Is Microsoft getting REALLY cheap on us now? Or is it just me?

[SplashChick]

Okay. I will mediate for the topic. This will be the final post in this thread, hopefully.

Screw the eco system. I want as much plastic as humanly possible in my video game cases. Less plastic = less new game smell when opening your brand new, up to $60, unless it's a collector's edition, game.

There. End of discussion.

*edit*

Also. Less plastic and those holes in the plastic look stupid.

Lol excellent point, I do enjoy that smell.

[skaar]

Kupomogli as the voice of reason was reason enough for me to stop watching this sideshow and go to bed.

Good night kids.

[Gameguy]

Yes, but if cases are only being damaged when coming from one source(in this case, Amazon), it's more likely that they're handling the games too roughly. When I say packed too tightly I mean that they're basically jamming cases into the box to get a few more in there. In that instance, it wouldn't happen if they had instead taken a handful of cases out of the box. If this same problem is happening with other distributors or shipping companies than the case probably does have a design problem as it can't seem to withstand normal shipping conditions.
It would be unlikely that the cases are only damaged from one source. I doubt any actual big box store would post shipping complaints publicly, they would just sent the defective units back and request replacements. I haven't bothered to look around online but it wouldn't make sense that damage would only occur from one source, they're being distributed from too many places for there to be no damage at all from anywhere else. There has to be others damaged from other places too, maybe not a huge majority of them but still some of them.

As I said earlier, they're packed the same way as before. They might start to pack them differently to prevent damage, but they would have originally been packed the same way. If the older cases didn't break when packed the same way, it's a problem with the design. If they took a handful of cases out of the box, they'd have to put the others into another box so more packing material would be used. The same amount would have to be shipped, if you get an order for a specific amount it would have to be filled.

[Ed Oscuro]

Lol excellent point, I do enjoy that smell.
Hobbies: The Vidya, glue-sniffing.

XD

Seriously though, let's all be frendz, kk?

[Garry Silljo]

You posted something offensive, and I asked you to stop, and somehow I still end up being the bad guy here? How does that work? I even said PLEASE. This seems more of a problem with you obsessing over my posts rather than what my posts actually contain.

I find every letter you type offensive. Stop, please.

[SplashChick]

Hobbies: The Vidya, glue-sniffing.

XD

Seriously though, let's all be frendz, kk?

I'm ready to drop all of this when everyone else is.

[SplashChick]

I find every letter you type offensive. Stop, please.

So I take it you WEREN'T being serious earlier.

[SplashChick]

It would be unlikely that the cases are only damaged from one source. I doubt any actual big box store would post shipping complaints publicly, they would just sent the defective units back and request replacements. I haven't bothered to look around online but it wouldn't make sense that damage would only occur from one source, they're being distributed from too many places for there to be no damage at all from anywhere else. There has to be others damaged from other places too, maybe not a huge majority of them but still some of them.

As I said earlier, they're packed the same way as before. They might start to pack them differently to prevent damage, but they would have originally been packed the same way. If the older cases didn't break when packed the same way, it's a problem with the design. If they took a handful of cases out of the box, they'd have to put the others into another box so more packing material would be used. The same amount would have to be shipped, if you get an order for a specific amount it would have to be filled.

Yeah, you're probably right. The cases apparently aren't designed very well, but it could still be worse I suppose.

[Garry Silljo]

So I take it you WEREN'T being serious earlier.

Ed's right. You're terrible with jokes.

[SplashChick]

Ed's right. You're terrible with jokes.

Well how was I supposed to tell when it follows the same behavior you'd been using in several other topics?

[Garry Silljo]

Well how was I supposed to tell when it follows the same behavior you'd been using in several other topics?

Ugh, because I haven't been serious from the get go. There was a point to this whole parody, but the only person who needs to see/hear it never will, so I'm just going to chalk the whole thing up to a failed experiment.

[SplashChick]

Ugh, because I haven't been serious from the get go. There was a point to this whole parody, but the only person who needs to see/hear it never will, so I'm just going to chalk the whole thing up to a failed experiment.

No, I get it, you're mocking me to try and show me that I was being ridiculous. It doesn't work though, because ridiculous questions don't compare to legitimate requests for evidence.

[Garry Silljo]

No, I get it, you're mocking me to try and show me that I was being ridiculous. It doesn't work though, because ridiculous questions don't compare to legitimate requests for evidence.

Eh, you're half way there.... good enough for me.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm ready to drop all of this when everyone else is.
Drop what? Your vendetta against humanity? That's something you'll have to solve yourself, dear. Again, we're not a captive audience for you. I personally don't give a rat's hind quarters as to whether you think we've succumbed to your inscrutable demands.

[SplashChick]

Drop what? Your vendetta against humanity? That's something you'll have to solve yourself, dear. Again, we're not a captive audience for you. I personally don't give a rat's hind quarters as to whether you think we've succumbed to your inscrutable demands.

