maybe it's the multisensory experience, and not just listening or watching the product, but there's definitely something there.

That feeling must've been enhanced when the box itself was special. And the marketing aspect alone was significant, which explains the higher sales of the software packaged this way. I'm sure these games in their original packaging must fetch a high price on the collector market.

We still see these specialty items nowadays in collector's editions, which go even further by packaging all sorts of memorabilia related to the game. Personally I stay clear of those, since they're usually overpriced cash grabs, and the items are plastic garbage. I can't deny the convenience of managing only digital products, without having to allocate space to store all the packaging. Environmentally, it's certainly for the best as well.