The Ultimate Game Packaging Discussion

[Family Computer]

Ok feel free to talk about outstanding / crazy / weird / amazing / anything game packaging.

I will start by saying that the Mother series of games has some of the best packaging in the history of console gaming. Very understated, simple graphic design with bold, unique colors. I love how the series has a common theme for the packaging between Mother 1 [Famicom], Mother 2 [Super Famicom], Mother 1+2 [GBA] & Mother 3 [GBA]. This is the game series that inspired me to create this thread, as the packaging made quite a bit more impact than any other series.

Also, I really like the Japanese GC game packaging. The small boxes and slip covers are a perfect setup for collectors.

I started a thread in the Import Games forum about the Nintendo Developed small-box games for the Famicom, and I really like these as well. The boxes are basically the size of the cartridge itself with no plastic tray on the inside. I am attempting to get a complete collection of these Nintendo "small-box" games.

As far as cartridges are concerned, my favorite is definitely the PC-Engine/Turbo Hu-Cards are amazing. It makes them really fun to collect for some reason. Second would have to be the standard size Famicom cartridges. These are a really nice size & come on a rainbow of colors that makes each game unique.

The PS3 game cases are the coolest of the current generation home consoles, but I assume these are just standard Blu-Ray cases. PSP games also have practical, uniquely shaped boxes.

[otaku]

As impractical as it may be I love neo geo packacing and carts they're just so cool with their huge size and such. PS3 has my current gen fave for packaging. Saturn packaing is kind of annoying actually, I prefer just standard CD cases for the most part.

UMDs and GC are some of the coolest media formats I've seen. And I love special editions like halo 2 had a cool box with the hard metal and stuff

[Steve W]

I've always liked Nokia's N-Gage game cases. They're nice and tiny, with close to the same thickness as a DVD case but much shorter. And there's a plastic SD-card carrying case inside for when you want to put some games in your pocket without damaging them.

[LiquidPolicenaut]

As far as game packaging, and even though it probably put them out of business, I will always love the Working Designs packages. They did a beautiful embossed full color manual and full art cd for Lunar Eternal Blue on the Sega CD at a time when very few (if any) other companies did that.

As far as actual game media, I second the PC-E/Turbo HuCards. It still amazes me how they fit really large games like Street Fighter II on there. They even LOOK cool! Also on the list for me would be the UMDs then the GC discs and, for some reason, the original black PSOne discs and the blue PS2 cd-rom games..

[Family Computer]

One other cool thing about Hu-Cards is that you can store them in trading card sleeves. This has to be the coolest way to store a loose game collection. If I ever went for any type of "complete" set of games, it would definitely be for the PC Engine, and I would only go for loose cards in order to keep the price down. A complete book of Hu-Cards would be pretty cool, and I am not a "completionist" when it comes to video game systems.

I am not a huge fan of the DS Media as far as aesthetics. It is cool that you can get a small case and hold many games, but the artwork is so tiny for the media itself.

[Dangerboy]

Game itself?

HuCard. All win. All the time.

Standard issue packaging?

Neo-Geo hard shell cases. You *knew* you were in the expensive aisle when you're game has to be "locked" into its case...and goddamn did they look SNAZZY on a shelf.

Special Occasions

Any PSX box set by Working Designs was a sight to behold. For gods sake they got me excited over little standees ;D

Steel Battalion - That thing LOOKED intimidating...

Honorable Mention

Brave Story on PSP. Any company willing to say "screw you" to identity manuals and make you turn the case to read / see the artwork properly is a damn fine designer in my book.

Rares

Elemental Gearbolt Assasin's Case - It was a game. In a metal briefcase...with a gun.

I popped wood just typing that.

[Steve W]

Another great game package would have to be Imagic's Atari 2600 boxes. Their mylar coated silver boxes with the inner black plastic pull-out inserts to store cartridges and instruction manuals were pretty sweet. And they stood out pretty strong on the shelves of a game store, just exuding quality.

[Damaramu]

I love the tough, durable, and stylish (hehe) snap cases used on Sega Genesis games and Nintendo DS games.

Hate, hate, hate, the cardboard boxes used by Nintendo for the NES, SNES, N64, Virtual Boy, and Gameboy. Flimsy city there.

Modern packaging (jewel cases and dvd cases) just don't impress me at all. Although, I do like the cases that PSP games come in.

[Daria]

I love the Renovation games for Genesis. They all have these paintings that wrap entirely around the case to display a bigger picture when opened. Really nice packaging for some otherwise mediocre games.

