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Rumor: Wrath of the Lich King box revealed
Tipster Nigel sent in these curious-looking photos of what appears to be the packaging for the Wrath of the Lich King expansion. We've already gotten wind of the possible packaging for a Collector's Edition, so why not the basic box? Apparently, the person who leaked the Collector's Edition photo is still working at the printing press and puts his cell phone camera back to work with these photos of the regular edition.Could it be the real thing? I'm not so sure myself, but if they're fake, they're pretty good ones. The box design includes clever elements that I didn't consider were I to make a mock-up myself... such as a small disclaimer stating that the game requires The Burning Crusade. The layout of the box closely resembles that of the previous expansion, too, with the exact same font used for the words 'expansion set' and identical placement of logos. One of the most telling signs that point to its authenticity, however, was a printer's mark usually found on print material before they're cut (and made into a box). Nigel smartly states that he didn't take the pictures himself. Check out the pic of the inside flap with the telling printer's mark after the jump.
Rumor: Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box
Here's some good Wrath of the Lich King rumor-juice for you tonight. Pictured to the right is what has shown up on the internet as a Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition box. I for one think it looks real. It was posted on the Paladin Schmaladin blog two months ago, although reader Allen just tipped us to it this evening.The poster over there notes that the box comes from her friend Gene, who supposedly works at a printing facility. Gene couldn't get one out of the printing factory, so instead he snapped an image of the box with his cellphone.Through Paladin Schmaladin, we're also told that the printing press had the WotLK box orders pushed back four months. This could be an indication that Lich King will be coming out later than expected, although since Blizzard hasn't really announced a release date, we'd probably never know the difference.Nonetheless, enjoy your nightly WotLK rumor. It looks to be a good one.Click the image for a larger high-res version.
AT&T ships out box packed with one bag, limitless hilarity
A colleague over at TUAW took advantage of AT&T's recent aggressive pricing on refurb iPhones, but got a whole heck of a lot more than he bargained for. First, he was shipped two identical units, which would've been cool and all if he'd been charged for only one -- but he wasn't. The next day, he got a third box from AT&T; this is about the time that we'd start freaking out that some weird glitch had caused them to send us and charge us for every refurb iPhone currently in their inventory, but it turns out this magical third parcel contained nothing more than a bag and a packing slip that read "75011 MISC iPhone PPA BAG ... $0.00". This brings a smile to our faces for several reasons: one, this means that somewhere in a dark, tall, windowless AT&T building, a mainframe computer contains an inventory code for a freakin' plastic bag. Two, that same mainframe allowed one of these bags to be shipped out with nothing in it. Three, a human being at AT&T very likely had to pack and ship this bundle of joy by hand. Good stuff, and a killer value at just $0.00. Where do we sign up?
LeaveMeAloneBox perpetually closes itself, should win some kind of award
We can't say for certain that this is the most pointlessly sophisticated contraption we've ever seen built, but regardless of all that, we dare anyone to deny its greatness. In essence, the LeaveMeAloneBox does nothing more than turn itself off after a pestiferous human flips it on -- time, and time, and time again. Really, the beauty of this thing can only truly be seen in video, so click on through for what's likely to be the best 29 seconds of your day.[Via MAKE]
Nokia 8800 Sapphire Arte's box exudes modesty, efficiency
Crave UK had a chance to check out Nokia's 8800 Arte and Sapphire Arte luxury sliders recently, and the reviewer discovered one... uh, "feature" of the Sapphire model not shared by its cheaper (but still very, very pricey) sibling. The box -- it's colossal. Not for any reason, mind you; no, Nokia just saw fit to line up the accessories contained within in a very linear, spaced-out fashion. Pretty weird for a Greenpeace-praised company with an obsession for everything environmental, isn't it?[Thanks, T.I.]
Assassin's Creed DS box art, details at last
It's been a long wait, but at least we're seeing something at last from the DS version Assassin's Creed -- the box art. Even though it looks like it has potential, is it a good sign that this is the first bit of media we've seen on the title? The silence may be due in part to the mixed reviews that met that other Assassin's Creed, but we'll admit, it has us a little concerned. But here's the good: now that we've seen a little of the title, due to the box art having been scanned by a quick-thinking gamer who went in to preorder at GameStop, we'll say that it does look good. It sounds good. The DS version is a prequel that focuses on the origins of assassin Altaïr, and the game takes on a similar, though scaled-down, approach. Concerned that it might be more like the mobile version? Fear not, as Altaïr's Chronicles is not using the sprites and 2D design available on cell phones. If nothing else, it seems apparent that some care went into re-imagining the story for a stylus-based approach.How does it look outside of a few tiny, scanned and grainy screens? We don't know yet. How will it look in motion? We're not sure. How will it play? Beyond stylus-based controls, we don't know that, either, but unless the release date changes, we'll soon find out. The game is currently slated for early February. We are, we must admit, surprised that it's not a) a card game, b) mini-games, c) a rollicking pirate adventure, or d) a music simulator.
