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

[Eternal Tune]

Short story long...

I purchased Tekken 6 with arcade stick. Opened box. Noticed both this version and the regular retail version have the nice shiny slipsleeve. I was a little worried about that. Similar to the Bioshock LEs not having a cardboard slipsleeve and the regulars having one. Anyways, I open my copy and what do I see?

http://programmingace.com/Tune/DSC03025.JPG

WTF? This is a HORRIBLE case design. Is it really cheaper to produce these cases with holes? Am I the only one to notice this? Please tell me it's just my copy and everything will be fine. *weeps*

[TonyTheTiger]

It might not be significantly cheaper. I'd venture a guess it's in response to the whole "game publishers use too much plastic" thing.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I had heard about this new case design.

It may be (slightly more) eco friendly, but I can only imagine how many case inserts will have holes poked in them thanks to this design.

Another thing for collectors to niggle over.

[slip81]

When you consider the amount of games produced, it's actually probably quite a significant ammount of plastic saved.

I mean if we guestimate that that's what, maybe 4oz or so less of plastic per case, and a popular game will sell about 3 million or so copies, that's about 375 tons of plastic saved on one popular game. I'd say that's a pretty big amount.

[exit]

It could be worse, they could make their cases like the ones for those $1 movies at the Dollar Store.

[kaedesdisciple]

I just got mine and noticed the same thing. Doesn't affect my life all that much. Good on them for using less plastic. I'm just looking forward to putting the disc in my 360 and hitting "Play Game"

[Dangerboy]

It's not Microsoft per se...

All new cases will be eventually like that. PC games started first, and that's the 5th or 6th 360 game I've seen to have it.

Also of notice - the Water Sports Wii game's case has a much deeper tray - as if Nintendo is on the verge of making multiple disc games.

No word on when / if Wii / PS3 regular cases will get the holey treatment.

[Half Japanese]

I'm guessing that anyone surprised by this design hasn't purchased a DVD in a long time, since DVD cases have been going this route for a while now.

Also, as a nitpick, there's no way it's 4 ounces of plastic saved per case. A regular, complete game packaged in a bubble envelope for shipping is generally 6-8 ounces total.

[T2KFreeker]

I'm guessing that anyone surprised by this design hasn't purchased a DVD in a long time, since DVD cases have been going this route for a while now.



I was gonna say that DVD cases have been this way for some time which is why I hate them more than ever these days!

[Leo_A]

None of my DVD's have ever had a case like that, and I'm regularly buying DVD's including several new releases this year.

Maybe some companies are, but several major companies like Warner aren't transitioning to those cases.

[emceelokey]

Hey, how good does your controller work? I got it for the PS3 and the connection never stays with the little usb receiver. It's horrible. I'm honestly pissed about how crappy this thing is.

[TheDomesticInstitution]

I bought a Midnite Movies Double Feature (released by MGM/Sony) a few months ago, and it was the first time I noticed it. Except the shape of the holes are in the form of the recycling symbol. Also, I believe the plastic is significantly thinner than it used to be. It doesn't bother me much, as long as its saving plastic. And it really doesn't change the way it looks on the shelf either.

[Robocop2]

My copy of Brutal Legend is the same way

[Red Warrior]

I first noticed this just a few days ago when I purchased the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie on DVD (first DVD I've purchased in awhile), and I was none too pleased about it. It's not the end of the world by any means, but these new flimsier cases irk me nonetheless. The product keeps getting cheaper, but we're still paying the same prices.

[ScourDX]

Yup. I start noticing when Xbox360 game came out with their transparent neon green. Make you wish they could've use the original Xbox DVD case.

[Eternal Tune]

Hey, how good does your controller work? I got it for the PS3 and the connection never stays with the little usb receiver. It's horrible. I'm honestly pissed about how crappy this thing is.

The 360 controller works great. I haven't had an issue with it yet. Used it for a few hours last night. I was thinking about getting the PS3 version, but there will be more people to play with on the 360.

[Zthun]

I would say if this was really a problem to someone, they could always replace the case with another one. Once you get a big pile of cases you don't want, you could always sell them on ebay.

[s1lence]

Thats the first 360 game I've seen with that style case and I have a lot of 360 games, they must of just switched to that type.

