Why, WHY!? Saturn cases.. argh.

[Doom Gaze]

So, I just apparently sat down on my bed. And I just happened to clip the end of a Saturn case with my honestly non-fat ass.

And uh, it didn't work out well. Somehow the top of the case is somehow cracked to high heaven.

First off, Sega: Why the hell did you use these wierd cases of which there is but a small and ever-shrinking supply? It's one thing for them to be bulky and large, but what is the reasoning behind making them so theyshatter in the breeze?

Next off, me: You stupid mother effer.

Finally, DP: Anyone know where to find replacements for these? Is any third party making or releasing a supply of cases identical to the ones Sega made?

Thanks, guys.

(Anyone else ever have this mishappen to them?)

[scooterb23]

I can feel your pain. I keep my Saturn games in a binder, and all the cases in the basement...I started going through my Saturn games to try and thin the herd a bit...and literally, all but 3 of my (roughly 70) cases are broken / destroyed.

I've seen indie stores selling replacement cases, but honestly, at this point I don't have another good option.

[Steven]

First off, Sega: Why the hell did you use these wierd cases of which there is but a small and every shrinking supply?

Next off, me: You stupid mother effer.

Finally, DP: Anyone know where to find replacements for these? Is any third party making or releasing a supply of cases identical to the ones Sega made?

Happens all the time, one time I accidentally stepped on one and cracked the PoS in many pieces, it really hurt my foot too. Buy lots of sport games complete and use those cases as replacements thats what I was going to do before I sold off spare cases to a guy.

And the reason Sega used them was the overstock after the Sega CD failed, or so I'm told. Plus, they figured the cases being bigger would attract more buyer attention in shops. I used to actually like the bulky cases, but now I see their evil through and through.

Still, if you have like 50 immaculate cases stacked next to each other -- it looks pretty dope. And the size allows for a nice big manual and back insert for art and screen shots, but other than those reasons the cases do suck indeed.

[Trebuken]

It has been suggested that the best way to replace them is to buy some cheap Sega CD or Saturn sports titles with good cases.

I've been meaning to do so...

Later,
Trebuken

[Dangerboy]

There have been a few ebay sellers (classic game resource I think?) that have started selling lots of 4 for about $20 shipped. $5 a case is kind of steep, but they'r ebrand new cases.

One of these days when I have the funds I'm going to contact one of the sellers and see if they ofer massive volume discounts.

Jason

[cyberfluxor]

Yeah, can be a problem but since I make sure my cases are always put away when not in use I have yet to actually distroy one myself. I get quite a few broken ones through eBay but with the duplicate commons I get with the bulks generally I can switch out the fine cases with the broken and sell the broken with the duplicates. I have somewhere in the 70's of Saturn titles, 2 of which have broken henges and 1 with a big crack across the front of the case. But if you're not going with bulk purchases, there are a few on-line sellers of cases like Dangerboy said in brand new condition, just personally you can sometimes find games for $1 each with flawless cases making it more efficient than $5 plus shipping per case, just need to be patient in the finds. Also you could search around and may find a retailer that sells them, I just wouldn't know where they'd be but if you'd like to make some money then come out with a higher quality, same dimentions case for the Saturn. I'm sure over time the demand could be higher but for right now it's not.

[llabnip]

Agreed - those cases are not great. They spines look cool when lined up, however ;)

What I did was find a local store that still had some Saturn games. I bought 4 brand-new copies of VR Golf for $1.99 each. I threw out the VR Golf discs (well, kept 1) and use the cases as replacements. Unfortunately, I've used them all and need to find another source (though, admittedly, I obtain many US Saturn games these days - I prefer the Japanese smaller-case ones anyway). So my suggestion would be to find the crappiest game that came in the long case (some early Playstation games came the same way as did most US Sega CD games) and try and pick up a bunch cheaply and re-use the cases for your better games.

[allsport11]

Like mentioned before just keep an eye out for someone selling a case or two of crappy sports games and pick them up on the cheap and use the cases to replace the broken ones on your more cherished games. :) I was lucky to get someone from here selling a case of Bottom of the 9Th baseball games for the Saturn and just used those. ;)

[crazyjackcsa]

I must be the only person that doesn't have a problem with the cases. Sure they aren't as sturdy as DVD cases or my all time favorite, the Genesis cases, But I'd say I've only broken about 3 cases in my life and almost all of my games have original full cases.

[Push Upstairs]

I'd put all my Sega CD & Saturn games in jewel cases if i could.

I've made some game covers in the past that were meant for CD cases but i've since lost them and there is a lack of good high quality cover scans of alot of SCD/Sat games.

"Wonderdog" is a game i could never find a good quality cover for.

[Daria]

I can't honestly claim to have ever sat on and broken a saturn case before, but I was pissed off the night I accidently stepped on my NES and snaped off the cartidge flap. It's a nice looking NES otherwise, no yellowing and the broken door just bugs me everytime I look at it.

[Cryomancer]

I REALLY like the cases, they look so cool on the shelf, but yes, too brittle.