Even cardboard robots like Wii
Let's face it: the Wii is the universal "awesome device." It's the kind of thing that has everyone falling in love with it once they try it, immediately inquiring as to where they can find their own and how much real life monies it will cost to procure it. It's a truly wonderful thing.Now, it would appear that making a cardboard robot and taking a couple of pictures of it holding a Wiimote wouldn't be that newsworthy. What's newsworthy about this particular piece of art is sculpted after the Revoltech Dunboard Figure and the boxes used to construct him are custom-made, as the Japanese Wii box (wow, remember when we thought we were getting different colors at launch?) very much resembles the one here for us in the United States.[Thanks, Frankie; via Hobby Blog]
Izuna 2 has a naughty costume
As a bonus item, Japanese retailer Sofmap is including a collectors' edition box with copies of Izuna 2. The box features artwork of scantily-clad Izuna and Shino relaxing at an onsen, and is designed to mirror the appearance of PC eroge (hentai games.) No, Izuna 2 isn't a hentai game. But it does star female characters with whom plenty of otaku are no doubt obsessed. Publisher Success is partly making fun of eroge, we think, and simultaneously serving and mocking any prurient interest in their characters. Can you imagine an American game made to look like pornography for the purpose of sales? But it's different in Akihabara, where apparently you wouldn't want to be caught dead buying just a DS game and no porn.
Rock Band: The Unboxing
For those who like to peruse galleries of people unboxing their electronics (don't try to hide it, we know you're reading), we've gone ahead and taken a picture for almost every step of the unboxing process for the Xbox 360 of Rock Band Special Edition. Enjoy the images below, and for those who haven't yet found a copy to play, good luck with your search.%Gallery-10661%
Wii Warm Up: Well, it's medical ... ish
We love Trauma Center. It's just good, clean, surgical fun, and the forthcoming New Blood just looks awesome. It's just this box art we're not sure about. Maybe it's just us, but it seems so ... plain. So mundane. So not in-keeping with the other games. What do you think of it?Look, don't get us wrong. We're likely to sink an unhealthy number of hours into it anyway, because that's what we do in the seven minutes of spare time we have per week. It's just that sometimes, we're forced to shake our heads over boxart decisions, and this is one of those times.
Consumer check: Halo 3 limited edition may have scratched discs
It may be worth opening up your limited edition Halo 3 case (with camera in hand) while in the store tonight and make sure the disc isn't scratched before walking out. Although it originally started as a NeoGaf post (pictured), GameDaily now reports that three of their own staff members also received scratched discs in the limited edition case. The issue apparently only pertains to the limited edition version of the game which retails for $70, allegedly the nub holding the discs in place isn't working properly and the discs are tossed around inside the case during transport.The standard edition and the legendary edition (the Master Chief head one) don't appear to be affected by this issue. All this means is that for those of you who ordered the limited edition, just make sure to check your discs before you leave the store. Please make sure to take deep breaths if your game disc is scratched, you'll hopefully be able to hand the defective product back immediately for a full refund. Remember, the key is to play the game, not obsess over the box it comes in. Focus on the priority.
Possible English-language Phantom Hourglass box
It's considerably less blue than than the Japanese box art, but word around the campfire is that this may be the box we're all going to be opening in October for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. While it seems a little less playful than the Japanese counterpart, the brown background seems very much in keeping with the series. And we just love Link's expression! [Via Digg]%Gallery-3279%
Monster Rancher DS Japanese box art
It's no secret around here that we love Monster Rancher, but the latest version headed to the DS has us a little wary, and the box art isn't making anything better. Is it just us, or does it seem like this image is striving for more of a Pokémon style? With the shift to RPG, we can't say we're surprised by that.The classic Playstation games (hailed by us many as the best in the franchise) were focused on the monsters themselves, and that focus was reflected in the box art. Here, the focus seems to be equally on the childlike trainers and the monsters both ... and that, combined with the cartoony style shown here, is what makes us begin to doubt the potential for awesome in this game. When the series moved to the Playstation 2 and took on a cel-shaded design, the games suffered both graphically and content-wise. This box doesn't give us much hope that we'll see the series returning to its (incredible) roots.But we're still willing to wait and see, with fingers crossed and fervent hopes.