Apparently you do care, because you refuse to let it go, even when I try to. You're the one fueling the drama.

[ScourDX]

Eco or not, I stumbled across a forum which talks about the cheapness of the case. Yes the Xbox360 DVD case is more likely to get damage.

Link (http://palgn.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=625836)

[SplashChick]

Eco or not, I stumbled across a forum which talks about the cheapness of the case. Yes the Xbox360 DVD case is more likely to get damage.

Link (http://palgn.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=625836)

It seems these cases aren't what they were cracked up to be.


















http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1213/emotawesomepm9xv4.gif

[Sniderman]

It doesn't work though, because ridiculous questions don't compare to legitimate requests for evidence.

Source?




















http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1213/emotawesomepm9xv4.gif

[Balloon Fight]

Instead of doing stupid crap that risks damage to the disc, why not just use cases that are only 4 7/8" tall? It was good enough for CD jewel cases... there's no reason DVD cases ever needed to be 7 1/2" tall.

--Zero

I've had the same thought process since the PS2 designs came out.

[Jimmy Yakapucci]

Well, the cases are manufactured to specifications by the companies that order them, so it is because of Microsoft/Nintendo/any other company that orders custom cases. These aren't generic cases, they're specifically made for these game companies.

The only resource that's being saved is plastic. They're still manufactured the same way, only with a different mold. As I already mentioned, very few of these cases are being thrown out. It's not like with bottled water with the bottles being redesigned, I support that as most of the bottles are being discarded. The cases are meant to be kept.



It is not about just about recycling the cases vs. throwing them in a landfill. It is about the amount of raw material used to make the product in the first place. If I had my scale handy, I would figure out the exact weight difference between the 2 styles. Even though it is not much, multiply that my the number of DVDs cases that were made just for the new movies that came out last week or this week. It adds up. Less raw materials used, less energy used, and less pollution are good things.

JY

[bunnybum]

Well, the cases are manufactured to specifications by the companies that order them, so it is because of Microsoft/Nintendo/any other company that orders custom cases. These aren't generic cases, they're specifically made for these game companies.

The only resource that's being saved is plastic. They're still manufactured the same way, only with a different mold. As I already mentioned, very few of these cases are being thrown out. It's not like with bottled water with the bottles being redesigned, I support that as most of the bottles are being discarded. The cases are meant to be kept.

I don't think the company behind the ECO-BOXes has been mentioned yet, so here we go: http://www.viva-eco-box.com/about.html. Really, they just came up with the idea to produce these boxes, and the game companies decided to go with it. The same thing happened with a bunch of film companies as well, so they're not really made specifically for the companies.

Whether they can damage the games or not, I won't comment on, but I can, however, comment on people's handling of cases. The main problem with these "new" cases are that people put too much pressure on the cases themselves, when they open them (maybe because they're used to the "old" full-back cases?) and this causes the fibers in the paper-insert to break and tear the insert itself BEHIND the outer plastic. Yes, I've seen it on a LOT of our display cases in the store lately.

Just wanted to chip in on the subject.


EDIT:
I just went back a couple of pages.. This topic is still about the cases, right? 8-)

[TonyTheTiger]

I finally got one of those eco-DVD cases and after some examination I've come to the conclusion that the main concern for damage (assuming the item is properly packed for shipping and arrives to you in mint condition) is the potential for the insert to eventually get an indentation pattern where the missing plastic is, much like the way a record jacket gets a record shaped bulge and wear area when stored horizontally.

That happens with the old cases anyway. Look at a used game shelf and a noticeable number of the inserts will mark out the spots where the clips holding the manual are.

Clearly these cases offer less protection but I don't really think they offer dangerously less protection to the disc itself, just the insert. The insert might see more of that kind of warping but any pressure sufficient enough to puncture the plastic film and the paper insert would probably just pop the disc off the spindle. Unless it's a scissor or knife or something doing the puncturing I don't think the disc is going to be harmed.

Is there less protection? Yes. Are some people overreacting? Yes.

[skaar]

I've been watching other people open DVDs/games lately... and a lot of people apply a ton of pressure right on the spot behind the disk/front... like the four fingers are pressed down on both sides and they almost shake the case prying it open with their thumbs. Watch people open them. They're not all as careful as collectors ;)

[kupomogli]

I like this picture.

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1213/emotawesomepm9xv4.gif

[Gameguy]

Less raw materials used, less energy used, and less pollution are good things.
I don't see how less energy is used, they're just using a different mold now so less plastic is injected into it. The machinery still uses the same amount of electricity.

