I’m no gamer- in fact I do hate games because I believe they promote laziness and violence. Yes, I’m unpleasant like that. But I do love collector’s edition packaging! So much that it made me forget my hatred for video games. If you’re looking for a perfect gift for a gamer in your life or if you’re simply looking for CD/DVD packaging inspiration, then this is for you. Here are some of the most creative packaging and collector’s items for video games.

Fall Out 3

I’m not a gamer but I fell in love with Fall-out 3′s goodies! The set comes with the iconic bobblehead and a functional lunch box. Too cool!

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Shogun Total War 2

Definitely the best gift to give a video gamer who’s a chess addict as well. Spell N-E-R-D. The Shogun Total War 2 Collector’s Edition has been announced, and it includes a complete chess set, artbook, “Art of War” Bamboo box replica, and a Takeda Shingen Daimyo figurine.

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Batman: Arkham City

Warner Brothers Interactive  Collector’s Edition of Batman: Arkham City. This $99 set includes custom Batman statue,art book, early access to the Iceberg Lounge Challenge Map and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns skin, Batman: Arkham City album, Batman: Gotham Knight Four collectible cards. I just love the black and white and red combo. Makes the whole set a work of art.

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Rage

The Special Edition of RAGE contains an individually numbered A3 Rage Print, Rage Wing stick, Gang Badges, and Anarchy Edition.

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Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

This set comes in “Travelling Chest” which contains the kick-ass 8.5″ Nathan Drake Statue, Wearable replica of Nathan Drake’s belt buckle, Wearable replica of Nathan Drake’s ring with necklace strap, Exclusive Steelbook™ game case. Kudos for the wearable concept. Perfect gift for hard-to-please men (or boys). If he finds the game lame, at least he still has the Nathan Drake statue. If after 2 minutes he gets tired of it, well…at least he has functional items like the buckle and necklace.

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Gears of War

Includes an Artbook, redemption code,game items, and of course- a handsome statue.

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Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Aside from the usual stuff, this also contains 10,000 extra credits that can be used to purchase or upgrade in-game artillery.

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What other games did I miss?

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

For me, you don’t have to throw big bucks for your DVD packaging production for it to become the talk of the town. Some of the most flamboyant DVD packaging have the lamest concepts. Sure, there’s a bigger chance you will create an impact, but there are smarter ways than having a big box that costs a fortune, right? Yes, there are smarter (and safer) ways.

Here are some more tips if you want to make something creative for your DVD packaging:

When it comes to the actual artwork, Less is more. I examined my DVD rack and found out that the DVD packaging that attract my eyes usually have a minimalist look- not too many colors, not too many texts. I think a minimalist approach works well because the DVD case is so small for too much clutter. But wait, the less is more method works well for billboards as well. This is because people are seeing clutter everywhere and their attention span is as quick as lightning. You want your DVD packaging to stand out, or at least have its own glow, in the store. You do not want it to be a colorful haze on the background.

Use a case with dimensions similar to the standard cases. This isn’t a rule but more of a must-follow tip. You must follow or die paying the extra charges. Sure you can make whatever DVD packaging you want but don’t expect every retailer to sell it or every customer to buy your DVD.  Some DVD retailers have racks that fit standard DVD cases only. If your DVD packaging is as huge as an encyclopedia, then they need to look a space for it. This means, you get to pay more. And the bigger and heavier the packaging, the more expensive is the shipping cost.  Another disadvantage of not following the standard amaray size is that some people, especially the ones who have obsessive-compulsive behavior, find it annoying when a case doesn’t fit the shelf. Collectors may love your custom DVD packaging but the regular crowd might not find it too neat.

Add a little bait. With the kind of economy we have, people are pinching every penny to get by. And with too many entertainment sources like the internet, iPhones, and TV shows, selling them your DVD could be quite a challenge. Why would they buy your DVD? Sure, your film is good (really,really good), but it will soon be available online for free consumption in just a few months, right? They’ll just wait for it. This is why a little bait might help. Give them a soft nudge. You may add a raffle code, an invite for your Film screening, a postcard, a download code of some behind the scenes footage or a cool game. You get the picture. Think of anything that could lure your fans and supporters to buy your DVD.