[diskoboy]

Looks like the eco-fascists have struck again. What those morons can't seem to get through their thick skulls is plastic can be recycled.

[Ed Oscuro]

Looks like the eco-fascists have struck again. What those morons can't seem to get through their thick skulls is plastic can be recycled.
What these "morons" seem to have taken into account is that plastic is expensive, recycled or not. Furthermore, most of these will end up in a landfill - unless you'd like to get a deposit scheme going (which just exports the problem overseas (http://www.ratical.org/corporations/mm10worst94.html), but that's another story entirely). And there's other things to take into account, like the mostly invisible but real fuel cost of shlepping extra stuff a distance. Even if that savings isn't passed on down the food chain, it's still less gas being burned.

Give 'em some credit, even though I agree this will be a pain for collecting. It's starting to become a hard sell to do anything at retail with the download channel being open, though, so expect to see more cost-cutting in the future.

[Berserker]

words

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v348/natev/kermitsmall.jpg


As you said, the plastic was and is recyclable. It already conformed to environmental standards. So this is a cost-cutting measure, and nothing more. It's pretty silly, and it kinda sucks for us, but ultimately it's their stuff, and as long as it complies with standards they can do whatever they want to with it.

[scooterb23]

Eco-fascism, in a thread about redesigned XBox 360 cases? Hyperbole can strike where you least expect it.

I'll go for "It looks kind of goofy, but has no real impact on my life."

[kedawa]

They took the plastic out of the wrong part of the case.
This just offers less protection to the disc.

[TonyTheTiger]

I find some of the reactions here a little disheartening. Using less plastic, saving some money, and yet apparently that's a bad thing because of some fear that a few inserts will have a hole or two popped in them? The horror! :sob:

Sorry, but it sounds ludicrously petty.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Makes sense to me. As long as it's designed well and isn't hugely more prone to breakage. I'm sure that it is, at least a little more prone, since it's no longer a solid case. But, the plastic that remains can be optimally placed and designed for sturdiness. If it is easier to break, they can make some happy at lest. Making CIB games with original packaging more scarce. YAY! (sarcasm)

[Half Japanese]

They took the plastic out of the wrong part of the case.
This just offers less protection to the disc.

Yeah, those discs can really take a beating from within a plastic case as they're transported from a box to a shelf to a bag and back to another shelf.

[Porksta]

Of course, now it is easier to puncture through the insert into the manual or disc.

[SkiDragon]

It seems like the disc could get scratched by the "ribs" underneath the disc.

I have never seen this before. Since I am very discriminative with my purchases, I will have no problem just skipping over games that come packaged like this.

[Ze_ro]

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

[Sonicwolf]

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

Thats what I was thinking. Kind of DS styled cases for discs. Not CD jewel cases because those things suck hard.

[TonyTheTiger]

Well, since both HD-DVD and Blu-ray did just that I guess this is sort of a stop gap. They don't want to completely redo what everybody is already used to. Lord knows if 360 games started coming in Blu-ray style cases some consumers will be confused. And I'd bet money that some of the more anal collectors will not appreciate the lack of uniformity. So instead they're cutting down on materials as much as they can until the next time around when they can start fresh.

[RPG_Fanatic]

I bought Fairytale Fights and it's the same.

[Icarus Moonsight]

I would think that keeping the standard DVD case form factor is a market/production push, to keep it all standard. There are people that already complain about label color changes... Just think about a physical difference and how much ire that would raise. Maybe they'll shrink it, slim it and use the cuts for the next gen soft libraries? Who knows...

[phreakindee]

I noticed this stupid case design with Bethesda's "Wet" recently. First I had seen of the design and I really do not like it. Newer games like Forza 3 don't have it though.

[Zthun]

I would think that keeping the standard DVD case form factor is a market/production push, to keep it all standard. There are people that already complain about label color changes... Just think about a physical difference and how much ire that would raise. Maybe they'll shrink it, slim it and use the cuts for the next gen soft libraries? Who knows...

Do you remember when the ps1 made the jump from the large cases to the jewel cases. That sucked because half of your collection was large and the other half was in jewel cases. Annoying if you ask me...

