ED: Please bring back the Big Box!

[flybull]

Dear ED.

 

This wish will likely fall on deaf ears for those among us aged less than 40.

 

What I wish for is the option to purchase DCS modules in Hard Copy, just like the sim hey days of the 80s and 90s.

 

Ironically the last boxed sim I ever got was DCS A-10C, albeit a small box without any additional content beside CD.

 

A large box, containing a USB stick, Quick Start card, maybe some charts and a printed manual/checklists would be something Id pay dearly for. A memento to put on my shelf.

 

In fact - id go and re purchase all my existing modules if this was available.

 

Nothing like having a physical collection and something tangible to hold and admire.

 

In years to come, physical copies may be our only connection to this time past time at this point in time.

 

One day (2 weeks) When we're on DCS 4.8.2 , using 8k VR units with 220deg FOV at 144FPS, flying F-35s, F-16Vs, F-15EXs, SU-30SM1s, F/A-18F Block IIIs and AH-64Fs, anywhere on earth - it will be nice to look back, and remember the trails and tribulations of 2.5.6, Flying an F/A-18 Chuck on an Oculus Rift S (whats that?) at (hopefully) 40FPS, when we had a handful of theatres to fly in.

 

Bring Back the Big Box, ED.

 

(and yes, I do love retro porn too)

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dave

[Fri13]

Just print the modules nice sales pictures as a A6 size cards and put them in stack on shelf....

[sirrah]

Would be a great way for ED to earn some extra cash :thumbup:

 

Use a cheap $5,- 60GB USB stick - Spend $2,- to print some charts of the area - Throw it all in a $5,- luxury cardboard box with an Eagle Dynamics logo and the title of the module on it - Maybe also throw in one of those cheap 3D printed model planes - And sell the whole bunch for $180,- as "Limited Collectors Edition"

 

 

Oh dear.. I'm so glad I've put that time behind me.. Then again I'm 39, so I might not fall in the correct category :P

[Goa]

Dear ED.

 

This wish will likely fall on deaf ears for those among us aged less than 40.

 

What I wish for is the option to purchase DCS modules in Hard Copy, just like the sim hey days of the 80s and 90s.

 

Ironically the last boxed sim I ever got was DCS A-10C, albeit a small box without any additional content beside CD.

 

A large box, containing a USB stick, Quick Start card, maybe some charts and a printed manual/checklists would be something Id pay dearly for. A memento to put on my shelf.

 

In fact - id go and re purchase all my existing modules if this was available.

 

Nothing like having a physical collection and something tangible to hold and admire.

 

In years to come, physical copies may be our only connection to this time past time at this point in time.

 

One day (2 weeks) When we're on DCS 4.8.2 , using 8k VR units with 220deg FOV at 144FPS, flying F-35s, F-16Vs, F-15EXs, SU-30SM1s, F/A-18F Block IIIs and AH-64Fs, anywhere on earth - it will be nice to look back, and remember the trails and tribulations of 2.5.6, Flying an F/A-18 Chuck on an Oculus Rift S (whats that?) at (hopefully) 40FPS, when we had a handful of theatres to fly in.

 

Bring Back the Big Box, ED.

 

(and yes, I do love retro porn too)

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dave

 

 

completeley useless....

[Flagrum]

+1 for Syria map on cassette tape for my SCSI Datasette!

[flybull]

completeley useless....

 

Useless to you, no doubt. Thanks for your (completely useless) input.

[Mars Exulte]

Just print the modules nice sales pictures as a A6 size cards and put them in stack on shelf....

 

Pretty much. Companies quit doing this for a reason.

[Mr_Burns]

Pretty much. Companies quit doing this for a reason.

 

 

 

 

Did they?

 

 

I mean there is an EB Games and some other software store full of hard copy games in every shopping center.

 

 

Including selling Minecraft Special Addition, Skyrim and some cartoon sh1t XBox came out with selling models of characters which could be activated by placing them on a stand.

 

 

Personally I dont think its a bad idea at all, would love to have a collection of my DCS purchases that could be displayed.

[Mars Exulte]

I mean there is an EB Games and some other software store full of hard copy games in every shopping center.

 

I can only speak for my experiences here in the US. There are not ''stores full of hard copy games'' anymore. In Walmart you have one side of one row for Xbox/Playstation, and two or three shelves with World of Warcraft on them. Best Buy = same. Fry's, I dunno, the Fry's in my area has been on life support for years, more empty shelves than not regardless of product.

 

You can buy overpriced collector's editions of really popular games or pre-orders for consoles. PC games effectively are online only these days.

