Anyone Else Send Out Video Game Themed Christmas Cards?

[InsaneDavid]

As the title suggests I'm curious if anyone else here sends out video game themed Christmas cards. After years of Tom Newsom Santas (which were always fine due to my railroading interest) I decided to do something different. 2010 was a relatively simple Space Invaders affair with the invaders wearing Santa hats and the saucer being pulled by a couple reindeer. Last year however I spent some serious time reworking the Pitfall! box and came up with this...



It went over pretty well with friends and family. I just now finished up the card for this year and if all goes well I'll be printing tomorrow.

[AceAerosmith]

I don't even send out non-game themed Christmas cards. It kind of seems like a dying tradition. Thanks, Facebook.

But I would consider an emailed/Facebook holiday greeting to be right up there with eVites for parties on the level of douchebaggery. It's just lazy. If you care, make the effort.

In your case, that's major effort. It does look cool though. I'd like to get a card that sweet instead of the usual generic Hallmark drivel .

[MachineGex]

That is one of the most original cards(and cool) that I have seen. If one of my friends sent that out, I would be stoked. Unfortunately, I would get a deer hunter card or a boring family photo card instead.

Great job David!

[InsaneDavid]

I'd like to get a card that sweet instead of the usual generic Hallmark drivel .

Oh, it has plenty of generic drivel inside. As they get sent out to everyone from both my girlfriend and myself they can't been too video gamey. Because of this I try to keep the inside traditional yet still slanted to the game featured. For instance the Space Invaders card read "Here's hoping your holiday season is out of this world! May your Christmas be merry and bright and may all your scores be high!"

As for the Pitfall! card I was a little more elaborate and took a bit from the objective and rules of the original game...

Kris Kringle has 20 minutes to recover 32 gifts lost in the jungle,
The Christmas spirit ensures the locale won't give him much trouble.

The crocodiles are out caroling, spreading cheer as Kris swings overhead,
Even the once fearsome scorpion enjoys a peppermint treat before going to bed.

Proclaiming joy through the night, other explorers never had so much fun,
Bringing wishes of Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to everyone!

Unfortunately the black print head in my printer pretty much exploded this morning so it'll be at least another day until I have the new card printed and done. Pisses me off as we just purchased (and broke the seals on) a full set of cartridges for a dead printer.

[InsaneDavid]

Alright, after Printergeddon 2012, I'm finished with this year's card. All printed, trimmed and folded - the latest in the year I've ever been done. I usually have these out the week after Thanksgiving, anyway...



Yup, reworked Keystone Kapers this year, with a nod to Pitfall II: Lost Caverns to establish some continuity with last year's card.



I ended up basing a "screen shot" off the 5200 version for better detail. Now to write, address and mail.

[Genesaturn]

That is really inventive and cool. I usually toss any Christmas cards I get to the side, but if I got something like this I'd hang them proudly lol - now you gave me an idea. Even though with the advent of social networking and the decline of card sending..I may try doing something like this for my close friends!

[slapdash]

I'm curious to see the 2010 card, even if it wasn't nearly as elaborate. Very nice work!

(And I haven't sent out cards in a few years now... #YeahI'mScrooge)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Those are fantastic Dave!

Now we need some rom hacks of Pitfall and Keystone Kapers to match these designs!

[brainerdrainer]

no but I sent my brother a Game Boy ornament that I made.


1 of a kind Game Boy ornaments by Y=MX+B, on Flickr

[Nz17]

Wow guys, I really dig your cards and ornaments.

David, did you make another game-based Christmas card this year? BD, how'd the tree ornaments go over with your brother?

For the rest of us less artsy-craftsy gamers, I know Valve has a lot of holiday cards. It has printed "Team Fortress 2" and "Left 4 Dead" themed ones in the past. As a matter of fact, the Christmas cards are currently 54%/77% off at the Valve Store depending on the set of them (alongside a swath of other game-themed merchandise reduced in price for the holidays).

Here's some direct links to the cards' pages:
TF2 Collection 1:
http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=PCGR201


TF2 Collection 2:
http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=PCGR202


L4D Collection:
http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=PCGR300


L4D2 Collection:
http://store.valvesoftware.com/product.php?i=PCGR400

[InsaneDavid]

Wow guys, I really dig your cards and ornaments.

David, did you make another game-based Christmas card this year?

Yup, sent out earlier this week...





After last year's insanely complex rework I'm left with only two Activision boxes I can seriously see being reworked into Christmas cards. This was the one I decided to go with for 2013. This honestly may be the last in the series as I have a new idea for next year.

[Nz17]

After last year's insanely complex rework I'm left with only two Activision boxes I can seriously see being reworked into Christmas cards. This was the one I decided to go with for 2013. This honestly may be the last in the series as I have a new idea for next year.

Sweet work on the card. I can't wait to see the results of your new plan!