My “Trigger Happy” column in the Georgia Straight this week is a look at how video game publishers are using digital downloads as a way to distribute older, popular titles, and even some cult titles that were critical favourites, but maybe didn’t do so well off the shelf on first release.

As I note, this is a revenue stream that is easy for publishers to take advantage of, and it cuts out the middle man that is the traditional retail store.

As television shows and movies get a second life on DVD, so do video games that can be downloaded after their original boxed release in stores. Indeed, the trend toward making more video games available via download goes beyond casual and retro arcade titles. This mode of distribution is breathing new life into whole back catalogues of older games, while generating fresh profits for publishers.