Emphasize Your Website Address. Most DVD packaging do not emphasize website URLs. The address just blends in the sea of letters. Instead of putting another quote/review from someone about your film, why don’t you reserve a good room for your website address! If you’re indie, you want to create a good following. You want to build a community that might help you with your second, third, fourth film. The best way to do this is by having an interactive website and keeping them hooked! Just having their e-mails is such a big help for your career as a filmmaker.

Put a QR Code. They do look ugly but that little graphic code will attract those curious people with iPhones. So you have a teaser at the back but some people want to know more before purchasing anything. Just a simple snap from their smart phones will lead them to your website. This is always a plus.

So, you see? You do not have to spend big bucks to have a good-looking DVD packaging. These simple tips can add extra big points for your DVD’s marketing strategy.

Branding Yourself as a Musician- A Checklist

Branding and promoting your band is not like selling Avon products or vacuum cleaners. Here is a list of things a band should have if you want to brand your band and make a career out of your craft.

6 Reasons People are Buying Vinyl Records Again

According to industry tracker Nielsen SoundScan, vinyl record sales reached 1.9 million units in 2008, and then grew to 2.5 million in 2009, to 2.8 million in 2010, to 3.6 million in 2011 (projected). Here are some of the possible reasons why it’s back

Top 10 Vinyl Record Myths

Only old music sells on vinyl and other myths.

Rules for Confronting a Difficult Band Member

Don’t confront him in front of his girlfriend or sister or mother.Don’t confront him over some beers.Don’t tally his every bad deed.

5 Personality Development Tips for New Musicians

Being socially detached does not make you more talented or interesting. In fact, these social interactions and relationships can open new opportunities and can help you learn more about the music industry and its ropes. Let’s face it- when it comes to music, personality and social relations do matter…a lot.

Rich Musician, Poor Musician

I realized that we should not wait for things to get easy and comfortable so we can start making your art or doing something that we love. Things will never get easier. It is part of the challenge and we have to do something about it and not use ‘real life’ as an excuse.

Why Creating a Fashion Statement is Good for Your Music Career

Your image can clue your new fans into what your music’s all about and make your band more recognizable. And if you work on maintaining a certain image, not only will you be recognizable but you will also be memorable which is the most important thing.

CD Packaging: Records, Cassettes, CDs Then Nothing

Album art used to be a serious pursuit, as if it was equally important to catch both the eyes and the ears of the music shopper. Perhaps, we don’t need the allure of album art anymore, since we can instantly gratify our need to hear the music we want to buy or steal.

Music Marketing: 10 Expert Insights Into Great Music Marketing

some of the highlights on getting a marketing and distribution campaign started

6 Easy Ways to Incorporate Creativity to Your Daily Life

You do not have to leave your security in order to become creative. Here are some of the tips for incorporating creativity to your daily life. I hope these tips will help us remember- and not just remember, but actually do- the things we are passionate about.

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

The typeface Helvetica, a movie directed by Gary Hustwit, was released in bluray format in 2008. It was packaged in a beautiful record sleeve with a very playful design. It was designed by Experimental Jetset from Netherlands. Why a record sleeve? Here’s a text explaining their concept behind this bluray packaging.

Thinking about a packaging for this Blu-ray disk, we first started to consider the whole concept of Blu-ray itself. It is yet another format, the latest in a string of formats, and just like VHS and DVD, this format will be obsolete soon. This whole theme, of obsolete formats, is something that we have always found interesting; in fact, towards the end of 2000, we dedicated a whole issue of Emigre magazine on this subject (see Lost Formats). So we thought it would be interesting to come up with a packaging that would revolve around this whole theme of formats. That’s when we decided to package the Blu-ray disk in a record sleeve, referring to the vinyl 12” LP, a now almost defunct format. There’s also another reason why we chose a record sleeve as packaging. When we first met Gary, he tried to explain the concept of the Helvetica film to us. “A rock documentary, but about a typeface”, that’s how he described it to us. So a record sleeve as packaging for this documentary made perfect sense to us.

But besides the fact that the spirals refer to records, we also liked the idea of Helvetica as a typeface spiralling out of control, revolving almost like a planet, or a dark sun, a universe in itself. Next, we hoped that the spiral-like disc would refer to rays, radiation and sci-fi radar technology, underlining the whole idea of Blu-ray.