[Sonicwolf]

If they shrunk down the packaging, people would bitch, of course, but it would all pass in time.

[DonMarco]

First 360 game I saw like this was Ultimate Alliance 2. The gaps wouldn't scratch the bottom of the disc because there are these tiny nubs that the edge of the disc rests on.Just like the old cases.

On one hand, it saves resources, costs less to manufacture, and makes games lighter/cheaper to ship.

On the other hand, my games are still $59.99.

It's a win-win for the publishers, and in these dark days of digital distribution... They're gonna need every penny.

[TonyTheTiger]

I would think that keeping the standard DVD case form factor is a market/production push, to keep it all standard. There are people that already complain about label color changes... Just think about a physical difference and how much ire that would raise. Maybe they'll shrink it, slim it and use the cuts for the next gen soft libraries? Who knows...

Agreed. With the Blu-ray cases being perfectly effective it would be foolish to continue using DVD cases later on. But right now it's probably in Microsoft's best interest to not rock the boat too much and just use this quick fix for the remainder of 360's life until a more permanent solution can be easily implemented.


Do you remember when the ps1 made the jump from the large cases to the jewel cases. That sucked because half of your collection was large and the other half was in jewel cases. Annoying if you ask me...

I personally found the long box style of various systems of that era to be unnecessary and difficult to store so I appreciated the change. Though I can see why people might like the extra "personality" the long boxes had. But I suppose it was easier for Sony to make the switch since when they did it the Playstation was still in its infancy. There aren't all that many long box games. Most consumers didn't jump on board until after the smaller jewel case was standard thus avoiding the kind of brand confusion Microsoft would face if they just now started using Blu-ray style cases.

[Ed Oscuro]

Of course, now it is easier to puncture through the insert into the manual or disc.
Bingo, that's the actual problem. You bet it'll happen, but then again the force required will probably still have been enough to ruin an old-style case. I'm sure we'll find out after somebody takes it upon themselves to do qualitative testing, though...:frustrated:

[ScourDX]

The article just posted today. I can see 3rd party company coming out with special peripheral to protect the game disc.

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

[SkiDragon]

I hope those holes are the perfect size for cute little baby birds to suffocate in.

[BHvrd]

I hope those holes are the perfect size for cute little baby birds to suffocate in.

You could always go choke some inside of some cases yourself in a landfill and then report it or find some PETA member/building to throw it at. Take some initiative man!

[MarioMania]

So the cases are thinner??

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, those discs can really take a beating from within a plastic case as they're transported from a box to a shelf to a bag and back to another shelf.
If these were the original shatter-prone clear jewel cases for music CDs (and most PC games of old), I'd be saying something here.

But the plastic they use for Xbox games (and new PC titles, and, well, pretty much everything) is pretty good, so yep - not an issue for the most part, unless somehow the disc gets rattled out of its hole (eh).

I think inserts will be getting nastier, but people who care about quality of games usually insist on the outer box being in good shape. I'm sure some inserts will have strange mark patterns on them even before they see street wear, but it shouldn't be that big a deal. In the meantime it's saving plastic and a bit of gas somewhere.


I hope those holes are the perfect size for cute little baby birds to suffocate in.
That's actually a great point. I don't know anybody who actually throws out game boxes, though. Maybe crappy movies. I already pull the handles of plastic bags so they don't get tied up around some marine critter, I can just imagine people trying to tear apart game boxes now. Sheesh.

[Oobgarm]

This makes me happy I have a huge stash of 360 and Wii cases without that stupid cutout.

Honestly. I'm surprised they've not gone to cardboard sleeves. Generally speaking, the manuals are pretty much non-existent now (5-6 pages on the big titles since everything you need to know is explained in-game), so I don't see what's stopping them. The freebie version of Guitar Hero Van Halen came in a sleeve...

[s1lence]

I guess it really doesn't bother me. I care for my games and cases so what do I care if they change the case design. Its not like I'm running around my house with a punch tool or scissors hoping I fall into my videogame shelves.

[carlcarlson]

I'll just be switching out these cases for originals as I get them in. Having the holes in both sides make the cases feel extremely cheap.

I'm pretty sure the inserts are being printed on a lighter stock paper too. My Modern Warfare 2 insert was much lighter and flimsier than my older games'.

