It's no secret that kids – and cats – like to play with cardboard boxes, sometimes more than with what's inside. Now, Amazon is introducing new boxes with a built-in play factor. Starting this week, some Amazon orders will start to be delivered in "more environmentally-friendly" boxes that can be turned into a rocket, car or fort for your pet, a robot costume or a mini-golf windmill, the Seattle-based retail giant shared exclusively with USA TODAY. The new boxes are part of Amazon's ongoing "Less Packaging, More Smiles" program and include a call to action to recycle the boxes and a QR code that directs consumers to Amazon.com/ThisBox for how to make the cardboard creations. Save better, spend better: Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox.

Despite the absence of Sony PlayStation, this year's annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles delivered the usual whirlwind of new game announcements, trailers, marketing bluster and performative fandom. For years the entire thing has been streamed on YouTube, Twitch and half the world's gaming websites, everything from showy press conferences to long demonstrations, transforming the event from a games industry conference to a kind of mid-year Christmas for both game marketers and enthused players watching at home (or paying around $1,000 to attend in person). This is what E3 is now, and though the sense of mystery and anticipation has dimmed significantly in this age of instant streaming, Twitter hot-takes, online leaks and teaser trailers for teaser trailers, there's still a thrill to it. But while the event stays the same, behind the scenes the games industry is changing. This year's E3 has made clear that video game consoles, with their cyclical generations and competing suites of exclusive games, are changing rapidly and are on their way to becoming obsolete. Here's how things used to work.