I get what people mean when they use that phrase, but... Of course it's digital. How else are you going to download it? It's like stating "driving car", or "Floating boat", or "music record". What was wrong with "downloadable content" or "downloadable game"?
That's not redundant. Records don't just hold music....much like a music cd is different to an audiobook cd.
Fair enough. Though, I have come across few records that have contained anything other than music. Perhaps I should have used "audio record" instead.
I blame the RAS syndrome. No, because "record" can have many meanings: "written record", "dental record", "criminal record", "permanent record", etc. "Audio record" is still not redundant.
Doesn't it come from like: "It's a digital game, that you download. A digital, downloadable, game." (as opposed to "analog" cartridges). then it was shortened: digital downloadable game -> digital download... perhaps? EDIT: And then it just stuck... just like people saying ATM Machine etc. which also is redundant.
Cartridges are a digital format as are pretty much any other format that commercial games have been released on in the last 20 years.
Probably legal speak to prevent people from trying to obtain a hard copy of a game simply because they own a downloaded version and therefore a license to play said game.
PHP = PHP Hypertext Preprocessor WINE = WINE Is Not Emulator DNS Server = Domain Name Server Server etc. technical acronyms wut u doin
WoW/any other MMO: Please pst. Aggravates me to no end. I never really minded digital download, probably because it's not using the same word like some acronyms do. But, in regards to your last line, downloadable content can be anything. A walkthrough, a game, porn, etc. Downloadable game is fine, but it's just not catchy, unlike digital download. It's an awesome alliteration.
Damnit...I wanted to be the one to say that! But yeah...as Veho mentioned: it's sort of the same as the RAS syndrome. Though not an acronym (e.g.: HIV-virus = Human Immunodeficiency Virus ... Virus), I think this phrase is still something used by the same people who don't exactly know their shit (kind of similar to how often I hear that it's okay to surf the web, provided you don't download anything).
Lol, so did I! Edit: It's the same reasons that people keep calling the System Menu firmware on the Wii. Because everybody else does it, and because people don't understand what they are talking about.
