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Game boxes for your game.

9 replies [Last post]
Thu, 12/02/2004 - 01:21
Anonymous

i've been dwelling on the problem of storage for the game between uses. (I'm willing to think positive here) I have thought for a first game to go merely with a basic ziplock baggie or plain white envelope with artwork (ala Cheapass games) They are nice and inexpensive but a few people have told me that they are not very impressive to the buyer. I agree in part but at the same time I'm thinking that buyers of games aren't buying a box they are buying a game. if the box is pretty then it's gravy... if the box costs more than the game to make... it's not my cup of tea. In thinking this though I've noticed that Steve Jackson games did their early Meta/Microgames in a pocket box as well as in the aforementioned baggie.

Now with that being said, I like the pocket box, it's sturdy and I think with the right cover art it could be a decent sell. Does anyone know where I can find something of their ilk these days. The closest I've come is a company that does VHS and DVD covers. Not quite what I had in mind. I could ask at Steve Jackson Games I'm sure but it would seem a little improper to ask a company to tell me one of their production methods.

Can anyone suggest somewhere I might look? The game I'm making is a wargame and it's got few pieces. It wouldn't need a lot of space and so I think that the box type would be a nice value for what you pay.

thanks

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 08:35
#1
Joe_Huber
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Game boxes for your game.

I suspect this won't be the most useful suggestion, but I'll fire it off anyway...

I now have most of my designs boxed in Kosmos 2-player series boxes. I've acquired games in the series cheaply whenever possible, have re-used the components in a variety of games, and have labeled the top and sides of the box. It's not a particularly inexpensive solution, but (1) it supports the game industry, (2) it nets a bunch of pieces-parts, and (3) they look good while taking up minimal space.

Usually the cheapest route is Adam Spielt; they have a number of Kosmos 2-player games right now for just over 4 Euros...

Joe

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 09:42
#2
Anonymous
Game boxes for your game.

One option you may want to consider is the use of plastic VHS boxes (like those typically used by video rental places). You can buy them without the obtrusive “hubs” inside, allowing more room for components. They are also available in many colors, and costs are around 30 or 40 cents apiece, I believe. They can be purchased with transparent sleeves in which you can easily insert artwork. Then shrink wrap the whole thing for a nice looking (but relatively cheap) game box. I have seen some others use this to good effect, and I considered doing it as well for my own games (but I needed more room in the box, so I dropped the idea). One place you may want to start looking is www.mediacases.com, and jot down some key-words from their listing to use in searching for other dealers.
Good luck, whatever you decide!

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 10:59
#3
OrlandoPat
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Joined: 10/16/2008
Does it have a sizeable rule-book?

If it has a thick enough rule-book and thin pieces, you can also look at picking up a plastic sleeve to attach to the inside of the back cover. Put the pieces in the sleeve, and then shrinkwrap the whole book and ship it as is.

You used to be able to buy the sleeves in quantities through office supply stores...

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 11:15
#4
phpbbadmin
Offline
Joined: 04/23/2013
VCR boxes

I personally second the VCR box idea. Dralius sent me a copy of his game Cannon recently and I was very impressed with the appearance of the box. And to be honest, he kept it very simple so I think you can make it look even nicer if you had full color graphics. You can't really tell, but he did use the plastic sleeve method in which he just printed the cover and slid it in the insert. Very quick and easy method for creating a game box.

Here is a picture of his game & box:

The only downside to this is that you probably need to design your game board with the dimensions of the box in mind (but in reality, don't you always?). Also the # of pieces you can put in the box is obviously limited. It has more room than you would expect however.

Good luck!
-Darke

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 12:22
#5
Anonymous
Game boxes for your game.

Uline - http://www.uline.com/ - has a great selection of boxes and other packing material. I have used them in the past for non-gaming projects, but some of the boxes would work well for games. If you wanted to improve the marketing message on the box you could even print sleeves, similar to how comptuer parts are boxed.

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 16:12
#6
Anonymous
Game boxes for your game.

Ah, Uline....another great source! Good suggestion!

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Thu, 12/02/2004 - 17:06
#7
nickdanger
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Joined: 12/31/1969
Game boxes for your game.

Joe, I can always count on you to surprise me. Buying Kosmos games from Germany to just scavenge. I love it!

Taking Joe's idea but using an easier route, at least for me, I often stop by the ol' thrift shops. Not to find a prize I can resell on Ebay but to pick up the $.99 games.

When I get them home I just toss the bits into the appropriate bit bin, stick the game board onto my growing stack of game boards and nest the box into another, or one into it.

I re-use the game boards and boxes quite often. It seems I never have the right bits I need though and end up having to make them. The boxes, to get back on topic, I first paint with that white paint used to cover water spots and such (I can't for the life of me remember that cute name it is now) and then design my own artwork and stick it on. Not perfect, but works well enough for me.

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Fri, 12/03/2004 - 10:03
#8
Joe_Huber
Offline
Joined: 12/31/1969
Game boxes for your game.

nickdanger wrote:
Joe, I can always count on you to surprise me. Buying Kosmos games from Germany to just scavenge. I love it!

To be fair, the largest chunk of boxes I got was from Richard Borg, who was selling off foreign language copies of Hera & Zeus and Heavo Ho at a _very_ reasonable price at the Gathering this year. But having exhausted that supply, closeouts from Adam Spielt will do. Among other things, I need more _boards_, in addition to the cards...

Joe (who really should take a picture of my collection of Kosmos-boxed games and post it here someday...)

P.S. I did actually get chastized once for re-using such a great game as Lost Cities...

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Fri, 12/03/2004 - 13:04
#9
Anonymous
Game boxes for your game.

Darkehorse wrote:
Here is a picture of his game & box...

I'm amazed that there's enough room in the box for the bonsai! ; )

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