The more fragile the cases, the more will break and be discarded, and the more will need to be produced as replacements. That will completely undo any energy savings made by using less plastic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhnFT_as1eU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaBKN4NuLug
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWVJSiaXwxo


I don't think the company behind the ECO-BOXes has been mentioned yet, so here we go: http://www.viva-eco-box.com/about.html. Really, they just came up with the idea to produce these boxes, and the game companies decided to go with it. The same thing happened with a bunch of film companies as well, so they're not really made specifically for the companies.
True, usually a manufacturing company will come up with a prototype and once the company interested in the product approves it, they begin production. If the cases weren't approved, they wouldn't be manufactured.

I said they were custom made for the company because they all stand out. I've only seen green cases used by Microsoft, and the cases for the PS3 aren't used anywhere else. I can't remember if any movies came in white cases though, maybe the white ones aren't just used for Wii games.



It makes sense for the companies to use them, it saves them money and they get better public relations for using that environmental angle as that's what's popular now. It's just not that beneficial to the environment, if at all. Plenty of other companies did the same thing, Coke stopped making bottles that held 600ML and started making them hold 591ML, yet increased the price at the same time as it apparently cost them a lot to redesign the bottles. I remember at the time that they claimed the redesign was to make them look more like the classic glass bottles. I now see the local ice cream containers in the grocery stores contain less ice cream than they used to(I can't remember what they are now, but they used to be 2 Litres), yet the price went from $2.99 to $5.99 within 10 years, etc.

I don't care if they're saving money, I just don't like them claiming it's for the environment when it's really not. They just want to save money any way they can while still charging the same amount to consumers.

[SplashChick]

Plastic doesn't come from thin air, it has to be produced from raw materials as well. Less of that means less materials used means less energy used on making plastic.

[Eternal Tune]

I blame Tune for this.

Quite the troublemaker, that one.

Ya I started this thread.....what was I thinking?

Also, I've had issues with two....count 'em TWO games with this style design. Note that I only own two games with this style case. One was Tekken 6. It even has a slip sleeve over it to protect the cheaper designed case. SCRATCHED. Replaced at Best Buy. Second disc was fine. Could have been a coincidence. We shall let that slide.

L4D 2 from amazon. SCRATCHED. 2nd game with that style case. Packaged perfectly.

Did I win this argument yet?

I don't care about hippy nonsense such as the environment. Bottom line, it saves them money. I like my shit in mint condition. OCD FTW.

[Flippy8490]

My copy of Dead Space has this type of case. I don't like that the disc is less protected, but the plastic they save from these cases could probably make an entire case out of five of the punches from them. So less plastic=less landfill. But, I wish they took it out of the areas around the disc instead of from under it. -_- Kinda lame, but good too.

[Daria]

So less plastic=less landfill.

I keep seeing people saying this. But these cases are meant to store your games in permanently. So who exactly is throwing them into landfills?

[scooterb23]

I keep seeing people saying this. But these cases are meant to store your games in permanently. So who exactly is throwing them into landfills?


Have you been to the Gamestop used bins? ;) They are getting better, but you still see lots of loose 360 games around

[ScourDX]

So less plastic=less landfill.

I don't think it helps the environment at all. It only encourage us to spend more on sturdier case and throw out the damage case or flimsy case. At the end we pollute more.

[Daria]

Have you been to the Gamestop used bins? ;) They are getting better, but you still see lots of loose 360 games around

Actually I was thinking I see a lot less than I use to. But I think the Gamestops in my area have stopped taking in disc only as trade in.

[stonecutter]

hmmm, I wonder if the company that makes these flimsy cases, also continues to make the sturdy ones. They put out all the flimsy ones now originally, but then supply the market demand for sturdier cases as well. If so guess they aren't the eco friendly company they lead us to think they are, and really how many companies are??? I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case lol. I don't know if this is the case but the thought crossed my mind so I thought I would throw it out for fun.

Anywho I dont like the cases, if you aren't careful with them, they get screwed up and don't close properly either.

[skaar]

I think there's deeper issues here. OCD... environmental impact... financial conspiracies. Really. I think you people need to step back and get some perspective here.

[Eternal Tune]

I think there's deeper issues here. OCD... environmental impact... financial conspiracies. Really. I think you people need to step back and get some perspective here.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4226990968_b0aef090a0_o.gif

[Carey85]

Plastic doesn't come from thin air, it has to be produced from raw materials as well. Less of that means less materials used means less energy used on making plastic.

Plastics are awesome!

http://apps.pathology.jhu.edu/blogs/pathology/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/garbadge.jpg

[calgon]

I know a lot of folk on DP are very passionate about their hobby/collection, which is cool, however let's also be open to the idea that the majority of gamers do not share this passion. Likewise, Gamestop cares mostly about money and space and probably wouldn't think twice about throwing out cases (I saw a lot of this in their dumpsters during their nes/snes/genesis purging years ago.) I just think a lot of plastic does get wasted, and not just with games either.