Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
I can get books fast. I can find tons of books online, from new ones to classics. I can find them fast I can find them cheap. I can find a lot of physical books fast, from cheap POD to used book stores. If I want literature, from classics to trash, I've got a lot of ways to get it fast and cheap.
Iv'e wondered if this affects the value of literature – and other media - but not necessarily in the way we may expect.
Let's be honest, my progeeks, profanes, and protaku, sometimes we buy cheap chotskies in bulk. We love our meaningless plastic, buttons, toys, etc. it's part of the geek experience.
Yes, they're wastes of money, but we love them. I've wondered if for us, however, they may be on the way out – because of virtual goods.
Technology allows us to deliver content and spectacular speeds to an audience of ready fans. We writers can get our eBooks out faster than anyone in publishing dreaded of a decade ago. Those of us in gaming can get out a game in parts, or keep the DLC flowing until a game's sequel comes out. Musicians can deliver one tune at a time until the DVD burns or concert season comes up.
We can keep delivering content all the time. There can be almost no gap between one product than the next – in the case of novels, with continual e-chapters, it never has to end.
I'm wondering if this is a good idea, or if at the very least it'll be hard to adapt to: