Haven't posted in a looooong time, but have been visiting constantly. Lately I've been fascinated by unique adventure game boxes. The trend today seems to be DVD keepcases, and I can't say I'm a big fan of them. Sure they're sturdy and space conserving, but there's nothing aesthetically appealing about them. It'd be nice if publishers put more effort in game box design for collectors. Even collectors and special editions look plain from the outside. I guess publishers don't see pc game packaging as important. Anyway, below are a few unique game boxes off the top of my head:

Dinotopia - square box with sleeve and playing cards inside. Jewel case different as well.

Blue Ice - another square box, one of my favorites.

Sins of the Fathers - trapezoid box, damages too easily though.

Cosmology of Kyoto - Mac version with many folds and clear CD case that fits nicely in a cutout. Best looking adventure game packaging imo.

Ankh Gold - the pyramid box. Is this available in German only?

Any others?

These aren't adventure games but,Tomb Raider had a weird shaped box and Final Fantasy 12 SE had a tin box.

The weirdest case I ever came across was for a very very very old game that was released for the ZX Spectrum called Nexus.

It came in a plastic case with a lock at the top with square textured shapes on it. The game was about being a spy, and the box was kinda spyish.

Never seen anything like it since.

Ah yes, the tin boxes are pretty cool. They're sturdy and compact like DVD keepcases, but also stamped with concave/convex words and graphics like cardboard boxes. Halo was released in tin boxes as well. There are much more collectable RPG and action game packages than adventure games. Maybe there are more RPG and action genere collectors, and publishers believe fans of the adventure genere only care about playing the games so cheap DVD keepcases will suffice. I don't know.

I've never heard of Nexus much less have seen the box. I couldn't find any info on it at Mobygames either. There are a few other old games with unique packaging like Suspended,

Suspended Mask Box

Astronomica had an unusual pyramid-shaped box.

One of the Tex Murphy game boxes had a flashing light (by the time I bought it, the light wasn't flashing any more, though.)

Safecracker 2006 was originally released in a tin box.

I always liked the Clandestiny box, with it's transparent overlay
of the knight rescuing the maiden.

I remember Dark Seed box, it was triangular I think and quite fascinating

I have that box Becky and the light still works.

Hi, Becky!

You beat me to it! The game box with the flashing red light was "Overseer" and, believe it or not, I just tried mine and it still works ! That must be a sign I should play it again.

Susan

I'm pretty sure I have the Overseer box but don't remember it having a light.

TLC -- look on the inside of the front of the box and see if there's something that looks electronic attached to it.

As I recall not all of the Overseer boxes had a flashing light on them.

Cathy

Becky,

If I can find the box, I'll look. I had to box them all up, before painting and putting down flooring in my room.

It's now a quest!

Hamlet and Night Cafe (both by the same company) had very sturdy boxes that opened like a book, and Fable looked like a book.
11th Hour has a very impressive box that slides out from an outer case and then looks like the inside of a watch, which pulls apart and operates a skeleton arm as it does so. Very cool.
I am off to check my Overseer box now - I never knew that.

As was mentioned, many of the older adventure games came in
special packages, or had special formats or materials
(for instance the Microsoft Adventure/Serenia folders or the plastic ASL boxes). Deja Vu 2 has something similar as the Suspended mask that was mentioned, but sadly it is not as valuable.
Some other examples:

* The three sided "Day of the Tentacle" box
* "I have no Mouth" box, with the visible 3-D mouse pad
* The trapezium shaped box of "Star Trek Next Generation"
(also in a plastic version in the enormous box of the Collector's edition)
* The folder version of "Dragonsphere" (European edition)

I have a small hole where the light should be

I don't have any of the games that any of you have mention. But I do like the boxes better then the cases. I really like the ones that have the little velcro on the outside that opens like a book and reveals a few of the screenshots and gives a little introduction about the story in the game, which lures you into buying it because you can open it without opening the box.

Becky,

The Quest is over. I found the box, no light.

Bring back the feelies I say

Hi

"The folder version of "Dragonsphere" (European edition)."

I still have that one amongst my collection of original oldies in their lovely boxes

Cheers.

Mad

I especially liked the N.American version of And Then There Were None and Murder On The Orient Express which included the book of the corresponding game, i was a bit disappointed when the same trend was not followed on Evil Under The Sun.

TLC -- do you have a hole where the light used to be too? Maybe they shipped only certain boxes with lights in them?

I still drag out my copy Gabriel Knight (the triangular one) - just to look at it.

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers

Becky,

There's no hole in the box.

Inland,

I have that box. I don't care for it though, it won't stay together.