Tarm: Don't forget Media. Media of all kinds have exploded over the world since the 80's. This makes advertising a very very powerful tool. Products can now be known for a successful advertising campaign and not the product.
Mikee: You're totally right. Marketing &PR is so powerful tool to fool customers those days...
I was typing this question yesterday but I lost it. Here's the gist:
What's your thoughts as an insider on the way PC gaming is disappearing from retail stores?
My local Game used to have a decent amount of PC titles (including piles below the shelves) but I just went in there recently and they have little stock left.
I know piracy is touted as a reason. I know online (download and mail order) is touted as a reason. But is it as simple as that? If mail order is a reason then it must be a matter of time before Playstation, Xbox and Wii titles are affected too.
Since your helpfully detailed post explained a lot of the things that go on to bring a game into stores, has the way publishers/distributors approached things brought about this decline too?
If you can take time off from leading the war against DRM, please save retail PC gaming too! ;)