Universal Game Cases are no longer in production

[cosmic]

Article here: https://www.retrorgb.com/rip-universal-game-cases.html

Wondering about all the coverart, can it be converted to customgamecases version without much modification?

[Arseen]

Yes the conversions usually super simple (if the spine has solid color background) as only difference is 5mm wider spine.
And if you are not super fuzzy UGC covers can be used as is.

[PersianImm0rtal]

This is absolutely awful! What is the best replacement?

[MINI]

The worst news all day for me.
Custom Game Cases takes up a lot of room, almost never available and the prices are insane.

I seriously hope some one else can take the torch and continue making something simular to them.

[PersianImm0rtal]

Would anyone be interested in splitting up a large order from china for them? We would need to order at least a 1,000, but the price would get near 2 dollars a peice for sure.

[krypt2nite]

Nooooo. I've had an order for 100 in since March and have been patiently waiting. Periodically Mark would give me the status. Bummer. Guess I need to reach out for a refund.

[jolly_metalhead]

Yeah that's a bummer for me to read about. I still have plenty of loose games that need boxes. I guess I'll have to go to Custom Game Cases for that.

It's funny, when I mentioned this elsewhere, I heard nothing but negative comments about UGC, which is the first time I've ever heard anything bad about them. A little strange for me to hear.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[TDIRunner]

Yeah that's a bummer for me to read about. I still have plenty of loose games that need boxes. I guess I'll have to go to Custom Game Cases for that.

It's funny, when I mentioned this elsewhere, I heard nothing but negative comments about UGC, which is the first time I've ever heard anything bad about them. A little strange for me to hear.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Most of the negative comments on the UGCs were from the most recent batches with inconsistent quality.  I never complained about them before, but I sure do now. 

[krypt2nite]

What is a good alternative I can buy bulk of for cheap? Anything over a dollar or 2 is crazy to me.

[TDIRunner]

Unfortunately, you will probably have a hard time finding cases for that price range any more.  Game case prices were nearly flat for a decade.  It's just not realistic to expect that to last forever. 

[Arseen]

Why my Lada doesn't go as fast as Lamborghini?
I refuse to pay over 400 Euros for a car but it should be as good as Lamborghini as they both start with La.

 

QUALITY COSTS!!!

[PX0]

I am not sure that this is a quality issue.

The difference is, that usually vendors offer a discount, if you buy cases in bulk.
But CustomGameCases only offers discounts on some of their blank cases, not all of them, for whatever reason.

NES, SNES and N64 cases cost the same no matter how many you buy. ($3,00 for 1 case, $300 for 100 cases.)

While their PSP cases (and I remember Gameboy cases as well) get cheaper, if you buy in bulk. ($2,50 for 1 case or $120 for 100 cases. So if you buy in bulk, the price drops to $1,20 per case or less then half of the original price...)

[krypt2nite]

It would cost well over $1000 to get cases from other providers to do my collection. Or I could pay $100 and do the art myself? (Yes Ink and paper costs) I could care less about some "quality" of plastic that is going to just sit on my shelf for years and occasionally be opened if I want to play the game. I just want bulk cases to pull from at a reasonable price. With shipping costs and the price of other products, it would cost insane amounts. Not to mention I don't want my cases branded with their logo. Different strokes for different folks. Screw Lamborghini, I just want a Honda.

[breakmanexe]

It's obvious that the two products, despite serving the same purpose, were catering to different needs. If you just needed a minimum of 100 cheap cases (to be fair, they DID eventually offer half-crates), the UGC was there for you. If you wanted something higher-quality at a higher price point but with flexible quantities, there's the CGCs.

That being said, I think there was room in the world enough for both types of cases. If UGCs are being discontinued, it's either because not enough people were buying them anymore, the manufacturers could no longer afford to keep making them, or the facility had to be shut down due to the global health crisis and was unable to resume production. None of these scenarios is a good one for the manufacturers, so I don't blame them for making what was likely not an easy decision.

[Tech13]

It's obvious that the two products, despite serving the same purpose, were catering to different needs. If you just needed a minimum of 100 cheap cases (to be fair, they DID eventually offer half-crates), the UGC was there for you. If you wanted something higher-quality at a higher price point but with flexible quantities, there's the CGCs.

That being said, I think there was room in the world enough for both types of cases. If UGCs are being discontinued, it's either because not enough people were buying them anymore, the manufacturers could no longer afford to keep making them, or the facility had to be shut down due to the global health crisis and was unable to resume production. None of these scenarios is a good one for the manufacturers, so I don't blame them for making what was likely not an easy decision.

Yes it is bad that they are gone, and it does create a void in the market. However, this could turn around. Someone could contact the company with the molds and continue having them made. I am sure some retro supply web store is already looking at cornering the cheap UGC market, and who knows it may be easier to order from them.