Why is it that most countries other than the US have the steelbooks?

[King_Spade]

I mean Iron Man 3 gets a Zavvi steelbook but not the US? What gives?

[Robsonmonkey]

Just how things work

Look at video games collectors editions, I always wonder why the US most of the time get better collectors editions then us

Hell what about those nice blou ray collectors editions you guys get, the Disney ones for example, the only ones we got here in the UK was a different looking Lion King one which was sold in HMV.

[YoreLore]

Because if you list all the countries that are not the United States, then the list is pretty big.

There's plenty that the U.S. gets that other places don't. Be glad that Zavvi ships to the U.S. because Futureshop and co don't ship over here.

[kylemj]

Wasn't there a legal issue with Disney and steel books in the US?

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[snooloui]

USA can't be the best of the best all of the time

[MileHigh AI]

Originally Posted by Robsonmonkey

Just how things work

Look at video games collectors editions, I always wonder why the US most of the time get better collectors editions then us

Hell what about those nice blou ray collectors editions you guys get, the Disney ones for example, the only ones we got here in the UK was a different looking Lion King one which was sold in HMV.

except for that Piece of **** statue US got for InJustice...UK got way better and got a steelbook. there.

[dfoles]

Originally Posted by MileHigh AI

except for that Piece of **** statue US got for InJustice...UK got way better and got a steelbook. there.

I was so pissed that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 didn't even get a crappy collectors edition at all, let alone that the UK and Asian markets got awesome stuff WITH a steelbook

[Gannet]

Originally Posted by dfoles

I was so pissed that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 didn't even get a crappy collectors edition at all, let alone that the UK and Asian markets got awesome stuff WITH a steelbook

It was a metalpak.

[dfoles]

Tomato tomato. The US didn't even get a stupid poster or any collectibles. They didn't even want to take my money I would've gladly paid for a collectors edition.

[Gannet]

Originally Posted by dfoles

Tomato tomato. The US didn't even get a stupid poster or any collectibles. They didn't even want to take my money I would've gladly paid for a collectors edition.

What's stopping you exactly? The $1.52 shipping?

http://www.zavvi.com/games/platforms.../10805734.html

[dfoles]

Originally Posted by Gannet

What's stopping you exactly? The $1.52 shipping?

http://www.zavvi.com/games/platforms.../10805734.html

Rebuying a game that i won't even be able to play on my system, though i might be able to sell it and keep the case..

[Gannet]

Originally Posted by dfoles

Rebuying a game that i won't even be able to play on my system, though i might be able to sell it and keep the case..

PS3 games are region free.

[dfoles]

Originally Posted by Gannet

PS3 games are region free.

Would've liked to know this information before September 11th last year.

But still, DLC would have to be bought done how regionally, i can't workload from the US PDN for a UK game.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by kylemj

Wasn't there a legal issue with Disney and steel books in the US?

Nope. The legal issue was with Disney and Viva Metal Cases. Disney and Steelbook has no problem being released in the U.S.



To answer the OP, it is my belief that the European marketing technique involves much more of an artistic approach. The European psyche is already fine tuned to appreciate artwork thanks to decades of stylized advertising techniques. In the U.S. the general public has a much shorter and simplistic attention span regarding such matters. I don't believe that the U.S. "bigwigs" making these types of decisions see it as a profitable venture. They probably see it as a niche market that isn't big enough to cater to. Now, I'm not saying that is my opinion regarding the U.S. general public psyche... however, it does stand to reason from a corporate perspective. North American advertising is usually drenched with very shallow and "in your face" tactics to influence consumers to impulse shop. Steelbook artwork is a tactic that is meant to encourage smart shopping for a long-term appreciation of the product.

[GreenGaijin]

Interesting theory Petra_Kelbrain. I think the US market is just starting to find out about the demand for stelbooks. Hence, why this year they've mass produced a bunch of titles and in a very cheap manner too. No inside artwork, inferior printjob, and reprints.

Like you said, they're not treating it like an art, but more of a fast-food order of things. I would rather pay for a high quality one than get 5 of the American ones.

[blackhawktraffic]

Originally Posted by GreenGaijin

Interesting theory Petra_Kelbrain. I think the US market is just starting to find out about the demand for stelbooks. Hence, why this year they've mass produced a bunch of titles and in a very cheap manner too. No inside artwork, inferior printjob, and reprints.

Like you said, they're not treating it like an art, but more of a fast-food order of things. I would rather pay for a high quality one than get 5 of the American ones.

Completely agree with that, couldn't have said it any better. From a retail standpoint the Steelbooks sell out way faster anytime we have ever carried them...always people want them even if they cost more they dont care. Yet most that have come out lately are not even that nice :/

[GreenGaijin]

Originally Posted by blackhawktraffic

Completely agree with that, couldn't have said it any better. From a retail standpoint the Steelbooks sell out way faster anytime we have ever carried them...always people want them even if they cost more they dont care. Yet most that have come out lately are not even that nice :/

Well, you probably could say it better. I noticed I had a typo and spelled steelbooks - stelbooks.

But, I mean America does have the opportunity to make some great steelbooks if they pay a bit more in production quality. But they won't, because it's not worth it and they know that customers will purchase no matter what, even if it's basic. They came out with a nice version of Zero Dark Thirty, and I like their version of The Amazing Spider-Man.

[richieb1971]

I think its more to do with the way movies are sold in each part of the world.

In the USA the typical way to buy things is to walk in a store. For this system, scanavo/studios needs to put product on shelves that may or may not sell.

You like to hold something in your hands before you buy it.

In the UK/Europe we are almost the opposite. We like to get things online and when it turns up in the mail we decide at that point if we like it or not. Using this system scanavo can make as many as required based on preorders, as long as a set minimum is ordered. This system gives retailers more flexibility.

If the Best buy 007 movies were sold only online. They would have seen that not many people were interested in them at full MSRP. Lessons were learned.

When Disney did the 1st run of Sleeping beauty and WALL-E etc, they turned out to be hits and now sell for more money than they were originally.

In both the Disney and 007 cases, people learned about steelbooks in the USA. But they didn't know about the hysteria surrounding them in other parts of the world. In other words, people in America are liking them because other countries already like them. Its spreading virally, we are at the peak of the steelbook boom right now.

With Zavvi, you can pretty much buy the products at what we are buying them for. So your not losing out. Unless you have this moral code of ONLY supporting your own. Which in this day and age, seems to be illogical.

[Buzz201]

Might it be that the US is a large country, and would therefore require a larger order, that Glud & Marstrand, who manufacture steelbooks for Scanavo, might not have previously been able to deal with. Looking at their website, it appears that Glud & Marstrand did not have a US base or plant until 2008 at the earliest, so perhaps they've only recently developed the ability to produce them on that scale and it's taken a while to persuade the US arms of distributors?

(Of course, that's probably all wrong, so take it with a pinch of salt)

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Buzz201

Might it be that the US is a large country, and would therefore require a larger order, that Glud & Marstrand, who manufacture steelbooks for Scanavo, might not have previously been able to deal with. Looking at their website, it appears that Glud & Marstrand did not have a US base or plant until 2008 at the earliest, so perhaps they've only recently developed the ability to produce them on that scale and it's taken a while to persuade the US arms of distributors?

(Of course, that's probably all wrong, so take it with a pinch of salt)

Ya. I don't know about that. I would think that it would take less than 5 years to get their supply flowing. Besides, it would be a dumb idea to set up a shop like that without some established customer base upon which to keep yourself afloat the first few years of operation. Given how few steelbooks are actually released in the U.S., can you imagine how little work is actually being done throughout the year at that plant? I'm surprised they are even still in operation.