Loot Gaming - July, 2016 - Stranded

Hey, everyone! Mike here, and as you can probably tell by the title of this entry, I have subscribed to one of the "spin-off" Loot Crates. Here, have a look:

In case some of you haven't heard of Loot Crate, it’s a monthly subscription box that caters to "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a box of items that match the announced theme. Loot Gaming is the video game version of Loot Crate and caters to gamers. Like its parent program, Loot Gaming has different subscription options. Here's a breakdown with shipping to Canada included:

1 Month Plan - $34.95 USD / $47.00 CAD per month

3 Month Plan - $101.85 USD / $138.00 CAD per 3 months

6 Month Plan - $197.70 USD / $268.00 CAD per 6 months

1 Year Plan - $383.40 / $519.00 CAD per year

If you've seen the pricing for Loot Crate, you will notice that Loot Gaming is more expensive. Plus, the conversion to Canadian Dollars is pretty painful, probably due to the weak dollar over here. One can only hope the items are still worth the price tag.

JULY, 2016 - STRANDED

Yes, it's mid-August and I just received my July Loot Gaming box. This is probably because Loot Gaming ships later than Loot Crate. I can understand that with so many spin-offs and one-offs, Loot Crate needs to stagger their shipping, but it would have been nice to receive the July box in July. Oh, well. Such is life!

So, what items did I receive in my box? Here's a list with approximate Canadian pricing:

- Loot Gaming Mini Magazine ($2.50 CAD)

- Loot Gaming Theme Pin ($2.50 CAD)

- Far Cry Primal T-Shirt ($18.00 CAD)

- Dead Island Towel ($15.00 CAD)

- Assassin's Creed Flask ($13.50 CAD)

- Tomb Raider Figure ($12.00 CAD)

Loot Gaming Custom Box

Like with Loot Crate, subscribers to Loot Gaming receive their items in a box that has a themed design inside. As seen in the photo above, the July box can be folded into a cool temple shrine. My only criticism is that the steps printed on the lid look awkward when the box is placed on a flat surface. The main body of the box would have to be raised up, allowing the lid to come downwards, for the design to truly look right.

Loot Gaming Mini Magazine

I'm a big fan of Loot Crate's mini magazines and the quality in the Stranded issue for Loot Gaming is equivalent. I especially liked reading the interview with actor Phil LaMarr.

Loot Gaming Theme Pin

The pin I received in my Loot Gaming box follows the new circular design of the Loot Crate pins, which is fantastic. I'm not sure that a hunting knife is the best representation of being stranded, but I actually really like the design as a whole.

Far Cry Primal T-Shirt

I recently bought "Far Cry: Primal", but haven't played it yet. I'll definitely be wearing this shirt when I do 'cause it looks really cool.

Dead Island Towel

I'm a huge fan of zombie games, but I have yet to play "Dead Island". Now that I have this awesome towel, I guess I'll have to sooner than later! Also, I need to mention that this is a very creative item for a subscription box. It was totally unexpected.

Assassin's Creed Flask

I've always wanted a flask and now, I have one from "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag". Nice!

Tomb Raider Figure

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of "Tomb Raider", Loot Gaming included this exclusive vinyl figure. It's cute and badass at the same time, but there are some problems. I'll start with this photo:

The box the figure came in was a little beat up because the packers had to stuff it into a shipping box that was just a bit too small for all the items in it. Considering how small the actual figure is, I think a smaller box for it would have been a good idea to avoid it getting squished and to also be less wasteful.

As for the figure itself, I had to lean it against the box in the first photo because it is very top-front-heavy and the bottoms of its boots are uneven. Here, have a look:

As you can see, most of the mass of the head is in the front. Combine that with the arms pointing forward and we already have a problem keeping this figure standing on its own. The uneven boot bottoms just make matters worse.

I'm quite disappointed in this figure. As great as it looks, it seems whoever designed it rushed things and now I can't display it properly. It's a shame.

OVERVIEW

My first experience with Loot Gaming was mostly positive. Despite the higher price tag for the subscription compared to Loot Crate and the low amount of items, the overall value was definitely good. The items themselves were also great for the most part. I especially liked the flask and the towel. The only item that wasn't up to par was the "Tomb Raider" figure.