We also really wanted to show the typeface as a sort of deconstructed type specimen. We thought it would be good to show the typeface without actually showing it. As you see, the forms shown on the sleeve are not recognizable as letters, but you can still notice the shapes that are characteristic for Helvetica. We thought this was interesting.”

Just lovely!

lovelypackage.com/helvetica-blu-ray/

If you love films and music and you like owning beautiful objects made out of paper, here are some CD and DVD packaging that will make your eyes pop.

Flight of the Conchords

One of the coolest bands and coolest CD packaging I’ve seen. The artwork is made of hard paper that has a gorgeous, colorful illustration and pop-up artwork.

Faithless- The Dance

This is a special edition CD bookpack with pop-up made by Modo.

Pan’s Labyrinth

The three films in the set (Cronos, Devil’s Backbone &Pan’s Labyrinth) come packaged in a case that folds out to create a pop-up scene straight out of a Del Toro children’s book.

Arcs Across the Sky

The cd comes in a wonderful pop-up 3d sleeve which not only looks fabulous but is also a vision of an alternative Birmingham, one taken over by blue alien blobs.

Spinal Tap CD

This was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Packaging alongside Sagmeister’s work for Byrne & Eno and four other nominees. Although Sagmeister bagged the trophy, I should say it is equally remarkable.

The Incredibles

Toy Story

Jungle Book

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

TITLE: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
YEAR:  2001
SOURCE EDITION: France
FEATURES: Argonath Bookends; Digipak; Decipher Trading Cards; Middle Earth Map;

For more awesome DVD packaging, check out M & J Collection

This DVD packaging of Reservoir Dogs is as cool as the film and the director. It’s made of a tin case that is made to look like a thin gasoline can and it contains 2 DVDs. Some DVD box sets are too elaborate. Too many random stuff placed in a big box and sold at very high prices. I notice most of the over-the-top packaging have no solid concept. Some DVD box set are just, well…too boring. We see lots of this. I need not elaborate this. But this is just right. Cool, clean, suave.

About the film:

Reservoir Dogs transformed Quentin Tarantino practically overnight from an obscure, unproduced screenwriter and part-time actor to the most influential new filmmaker of the 1990s. The story looks at what happens before and after (but not during) a botched jewelry store robbery organized by Joe Cabot (Lawrence Tierney). Mr. White (Harvey Keitel) is a career criminal who takes a liking to newcomer Mr. Orange (Tim Roth) and enjoys showing him the ropes. Mr. Pink (Steve Buscemi) is a weaselly loner obsessed with professionalism. Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) has just gotten out of jail after taking the rap on a job for Cabot; he’s grateful for the work but isn’t the same person he used to be. While Mr. Blonde goes nuts during the heist, the thieves are surprised by the sudden arrival of the police, and Mr. Pink is convinced one of their team is a cop. So who’s the rat? What do they do about Mr. Blonde? And what do they do with Mr. Orange, who took a bullet in the gut and is slowly bleeding to death? Reservoir Dogs jumps back and forth between pre- and post-robbery events, occasionally putting the narrative on pause to let the characters discuss such topics as the relative importance of tipping, who starred in Get Christie Love!, and what to do when you enter a men’s room full of cops carrying a briefcase full of marijuana. ~ by Mark Deming, Rovi

Title: Reservoir Dogs 15th Anniversary Edition
Year: 1992
Source Edition: USA
Discs: 2 DVD
Features: Special Gasoline Can Box Set

All photos are from M& J Collection

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

Creative Review put their magazine in a very clever, very eco packaging- a clear bag that dissolves in water. Way too cool! If you want to wrap your CD,DVD, Vinyl, merch, etc in this packaging, shoot us an e-mail.

More details on how it works:

“The hot water is just to show you the biodegradability at speed. You don’t need to boil it, just chuck it on the compost heap! We use this to package fish food as it dissolves in the water releasing the bait.

“Harmless-Dissolve is made from a hydro-degradable substrate which is 5 times stronger than normal polythene. It is a readily biodegradable, water soluble polymer which completely biodegrades in a composting environment, in a dishwasher or in a washing machine. It has no harmful residues and will biodegrade into naturally occuring substances – the bugs love it.

