I would guess that the majority of members here on HDN are here for the same reason - Because you're SteelBook collectors - But what attracted you to SteelBook collecting in the first place?
Obviously nowadays SteelBook collecting is more popular than ever, with a vast back catalogue available, and many frequent new releases. Scanavo themselves have also improved their products over the years, meaning the SteelBooks being released now are some of the most beautiful and of the highest quality possible!
I first got into SteelBook collecting back in 2004 when Sony released Killzone for the PS2. I had always favoured collector's editions over regular releases, and the Killzone SteelBook appealed to me as it was similar to the Halo 2 MetalPak, but sleeker and more refined. The SteelBook design was more popular than the Halo 2 / Doom 3 MetalPak design, and so became the primary choice for publishers. Little did I know that ten years later the SteelBook brand would become as successful as it has!
Then Dvd SteelBooks started to appear. I distinctly remember Steven Spielberg's Duel being one of the earliest released in the UK, along with the FOX / MGM Cinema Reserve wave. Dvd's had only just gained popularity, and SteelBook releases were few and far between. Like with video games, I preferred to buy various Dvd collector's editions, but it wouldn't be until the release of Appleseed when I began to collect Dvd SteelBook releases
Shortly afterwards, FOX / MGM had started releasing the Definitive Edition wave of SteelBooks. It was around this time that I started back-tracking and picking up as many Dvd SteelBook releases as I could. There weren't too many, so I felt that a full set of UK SteelBook releases was achievable. However, some of the earlier releases and Cinema Reserve releases were already becoming quite difficult to get hold of, and I was informed that 1900 had been recalled due to an error with the disc. Every other week I would spend several hundred Pounds in HMV buying only SteelBooks and CE's!
I never really trusted online retailers, and preferred to see an item before buying. I'd been burned before and had some nasty experiences buying online, and boycotted everything except eBay (where I could converse first-hand with a seller). PLAY.com had several exclusive Dvd releases during this time, such as Iron Man and Transformers. I missed both, and refused to pay eBay scalper prices. This was a major turning point for me, as I was fed-up of missing exclusives and having to rely on them appearing on eBay for a good price, so I bit the bullet and vowed to pre-order every future SteelBook release!
After snatching my local HMV of all the previous Dvd SteelBooks I could, I turned to online shopping. HMV was my primary choice of retailer, as I was content with their packaging, and they had the best returns policy. I absolutely abhorred PLAY.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Zavvi. However, PLAY.com redeemed themselves in 2012 when they improved their service dramatically - What a shame that they then bowed out of retail nine months later
When the HD era began, I sat on the fence waiting to see who would be the victor - HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. I wasn't going to invest in one or the other until I knew which would survive, but I had always preferred Blu-Ray over HD-DVD. Sony's release of the PS3 concreted the success of Blu-Ray, and shortly afterwards we would see the first Blu-Ray SteelBooks!
By this time I was already established as a serious SteelBook collector. I had an almost complete UK set of Dvd SteelBooks, and was pre-ordering all future Blu-Ray SteelBook releases. Like with Dvd SteelBooks, the first two or three years were slow, with British SteelBook releases few and far between - Unlike other countries such as Germany or The Netherlands, where they were significantly more popular than they were here
I had already been picking up various early Blu-Ray CE's when the Sweeney Todd SteelBook came along. Blu-Ray was still an expensive format at the time, and I seem to remember the first Blu-Ray SteelBooks costing me between £25-£30 each! In a way, I'm glad that there weren't too many Blu-Ray SteelBook releases, as they would have been very costly indeed!
Having been a SteelBook collector for nearly a decade now, and having maintained an almost complete collection of UK releases, I feel somewhat compelled to carry on. Quitting now would be out of the question, as it would be a shame to have dedicated so many years into a collection to just stop dead. With the deluge of SteelBook releases on the horizon (over 55 UK releases in the next four months alone!), it does feel quite overwhelming at times, but I always seem to find a way to cope. I just wish that Zavvi would spread their exclusive releases apart more, and take into account what else is being released in the same month
Until about a week ago I had never bought an Amaray Blu-Ray release, despite owning over 300 Blu-Ray releases! It appears that digital downloads are taking over, and premium packaging (such as SteelBooks and DigiBooks) are becoming the norm. Amaray releases are typically budget products now, and the recent summer sales have allowed me to cherry-pick my favourites so I can enjoy the films at a low price without having to open my SteelBook collection.
I collect SteelBooks for the joy of collecting, rather than for a film to watch. I thrive on the thrill of the chase, rather than the kill, and enjoy hunting down the few that I am still missing. I still believe that a complete UK set is achievable, and I have met several other collectors here on HDN who are aiming for the same goal. The majority of SteelBook titles I own I would probably never have picked up if it wasn't for the fact that I wanted a complete set, but I am happy with my collection, and it's something interesting to talk to friends and other collectors about
What's your story?
