The state of the sample box: late 2021 edition
Or, how manufacturers show you what they can make for you.
So it's been a minute... or rather, a few years since I looked at the state of the sample box. Traditionally given away to designers and publishers at conventions, I managed to pick up six sample boxes from six of the manufacturers at Essen Spiel 2021. These are great opportunities to see manufacturer's capabilities, chat with a manufacturer about specific question you might have about the process, or simply get some hands-on time with the pieces that'll make up your board games.
A couple important disclaimers:
All of these manufacturers have strong incentives to ensure they have excellent quality components in their sample boxes, much as a copy of a game sent to reviewers is certain to be carefully checked before it leaves the factory. These are representations of the best case scenario for what to expect, but it remains your responsibility is to ensure they have the files, artwork, and specifications they need to ensure your game turns out exactly the way you want it to.
I have not personally worked with any of these publishers, and I have not been paid or compensated in any way.
Presented in no particular order...
Boda Games
Easily the biggest and most impressive box of the lot. One big point of the sample box is to show manufacturing capability, and it definitely does the trick. The intricately-engraved dice, the screen-printed dice, and the surprisingly heavy metal coin all go a long way. Screen printed meeples, alongside a number of 'basic' components like cards, gems, and poker chips are all there to show their full line of capacity.
The chipboard components and double-depth chipboard board is a great addition, but the real icing on the cake is the rulebook for an actual game you can actually play with everything in the box. Of course there’s more in the box than that game, but it’s a wonderful marketing touch.
Learn more: https://bodagames.com
Fabryka Kart
Manufacturing in Poland becomes a little bit more enticing when you consider all the shipping problems people have had from China, and these guys are here to offer the European market a more local form of manufacturing. The sample kit is entirely cardboard and paper – one of their marketing points at their booth was being environmentally conscious and having no plastic, which went over well with people in Germany.
This is also one of the most helpful sample boxes to understand the different types and feels of materials. Each element has a little bit of text indicating the thickness and type of paper or cardboard product that it is. If you ever wanted to feel the difference between say 1.2 mm and 2mm thick cardboard, this is your chance, and it really helps you wrap your head around some of the important decisions you want to make as you’re manufacturing.
More info: https://fabryka-kart.eu/en/main
Long Pack Games
Easily the most stylish slide-out box, right down to the fanciful art and careful set up of all of the smaller boxes inside (all five of them!).
In a box not much bigger than your average small-game box are enough components to light the imagination. A couple of well-designed minis, a few plastic tokens, a metal keychain, a small square standard deck of cards... and possibly the most adorable component - this little meeple man/robot in the middle. I don’t even think I can use them as a component in the game, but it’s SO CUTE!
My only complaint, which isn’t even really a fair one, is that it could be really hard putting everything back in its place. Some of the black plastic bowls holding everything are carefully customized to only hold specific components. That may not matter if you’re just taking a few pieces and then putting the rest aside.
More info: https://www.longpackgames.com
Ludo Fact
Presented in a 1950's style box, the red-and-white color scheme quickly gives way to a pretty nice set of components. There’s no obvious underlying theme, so it’s a little fun to go from chipboard pieces showing pretzels and beer to a world map to a couple of nice foil cards to a bag of very nice chunky wood components to… a 25 piece jigsaw puzzle of… their factory? Nice idea, though perhaps next time the puzzle will be one of one of the machines they have within their factories.
It's worth noting that the map shows facilities in the US, Germany, and the Czech Republic, but it's not clear what's produced where. Check their website for more info.
More info: https://ludofact.de/en/
Agr games
This one was the only disappointment of the six. The Spanish company based in Madrid may not have figured out the goal of the sample box as designers. A smattering of cards, a couple small basic pieces, and a couple pieces of chipboard glued to another card make for a very basic introduction that does little to stand out amongst this competition.
More info: https://www.agrpriority.com/boardgames
Whatz Games
Another strong candidate for very cool box. Everything comes in a magnetically closed box that folds out to show all the goodies inside. Cards come in a few different types, and the specs are on the inside of the box for everything in the box. Everything looks and feels really solid, including the two minis inside that show plenty of detail. It's a solid entry.
More info: http://www.whatzgames.com
Questions? Thoughts? Comments are open.