While digital distribution may have opened up the market for independent game developers, no longer dependent on distribution and publishing deals to get their games into the hands of consumers; the move to virtual formats has meant the demise of one nostalgic bit of video game culture: The Box. While downloading the latest hit by Vlambeer might happen instantaneously, there are no boxes to fumble opening, no manuals to puruse on the bus ride home from the game shop and no fun packaging to taunt your friends with when they come over to visit.
Well, a small group of enterprising individuals have teamed up to fix that, by creating deluxe editions of specially selected independent video games, including box art, manuals, soundtracks and all the bells and whistles available for AAA games. These editions are then made available to the public through secret monthly box subscriptions, adding an element of surprise to the joy of all those metatextual goodies.
From the IndieBox press release:
IndieBox delivers collector’s edition boxes of independent video games for as low as $14.99 a month (+$3 US S&H). IndieBox, which launched in the beginning of April 2013, is the only monthly subscription box that delivers the joy of the traditional video game box experience.
IndieBox partners with talented indie developers to create retrostyle game boxes featuring handpainted artwork with reimagined game cartridges, full color manuals, CD soundtracks,posters, and much more.
I’ve been itching to get my hands on once since they launched the service earlier this year, so it’s been with bated breath that I’ve been waiting for my July box to reach me up here in Canada.
As well as the game & soundtrack, this month’s box also included two collecctor’s pins, a digital copy of Indie Game Magazine, a Rogue Legacy sticker, some temporary tattoos, a poster, a digital strategy guide, a digital art book, wallpapers, and a demo of Whispering Willows (which looks AMAZING!).
My only complaint with the service so far is how long it took me to get my box, but apparently this month was a little later than usual due to increased demand, so I guess it’s understandable. Considering how new the service is, there’s bound to be some initial hiccups, so I’m very interested to see how the service develops and evolves in the future. You can also purchase copies of previous IndieBoxes while supplies last.
And finally, the part I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for. The fine folks at IndieBox have kindly provided me with a discount code that will allow one of you (yes, you) to order your very own IndieBox for the month of September, for FREE! All you have to do is follow the directions in the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.
Contest is open to residents of North America only (sorry, shipping costs and all that) and closes at midnight on August 11, 2014. Code expires on August 14th, so it will need to be used before then.
25 Comments
Megan
August 6, 2014 at 12:00 pmI’m just starting to play more indie games, so I don’t have a favourite yet. Thanks for the giveaway and glad you liked the box!
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:24 pmThanks for commenting! Good luck.
Nagareboshi
August 7, 2014 at 3:43 amThat’s really a cool idea. I love having the boxes, especially of my favourite games. ^^
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:12 pmThe extras in the IndieBox are really great.
Fiona
August 7, 2014 at 4:35 amlove your videos – always make me smile and they feel like I’m getting to open my own parcel 🙂
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:13 pmD’awww… Thank you.
Stephanie Medeiros (@ohnerdjoy)
August 7, 2014 at 11:31 amVery neat! There’s so many cool subscription boxes out there and only so much money I can spend, lol.
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:19 pmYeah, I’m experimenting with a few different boxes right now, but I really have to limit myself.
Jane Y.
August 7, 2014 at 11:37 amgreat video again! i watched this one with my husband 🙂 we enjoyed it!
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:20 pmThanks! Hoping to get some game specific videos up soon.
Kerry
August 7, 2014 at 3:01 pmThis looks really interesting! There are so many cool monthly box subscriptions now. I’m not a hardcore gamer, mostly due to motion sickness 😛 I had to stop playing Katamari (which I loved) because I’d get so sick after about 10 minutes.
Mariko
August 7, 2014 at 7:22 pmOh no! I only get motion sickness when I’m actually in motion, but I’m still not great with moving in 3D in games.
Joie Fatale
August 8, 2014 at 12:49 amYour videos are awesome Mariko!
And this play on nostalgia is right up my alley! I like that they are the box and book style! **Complete Collection**
As for indie games, I thought the Vampire Boyfriend game was fun (lol…I know)–not sure if this was indie, but I heard about it from your blog…and for some reason I find those dating sims intriguing and they crack me and my husband up (we totally played it together LOL).
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:45 amThank you, Joie. And yes, Vampire Boyfriends is totally indie. And if you like dating sims, are you as excited for Hatoful Boyfriend as I am?
Osama Dorias
August 8, 2014 at 10:16 amI hope we get a fighting game in an indie box at some point 😀 I have it already, but SkullGirlz in a box would be freaking AWESOME!
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:40 amThere’s already some pretty sweet loot for that game. Have you seen the Sanshee SkullGirlz line?
*aka*Krystelle
August 8, 2014 at 11:15 amI don’t think I’ve played any indie games. I’m looking to expand my gaming world past WoW and Nintendo games lol.
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:40 amNothing wrong with WoW & Nintendo, but there’s such an amazing world of indies to explore! Definitely lots of things inspired by both Nintendo and WoW.
tombuben
August 9, 2014 at 12:06 pmI really love the idea for this box, but the shipping cost to Europe is way too much… I really love indies, right now I play probably just about Starbound.
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:33 amYeah, I hear you on the shipping front. But hopefully it grows and can afford a European shipping station?
HilLesha
August 11, 2014 at 12:15 amI’m not sure if I had played any indie games, but I’m willing to!
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:32 amYou probably have without even knowing it, they’re everywhere these days!
Desiree
August 11, 2014 at 1:50 pmI haven’t played many indie games, but my favorite so far is Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
Mariko
August 12, 2014 at 11:31 amOooh, that’s a good one. So, spooky. Have you played the sequel?
Friday I'm In Love #91 - Gamerwife
February 3, 2016 at 4:30 am[…] have you entered my IndieBox giveaway yet? You’ve only got until August 11, 2014, so don’t […]