Zavvi released three special Gamer Editions versions of their ZBox mystery box package, each based around a different game system. I’ve previously reviewed the Nintendo Gamer Edition Zavvi ZBox and found the contents for that box of limited value. This review covers the Playstation version of the Gamer Edition.
The standard price for the Special Edition ZBox is £19.99 GBP ($28 USD), including postage within the UK.
I wasn’t tempted at the original price, particularly as I’m not really a Playstation gamer, but I managed to pick this up during one of the discounts that Zavvi often offers. Thankfully, I also avoided spoilers, so the contents were entirely new to me.
Once ordered, the box was with me within 72 hours, delivered by Royal Mail. This was impressive. The contents arrived in a stylish blue box picturing a Playstation controller. No information card or booklet was included, but the contents were fairly self-explanatory.
Box Contents
Playstation Controller T-Shirt
This is white Gildan T-Shirt stock with blue print. Although a simple design, this is quite clever, referencing the four shapes on the action buttons on the Playstation controller (the different colours, of course, aren’t shown).
I think that this was printed exclusive for the Gamer Edition ZBox, although that’s not clear from the packaging.
I’ll never be a great fan of white T-Shirts like this though, as they come across rather as a cop out from hiring a designer, or getting something more elaborate printed.
I’ll price this using the standard T-Shirt $10 USD value.
Playstation Controller Mug
This is an official mug, billed as a “Retro Mug” with a picture of the Playstation controller printed across the outer surface. The design is a good one.
This is produced by GB Eye and is available to order by trade through their site, although I can’t see a retail source.
There are a variety of Playstation mugs available on Amazon.com.
Based on the other similar mugs, I’ll use a value of $15 USD, although I would look to pay less.
Playstation Controller Key Ring
As key rings go, this one is decent, with the Playstation controller depicted in metallic form.
This is also an official item.
There are lots of Playstation key rings available on Amazon.com.
I’ll use a lower end price point for this of $7 USD.
Playstation Controller Drinks Coaster
When I unboxed this, I assumed that this was part of a whole stack of drinks coasters. In fact, there is only one coaster, depicting the X from the Playstation controller.
It is a coaster with decent thickness, but based on the label included, it should be possible to get the three other symbols and complete the set. A single coaster is never terribly useful.
There’s also a fair chance that this was originally designed as a promotional item.
As a single coaster of this type, it’s difficult to assign much of a value. I’ll use my usual price point for simple filler items like this of $2 USD.
Playstation Controller Wallet
The design of this wallet is cool, consisting of lots of Playstation controller outlines printed over a grey background.
I could never actually use this as a wallet though, as there just aren’t enough compartments in it for everything I carry around.
This is produced by Bioworld and largely distributed as a wholesale item, so again it’s difficult to price. I’ll use what I see as a sensible value of $10 USD.
More from this box: all our Zavvi ZBox reviews.
Box Review
The items in this ZBox are well-chosen. I get a value of $44 USD, which is above the cost price.
As a discounted buy, this is even better value, particularly as some of the items are hard to get hold of individually.
There is one main limitation. And that is that the items aren’t really about the Playstation or Playstation games at all. They’re about a very specific element, the Playstation controller.
The Playstation controller is a design classic and the items actually work well together, but I doubt that this is what most customers would expect when going inside the box for the first time.
I do particularly like mug and the wallet will provide a good gift for someone, even if I don’t have a use for it myself. The T-Shirt isn’t terribly impressive and there is some filler included.
There’s also a lot of use of two UK suppliers, with the items all coming from either GB Eye or Bioworld.
I am glad to have been able to see what was inside the Playstation version of the Gamer Edition ZBox. The Zavvi Box can be a gamble, like most mystery boxes. This Zavvi ZBox was pretty good.
Zavvi ZBox has since stopped running, so the subscription link that originally sat here has been retired. You can still browse every Zavvi ZBox review on this site.