Would I recommend Loot Gaming? It's a little early to say. I'm definitely going to stay on for at least one more month, though, so stay tuned for another Loot Gaming review next month. If you're interested in learning more directly from the source, you can visit the Loot Crate web site HERE.

As always, thanks for reading and see you again soon!

~ Mike

Loot Crate - November, 2014 - Battle

When I went to get the mail yesterday, I was expecting to find a bunch of bills, some flyers, maybe a few coupons, and potentially something from Amazon that I ordered. What I didn't expect to find was a Loot Crate. But, that's not the most surprising part of this story. What was more shocking to me was that the tracking information was sent to me a couple of hours after I picked up my box! But, apparently, that wasn't enough for Loot Crate. No, they had to put this on the side of their box:

It took every bit of willpower for me not to stand there in the freezing cold and rip the thing open to see what the notice was all about. I also had to stop myself from running home since dress shoes and icy sidewalks do not get along. After a slow, slippery walk back home, I finally cracked open my Loot Crate and this is what I was met with:

Yeah. I know. I drooled a little, too. Now, for those of you who haven't heard of Loot Crate, it is a monthly subscription box that caters towards "nerds" and "geeks". Each month, subscribers get a themed box of 6 to 8 items. What's interesting is that Loot Crate has different subscription programs. Here's a breakdown:

1 Month Plan - $19.37 USD / $29.95 CAD per month

3 Month Plan - $55.11 USD / $84.00 CAD per 3 months

6 Month Plan - $105.99 USD / $162.00 CAD per 6 months

NOVEMBER - BATTLE

When Loot Crate announced their November theme on their Facebook Page last month, I was ecstatic. "Battle", to me, had to involve "Street Fighter" in some way, and that is my favourite fighting game series of all time. I made the conscious decision to not visit their Facebook Page after the announcement because I really wanted to be surprised by what I found in my box when it arrived. So, what did I get yesterday? Here's a list:

- Loot Crate Mini Magazine ($2.50 CAD)

- Loot Crate Theme Pin ($0.75 CAD)

- Pirates vs. Ninjas T-Shirt ($15.00 CAD)

- Loot Crate Exclusive MegaMan Mini Helmet ($12.00 CAD)

- Mega Bloks Halo Drop Pod Figure ($5.00 CAD)

- Assassin's Creed Unity Coin ($15.00 CAD)

- Loot Crate Exclusive Street Fighter Headband ($10.00 CAD)

- Free Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Coupon ($20.00 CAD)

- Free MegaMan Digital Comics Coupon ($5.00 CAD)
- 50% Off Lichdom Battlemage Coupon ($22.00 CAD)

Custom Loot Crate Box and Loot Crate Mini Magazine

Once again, Loot Crate sent its subscribers a box with a custom design. But, this month, they added a little message on the outside that got me super excited. When you first open the box, it looks simple. However, as the exterior note mentions, the Mini Magazine holds the key to what makes this Crate so special. Behold!

Yes, that's right. The Loot Crate box turns into a diorama for the cardboard cutout Ryu (from "Street Fighter") and MegaMan figures included in the Mini Magazine! Whaaaaaat?! The box and magazine are a fantastic one-two punch combination that truly makes this month's Loot Crate a thing of beauty. I really appreciate the thought and effort put into designing the diorama. Absolutely fantastic! Oh, and here's the Mini Magazine's awesome cover.

Loot Crate Theme Pin

The pin design this month is colourful and fun. Plus, this is the first time that the orange ring around the pin actually matches the rest of the design. Very nice.

Pirates vs. Ninjas T-Shirt

Ah, the never-ending debate over whether Pirates or Ninjas are better finally arrives at Loot Crate with this month's spectacular T-shirt design. I love that it's not just a bunch of words making two characters, but also a Yin-Yang symbol. It's incredibly creative. In addition to this, Loot Crate took the design process one step further by including a post card with exclusive art on one side and a description of the whole Pirates vs. Ninjas thing on the other. Check it out.

