A copy of Ignition's Boing! Docomodake -- a puzzler/platformer for the Nintendo DS -- arrived in our Baltimore offices today. Like many of the publisher's other DS games (Metal Slug 7, Tornado!), the game comes packaged in a fancy cardboard slipcase.
The presentation is nice, for sure. The game's logo is raised, as are parts of the little docomodake mushroom itself. The boxes for Tornado! and Metal Slug 7 are just as slick, shiny boxes that would genuinely capture your attention at retail. But once you slip the cover off, you're met with a traditional game case that features the same -- but less fancy, with no raised lettering or shiny material -- artwork on both the front and the back of the box.
It's like those Russian nesting dolls, but perhaps more annoying. While I can appreciate the attention to box artwork, especially when I'm confident physical games will be a thing of the past sooner rather than later, sometimes I just want to get to my game. Why the extra steps? This is particularly annoying in some special edition boxes, like the Prince of Persia: Limited Edition also pictured above; you can't even quickly slip the game box out, as it's enclosed on all sides.
Am I lazy? Maybe. No, wait -- definitely. But I'm torn, because like I already said, I appreciate the effort it takes to package an appealing retail product. But I'm just not sure if it's something that's necessary or if I actually want to deal with it.
So what do you think? Do you love or hate this kind of slipcover packaging?
Contest:
6:30 PM on 03.10.2009
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I may be able to grant special editions a free pass. But the special edition of Halo 3 is so monstrous, taking over 3 games worth of space on my shelf.
I'll take the standard packaging, for sure.
@thisissami
I've never seen that packaging but I bet it kicks ass.
Yeah, I've never seen that packaging either. Picture or it didn't happen! (read: I'm too lazy to do a Google search.)
What I'm getting at is, I'd be happy to take those off your hands.
Usually I keep them, but take them off and put them in a pile.
http://www.z-o-g.org/gallery2/ico/watc/
everything labeled PAL is what i have. i guess another reason that i like this is that it remains the same size as my other games. i think it's just about a millimeter or taller than everything else, but it's something so insignificant that it doesn't bother me.
My Quake IV cardcase is fooking annoying, and just as fancy as the plasticase inside it.
Shadow Of The Colossus is an exception, wonderful case (it's actually the right size for starters), but how I wish it was more resistant to the ravages of age (BioShock tin = beautiful)!
What I dislike of digital distibution is that you do not have a physical version of the game. Half the fun of being a gamer is also to build my collection. On in on, I really like standard boxes, in fact I ensure that my ebay purchases have box and probably instruction booklet as well.
Is like having a library.
That being said, I think the idea is maturing and hopefully someday they'll be made of recycled material and cut out the plastic on the inside. (Like a digipack but more smarter. YOuu might've seen this exemplified on Rise Against's album that came out last October, which had a digipack made of vegetable inks and recycled materials.)
[i]"Get off your soapbox, hippie!"
I would rather have a nice metal case like Final Fantasy XII Collectors Edition though
Agreed!
Worse one was for my special edition of Terminator 2. It was made out of metal, and shredded up the plastic on the actual DVD case the first time I tried taking it off.
Useless
I only like them if they are for compilation music albums like the MasLabel Annual Compilations, they have 5CDs and it would be a major mess if they were in full retail sizes. However in videogames, I like them fat and proud.