NECA: Predator Movie Franchise Figures

[greygoose]

Closed mouth looks great on the box.

 

[Biojex]

Closed mouth looks great on the box.

I agree, he looks very pissed off, as he should.

 

[Centurion]

Yeah, that's a good angle they used on the closed mouth picture. The brows cover just the top of the eyes making him look very psychotic.

 

[Badvermin]

Not a fan of the packaging at all. Good thing I'm an opener. It's looks like something a fan threw together as a mock, as a final product packaging it is a failure IMO. They should have either designed it for retail, or as a collectors piece.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

Sorry, but seriously?
It IS from NECA, and what is the real problem with it?..
We have pics of the item we are getting, the others we might want, and the beautiful Predator vision mixed with the Predators-style art shizzle..

It looks great IMO, dunno why everyone thinks it's so "OMGTERRIBAD"..

I just hope I can remove the Predator + accessories without destroying the box.

 

[greygoose]

If its means ripping the box in half and burning it just to have an accurate Predator figure, then I don't care!

It's the figure I want. He will be unleashed.

 

[Badvermin]

Sorry, but seriously?
It IS from NECA, and what is the real problem with it?..
We have pics of the item we are getting, the others we might want, and the beautiful Predator vision mixed with the Predators-style art shizzle..

The packaging does not sell the product, but obfuscate it. From a retail design standpoint the packaging is a failure.

• The back - Mention and show the features such as: articulation points, removable backpack, extra hand, etc. Make sure to show pictures of the back of the figure, currently the only thing you can't see through the window.
• Place the Predator and Neca logos on the side panels. Remove the Neca logo from top flap as it is competing with the Predator logo and violating it's space.
• Remove the red outline around the fonts, it makes the text harder to read. Change the font(s), use both upper and lower case. Make the credits look classy and not like a list of cities at the bus station.
• Use the red color from the original Predator movie logo, which is brighter and has no gradient. OR use the Predator logo and blue glow from the newest re-release of the film. The particular Predator logo being used on the packaging now would work better on lighter, less busy backgrounds.
• Remove/change the AlienSkin black and white stripe pattern right below where the Predator logo becomes black and white stripes. The patterns are competing.
• Check the top diecut with the actual weight of the cardstock. It may get stress marks and due to the inset corners. This bend may also cause issues with the glue holding the clear plastic sheeting.
• Change the the color of the 1/4 SCALE font. Red text with a red glow is a bad idea. It's hard to read and unnecessarily busy.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

No dude, just..no.

 

[Badvermin]

No dude, just..no.

How is this is successful from a packaging design standpoint? It doesn't inform you about the product. The sell sheet was far more informative. To make matter worse, the only actual factual information (1/4 scale) about the figure is obfuscated by a bad design choice. Red text against a red background? Really? I'd expect far more from junior members of my team.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

packaging bad!! world gone mad!!

 

[prefused]

the vast majority of customers will order this online and what's on the stupid box doesn't matter at all. it's just cardboard.

 

[Sabres21768]

An opener whining about the packaging...only on Sideshow Freaks.

 

[greygoose]

Just give me the damn sexy looking figure!

 

[greygoose]

How is this is successful from a packaging design standpoint?

The fact that the window at the front will clearly display the huge Predator figure inside it. SOLD!

 

[koolop]

The packaging does not sell the product, but obfuscate it. From a retail design standpoint the packaging is a failure.

• The back - Mention and show the features such as: articulation points, removable backpack, extra hand, etc. Make sure to show pictures of the back of the figure, currently the only thing you can't see through the window.
• Place the Predator and Neca logos on the side panels. Remove the Neca logo from top flap as it is competing with the Predator logo and violating it's space.
• Remove the red outline around the fonts, it makes the text harder to read. Change the font(s), use both upper and lower case. Make the credits look classy and not like a list of cities at the bus station.
• Use the red color from the original Predator movie logo, which is brighter and has no gradient. OR use the Predator logo and blue glow from the newest re-release of the film. The particular Predator logo being used on the packaging now would work better on lighter, less busy backgrounds.
• Remove/change the AlienSkin black and white stripe pattern right below where the Predator logo becomes black and white stripes. The patterns are competing.
• Check the top diecut with the actual weight of the cardstock. It may get stress marks and due to the inset corners. This bend may also cause issues with the glue holding the clear plastic sheeting.
• Change the the color of the 1/4 SCALE font. Red text with a red glow is a bad idea. It's hard to read and unnecessarily busy.

WAAH WAAH WAAH!

 

[abake]

I work in advertising, so I understand where BV is coming from.
Good design and packaging are very important to how you perceive the item you're buying. It's no accident that HT puts so much effort into the graphics and overall design of their packaging, it helps enhance the product and make it look and feel like a truly expensive product.
In NECA's case, the packaging is not helping elevate the product's perception.
Personally, I don't really care, I'd be happy if companies made simpler, more eco-friendly packaging, but I can see that the packaging of this figure is a missed opportunity to elevate its status.

 

[Badvermin]

The fact that the window at the front will clearly display the huge Predator figure inside it. SOLD!

You are kinda missing my point, but no biggie.

I design both toys and packaging for most of the major toy companies (Hasbro, Mattel, etc), and I can't shut off critiquing this stuff if I wanted to. It drives my girlfriend nuts sometimes. This packaging doesn't inform, but obfuscate the product. Think of this way, if it wasn't for the window, you would have very little to base your purchasing decision from. I showed this to the designer to my right and he started laughing at how awful it was - from a packaging design point of view.

Personally, I'd be happy with a brown cardboard box with the figure safely tucked inside, but I don't think there are excuses for sloppy design on a $80 product. If you are going to bother to create packaging, at least put an effort into making it presentable. It seems a shame to put such a great toy into this packaging.

 

[ArmoredFoe]

Personally when it comes to toy package design I think the Japanese have it down. Whenever I import a figure and I get this nice box with great graphics and sometimes a folding "lid/cover" and you just dont really see that kind of stuff in the US.

 

[ExMem-LarjaThwei]

You really think the packaging is that bad?
It's a "shame" they put the figure in this nice, simple packaging?..

You're saying that the packaging is crap because it's difficult to get the message across through it, right?

I walk into ToysRus, I see a big colorful box (that doesn't look cheap/crappy) with the description of what i'm getting written on it, I see the price tag, and I see the actual item inside. I'm happy.

 

[prefused]

I work in advertising, so I understand where BV is coming from.
Good design and packaging are very important to how you perceive the item you're buying. It's no accident that HT puts so much effort into the graphics and overall design of their packaging, it helps enhance the product and make it look and feel like a truly expensive product.
In NECA's case, the packaging is not helping elevate the product's perception.
Personally, I don't really care, I'd be happy if companies made simpler, more eco-friendly packaging, but I can see that the packaging of this figure is a missed opportunity to elevate its status.

except that 1) it isn't a high-end collectible and 2) most of us are ordering online and all of the info on the stupid box is on the internet before we ever saw the stupid box. it doesn't matter. at all. it's just cardboard. NECA is not gonna throw away money on stupid box design for a customer base that will probably throw the stupid box out anyway. the stupid box design is a petty trifling non-issue that will have zero effect on sales or the figure itself. and i wish NECA never would've released pics of it now.