The RetroBook Project: Phase I

[Kelekin]

A bit long - but please read =)

Today I had a meeting with the makers of SteelBook over an idea I have had for quite some time, and it sounds like the project is happening. Thus, the RetroBook Project was born.

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 on here. Early feedback is much appreciated.

***Additional Note that I forgot to mention: I will be more than willing to ship these internationally and will look at the cost to do so.***

[Letrico]

Contra! Love that game played with my brother a lot when I was a kid.

I would LOVE to get my hands on these steelbooks. I think everyone else would be interested in it as well depending on how the final product would look like.

It would be awesome if you could make a thread to take the orders of our members here once the steelbook is ready for preorder.

[Kelekin]

Absolutely I plan on making pre-orders available here and I'm quite excited to work on the art. They showed me all the different types of finishes, so I think we can do some unique stuff with it. I'm planning to sell them at a reasonable price too, but pricing opinions will come in Phase 2 or Phase 3.

[Letrico]

Great!

Can't wait for more ideas from other members. I like matte steelbooks to be honest but it's kinda hard to maintain them than glossy steelbooks. Matte steels gives a nice touch feel XD.

If there is a way to protect these steelbooks like the G2/G1 steelbook protectors it would be awesome as well.

[Kelekin]

I will absolutely look into providing protectors as add-ons. I believe the best option, in my personal opinion, would be high-density PVC. I use high-density PVC protectors for my personal collection of NES/SNES/N64/GB/GBA/PS2 and they work really well.

[Letrico]

That is a great idea but won't the PVC price itself will it rather pricey? Good quality PVCs is never cheap.

[Kelekin]

It depends really on what I can sell them at. I would think something like $2 would be reasonable and I think I could get them produced for under $1 if I ordered a few thousand protectors.

[Kelekin]

Or perhaps I just include it in the cost of what the Steelbooks are sold at, because if I can provide them for under a dollar it's not a huge cost.

[Letrico]

Sound good so far. Everyone seems to be sleeping =P

[Kelekin]

-nod- And it's time for me to do so as well. Thanks for raising a lot of good points. Hopefully there's plenty of great feedback waiting for me a few hours from now =)