Do you prefer a TITLE or NO TITLE on steelbook covers?

[jimmyv]

What do you think of this new steelbook trend of Title-less covers?

Ya'll know how I feel about it, but I think it's time to see the true numbers on this.

 

[stinkofdefeat]

I posted a poll on this while back here: https://www.hidefninja.com/community/threads/34640/

 

[jimmyv]

I posted a poll on this while back here: https://www.hidefninja.com/community/threads/34640/

Interesting, because I searched multiple ways, including searching for "title". Came up blank, I swear.

Something I'd like to clarify though, based on multiple comments here, is that I intentionally made this this a 2 choice only poll. I actually toyed with 3,4 even 5 choices and was getting fairly detailed in the options. I sat with my finger on the submit button a couple times with choices like "I don't care either way" or "some look good without, some don't" and stuff like that.

But I pictured possible poll outcomes and knew it would be split too many ways based on the wording of the choices. That wouldn't accomplish anything because too many people would choose "For the vast majority, I prefer the title, but if the artwork is stellar on the front, No title could be okay." Just like Snooloui's comment, right? Makes sense. The problem is, the true preference would never be determined.

So I decided to rely on "title" or "no title" and let people add comments.

Seems like a pretty trivial thing to make a stink about, I know, but in this kooky (and expensive) world of steelbook collecting, it's hard seeing steelbooks of some favorite movies like The Game and Pan's Labyrinth come out Title-less. To me, the title is part of the coolness factor of the movie. It brands it.

At least Pan's Labyrinth has a really nice picture on the front (NOT the back). The Game front cover is an absolute joke. A real shame.

Ok. I think I'll be done now. Carry on.

 

[Gamesgaryjp]

If you are worried about no title on the cover then keep the j-card. Display it with the j-card. I think this will affect the collectors who throw away their j-cards.

 

[jimmyv]

If you are worried about no title on the cover then keep the j-card. Display it with the j-card. I think this will affect the collectors who throw away their j-cards.

Nobody's "worried" about it. I actually LIKE the title of the movies I buy. All of them. I like all the titles of all the movies I want to buy.

And the j-card is not always easy/fitting to display with the steelbook. Most of the the time it goes inside the steelbook or in a drawer for reference.

 

[Sage the Owl]

I take each case on it's own merits.
Smurfs for instance I would agree needs the title, it's conspicuous by its absence.
Avengers on the other hand doesn't need it, the arrowed "A" says Avengers to all comic fans and I would guess that percentage wise these would be the majority of people who would be buying it.

 

[Softwing]

Great topic.

I haven't voted on the poll, because I can't really go for either option wholeheartedly. It depends. Certain films that have a very strong 'concept', with steels sporting artwork that is really representative of the movie need no title in my opinion, and would look all the better for it.

To pluck a random example out of the air, let's say Batman '89. Assuming that we're looking at the film in a bubble, without the sequels, it's a steel that really had no need for a title on the front.

Having said that, I think there are a lot of films that cannot be truly encapsulated by one small piece of artwork, and for these, a titled front is a benefit.

They've already done that with several steelbooks. The Avengers and The Smurfs are two examples. Neither have any text on them at all, and a result, both have an unfinished look, like they are just prototypes or something. I'm really not into it.

Spoiler

I agree with you here, and think having a title on the spine, at the very least, should be pretty much mandatory.

 

[stinkofdefeat]

Interesting, because I searched multiple ways, including searching for "title". Came up blank, I swear.

Something I'd like to clarify though, based on multiple comments here, is that I intentionally made this this a 2 choice only poll. I actually toyed with 3,4 even 5 choices and was getting fairly detailed in the options. I sat with my finger on the submit button a couple times with choices like "I don't care either way" or "some look good without, some don't" and stuff like that.

But I pictured possible poll outcomes and knew it would be split too many ways based on the wording of the choices. That wouldn't accomplish anything because too many people would choose "For the vast majority, I prefer the title, but if the artwork is stellar on the front, No title could be okay." Just like Snooloui's comment, right? Makes sense. The problem is, the true preference would never be determined.

So I decided to rely on "title" or "no title" and let people add comments.

Seems like a pretty trivial thing to make a stink about, I know, but in this kooky (and expensive) world of steelbook collecting, it's hard seeing steelbooks of some favorite movies like The Game and Pan's Labyrinth come out Title-less. To me, the title is part of the coolness factor of the movie. It brands it.

At least Pan's Labyrinth has a really nice picture on the front (NOT the back). The Game front cover is an absolute joke. A real shame.

Ok. I think I'll be done now. Carry on.

Its ok man, more polls the better imo, I was just posting the link to my poll for comparison sake really.

