There was a time when everything about gaming was tangible, from the game magazines we read about games in, to the actual games which came in stunning boxes full of wonderful paraphernalia. Then everything moved to the net, including marketing, game reviews, and the games themselves.
While physical copies can still be bought, they are not nearly as impressive as the ones from a bygone era, and we can feel that we are missing out.
All is not lost, however, for those seeking tangibility in gaming and that thrill of opening old-school game boxes, and the answer lies in gaming-themed mystery boxes. The content of the boxes is not entirely known to you until you open them. It could be a game, a monitor, or something else from a selection of gaming equipment. Jemlit is a mystery box website where you can find an assortment of gaming mystery boxes with a variety of themes, such as console gaming and PC gaming.
The golden age of game boxes and manuals
The 80s and 90s saw the peak of physical game culture. As games were being bought in retail stores, the appearance of the box played a significant role in marketing, so the boxes were covered in beautiful artwork and screenshots that gave you a sneak peek of the games.
Opening the box would reveal much more than the disk or cartridge, the manual being perhaps the most notable. Manuals contained information about game mechanics, but also game lore, and reading them was akin to reading a book, so just as most people prefer physical books over their digital counterparts, reading physical manuals gave a greater sense of satisfaction than reading today’s in-game manuals, not to mention some were full of gorgeous illustrations. As reading the manual would usually precede playing the game, it gave people a sense of anticipation that they really enjoyed.
Many games, particularly fantasy ones, followed in Tolkien’s footsteps and included maps of the game worlds, either on cloth or paper.
Lots of other accessories could potentially be found in the box that would leave people pleasantly surprised, such as mouse pads, figurines, wall posters, and T-shirts.
All in all, opening a game box and discovering what is inside was an experience in itself that has been lost with the rise of digital distribution.
The digital era
It was in the 2000s that the digital distribution of games really took off, and with it, the quality and intricacy of game packages were lost, much like what would later happen to gaming lounges in the UK. While we do miss the old game boxes, overall, the change is mostly positive. After all, if digital distribution were not superior, it would not have become so firmly fixed in the industry.
The most prominent advantage is the lowered cost of production, deployment, and storage, making games significantly more affordable. It is not uncommon for digital distribution platforms to offer great deals on games, sometimes even giving them away for free, which would not be possible with physical games.
Another benefit of owning a game in digital form is that you cannot lose it. Disks can be scratched, broken, or lost, but owning a game purchased through an online platform means you can sleep soundly knowing it is stored safely on the server and can be endlessly redownloaded.
Lastly, with games being less costly to distribute, developers can take more creative risks, since even if a game happens to flop, it will not result in a financial catastrophe for the publisher.
The rise of mystery boxes for gamers
Mystery boxes have been around for a while now, and they present a distinct way of purchasing products. You pay a fixed price to open a box and receive one of a selection of items without knowing beforehand which one it will be.
Recently, mystery boxes have appeared that are tailored for gamers, offering a variety of items including peripherals, retro-collectables, and limited edition gear. They are one of the few things keeping physical game culture alive, and they provide an experience very similar to that of opening game boxes in the old days. You have the anticipation of not knowing what you will find, the excitement of finding out, and of course, that unique joy of holding a physical object in your hands.
