Video Games and Collection

Video games & Collection

3.2 billion. This is the number of players recorded in the year 2023. With more than $ 187 billion in turnover, the video game industry continues to grow.

But who says more games also says more difficulty getting out of the game. As qualitative than a game can be, he may miss a little something that will make the difference.

What if this little something was an elegant figurine?

We take you on a trip to the wonderful world of Collector Editions Video Games.

Historical

In the beginning

If today the phenomenon of collector's editions is well rooted in the head of all players, whether through pre -order goodies (Steelbook, Magnet, key door etc.) or more massive editions containing Artbook And impressive figurines, the boxes were the basis filled with content for other reasons than rarity.

It was initially a question of Transcend technical limitations Games of the time adding, for example, a manual giving context to the game, see explaining his scenario.

It was also a question of doing Live the game outside of your original screen, to give it a palpable aspect, easily explained to the neophytes of technology.

Finally, it could be a stratagem to add a Game anti -power system. The most famous example is that of Monkey Island (1988). When the game is launched, the latter requests a password, password that you can get thanks to a cardboard wheel present in the game box. Enough to limit the pirate copies of floppy disks.

The pioneer

If the first collector's edition referenced today is that of Myst From 1993, the latter only contained screens savering and a mouse carpet that has aged to say the least.

We will therefore make a little historical sprain and consider that the first representative of this movement is Wing order 3.

Blockbuster of his time with $ 4 million budget, this game by Chris Roberts (Freelancer, Star Citizen) competes the cinema with the casting Mark Hamill (Star Wars) or Malcom McDowell (Mechanical Orange) but also sequences in Full Motion Video which plunge the player as close as possible to history .

And for the collector's edition the Roberts team takes out heavy artillery with a T-shirt of the game, a Making-of on VHS, a calendar Wing Commander, a book, there soundtrack on CD, all in a box replying the 35 mm reels boxes.

And today ?

In 2003, when Valve released a small software baptized "Steam"To simplify the updates to Counter Strike, the world does not suspect that the industry is taking a decisive turn.

When a year later Half-Life 2 Requires Steam to function, always no awareness of the industry. A year later, the advent of the Xbox 360 coupled to the fact that Steam offers for sale, and in dematerialized third -party games, is aware of the world that Physical game may be a relic of the past.

Today, we consider that 5 % of players, all platforms combined, still buy games in physical format. If the Nintendo switch is a last bulwark of dematerialization at all costs, the observation is final: The game in a box is now a niche phenomenon.

As vinyl survived the CD then at MP3, cinema with VOD platforms and bookstores with readers, box games is still there and today and Publishers must now offer added value for their players.

From dream to nightmare

Whether following a lack of reflection, unreliable partners or a pickup to the picking up, a collector's edition can sometimes be mockery rather than admiration: Small overview of the examples not to be reproduced.

Dead Island Riptide

On the occasion of the release of Dead Island Riptide in 2013, Deep Silver decides to offer a collector's edition with as a centerpiece ... a dismembered female bust. Good taste & sexism... The publisher will apologize flatly following the rather lukewarm reception of the thing.

Fallout 76

MMO in the world of Fallout, Fallout 76 Arrives, in 2018, with a collector's edition of around 200 € and which contains the game, a card, a replica of the T-51B helmet, but also a canvas bag ... well which was supposed to be a canvas bag. I let you admire the comparison between the promise and the result.

Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3

Sold at the "very soft" price of 110 € in 2017, the collector of Marvel vs Capcom 3 Souffled hot and cold. On the one hand, there was a very elegant steelbook and four rather successful figurines. On the other, the collector's edition was sold without the game and the infinite stones made the happiness of the little teases of the Internet.

Alone in the Dark (2008)

French game with commendable intentions, but with fatal fate in its commercial and critical reception, this reboot ofAlone in the dark was not frankly helped by the statuette of its collector's edition ...

Batman Arkham Knight

We are here on a fairly new case: a collector's edition announced with great fanfare, with a Batmobile that can be transformed within it thanks to a remote control ... and which has never been out. Disstabrication of the final quality of the Batmobile, Warner has purely and simply chosen to cancel the release of this edition a few days before the release of the game.

Toy Design and video games

Let us now focus on Toy Design. Making a miniature of a game universe is already a great feat, but sublimating it with an artistic twist can add significant added value. Moreover, many Brands took over the gaming world for the best... and the best.

Bearbrick

The famous bear of Medicom Toy has also taken over the field of gaming, with certainly this Bearbrick Sonic, but also models Pac-Man, Minecraft or Space Invaders.

Nendoroid

Chibi designs, a range of accessories and a stand to be able to make our figurine take several poses: this is the proposal of the figurines Nendoroid.

ReAction Figures

Taking a look back never hurts and our friends at home Super7 have understood this well. Falsely vintage packaging and deliciously kitsch figurines take you back to the 90s.

S.H. Figuarts

Ultra articulated, full of details and accessories: the figurines S.H. Figuarts delight lovers of Toy Photography for several years now.

And the game without video?

If there is another growing industry, it is that of board game/set. If this area will one day require an article in its own right, nothing prevents us today from taking a look at some screen transpositions on the board.

Dead Cells

More than a million dollars, a figurine of 20 cm by pure arts and a strong license (Dead Cells and its more than 10 million sales) make this Kickstarter one of the great recent successes in the world of the game.

Darkest Dungeon

Here, we exceed 5 million dollars for a platform game that highlights a plethora of figurines.

Elden Ring

Great success of 2022, Elden Ring is also passed through the crowdfunding box, managed to raise more than $ 4 million and gave it to the heart of the representation of his bestiary in figurine.

Artoyz and video games

In addition to proposing A selection of video game figures, Artoyz develops concepts in his Parisian studios Toy Design For POP Culture industries and in particular the video game industry. Thus, we regularly collaborate with Ubisoft for whom we have designed and produces figurines South Park, Rainbow Six, Assassin's Creed or even Mario and the moron rabbits.

Artoyz Factory

Artoyz Factory is the Division of ARTOYZ dedicated to the design and production in BLANCED BLAND BEAR CHARGRINES, ACTION Figures and works of art.

This is all the know-how ofArtoyz Originals, Artoyz Handcraft and Golem at the service of professionals.

Since 2008, Artoyz Factory is the providential European partner of the Entertainment Industries (music, video games, comic book publishing, animation, etc.), galleries and art centers, as well as large Brands And agencies in search of unique creative & marketing experiences.

Original creations, collector's editions, stylized derivatives, limited editions of large culptures ... Artoyz Factory advises, guides, designs and develops a wide range of projects Toy Design, For retail like merchandising.