Back on 3DO again

[Lish]

Another attempt at a 3DO standard.  The idea is to use the Box Art for 3DO and stretch it a little sideways (True scale for 3DO boxes would be 1050 by 2156...this cover scheme stretches the box to 1350 by 2156).  The "Shoulder" colour (err, color for those who left Europe earliest) is transformed based on the case colours, and will differ for each game.  See two examples below.

It's all nice in theory, except decent box scans are impossible to find.  the scans below probably aren't good enough for this site.

We need to somehow promote 3DO box scans.  As there where full sleeved CD cases in the boxes, I gather most people tossed the boxes as soon as they removed the CD case from inside.  About 30% of my 3DO games (it's a US machine that I bought here...seems to be the norm as they had a 240V/110V switch and the games were not region locked) have a CD cover..so I will scan them..later.  The CD scans aren't what I am looking for for the custom DVD covers though.

Thoughts on the cases below?  (IGNORE THE FACT THAT THE SPACE HULK SPINE IS MIS-LABELLED)

[tiktektak]

Looks good.... AS for the 3do will be my only system where I don't stick to the original boxes....

What cases are those covers for?

The biiiiiiiig boxes fot the 3d0 that I have(unfortunately it's just one - Space Hulk US) are really big.....
They're 24cm x 13cm.... I don't know what that is in pixels.... The other games I have are without boxes or in normal 4 cd jewel cases....

Regards Seb

[Lish]

These are standard DVD cases, using scans of the 24x13cm boxes which are reduced in size and slightly stretched horizontally (about 20%).

I also have a number of CD sleeves for 3DO and 300dpi ones can also be found at covergalaxy.  Good scans of the boxes however are rare.  I would certainly love raws of your space hulk box to work with.  In collaboration, I am sure that we can come up with a joint template.

The challenge would then be to obtain box scans.  all on the net currently are 72dpi and low size.  I see that there are some on ebay.  The only problem is, I already have the original games.

[satoshi_matrix]

looks great, though I never owned a 3DO nor have I even seen one!

[Dante_Ali]

I bought the PAL version of Gex 3DO today - it's just a double CD jewel case. I'll excuse myself beforehand for my lack of knowledge on the 3DO scene, as I don't own one - I bought this game mainly for cover scanning purposes.

Am I correct in thinking PAL versions of 3DO games came in jewel or double jewel cases, and not the big boxes that the US versions came in?

Either way, I'll upload it real soon in untouched form - standard CD covers. Let me know if anyone wants to turn it into a DVD/Thinpak - I'll upload the raws as well.

[Arseen]

Nice covers!!!

Maybe I'd cut the Panasonic Sanyo Goldstar parts off of front and back away.

[Lish]

I bought the PAL version of Gex 3DO today - it's just a double CD jewel case. I'll excuse myself beforehand for my lack of knowledge on the 3DO scene, as I don't own one - I bought this game mainly for cover scanning purposes.

Am I correct in thinking PAL versions of 3DO games came in jewel or double jewel cases, and not the big boxes that the US versions came in?

Either way, I'll upload it real soon in untouched form - standard CD covers. Let me know if anyone wants to turn it into a DVD/Thinpak - I'll upload the raws as well.

I beleive that the jewel case was inside the box.  As far as i know, 3DO was not region specific, and therefore there wasn't any differentiation between PAL and NTSC systems.  They simply used the same software which would create a black border top and bottom on pal screens to compensate for the lower resolution of 240 lines (480 interlaced).  Does you Gex specifically say for use with PAL systems only?

The attached site shows the Gex box, instructions and jewel case:

http://www.videogamecritic.net/3doinfo.htm

I have a few cd covers for 3DO as well, so I'll help out.  I might need to reconsider using the boxes for a CD cover, and resort to a template that better converts CD jewel cases to DVD cases.

[Dante_Ali]

I bought the PAL version of Gex 3DO today - it's just a double CD jewel case. I'll excuse myself beforehand for my lack of knowledge on the 3DO scene, as I don't own one - I bought this game mainly for cover scanning purposes.

Am I correct in thinking PAL versions of 3DO games came in jewel or double jewel cases, and not the big boxes that the US versions came in?

Either way, I'll upload it real soon in untouched form - standard CD covers. Let me know if anyone wants to turn it into a DVD/Thinpak - I'll upload the raws as well.