“It’s non-toxic and is degraded by micro-organisms, moulds and yeasts. These organisms can occur in both artificial environments, such as anaerobic digesters, activated sewage sludge and composts and natural environments such as aquatic systems and soil. The micro-organisms use Harmless-Dissolve as a food source by producing a variety of enzymes that are capable of reacting with it. In the end the bag becomes carbon dioxide, water and biomass.”

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

Over a year ago, I featured Spinal Tap’s cardboard cutout packaging for their album Back From the Dead. It was nominated at the Grammy Awards for Best Packaging alongside Sagmeister’s work for Byrne & Eno and four other nominees. Although Sagmeister bagged the trophy, I should say it is equally remarkable. Take a look and you’ll agree:

This is not the only remarkable album packaging of Spinal Tap. Their packaging for  ”This is Spinal Tap” is probably one of the coolest album packaging ever created. It reminds me of AC/DC’s music packaging. Spinal Tap’s “Limited Marshall Amp Edition” comes packaged in a miniature Marshall Amp described as “going up to 11″ which tells me the thing actually works. The outer packaging also resembles an amp, while the interior includes five total discs with the original soundtrack and over five-hours of bonus features.

And here are some more designs made by Fusion Creative.

Spinal Tap’s Electric Guitar DVD Kit

and the Spinal Top Guitar Pick

And if you still want more creative Spinal Tap Stuff, here’s a merch that will make any fan (and non-fan) drool. Too bad it’s sold out. This is a set of amazing 12 inch action figures. Figures feature over 20 points of articulation, an “autographed” guitar pick base, a miniature LP of a Spinal Tap album, instrument, and other themed accessories from the film. Too bad it’s sold out.

About Spinal Tap:

[Source]

Spinal Tap is a Grammy-nominated parody fictional heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called “The T.V. Show”. The sketch, actually a mock promotional video for the song “Rock and Roll Nightmare”, was written by Reiner and the band.

Later the band became the fictional subject of the 1984 rockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap. The band members are portrayed by Michael McKean (as David St. Hubbins), Christopher Guest (as Nigel Tufnel) and Harry Shearer (as Derek Smalls).

This Is Spinal Tap was accompanied by a soundtrack album of the same name. In the years since the film was made, the actors who portrayed the band members have played concerts and released music under the Spinal Tap name.

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.

A DVD case in a tank top, a pilot uniform, a biker jacket, a stretchy pair of pants? Here are some of the most fashionable DVDs that are worth collecting. Images are from Nuno DVD and M & J Collection. We are not affiliated with these sites but I suggest you go check them out if you’re into collecting DVDs with creative packaging.

Anyway…enjoy and be inspired!

Slumdog Millionarie “Green Tanktop” (Thailland R3)

Kill Bill Vol.1 “Rider Suit”

The City Of Violence “Leather Jacket” (Thailland R3)

Bubba Ho-Tep “Elvis Jacket” (U.S. R1)

Top Gun “Brown Leather Jacket” (France R2)

Top Gun “Different Brown Leather Jacket” (Australia R4)

Grease “Pink Ladies Jacket” (France R2)

Grease “Lettermen’s Sweater” (U.S. R1)

Saturday Night Fever “White Suit & Necklace” (France R2)

Footloose “White T-Shirt” (Australia R4)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off “Vest & T-Shirt” (Australia R4)

RRRrrr ! (France R2)

Northern Exposure “Orange Winter Parka” (U.S. R1)

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood “Knitted Sweater” (U.S. R1)

The Silence Of The Lambs – Straitjacket Edition

In The Mood For Love (花樣年華) – Cheongsam Dress DVD Edition

Bad News Bears – Special Collector’s Edition

Full Monty – Special Edition

Nacho Libre – Special Collector’s Edition

DVD Packaging- that’s what we do!;-)

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Unified Manufacturing is a custom CD/DVD and Vinyl Manufacturing facility based on both sides of the US. Our clients are indie artists to major label artists such as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, and Ringo Starr. If you need a Instant Quote on a project now or something you are thinking of in the future AND you want FREE SHIPPING ( free shipping on all quotes from the blog) – Then CLICK HERE.