Loot Crate Exclusive MegaMan Mini Helmet

This MegaMan mini helmet is one of four randomly packed in this month's Loot Crate. Subscribers could get blue, red, this green one, or black, each of which represents a different power in the game. I think it's a cool exclusive Crate item, but I personally find it to be kind of boring. Don't get me wrong. I love MegaMan, but I think a MegaMan figure would have been a better item. I do appreciate that it's different, though. You definitely wouldn't expect a MegaMan mini helmet, kind of like how you wouldn't expect a MegaMan air freshener (see August, 2014).

Mega Bloks Halo Drop Pod Figure

I'm a huge fan of Mega Bloks' series of "Halo" figures and building sets. I have a relatively impressive collection, though I've stopped adding to it for over a year now. A few months ago, I saw these Drop Pod figures start appearing at Wal-Mart and Toys R Us stores, but never bought one since the price is, in my opinion, too high for a figure with a pod. Still, I wanted one and I'm very happy to receive one in my Loot Crate. It's super cool!

Assassin's Creed Unity Coin

I have never played an "Assassin's Creed" game before, but I think this coin or medallion from their latest game, "Unity", is pretty awesome. It doesn't look very large, and it isn't, but the thing is weighty! When I checked online for pricing information on similar coins, they were selling for anywhere from $15 CAD to $40 CAD! Whoa! I love the pouch this coin comes with, too. It's a nice addition to an already great item.

Loot Crate Exclusive Street Fighter Headband

Ryu is my second favourite character from the "Street Fighter" series of games. He's so awesome that I cosplayed as him several years ago. With that said, you can probably imagine how loud I squealed when I found this Loot Crate Exclusive Headband in my box. Yep. I'll leave it at that.

Free Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Coupon

Giving us great items from a game is one thing. Giving us the actual game is something else altogether. I was blown away by this coupon card. I own "Street Fighter IV" on PS3, but now I can get it for free on Steam! This item is also great for introducing or re-introducing people to the "Street Fighter" series. Good on Loot Crate for teaming up with Capcom and Valve like this.

Free MegaMan Digital Comics Coupon

On the back of the "Street Fighter" coupon card is a promo code for 2 free digital issues of the "MegaMan" comic book series. Way to make both sides of the same card epic, Loot Crate!

50% Off Lichdom Battlemage Coupon

I'm not familiar with the game "Lichdom Battlemage", but I checked out the game page on Steam and 50% off the price brings it down to around $22 CAD, so it's definitely more affordable if I decide to buy it. I like that Loot Crate gives us these kinds of discounts. I may not buy any of the items the discounts are for, but some people definitely will, and saving people money is pretty awesome in my book.

OVERVIEW

The November Loot Crate was quite possibly the most impressive subscription box I've received. Every single item, even the mini helmet, was fantastic and the overall value of box blows the price of entry out of the water. I especially liked the incredible amount of thought that must of have been put into making this month's Crate truly unique. The box-diorama-magazine-figures combo is epic on so many levels and giving people a game to allow them to fully experience the inspiration behind current and maybe future items is plain awesome. All-in-all, this is the kind of box that keeps people coming back for more. I'm one extremely satisfied customer!

So, what's coming up next month? Christmas is fast approaching, so will Loot Crate put together something that will fill our hearts with Yuletide spirit? I don't know! Why? Because my Crate arrived so early that both the Loot Crate Web Site and Facebook Group are still talking about the November "Battle" box. Heck, right now, you still have 1 day to subscribe, and if you use the code BATTLE, you get $3 off your new subscription. Don't worry, though. When the peeps over at Loot Crate HQ finally reveal December's theme, I will be sure to update this entry. So, stay tuned!

As always, thank you so much checking out my blog. See you again soon!

~ Mike

UPDATE: The December Loot Crate's theme has still not been revealed, but there is now a new savings code! Use SAVE3 to get $3 off new subscriptions. I'll update again once more information about the December Crate becomes available. Cheers!

UPDATE 2: The peeps over at Loot Crate HQ finally announced their December theme, which is Anniversary! On their Facebook page, they mention an exclusive Marvel item that has me extremely excited. Their new code to save you $3 off a new subscription is ANNIVERSARY. Happy Holidays!

