Major game companies switching cases

[Doom]

http://kotaku.com/5415367/changing-video-game-cases-go-for-the-green

http://kotaku.com/5433949/heres-nintendos-enviro+friendly-game-case-%5Bupdate%5D

I should make a post in the guides section with pictures of all 3 cases. For now, leech off of Kotaku.

[the7k]

Yeah, I was considering posting about this...

Such a shame, really. The whole reason I switched my jewel-based games to DVD cases was because of their durability and the extra protection.

Now, if anything, these new cases are less protected than the highly-fragile jewel cases - I mean, c'mon, why would you put the holes where the game is? It defeats the purpose to me.

[Falconhood]

They have already been doing this to DVD cases...i have some and i HATE them. The do feel fragile, and i imagine will warp the artwork over time. They are very light compared to a REAL DVD case

[AppleQueso]

so they're just dvd cases with holes in them?

meh, big deal. Yeah you can argue that there's less "protection" by there being less plastic behind the disc, but consider the fact that really, the disc is suspended in a dvd case, the disc never touches plastic anyhow.

The warping issue, maybe, I could see these cases warping more drastically in extreme heat, but you shouldn't be storing your games in places like that anyhow.

Fragile? I doubt they'll be any more prone to damage or breakage than regular DVD cases, and besides, most users here aren't the type to put their games in situations where damage like that can occur anyhow.

And yes, they're lighter, that's what the holes are for. There's no reason to think they'll warp the artwork unless the case itself warps, and for that, well see above.

[juan0tron]

Meh, it sits on a shelf, no biggie. If anything I'll miss that heft some cases had, but then again I can always go out and buy a Square Enix game and look at the manual

[Mick Dundee]

I got one of these stupid cases with Lego Rockband.

I'm pretty sure I can twist it and the case has no resistance.

I can almost understand the DVDs coming that way (Save plastic, less plastic less pollutants bla bla bla)
BUT, my 40-60 dollar games should get a better treatment.

[Falconhood]

yeah, i'm pretty sure accidents happen, and i'd like MORE protection than these. If someone sits on one of these, the disc will crack. And carry a game to a friends house in my back-pack? well, it's more like to get broken in this case with pressure from other items in the bag.

[AppleQueso]

yeah, i'm pretty sure accidents happen, and i'd like MORE protection than these. If someone sits on one of these, the disc will crack. And carry a game to a friends house in my back-pack? well, it's more like to get broken in this case with pressure from other items in the bag.

I had a copy of Brave Fencer Musashi that died that way. Was in a slim jewel case.

Most of what you're saying is speculation though, why not do a few tests yourself? Use a couple of blank cds as dummies and put them in each case, and subject them to various torture tests. Sit on the cases, drop them, etc, etc, see how things go. I suspect the protection you're worried about losing is more paranoia and hyperbole than anything else.

[Falconhood]

i super HATE slim jewel cases. That happened with an anime i took to school in my back-pack. When i cleaned out my book-bag at the end of the week, it was snapped-in-two. That never happens with Cartridges.

[juan0tron]

Man, does anyone use cd wallets these days? Mine is made out of metal and holds 40 games. No way any of that stuff's getting broken.

[csvo2000]

The new cases are crap.  They say its because they are going green... How much GREENER is it going to be when I buy a regular DVD case and throw their new shit case in the garbage.

[Psychlonic]

The new cases are crap.  They say its because they are going green... How much GREENER is it going to be when I buy a regular DVD case and throw their new shit case in the garbage.

This. I shouldn't have to be extra careful just to compensate for them being "green", and it's not like the consumer is going to notice a difference with cheaper manufacturing costs. I'm not so much worried about the disc as I'm sure that will be fine, but I don't want a cracked case with torn artwork. With this site being about case perfection, undoubtedly most of you will agree.

Off to the trash with this slag. Bring on the aftermarket bought solid cases.

[AppleQueso]

Most of what you're saying is speculation though, why not do a few tests yourself? Use a couple of blank cds as dummies and put them in each case, and subject them to various torture tests. Sit on the cases, drop them, etc, etc, see how things go. I suspect the protection you're worried about losing is more paranoia and hyperbole than anything else.

This goes to all of you getting all pissy

Man, does anyone use cd wallets these days? Mine is made out of metal and holds 40 games. No way any of that stuff's getting broken.

No but it will get scratched to hell. I've delt with those, the small plastic flaps you barely notice at the edges of the sleeve things the discs slide into tend to rub against the disc when removing/inserting them, damaging them over time. This is worse on those ones that hold 4 discs per page.

The new cases are crap.  They say its because they are going green... How much GREENER is it going to be when I buy a regular DVD case and throw their new shit case in the garbage.

This. I shouldn't have to be extra careful just to compensate for them being "green", and it's not like the consumer is going to notice a difference with cheaper manufacturing costs. I'm not so much worried about the disc as I'm sure that will be fine, but I don't want a cracked case with torn artwork. With this site being about case perfection, undoubtedly most of you will agree.

Off to the trash with this slag. Bring on the aftermarket bought solid cases.

I somehow doubt that whatever is being done to these things to crack them and tear their artwork will do much less to a standard DVD case.

If there's anything to really complain about, it's the fact that the holes on the front of the case make a big tacky looking "recycle" symbol. The best part about going green isn't protecting the environment, it's showing my friends and competitors that I did.

[Psychlonic]

Ok great, you don't mind. We do. We're not "getting pissy", we're stating a valid point. There's absolutely no argument that a case with less material is just as durable as a case with more of the same material. That's not exactly hyperbole so much as an axiom. Why then, should anyone be willing to leave it to chance with the new case design that somehow physics might have ignored the gaming industry and made their cases just as strong? Why should we pay the same amount of money for less product? To go green?

If the industry really wanted to go green, they'd use paper-based cases ala GTA: San Andreas, which is stronger than the standard DVD case and contains no plastic. They're just cutting costs to increase their profit margin, and screwing over the customer to do so. That's all this is about, squeezing more money out of the industry.

Eco-friendly cases is a BS excuse that holds no water. The new cases are less durable than traditional ones, it's as simple as that. Doesn't matter if it's only a small percentage, that small percentage is still the extra chance you have of damaged goods. They're not "green" either, because it's still plastic that harms the earth in both production and in disposal.

I'm also foreseeing an increased usage of plastic outer-sleeves (the irony) to protect these games while in the store. There's entire forums dedicated to shoplifting on the internet, you wanna bet against me how long it'll take before someone says "take a razor and cut the entire back of the case out!" ?

[AppleQueso]

What I'm asking, that somebody actually test the durability of these cases themselves, is perfectly valid. I'm not defending the cases per-se, I'm trying to say that I doubt they'll be significantly less durable than standard cases. If they really are significantly less durable, I'd at least like some first hand proof of some kind. Hell I'd do it myself if I had one of these things.

I agree with you on everything else, it is nothing but a publicity move to milk some more money. Wal-Mart's the one pushing this from what I understand, they've done a lot of "green" things lately that are nothing more than publicity to make the company look more "environmentally friendly" (don't even get my started on why that's a joke). They aren't passing the savings onto us for sure.

Again though, I'm not going to bother worrying about these cases being less durable until I start hearing complaints about them that aren't mere speculation.