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GOG’s preservation initiative is bringing back one of the coolest (and least practical) staples of “old PC gaming”
GOG, the DRM-free games platform, has launched an initiative to bring back the "big box" packaging that was a hallmark of PC gaming in the 1990s. Working with Big Box Collection, a decade-long solo project that has been 3D-scanning original game boxes, GOG is letting customers download templates to print, cut and fold their own replica big boxes at home, offering a tangible alternative to purely digital purchases and helping preserve a fading piece of gaming history.
The scheme currently covers a small selection of titles, including the original Hitman: Codename 47, Armikrog, Descent, Myst and Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, with more expected to be added over time. Customers who buy select games can download a ZIP file containing everything needed to assemble the box, which historically served as an oversized, artwork-heavy showcase despite typically containing little more than a CD case and manual.
In short
- GOG lets buyers print and fold DIY "big box" game packaging.
- Made with Big Box Collection's 3D-scanned box archive.
- Covers five titles so far, including Myst and Descent.
Explained simply
In the 1990s, many PC games were sold in large cardboard boxes covered in artwork and information. The box often held a CD, a manual and other small extras, and gave games a physical presence in shops and at home.
GOG sells games as digital downloads and is working with Big Box Collection, a project that scans original game packaging, to make printable box designs. The replicas let buyers display a version of the packaging, while preserving images of an increasingly rare part of PC gaming history.
The first designs are for a small group of games, including Myst and Descent. Buyers can print and assemble them at home, though the boxes are larger and more elaborate than their contents require.