Obviously nowadays SteelBook collecting is more popular than ever, with a vast back catalogue available, and many frequent new releases. Scanavo themselves have also improved their products over the years, meaning the SteelBooks being released now are some of the most beautiful and of the highest quality possible!
I first got into SteelBook collecting back in 2004 when Sony released Killzone for the PS2. I had always favoured collector's editions over regular releases, and the Killzone SteelBook appealed to me as it was similar to the Halo 2 MetalPak, but sleeker and more refined. The SteelBook design was more popular than the Halo 2 / Doom 3 MetalPak design, and so became the primary choice for publishers. Little did I know that ten years later the SteelBook brand would become as successful as it has!
Then Dvd SteelBooks started to appear. I distinctly remember Steven Spielberg's Duel being one of the earliest released in the UK, along with the FOX / MGM Cinema Reserve wave. Dvd's had only just gained popularity, and SteelBook releases were few and far between. Like with video games, I preferred to buy various Dvd collector's editions, but it wouldn't be until the release of Appleseed when I began to collect Dvd SteelBook releases
Shortly afterwards, FOX / MGM had started releasing the Definitive Edition wave of SteelBooks. It was around this time that I started back-tracking and picking up as many Dvd SteelBook releases as I could. There weren't too many, so I felt that a full set of UK SteelBook releases was achievable. However, some of the earlier releases and Cinema Reserve releases were already becoming quite difficult to get hold of, and I was informed that 1900 had been recalled due to an error with the disc. Every other week I would spend several hundred Pounds in HMV buying only SteelBooks and CE's!
I never really trusted online retailers, and preferred to see an item before buying. I'd been burned before and had some nasty experiences buying online, and boycotted everything except eBay (where I could converse first-hand with a seller). PLAY.com had several exclusive Dvd releases during this time, such as Iron Man and Transformers. I missed both, and refused to pay eBay scalper prices. This was a major turning point for me, as I was fed-up of missing exclusives and having to rely on them appearing on eBay for a good price, so I bit the bullet and vowed to pre-order every future SteelBook release!
After snatching my local HMV of all the previous Dvd SteelBooks I could, I turned to online shopping. HMV was my primary choice of retailer, as I was content with their packaging, and they had the best returns policy. I absolutely abhorred PLAY.com, Amazon.co.uk, and Zavvi. However, PLAY.com redeemed themselves in 2012 when they improved their service dramatically - What a shame that they then bowed out of retail nine months later
When the HD era began, I sat on the fence waiting to see who would be the victor - HD-DVD or Blu-Ray. I wasn't going to invest in one or the other until I knew which would survive, but I had always preferred Blu-Ray over HD-DVD. Sony's release of the PS3 concreted the success of Blu-Ray, and shortly afterwards we would see the first Blu-Ray SteelBooks!
By this time I was already established as a serious SteelBook collector. I had an almost complete UK set of Dvd SteelBooks, and was pre-ordering all future Blu-Ray SteelBook releases. Like with Dvd SteelBooks, the first two or three years were slow, with British SteelBook releases few and far between - Unlike other countries such as Germany or The Netherlands, where they were significantly more popular than they were here
I had already been picking up various early Blu-Ray CE's when the Sweeney Todd SteelBook came along. Blu-Ray was still an expensive format at the time, and I seem to remember the first Blu-Ray SteelBooks costing me between £25-£30 each! In a way, I'm glad that there weren't too many Blu-Ray SteelBook releases, as they would have been very costly indeed!
Having been a SteelBook collector for nearly a decade now, and having maintained an almost complete collection of UK releases, I feel somewhat compelled to carry on. Quitting now would be out of the question, as it would be a shame to have dedicated so many years into a collection to just stop dead. With the deluge of SteelBook releases on the horizon (over 55 UK releases in the next four months alone!), it does feel quite overwhelming at times, but I always seem to find a way to cope. I just wish that Zavvi would spread their exclusive releases apart more, and take into account what else is being released in the same month
Until about a week ago I had never bought an Amaray Blu-Ray release, despite owning over 300 Blu-Ray releases! It appears that digital downloads are taking over, and premium packaging (such as SteelBooks and DigiBooks) are becoming the norm. Amaray releases are typically budget products now, and the recent summer sales have allowed me to cherry-pick my favourites so I can enjoy the films at a low price without having to open my SteelBook collection.
I collect SteelBooks for the joy of collecting, rather than for a film to watch. I thrive on the thrill of the chase, rather than the kill, and enjoy hunting down the few that I am still missing. I still believe that a complete UK set is achievable, and I have met several other collectors here on HDN who are aiming for the same goal. The majority of SteelBook titles I own I would probably never have picked up if it wasn't for the fact that I wanted a complete set, but I am happy with my collection, and it's something interesting to talk to friends and other collectors about
What's your story?
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. I bought Senna Amaray just to test my PS3 playing videos straight from a BD, then I saw The Dark Knight (DE) for a good price and got it, the rest is history.
Especially when they have an alternate or exclusive cover! 
).