[joshnickerson]

It'd actually be pretty hilarious if the industry went back to using flimsy cardboard boxes.

[Leo_A]

We'll never return to cardboard boxes. Cardboard sleeves like Link's Crossbow Training and Wii Sports, maybe.

Cardboard boxes were never meant to be reuseable game cases, which always makes me puzzled why some people keep their games in them.

[diskoboy]

Back to my eco-fascism statement...

Form Joystiq:
"According to the Viva Group, the company that designed the packaging, the new "Eco-Box" is not only better for the environment (using 20 percent less plastic and creating 31 percent less CO2 emissions) "

Considering manmade global warming has now been debunked - I stick by my ECO-fascism statement. It has little to do with being cheaper. If it was, they'd pass the 'savings' on to the consumer. When new games go back to $50, then I'd take their claim a bit more seriously.

It's all about the "I'd rather live with sub-par products" envirofascist movement. And they could care less about saving the enviornment - to these morons, green means GREEN ($$$$) - nothing more. Nothing less.

[dodgeme]

This just gives me an excuse to buy empty 360 cases on ebay and the proceed to sell off my crappy 360 cases. The funny thing is, is my Assassins Creed 2 was in a regular case. Although I suppose that may be a benefit of buying the Master Assassins Edition lol.

[ScourDX]

It'd actually be pretty hilarious if the industry went back to using flimsy cardboard boxes.

Going back to cardboard box don't work. GBA was the last gen that uses cardboard box and look at how many seller selling them without them. Fortunately GBA was durable. If all disc uses cardboard box, I guarantee there will be scratches like hell.

[The 1 2 P]

I just noticed this abomination with my Modern Warfare 2 case. It's a $60 game with $200 million in marketing and advertising and yet we get a case taken straight from a third grade art project. I'll agree that it's not the end of the world and won't make me enjoy my game any less but will unfortunately mean I have to start buying really cheap 360 games($3 or less) just to swap out cases. Unless of course I find a good deal on ebay or amazon.

[Lerxstnj]

Going back to cardboard box don't work. GBA was the last gen that uses cardboard box and look at how many seller selling them without them. Fortunately GBA was durable. If all disc uses cardboard box, I guarantee there will be scratches like hell.

Strange though that the music CD cases are going the opposite route, switching from plastic to cardboard.

[ianoid]

Yeah I got my first game in these crap cases a few weeks back, DJ Hero, and I immediately thought that it was just Activision being cheap, trying to earn 1 cent more per share this quarter.

These cases suck. I think they should move to paper sleeves that have an album like slightly thicker edge that has the title on it so that you can see what is what when the discs are on their sides, if you can read microscopic writing. We don't need these phat plastic cases for Best Buy or anyone else.

Plus if they just used little sleeves, my collection would take up much less space. Boxes larger than the product are so 1980s.

[GarrettCRW]

The intelligent solution would be to move to CD-sized cases, and use mostly cardboard packaging material (as trees are still cheaper and better for the environment than dino juice).

[GarrettCRW]

I just noticed this abomination with my Modern Warfare 2 case. It's a $60 game with $200 million in marketing and advertising and yet we get a case taken straight from a third grade art project.

Well, aren't we just so clever?

[The Shawn]

What really sucks is Most on-line retailers (Amazon ect.) still ship Games in a bubble envelope. Now, what is curious to me is it's not unheard of to get a DVD/Game with a hole smashed through the middle like someone sat a table on it or something during shipping it's happened to me three times.

By taking the back of where the game actually is out minus the 'rings' the only thing protecting it is the artwork and outside plastic, Hello scratched to shit games... I noticed this with my Preorder of L4D2.

:-/

[stonecutter]

Of course they are cheap, they are sending as many jobs as they can out of North America, Argentina being the latest. Anyone see the survey card that comes with your replacement 360 after a RROD, it has a bad spelling mistake. They must have sent that elsewhere too.

I am sure many can find errors in my spelling or grammer, but if I were Microsoft I would find that unacceptable.

[kingpong]

What really sucks is Most on-line retailers (Amazon ect.) still ship Games in a bubble envelope.

