The RetroBook Project: Phase I

[Kelekin]

A bit long - but please read =)

Today I had a meeting with the makers of SteelBook. Most modern collectors would be aware of what SteelBook is, and how desirable a product they are. A few months back I posted here to gauge interest on a possible project, and it sounds like this is going to happen which makes me really excited.

So the RetroBook Project is simple - we will be taking old titles, starting with NES, and producing limited edition Steelbooks. Currently, we are seeing if we can get a minimum order quantity of 1000, to make this -extremely- exclusive, but some of their facilities require at least 4000. We will do our best to get that down. Every Steelbook will contain a certificate of authenticity and numbered. Once a steelbook production has run, it will -never- be printed again. I believe Steelbooks are simply beautiful and it will be an absolute joy to see a new way to display some of the best titles of our time, at a time when the best packaging you could get was cardboard (and usually unattractive at that).

So while we are working out the kinks as far as sizing goes with Steelbook, they will either be DVD or Blu-Ray shaped but with more width, a width similar to an actual NES, SNES, or N64 box.

To me, this is a community-driven project. I plan to sell these within the collector communities, instead of creating some big website for such a project, as we are not here to infringe on IP, we are just here to provide a beautiful new solution for the collector. All the artwork will be done through submission competitions, with those artists getting free steelbooks and their name directly on the certificate.

The first question that I am asking from you, is what the iconic first NES title should be for this project. I am looking for general suggestions, and then in Phase I Part 2 I will post a poll of the most requested titles. Secondly, if you are quite interested in having these steelbooks, please let me know. Early feedback is much appreciated.

Thanks!

[fastbilly1]

So you want to make a metal version of the UGC?

If you want an iconic NES games to start with, go with Mario 1.

[noiseredux]

So you want to make a metal version of the UGC?

is that what it is? A metal case that holds the game? I was a bit confused by this post. I read it twice, but I thought it was going to be a series of books about the games or something?

[o.pwuaioc]

So you want to make a metal version of the UGC?

is that what it is? A metal case that holds the game? I was a bit confused by this post. I read it twice, but I thought it was going to be a series of books about the games or something?

http://www.steelbook.com/

[WallCrusher]

I second Super Mario Bros.

[Nemoide]

For NES, I'd like to see Castlevania. But I'm also not totally committed to the idea of buying special cases for my old games.

[Kelekin]

Thanks for the early comments, and feel free to ask questions.

This is a different project from the -actual- book one, noiseredux. They're both possibly happening but I only have so much time in a day sadly.

[dtrack]

Mario is too obvious start for me. I'd reduce this obviousity factor down to at least mega man 2 or 5.

[CFFJR]

I'm definitely interested in these cases!

I have some questions right off though.

I understand the design is still being worked on, but will there be room in the cases for manuals? (I'm assuming here that we'd be buying an empty case to put our own copy of the game into, which is the only way this makes sense)

Also, what systems will this project encompass (how recent) and will it ever go into disc based systems? I mention this because I'd love to have a steelbook for the likes of Sonic CD, NiGHTS into Dreams, or Shenmue.

Will you be doing one system at a time or skipping around? For my part, doing one and only one at a time will be boring. I must admit that I'd lose interest if the first 20 or 30 games in this series were all NES titles. Even less than that really, as I don't imagine these will be coming out a fast rate. I'd end up waiting for other systems instead.

Which leads to this, is there any thought on releases? Not on what's coming out obviously, but rather how often there would be a new release?

And finally, is there any early guesses on a price range for these?

Sorry for all of these questions. I hope it just indicates that I'm genuinely interested in this idea.

I realize its probably too early to get solid answers for a lot of these, but I wanted to at least mention them.

As for the first game, I have to say that I believe Super Mario Bros. 3 would be the best choice. If that is too obvious, as someone else pointed out, then I have to throw my support behind either Castlevania or Ninja Gaiden.

I hope to see this happening soon.

[BlackDS]

Honestly, I think this whole retrobook idea is ideal for early CD consoles whose games came in over-sized cases. (Sega CD, Saturn, early Ps1 games). There actually is a great demand for replacement cases for those games, but I feel that a lot of collectors just accept having loose cartridges in their catalog.