IndieBox Review & Giveaway [CLOSED]

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.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.

Good luck!