Nerd Block (Adult) - March, 2014

Heya! Mike here, and what a month this is for Nerd Block! Not only did they gain a new partner in Ubisoft, but they also launched their new kids boxes under the Nerd Block Jr. banner and 20% larger "adult" boxes. As a subscriber of the adult box, I was excited. I've been disappointed for the past two months and the bigger box seemed like a great opportunity for Nerd Block to fix things and give its subscribers better stuff. Here, check out the e-mail I was sent:

Who wouldn't be excited by that, right? Plus, I figured that with the kids boxes coming out, the somewhat cheaper, smaller items found in previous boxes would end up in those, leaving room in the adult box for some hefty real deal nerd awesomeness. Did Nerd Block live up to their own hype? I received my new, 20% larger Nerd Block yesterday, so let's find out!

The New, 20% Larger Nerd Block

Now, in case you didn't know, Nerd Block is a monthly subscription box and each month, people receive all sorts of products from "nerdy" franchises. Here is some information:

- $19.99 USD plus shipping per month

- $30 CAD total per month in Canada

- arrives around mid-month in Canada

MARCH, 2014

New Box (Bottom) compared to Old Box (Top)

Bigger box. Ubisoft. Two consecutive previous months of disappointment. Did Nerd Block break out of the slump? Here's a list of what I received in my box this month with approximate Canadian retail prices in brackets next to each item:

- Darth Vader T-Shirt ($15.00)

- Assassin's Creed Action Figure ($16.00)

- Topps Wacky Packages Stickers 8-Pack ($2.00)

- Legend of Zelda Capsule Figurine ($5.00)

- Star Trek Skele-Treks Miniature Figure ($2.00)

- Simpsons Guest Stars Miniature Figure ($2.00)

DARTH VADER T-SHIRT

Wow... Just... Wow... When I saw the colour of the shirt, my heart sank. You've heard me criticize Nerd Block for its lack of variety in T-shirt colours and now, I will do it again. I get that black is probably the most "universal" colour, but getting a black shirt almost every month is unacceptable. As I've stated before, other possible "universal" colours / shades are white, light grey, and dark grey. But, no. Nerd Block has once again chosen the lazy route and given its subscribers a black shirt. Oh, and the design? I personally find it to be plain and uninteresting. This shirt is by far my least favourite shirt I've received from Nerd Block and it's now going in my "rag shirts" pile.

ASSASSIN'S CREED ACTION FIGURE

As mentioned, Ubisoft has joined the Nerd Block family, and its first offering is an action figure from the game "Assassin's Creed: Black Flag". I got the character Edward Kenway, but although I own the game, I haven't played it yet, so don't know who he is. I like action figures, and I especially like action figures that come with perks like the free in-game item that comes with Edward Kenway. I'm sure some could argue that the inclusion of such a figure is not a good thing because not everyone is into "Assassin's Creed", and making the most expensive item in a Nerd Block game-/brand-specific would make the box less worthwhile to some than to others. They aren't wrong, but at the same time, when it comes to subscription boxes, I think the risk of getting such an item is part of the game. I mean, the T-shirts are usually the most expensive items, and not everyone is into what's on them, right? This should also apply to a non-T-shirt item.

TOPPS WACKY PACKAGES STICKERS

When I received a pack of Topps Wacky Packages stickers in the first Nerd Block, I wasn't interested in them. Now, 7 months later, I still have no interest in them. I'm sure others may like Wacky Packages, but they are just not my kind of thing. What bothers me, however, is that the pack I received from Nerd Block is from Series 7. After some digging, I discovered that Series 7 came out in 2010... That's almost 4 years ago! It seems Nerd Block is trying to sell off overstock from Topps. Ridiculous!

LEGEND OF ZELDA CAPSULE FIGURINE

The final three items in my Nerd Block are all a bunch of cheap plastic miniature figures. The first of those is from the "Legend of Zelda" series. Something I've noticed at my local dollar store lately is that they are receiving Nintendo-themed capsule miniatures. Right now, they have "Mario Kart" cars and "Super Mario Galaxy" figures. I honestly won't be surprised if the Zelda-themed capsule figures start popping up a couple of months from now. The thing about these toys is that I have never seen them for sale anywhere else in person. I can find them online, but never in the stores I shop at. What this tells me is that they aren't all that popular, so they're likely in the same boat as the Wacky Packages - Overstock that needs to be sold off quick. Apparently, that's where Nerd Block comes in. Sigh.