[Evoman]

The main issue I see with this is that games and simulators are no longer made in the same way they used to be when a game that was shipped was the final and only version there would ever be of it. Nowadays most games are updated many times over its life time. I bet the DCS version from just 2 years ago is vastly different than the latest version. If a box version had existed 2 years ago and someone tried to install it noways it would need such a large update to play online and be compatible with the latest modules that it would be like downloading a whole new game. Plus keep in mind that DCS would still need to be updated with every update that is slowly released to be compatible with new module updates.

Edited August 30, 2020 by Evoman

[flybull]

The point of the "big box" would not be to supply the software. It provides a tangible collectible. Something to collect and display.

 

I would not advocate retail sales either - Couldn't be justified with the exception of very few locations ie Aviation Megastore EHAM.

 

This would be a premium, online ordered product, probably limited edition with a high profit margin.

 

Box

User manual, bound

Quick start guide

Theatre map?

Velcro Patch?

Catalog leaflet of other products

 

Doesnt even need to contain software!

 

cost 34-40USD each unit, say $50.

 

Sell ? module cost plus $100 AT LEAST. Limited production run would drive demand.

 

Not my intention to propose a business case, but if you don't think that there would be at least a couple hundred old school gen X gamers like me who would purchase multiple editions of these, if offered - you're nuts.

 

If you're not interested - fine, obviously not the target audience I'm referring to. As I mentioned in the opening post, this is aimed at simmers old enough to remember the glory days and possibly in a financial position to pay for it.

 

 

Just a reminder...The Fighter Collection/ED did infact release DCS A-10C in 2011 as a hard copy (small box) which is highly collectible. Just try and buy one now. Just an example of the collector value of something like that.

[Flappie]

I truly understand the need for what I would call a physical link to our "virtual" modules, but I'd rather decorate my desk with scale models, metal posters or books.

[barcharcraz]

This isn't as cheap as you'd think. There's a certain threshold where it's worth it (once you start being able to press disks and whatnot). What I would _totally_ buy is a set of boxed manuals (maybe even some real ones, if available), navigation charts, frequencies, and the like. Hell throw in a little warhammer style model of the aircraft too.

 

 

Also: most hard copy PC games still release on DVD, since blu-ray drives haven't really proliferated on PCs, and DCS would be .... a lot of DVDs.

[SharpeXB]

You could buy a blank DVD case and print your own cover... :smilewink:

[flybull]

never mind

[Flappie]

What I would _totally_ buy is a set of boxed manuals (maybe even some real ones, if available), navigation charts, frequencies, and the like.

This, delivered inside a metal case. :thumbup:

[Rainer_B.]

Last Game i bought in this way was a second hand box of Falcon 4.0 as install medium for Falcon BMS. Big heavy Box with a manual usable as weapon itself. I like the box idea because a few months ago before the corona lockdown i don't used paypal or owned a credit card. I bought the available hardcopys of DCS modules as second hand. This was at the moment the easiest way for me. So i bought the P-51D, the Huey, A10C, FC3 and was happy to play the sim with more than the 2 included modules. The lockdown changed all this and now the collection is complete. But i would not say no to a boxed version as Display. But it is okay so. The cupboards are full ;-)

[Eldur]

The main issue I see with this is that games and simulators are no longer made in the same way they used to be when a game that was shipped was the final and only version there would ever be of it. Nowadays most games are updated many times over its life time. I bet the DCS version from just 2 years ago is vastly different than the latest version. If a box version had existed 2 years ago and someone tried to install it noways it would need such a large update to play online and be compatible with the latest modules that it would be like downloading a whole new game. Plus keep in mind that DCS would still need to be updated with every update that is slowly released to be compatible with new module updates.

 

That's a fair point. I absolutely love having boxed stuff and I remember seeing someone posting a photo of his boxes of that other sim (the early series though) placed in a bookshelf right next to Shakespeare and alike. You simply can't put such memes on the internet today with some product keys on an online account you aren't even shown anymore. Especially the manuals of DCS modules get updated after the modules get updated themselves, and it takes quite a while to get a module out of EA. Not even to mention that they won't even be feature complete by then (ref Hornet roadmap to get a live example of that). I wouldn't wanna buy a manual (with a box around it) that's outdated a month or two later.

On the pro side, nowadays you don't need more and bigger rooms anymore for your games collection, instead you need that for having a decent 360° roomscale playspace for VR without setting off the guardian after like half a step from the centre.

[FoxOne007]

This would be the biggest and most unnecessairy environmental waste ever. This would be a bad thing to do and only cost ED more than they will make with it

[flybull]

@Fox One (when you got nothing left?) James Bond.....you've got to be takin' the piss with your environmental concern :megalol: