Spine Cards -What are the good for?

[Rasmaus]

Hello there.

Im quite new to the Import world. And i just bought Top Hunter, and Metal Slug 1 for my Neo Geo CD console on eBay. They both came with a so called Spine Card. But what purpose does a Spine Card serve?

Im sitting here, with the games in my hands, and the Spine Cards. And i see no reason for them to come along.

Could anybody tell me what they are for?

Thanks. :villagepeople:

[Icarus Moonsight]

They are not used for anything on the user end. It's only something one can lose/toss to devalue their games in the eyes of some.

Life is like an Obi... Some people have one, while others don't. LOL

[Rasmaus]

Okay. Thanks for your reply. :)

[Eyedunno]

Yeah, the basic purpose of obi/spine cards is to sell the product. U.S.-sold products might have blurbs, product information, and marketing catchphrases right on the package or cover (this is especially true of books), whereas Japanese books, CDs, games, DVDs and so on print that on an extra piece of paper. That way, you can throw it away (or just put it somewhere else) if you wish, and just have the nice-looking cover art on the entire package/book cover.

[fahlim003]

Depending on the system, spine cards are used to house the UPC/bar-code. What the intent of this, I'm not really sure. I suppose I do agree to an extent about it housing more content/bs in general, but I do believe there is some method to this madness as it covers almost the entire scope of CDs in Japan.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Maybe it was like a tax stamp or something else regulatory? I'm only guessing because they are pretty much worthless... Other than the whole, "Oh, look! An Obi!" thing.

[Xian042]

I wave them in ay-yer like I just don't cay-yer

[Nico87]

SPINE CARDS ARE NOT USELESS.

Anyway, yeah, no spine = less value, it's just the way it is. People collecting CIB stuff buy copies with spine cards. No spine, no CIB.

I used to care alot about having the spine cards present when I bought alot of Saturn games, untill I bought a copy of Shinrei Jusatsushi Taromaru, which didn't come with a spine card. After that, and recieving a copy of Battle Garegga without a spine card (even though the eBay auction had pictures of the spine card, and it said in the description that it came with the spine card), I just thought "f*** it", and started buying games without spine cards aswell.

[Aussie2B]

Yeah, spine cards absolutely are not useless. Maybe after the product is already bought, just like other disposable packaging, but they're very useful to the consumer while shopping. Japanese games are often sold with only the spine visible on the shelves, so the obi makes the game's title easier to read and also provides other information that may be useful to the consumer. And on some products it provides a title period because the spine doesn't otherwise have one.

[PSony]

Found an interesting use of the spine card in Enemy Zero on Sega Saturn:

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2384/p1010141t.jpg

[mobiusclimber]

Spine card generally has the barcode on it, and the reason for this, I believe, is so it doesn't interfere w/ the artwork. Now Playstation games I don't understand b/c they print the barcode on the back insert as well as on the spine card...

[Eyedunno]

Yeah, looking at my CDs, it does seem the cards are mainly there for UPC, a bigger version of the title, and other supplementary information (one of my CDs that I have yet to open apparently comes with stickers and a coaster). For books, it's not for the UPC, which they print on the dust jacket (presumably in case the obi gets lost - books, unlike CDs and games, tend not to be sold sealed). Instead, books tend to have lots of large-print, eye-catching copy. I actually wish this would be done in the U.S. instead of printing that crap right on the book. Oh well.

[josekortez]

Just put the spine card inside the manual and fuggedaboutit.

[The 1 2 P]

Spine cards are basically worthless. I still have quite a collection of them but I'm going to sell it as soon as I get some interest in them.

[Mimi Nakamura]

Yeah, the basic purpose of obi/spine cards is to sell the product. U.S.-sold products might have blurbs, product information, and marketing catchphrases right on the package or cover (this is especially true of books), whereas Japanese books, CDs, games, DVDs and so on print that on an extra piece of paper. That way, you can throw it away (or just put it somewhere else) if you wish, and just have the nice-looking cover art on the entire package/book cover.

You're right.

It's part of our retail culture. Most people throw them away.

[Otoko no Zenyou]

I use to attempt to buy all my Sega Saturn imports with only spine cards with them, but it got to a point where I was missing out on good games and just generally driving myself crazy so I stopped worrying about it. Though, I'll still choose one with a spine over a game without one.

[Mikhal]

I use to attempt to buy all my Sega Saturn imports with only spine cards with them, but it got to a point where I was missing out on good games and just generally driving myself crazy so I stopped worrying about it. Though, I'll still choose one with a spine over a game without one.

Same here, spine cards don't mean anything to me but i know alot of collector's throw a hissy fit if they are not included, even if the deal you are offering is amazing.