STAR TREK SKELE-TREKS MINIATURE FIGURE

Oh, boy. This one's bad. A couple of weeks ago at the comics and collectibles shops I visit, I started seeing 5" figures of Star Trek characters whose heads were designed to look like the skull decorations from Mexico's Day of the Dead. They were called "Skele-Treks" and I thought they were cool. Not cool enough to pay $15.99 for, but still cool. When I found a Skele-Treks package in my Nerd Block, I got really excited. Sure, it said that the figure was a miniature and the packaging was definitely smaller than the $15.99 ones. But, it couldn't be "that" small, right? And, its quality "should" be good since it's a Skele-Treks figure, right? Right? As Lex Luthor said in "Superman Returns"... WROOOOOONG!!! Here, have a look:

Ridiculously Tiny Figure

You see that? That's a 2" figure in a 5" package. Do you know where I've seen this kind of thing before? You guessed it! At the dollar store! Remember the extremely disappointing "Hunger Games" figure Nerd Block gave its subscribers not too long ago? This is the same thing. I find it absolutely ridiculous that NECA made these cheap, wastefully-packaged Skele-Treks figures and even more ridiculous that Nerd Block has included them.

SIMPSONS GUEST STARS MINIATURE FIGURE

The last of the three cheap figures is from the "Simpsons: 25 of the Greatest Guest Stars" series. Just like the Skele-Treks miniatures, these Simpsons figures are based off of larger, higher quality 5" figures. Also like the Skele-Treks miniatures, these Simpsons figures are tiny 2" pieces of plastic that are misleadingly packaged. This is yet another item I expect to find in dollar stores soon. Ignoring the packaging issue, I can understand why such figures exist. Not everyone can or want to pay $15 to $20 for a collectible. Smaller, cheaper figures based on larger ones are a decent solution. However, I personally don't feel they should be placed in subscription boxes with a price tag like that of Nerd Block. I'd rather get a single $15 figure over getting 3 dinky, poorly-made toys. Quality counts more than quantity for me, and I feel Nerd Block is sacrificing the former for the latter.

OVERVIEW

I am severely disappointed and somewhat ticked off with Nerd Block. What started out as a great subscription box with mostly high-quality and relevant products has degenerated over the months into what I honestly consider to be a place for companies to dump their unwanted / overstocked items. Bargain bin products, in my opinion, have no place whatsoever in a subscription box. But, there's more to the problems that are plaguing Nerd Block. Let's take a look at their "bigger" box, for example. You saw the size comparison above. Well, let's take a look at this month's items inside the new box:

My items in the new bigger box.

That's what my box looked like when I opened it. I was really surprised to see so much empty space. But, wait! The products are bigger, right?

My items in the old smaller box.

Uh... Are those... Are those this month's items fitting perfectly inside an old, smaller Nerd Block box? Why, yes. Yes, they are. Oh, and here's a photo to drive home just how bad the situation is:

Yes, those are my items inside an old Nerd Block box placed inside the new Nerd Block box. This is the kind of B.S. that has made Nerd Block such a colossal rip-off. They are so focused on "looking" like a good product that they have completely lost sight of what it means to actually be good. They exaggerate and sometimes even lie, like when they claimed that an item worth over $40 would be in their December box, yet the watch that was that item was actually being sold in most stores at around $25. They hype themselves up and fail to deliver. And, what they do deliver is mostly piles of bargain bin trash.

I cannot justify continuing to subscribe to Nerd Block. Neither can my friends. So, we have all cancelled our memberships and are moving over to the competition - Loot Crate.

Loot Crate is a subscription box that costs around the same as Nerd Block, but instead of throwing in a bunch of random nerdy items, they have a theme each month and include items based on the theme. I think it's a grand idea and something worth at least checking out. Here's a LINK.

Thus, we come to the end of what is the final Nerd Block entry from us. Moving forward, we hope you will enjoy our thoughts and comments on Loot Crate! Thanks and cheers! :)

~ Mike