I beleive that the jewel case was inside the box.  As far as i know, 3DO was not region specific, and therefore there wasn't any differentiation between PAL and NTSC systems.  They simply used the same software which would create a black border top and bottom on pal screens to compensate for the lower resolution of 240 lines (480 interlaced).  Does you Gex specifically say for use with PAL systems only?

The attached site shows the Gex box, instructions and jewel case:

http://www.videogamecritic.net/3doinfo.htm

I have a few cd covers for 3DO as well, so I'll help out.  I might need to reconsider using the boxes for a CD cover, and resort to a template that better converts CD jewel cases to DVD cases.

On the back it says "This title displays in a letterbox format on the 3DO PAL system". Furthermore, my Gex double jewel case looks noticeably different to the one on that site. (which is a jewel case). See for yourself:





Oddly enough, the instruction manual cover looks the same as the front cover from the US version. I take it the instruction manual was the front cover for the US version.

[Lish]

Well, it appears that you are correct, some but not all Euro games came in double CD cases.  The large cases did not include a jewel case inside (see picture here http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160132377015&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting).  Some other Euro games may not have been provided in jewel cases and the photo attached (although it shows single jewel cases) could be a result of placing the disk and manual inside a spare jewel case and discarding of the cardboard box (see here: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160132366200&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting).  Then again, they may well have come in single jewel cases.  About two thirds of my discs that I bought from a video rental store (ex rental machine) have photocopied front and back covers placed in a jewel case, and these may well have been copies of the original covers that they lost before selling the 3DO with 20 games.

The gex game you have is made in the USA and I believe I am correct that it is identical software the world over and not PAL or NTSC dependent.  The different cover is probably just to satisfy EU ratings labelling laws.  Also, the comments that the game will show borders top and bottom (letterbox) on PAL systems supports that the software is designed to run full screen  on the lower NTSC based systems.  So for PAL, we get a shrunk screen and 17% slower gameplay.

[Lish]

OK, to clarify (from : http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/console_compat.html?SystemID=2600)

"NTSC versions of 3DO games are playable on PAL 3DO consoles, although some look slightly squashed due to the PAL/NTSC aspect ratio differences. PAL 3DO titles play and look fine on NTSC systems. Unfortunately, due to minor differences between the PAL and NTSC 3DOs, some pre-PAL NTSC 3DO titles (such as Twisted, Crash n Burn)
don't work on PAL 3DOs.

And 3DO was released in both jewel cases and large boxes in Europe (hence my confusion):

http://www.consolepassion.co.uk/3do-games.htm

[Dante_Ali]

OK, to clarify (from : http://www.atariage.com/2600/archives/console_compat.html?SystemID=2600)

"NTSC versions of 3DO games are playable on PAL 3DO consoles, although some look slightly squashed due to the PAL/NTSC aspect ratio differences. PAL 3DO titles play and look fine on NTSC systems. Unfortunately, due to minor differences between the PAL and NTSC 3DOs, some pre-PAL NTSC 3DO titles (such as Twisted, Crash n Burn)
don't work on PAL 3DOs.

And 3DO was released in both jewel cases and large boxes in Europe (hence my confusion):

http://www.consolepassion.co.uk/3do-games.htm

OK, so what this boils down to is that in Europe, you had the choice between a jewel case or a large box? Or did the large box also come with a jewel case? Or perhaps there was no method to the madness and certain developers just released their games in jewel cases while others went with the boxes?

For a system that was all about standardization, you sure wouldn't think so judging by all the differences in packaging.

[tiktektak]

The 3do games developers were nuts enough to make different cases I suppose.... I've got two games in double jewel cases and three games in longboxes.... Although they all say that the picture will display in a letterbox format....
But I think the games run in PAL-60 which means that the picture isn't squashed but letterboxed to apply to the PAL resolution but it still runs at 60Hz.... Almost any TV set can produce this in PAL countries....

Regards Seb

[KaiserWAVE]

Well, they had 4 different consoles (Panasonic, Sanyo, Goldstar and Samsung) and who knows what  plans they had with the M2, so I guess they couldn't care less about a consistent box design

[Lish]

OK, enough of trying to use big boxes.  I have spent most of today working on a 3DO template.  This is what I have come up with.  I think it'll do.  I've uploaded it so ceck out the upload directory for those who want to see what the full image looks like.

The only thing I didn't do was use the R.E.A.L. logo, as it was specific to panasonic 3DO's.

[Arseen]

WOW That's one nice looking cover, that's PERFECT!!!