Its hard to narrow polls down to just 2 options, I had a hard time with that as well, I decided to go with 3 options. Anyways, with 2 polls we should be able to get a pretty good idea on what the consensus is here.

 

[snooloui]

They've already done that with several steelbooks. The Avengers and The Smurfs are two examples. Neither have any text on them at all, and a result, both have an unfinished look, like they are just prototypes or something. I'm really not into it.

Spoiler

An even worse example is The Man With the Iron Fists. That one just looks like they forgot to print the title on the Steelbook. The artwork is simply not strong enough for it to work.

 

[Kew]

No title, except when they do it like they did with the Disney Steelbooks, where the title is really small.

 

[TakingYoSteelz]

I prefer no title, because like I've said previously I feel as though it's a nod to the true film fans who can recognise a movie from the art alone.

 

[Juan]

Like others said, I prefer steelbooks with titles especially if it is embossed/debossed.

 

[jimmyv]

I prefer no title, because like I've said previously I feel as though it's a nod to the true film fans who can recognise a movie from the art alone.

I am growing a bit tired of hearing this response. I am a true film fan. I have over 100 steelbooks, and dozens of other collectible sets. I love movies. I know movies very well. I recognize almost any movie from art alone. That's not the point.

I like the titles of the movies I like.

If I buy a steelbook of Pacific Rim, I don't just want the damn robot on the front. I want it to say "Pacific Rim". It's part of what makes movies cool, in my opinion. And though we are all entitled to our own opinions, I believe that my opinion in this particular case, is not a strange one.

 

[monkeyspinach]

I'm glad they didn't use a title for the UK version of The Avengers. I suspect it was probably because they knew how stupid the UK title was "Marvel's Avengers Assemble".

 

[TakingYoSteelz]

I am growing a bit tired of hearing this response. I am a true film fan. I have over 100 steelbooks, and dozens of other collectible sets. I love movies. I know movies very well. I recognize almost any movie from art alone. That's not the point.

I like the titles of the movies I like.

If I buy a steelbook of Pacific Rim, I don't just want the damn robot on the front. I want it to say "Pacific Rim". It's part of what makes movies cool, in my opinion. And though we are all entitled to our own opinions, I believe that my opinion in this particular case, is not a strange one.

It's not a "silly response" at all, Jimmy. It's my opinion and it's how "I" like to look at it. I'm not telling you that you're not a true film fan because you don't like title-less steelbooks, I'm telling you that I personally like them because this is what it feels to me because I know that a casual film fan wouldn't recognise most movies just from a single image. No need to take my feelings on the subject so personally, like I said in the Pans Labyrinth thread - I'm pretty sure the title-less steelbooks aren't designed with the intention of giving a nod to the movie buffs, but I just like the analogy.

 

[jimmyv]

It's not a "silly response" at all, Jimmy. It's my opinion and it's how "I" like to look at it. I'm not telling you that you're not a true film fan because you don't like title-less steelbooks, I'm telling you that I personally like them because this is what it feels to me because I know that a casual film fan wouldn't recognise most movies just from a single image. No need to take my feelings on the subject so personally, like I said in the Pans Labyrinth thread - I'm pretty sure the title-less steelbooks aren't designed with the intention of giving a nod to the movie buffs, but I just like the analogy.

I stand by my reply. My point is, the whole "I know what movie it is... why do I need a title to tell me" is really overused.

How many books do you ever see with no title?

And btw... when you pull an entire group into your opinion, it becomes more than just an opinion. So many people fail to understand this.

"I really like red trucks a lot." <--- opinion

"I really like red trucks a lot, and any true truck fan would say the same for sure, or they must not really like trucks" <--- opinion + offense.

 

[TakingYoSteelz]

Where did I say "any film fan must feel the same"? Just because I feel it is a nod to a group doesn't mean I think all film fans must have the same view. This is ridiculous.

Take offence if you like, but that is my feeling on the matter and each to their own.

 

[digitalbabe]

Hey guys, please keep it civil-these and other topics where 'collectibles' are concerned elicit very strong reactions, but please remember to keep it respectful. Thanks all!

 

[Sigill]

Can we keep it civilised please folks. We all have different opinions so can we please respect each others and not turn the thread into one long argument. Thanks.

 

[chunk]

I prefer a title on the front and a clean artwork on the back... occasionally if its done very well I can live without a title.. off the top of my head I can't think of any without a title I like more than titled steels.. maybe from dusk till dawn..

 

[MacLeod]

I'm on the fence, so I'm going to go with it all depends on how it looks. So sometimes it works without, other times it doesn't and sometimes they ruin it with the syle they use for the title. For example the recent zavvi Thor steelbook, I think going for a steel look for the title would have enchanced it from the red they used.