Recently I came across the new board game Yahtzee Free-For-All.  The entertaining game carried over elements from its previous scheme of rules, but added some fun and creative twists.  While the game was enjoyable, it was not the focus of my attention, the packaging was.  The game presented itself in a very extensive packaging design that built its entire layout around the key component of Yahtzee, the die.

                The hexagonal box forms a 3-dimensional image of the die.  Once the top is removed, you find the packaging, when unfolded, forms into the board itself while revealing the contents that allow the game to take place.  While the unfolding presents the places for each player to station themselves, the neatly constructed compartments for the dice and cards are displayed.  With the dice and cards removed and placed into their positions on the versatile board, I found myself thoroughly impressed with the complexity and creativity in the design and construction of the game.

                Despite my response to the board and packaging itself, I was most impressed with the instructional guide that was designed in the same hexagonal format.  Folded neatly inside the packaging, it had flaps on each side which unfolded like an aperture to reveal the instructions.  Once unfolded, the perfectly sized and legible typeface was displayed on a clever background that was stimulating but not distracting.  Altogether, the feel of the packaging and print material was innovative and certainly an element that strengthened the game itself.