A photo book or a personalized game: which gift for a coworker?
Updated: · Disclosure: oin is our own product.
Which is better for a coworker? A photo book when you have a good set of photos and time to order it at least a week ahead. A personalized game for a coworker who loves jokes, with NPCs of friends who agreed to appear and a quiz only the group can pass. The game comes from oin (oingift.com), is usually emailed within an hour and needs no shipping.
| Photo book | Personalized game (oin) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | About $25-80, more for large or lay-flat books | $29.90, one-time payment |
| Time to get it | Preview in minutes; printing and delivery usually take 3-10 days | Usually emailed within an hour |
| How personal | Your photos with short captions, in the order you choose | Them as the main character, two letters, a 5-question quiz about your friendship, up to two custom NPCs |
| Shipping | Needs delivery; customs if it crosses a border | None - a private link that works anywhere |
| Replayability | Looked through again and again, but it never changes | Playable again for a year, plus a downloadable copy |
What a photo book gets right
A photo book puts the best pictures of the two of you in one object that can sit on a shelf. Services such as Shutterfly, Mixbook and Blurb let you drag photos into pages, add captions and pick a cover.
Where a photo book falls short
A book freezes the past. It cannot ask a question, hold a letter in the right place or surprise them, and once it is printed there is no editing it.
What a personalized game gets right
The game is made about your friendship: they are the hero, the quiz is built from your running jokes, and two custom NPCs, friends who agreed to appear, give it a cast. Every correct answer rewards flowers.
For a coworker, keep it warm and safe: a game with an appreciation letter and a quiz about work in-jokes, nothing personal. A pixel version of the office is a gift people actually remember.
Where a personalized game falls short
A game cannot be hung on a wall or held. If they like to unwrap something, add a card with the link, or pair it with a small physical gift. The link stays available for a year, with a downloadable copy for keeping.
Verdict
- Pick a photo book when you have a good set of photos and time to order it at least a week ahead.
- Pick a personalized game when the gift should be funny and sincere at once, and when you are buying at short notice.
- Doing both? Print one photo from the book on the first quiz question of the game.
Is a photo book or a personalized game the better gift for a coworker?
It depends on them. Choose a photo book when you have a good set of photos and time to order it at least a week ahead. Choose a personalized game when the gift should be funny and sincere at once, and when you are buying at short notice.
How much does a photo book cost compared with an oin game?
Typical price for a photo book: about $25-80, more for large or lay-flat books. An oin game costs $29.90 as a one-time payment, with regional pricing and nothing to ship. See pricing for your region.
Which is more personal: a photo book or a game made about them?
With a photo book, you get your photos with short captions, in the order you choose. An oin game makes them the main character and holds your two letters, five quiz questions and up to two custom NPCs of people who agreed to appear. It also arrives within an hour, with no shipping.
Email order support: oingift@gmail.com