Capcom wins at packaging
This is simply the coolest limited-edition box in recent memory. Forget the European Resident Evil 4 box. This Japanese Biohazard box is the business. For 3,675 yen, which is a suspiciously low $30, you get an awesome 20-DVD-capacity Umbrella Corporation biohazard storage box (itself inside an Umbrella Corporation shipping box), two keys, warning tags, and caution tape to seal it up. With a case this cool, who even needs a game? You could always buy this and RE4 Wii Edition and build your own limited edition set.[Via The Tanooki]
360 display boxes vandalized, Wii evangelized
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Xbox_360_display_boxes_vandalized_Wii_evangelized'; If we're to believe Dustin Wilson's assurances, the mischief above wasn't a product of Photoshop or any other methods of internet chicanery. He actually scribbled the Wii endorsement onto the Xbox 360 display boxes with a white paint marker while one of the game shop's employees was distracted. This episode of When Keeping it Wii Goes Wrong was created as an entry for the EvWiiwhere Challenge hosted by N+, a MyOpera community for Nintendo fans. The contest called for readers to take pictures of the word "Wii" spelled out in unconventional ways, but we're sure this wasn't what the site had in mind. We might have our gripes with all the Electronics Boutiques and GameStops out there, but vandalizing other people's property just isn't cool, especially when it's at the expense of a worker who's just doing her job. But who knows, maybe this sort of joke will catch on with other retailers? If you think about it, this would be a great way to promote the Xbox 360 to customers inside the shop, while at the same time catching the interest of people outside who see the storefront's Wii wisecrack. It's genius!
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings boxart unveiled
We don't normally display boxart here on DS Fanboy, but we do tend to make exceptions. Revenant Wings dresses to impress with minimalistic flair; its DS predecessor was also rather impressive. A beauty, no?Square-Enix is bombarding the DS with meteor showers of love. Here's a little "DS Bi-Daily" for ya: do you think Square-Enix's support means as much as it once did? By diversifying its game library and stepping into the realms of spin-offs and direct sequels, many feel as though they've watered down the intense quality of software they once provided. Or are we just insane? Still, We await FFXII: RW with open and eager arms.
Automator Action: Upload to Box.net
We mentioned Box.net, an iDisk-like online hard drive service, back when we could begin mounting them on our Macs. To simplify uploading files to your Box.net account, Daniel Ryan has created an Automator action that not only lets you upload with a simple right click, but it also takes care of changing any spaces in file names to underscores, making them much more web-friendly. It isn't difficult to set up or use, but be sure to read Daniel's instructions at Automator World, as the action depends on you having mounted your drive with Mac OS X (which creates a Keychain item to store your password). If Box.net isn't much more than a file repository for sharing (perhaps via their blog-friendly widget), this action should streamline your efforts.
1: open the box ... 2: put your games in that box ... 3: now just carry the box ... and that's the way you do it!
The idea behind Shogakukan's Hyper Carrying Case (¥480; $4) is simple: it's made to look like a standard retail box, but when you pop it open, you discover a storage case for three four DS games and one GBA game (we suppose you could squeeze a few instruction booklets in there too). Despite containing no game of its own, the front of the box is adorned with familiar Japanese characters, like Doraemon and Mega Man variant Ryusei no Rockman.It's not the best game carrier we've come across, but it's dirt cheap, and a clever play on the standard DS case.
Pair of boxes from the land of could-be
Over at Go Nintendo, it looks like someone tipped them off on new boxes that turned up on the EB Games site. These could be the real deal here for Lunar Knights (and after the jump, Spectrobes). How do they look to you? If that's the box for Lunar Knights, we give it a tentative stamp of approval. It seems to capture the campy feel that's come across in the trailers and ads.
Less cool Hotel Dusk box
Reader KLind is looking forward to Hotel Dusk just as much as we are, and after we sighed over the Japanese boxart for the graphical adventure, KLind tipped us off to the box floating around various online retail outlets. We've used the image before ourselves, but hoped it was just a placeholder. Tragically, it looks like this is the real deal for the English language version. It may not be as slick and sinister as the Japanese version, but at least it shows off the look of the game. Still, we're sad.But we'll play it anyway.[Thanks, KLind!]