When was the last time you got a game from Amazon that came in a bubble envelope? For single games they use a cardboard mailer that fits a single game or DVD case. For multiple games they stack them on a cardboard backer board, partially shrinkwrap it together, and put that in a small box.

Honestly, the fuss that people in this thread are making about the change in the cases is just absurd. Seriously, how can this possibly be a problem? If you're so concerned about damage to the contents of the case, just make sure you buy one that isn't damaged. If you buy something online and it is damaged, send it back. If you're worried about damaging it once you have it then you've got bigger problems - it isn't going to be damaged unless you do something stupid.

To anyone who feels they need to swap cases due to the fear of damage - please post the story of how you did something so careless that there would have been damage if the game was in the new style of case.

[Darren870]

When was the last time you got a game from Amazon that came in a bubble envelope? For single games they use a cardboard mailer that fits a single game or DVD case. For multiple games they stack them on a cardboard backer board, partially shrinkwrap it together, and put that in a small box.

Honestly, the fuss that people in this thread are making about the change in the cases is just absurd. Seriously, how can this possibly be a problem? If you're so concerned about damage to the contents of the case, just make sure you buy one that isn't damaged. If you buy something online and it is damaged, send it back. If you're worried about damaging it once you have it then you've got bigger problems - it isn't going to be damaged unless you do something stupid.

To anyone who feels they need to swap cases due to the fear of damage - please post the story of how you did something so careless that there would have been damage if the game was in the new style of case.

Well said!

Corporations are trying to do something to save the environment and all you hear is bitching. Grow up people.

[PapaStu]

When was the last time you got a game from Amazon that came in a bubble envelope? For single games they use a cardboard mailer that fits a single game or DVD case. For multiple games they stack them on a cardboard backer board, partially shrinkwrap it together, and put that in a small box.


To get slightly OT, I still am regularly getting things from Amazon and GameStop in bubble mailers. I think in Amazon's case it depends on what warehouse it comes out from. GameStop, it all depends on how it was ordered and how much. Is it really a huge issue to me? Not at all. Have I gotten broken cases in the mail? Yep. My Raiden IV case had a shattered corner and it was shipped in a bubble mailer (I had ordered 2 copies of the game, they both came in that oversized mailer).

Am I worried about these 'cheaper' cases? Nope. If one does get to me in a damaged state, i'll send it right back and demand another one. I know that I don't damage my games that way, so to me its pretty much a moot issue.

[joshnickerson]

Going back to cardboard box don't work. GBA was the last gen that uses cardboard box and look at how many seller selling them without them. Fortunately GBA was durable. If all disc uses cardboard box, I guarantee there will be scratches like hell.

I've got some recently released DVDs (Futurama, Wall-E) and CD albums (Bon Jovi The Circle) that use completely cardboard packaging, so it is plausable that one day we could see the same with video games... of course, we'll probably see 100% digital distribution first, so packaging would become a moo point (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkJ4BUChxI) anyway.

I haven't gotten any major scratches from the cardboard DVD cases, my only gripe is that I haven't seen one that hasn't had a corner crushed or bent by a careless stocker. If they do continue in this direction, I hope they go with sturdier cardboard.

[thetoxicone]

When I first bought a dvd with a case like this I was tempted to take it back to the store to complain that I was misled since when I buy dvds I assume I'm getting a full plastic case with it and that factors into my purchasing decision since nowhere on the case does it say the case is like that(at least looking at a cd case you can tell what the packaging is but not on the dvd cases). Does it really bother me that much...no but I do like complaining to the people at wal-mart so I really should do this with the next dvd I buy like that..

[The Shawn]

When was the last time you got a game from Amazon that came in a bubble envelope? For single games they use a cardboard mailer that fits a single game or DVD case. For multiple games they stack them on a cardboard backer board, partially shrinkwrap it together, and put that in a small box.

Honestly, the fuss that people in this thread are making about the change in the cases is just absurd. Seriously, how can this possibly be a problem? If you're so concerned about damage to the contents of the case, just make sure you buy one that isn't damaged. If you buy something online and it is damaged, send it back. If you're worried about damaging it once you have it then you've got bigger problems - it isn't going to be damaged unless you do something stupid.