[wallydawg]

I really like the long skinny 3DO boxes. The "book" style cardboard box (games such as Lost Eden, Jurrassic Park, etc) is my favorite, it's pretty sturdy and just has a great look to it. The boxes with the plastic snap on the one side are pretty cool too.

[OatBob]

I'm with the first poster on the aesthetic simplicity of the Mother (not Earthbound, yuck) packaging. My favorite to see on a shelf, as far as consoles go are the Japanese Dreamcast games, white with a bit of orange at the top. Definitely one of the more consistent packaging themes for a single console collection; however, the DVD cased games mess that one up a bit. The spine protectors also give you just a little extra to watch for to keep it interesting.

I'm also a bit of a fan of the tin cases they've been releasing special editions of recently. Doom 3, Halo 2, Final Fantasy XII, and Gears of War to name a few.

I've always liked the boxes for Steel Batallion (wow, that's big), and Samba de Amigo (AKA a Dreamcast party in a box). Also, the upcoming legendary edition of Halo 3 is looking quite promising.

Least favorites... cardboard boxes. First of all, its difficult to even find the boxes because most folk seem to toss them. Game Boy ones seem a bit easier to find though.

Least favorite runner-ups... anything in "clamshell" packaging. This is mainly directed at the Wii and 3rd party PS1 peripherals. It's difficult opening those without slicing your hands open, and the packaging isn't worth saving anyways as you've destroyed it to get the product out. The tab on PS3 games is kinda lame, and scans poorly for sharing online.

[Jimid2]

I love the Wonderswan games packaging... The boxes aren't particularly special, except the design work tends to be more inspired on most of them than on similar American product (eg: Lynx boxes), but the games are nested in molded plastic inserts, and each cart comes with a slide-on plastic case. I also really like the way the carts slide into the system and become a part of the machine's form - it's like a Wonderswan is missing a part if the game's not slotted into place...

I have to agree that the PSP games packaging is particularly well done as well...

[Promophile]

Well, unlike a few posters I must say I like the Earthbound artl. I think it looks better when it's blown up to a larger size. I always used to think that the box art depicted Ness sitting inside the Starman; in actuality it's his reflection as the starman gazes down at him.

[Ed Oscuro]

As impractical as it may be I love neo geo packacing and carts they're just so cool with their huge size and such.

The manuals are generally shitty (some even came with Neo Geo CD style manuals, for shame) and they're just too blasted big.

[Family Computer]

While more difficult to find in good condition and maintain, I actually find cardboard boxed games are usually more aesthetically appealing when compared to standard CD cases & DVD cases. CD/DVD cases are the ultimate example of practicality as they are easily replaced, but they just lack the charm of other type of packaging.

Also, while they are extremely functional and easy to find, I am not a huge fan of the looks of Master System/Genesis packaging. The boxes often have a shoddy quality to them and I hate those little plastic hang tabs on some of the cases.

[smokehouse]

Another vote for Neo Geo games. Both AES and MVS display like no other. Put a MVS title in a ShockBox and get a professionally printed cover and it’s a thing of beauty. It reminds me of either a Record or Laserdisc cover…there’s so much more room to put fancy artwork.

[klausien]

My favorite single game package is the Street Fighter II Champion Edition for the PC Engine. It's got that great blue cover art and is a single thick HuCard that comes in a white double CD case. It just feels so deluxe.

As for my favorite packaging line, I am a sucker for complete Famicom Disk System games. They have a soft plastic outer box, that contains the tiny manual and the game, which itself is in a hard case AND has a sleeve. They are just so well put together.

[Nintendork]

I never saw Neo Geo games and their packaging, but after seeing the above picture I am impressed. Reminds me of the Genesis packaging that was mentioned earlier. I always thought Genesis, and I believe Sega Master System as well (?), games were packaged infinitely better than anything Nintendo put out. I can't tell you how many of those cardboard boxes started to dull on the corners and such.

[Family Computer]

Yeah Famicom Disk System is a nice all around format. Both the disks themselves & the packaging are top notch.

Aside from N64 & Wii, I think Japanese Nintendo packaging has the absolute best quality throughout. Sony has been playing catch up as of late though.

Neo Geo Carts aren't bad but I don't think they are anywhere near the top really. Too huge & the boxes look like those old book on tape 8 audio cassette boxes. Good point on it having more room to display the artwork though.