To anyone who feels they need to swap cases due to the fear of damage - please post the story of how you did something so careless that there would have been damage if the game was in the new style of case.


Um yeah, like a week ago I got a brand new 360 game from Amazon direct in a bubble mailer. No, it wasn't damaged. I just said that taking the back out of the actual plastic of the readable side of the disk wasn't the best idea to save plastic. Also if their trying to cut cost why not just perforate the whole front?


kthx.

I love fanatics.

[ScourDX]

Looks like they are doing the same to Wii & PS3 case

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2606/500xcustom1261692589373.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/i/500xcustom1261692589373.jpg/)

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8929/500xcustom1261703017425.jpg (http://img44.imageshack.us/i/500xcustom1261703017425.jpg/)

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

I don't see how reducing plastic at the disc area will help protect any disc.

[The 1 2 P]

Somebody could potentially make alot of money selling the old style 360, PS3 and Wii cases. I have a feeling that there will be quite a sizable market for them.

[CDiablo]

Havent bought a new PS360 game in ages but my recent PC and DVD purchases have these shitty cases. My big gripe with them is they are very weak near the seams of the spine.

[CYRiX]

Bought a movie with a case like this earlier in the summer. I don't see why everyone freaks out about it. It's not going to ruin your game, unless you handle yours games rough, and in that case they'd get roughed up anyways. Saves them money, saves plastic, win-win.

[SplashChick]

When was the last time you got a game from Amazon that came in a bubble envelope? For single games they use a cardboard mailer that fits a single game or DVD case. For multiple games they stack them on a cardboard backer board, partially shrinkwrap it together, and put that in a small box.

Honestly, the fuss that people in this thread are making about the change in the cases is just absurd. Seriously, how can this possibly be a problem? If you're so concerned about damage to the contents of the case, just make sure you buy one that isn't damaged. If you buy something online and it is damaged, send it back. If you're worried about damaging it once you have it then you've got bigger problems - it isn't going to be damaged unless you do something stupid.

To anyone who feels they need to swap cases due to the fear of damage - please post the story of how you did something so careless that there would have been damage if the game was in the new style of case.

This. You guys will bitch about anything. Show me how your discs are being damaged by this new case or shut the fuck up.

PRIORITIES, people.

[jdc]

The only "problem" that I can see is that some of the used game cases and especially the paper inserts will be in pretty shitty condition later on down the road. As for the new case in a new purchase? I don't care, since once my discs are taken out of the current dvd cases, they are kept in a slim cd jewel case. The original case is just for show. Face it....if you buy used, your collection is going to look ghetto. Most of the public could care less.

[s1lence]

Looks like they are doing the same to Wii & PS3 case



I don't see how reducing plastic at the disc area will help protect any disc.

Do you think they are doing it to "protect" the disc.

The big logo on the left is the reason why they are doing it.

[Gameguy]

Do you think they are doing it to "protect" the disc.

The big logo on the left is the reason why they are doing it.
I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the environment, it's to save money on buying plastic to make cases. How would it hurt the environment? Do you throw the cases out in the trash? I don't think so, even if you didn't want to keep them they could be recycled so that extra plastic wouldn't make any difference. It's just cheaper to do.

[heybtbm]

I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the environment, it's to save money on buying plastic to make cases. How would it hurt the environment? Do you throw the cases out in the trash? I don't think so, even if you didn't want to keep them they could be recycled so that extra plastic wouldn't make any difference. It's just cheaper to do.

Exactly. It's all about the $$$, and absolutely nothing to do with the environment (except a little positive "green PR").

I don't mind the new cases. My games sit on a shelf and are never really touched except to remove the disc on occasion. Cases could be made out of paper for all I care...mine would still look pristine 20 years later.

[SplashChick]

I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with the environment, it's to save money on buying plastic to make cases. How would it hurt the environment? Do you throw the cases out in the trash? I don't think so, even if you didn't want to keep them they could be recycled so that extra plastic wouldn't make any difference. It's just cheaper to do.

It's still better for the environment, you know. Recycling has a bigger negative impact on the environment than you'd think. Less plastic means both more cases per load and less plastic used to manufacture new ones.

For the last time, someone show HOW these new cases will damage your discs, or QUIT BITCHING.