Someone should attempt making a mold from one maybe? And then make it out of some stronger plastic.

[Steven]

Shame US Saturn didn't get the sturdy PAL Saturn cases.

[Iron Draggon]

I solved this problem years ago by putting all my Sega CD and Saturn games into regular jewel cases. I wish that I hadn't thrown out all the original cases too, but at least I did keep all the manuals. I'd still like to find a better way to store the manuals than just in a big cardboard box, but my best guess for a better solution would be to try DVD cases for all the games and manuals, but I think they're shorter than Sega CD/Saturn cases, aren't they? Otherwise we'd all be using DVD cases to replace the crappy originals by now.

[j_factor]

I've never broken a Saturn case myself, but I'm really sick of buying a Saturn game online that says something like "complete! great condition!" and then when I get it the case is all fucked up.

Anyway, has anyone ever noticed how the Saturn cases and the Sega CD cases are actually slightly different?

[SuperPsycho]

I hate the cases. They break too damn easily in shipping. They are easy to break when opening.. and if you drop them from any kind of distance on just about any kind of surface they can break then too.

Most of my Saturn and Sega CD games are in their original cases. Most of those cases are all nicked, cracked or just plain screwed up.

http://www.usedgames.com/ sells them in 3packs "like new" $15 each... but I'm sure you could get complete Sports games cheaper if you look around enough.

Personally I just don't think it's worth it to really focus much time on trying to get replacements... they just break too easy.

[sega-trader]

Only difference I ever noticed was that some SegaCD cases have a smaller hole/post for the hinge. I think these must have been the early case design or something because my late generation SegaCD games have the larger hole like all my Saturn games.


I've never broken a Saturn case myself, but I'm really sick of buying a Saturn game online that says something like "complete! great condition!" and then when I get it the case is all fucked up.

Anyway, has anyone ever noticed how the Saturn cases and the Sega CD cases are actually slightly different?

[fishsandwich]

I frickin LOVE the oversized Saturn and Sega CD cases. Yeah, they do break easily. But they look just too cool when displayed properly... beats the shit out of the PSone cases (except for the plastic cases and cardboard longboxes.)

Huge manuals with double the artwork on front... huge rear inserts with more content... awesome.

I've bought numerous lots of Saturn games off Ebay through the years and resold them, usually for a profit. One good game hidden amoung the crap can pay for everything. I always examine the games I already own and compare them to the games in the Ebay lot, then pick the best parts of each to come up with the best game for myself... I've got complete games that might be made of up pieces from up to five games. I'll keep the good front from one game, the good back from another, the best instruction booklet from another, the best insert from another, and the best game CD from the next... I might find a foam insert or a registration card in there somewhere and BLAM... perfect game for me. Sell the others on Ebay either as a lot or a single game, depending on the value. I always disclose if a case is beat to shit and suggest the buyer replace it with another Saturn or Sega CD case.

You can always look for someone selling a big lot of cheap sports games and get them that way. Call some of the bigger places and see if you can work out a deal on their Old New Stock.

[Steven]

I've never broken a Saturn case myself, but I'm really sick of buying a Saturn game online that says something like "complete! great condition!" and then when I get it the case is all fucked up.

It's amazing the cases didn't crack when we dropped the bag of Saturn games, remember? lol I thought they'd be goners but somehow they survived.

My best memory of a "whew, glad that didn't crack!" was when this seller sent me Dragon Force, in a fucking bubble mailer but did NOT wrap additional bubble wrap over the case.

I opened it, and luckily it was untouched. I can't count the number of times I pulled out a bare case from a bubble mailer, and a hinge (or two) will be at the bottom of the mailer.... arrrrgh that shit used to annoy me like no other.

[Richter]

eh, i plan on scanning the cover art and inserting them into standard DVD cases; all of my hinges are cracked :(

manuals for some games just may be too large to be inserted into the slim dvd casses

[CYRiX]

theres a thread on cheap ass gamer about saturn dvd case covers.

[MarioMania]

Why did Sony use the Big Jewel Cases for..I thought it was only Sega from the Sega CD frisco

[smork]

I feel your pain -- i've cracked a few Neo CD cases. Sure, they are standard sized, but they have that Neo CD logo on the front case that isn't there if you buy a 3rd party case. If you're collecting and a bit anal (like myself) that's important...

I agree with the keeping your games in a binder suggestion. For jewel cases it works great. Standard DVD cases like a PS2/GC/XBOX cases are no issue at all, since those are so robust, but a jewel is sooo easy to break.

[Richter]

know what? the manuals are too tall for dvd cases

:(

[j_factor]

It's amazing the cases didn't crack when we dropped the bag of Saturn games, remember? lol I thought they'd be goners but somehow they survived.

lol, yeah, I remember that. Talk about a sigh of relief! Amazingly, it didn't even cause the slightest ding or crack in any of the cases.

For those of you who don't know what we're talking about, Steve and I met IRL one time because I bought a bunch of Saturn games from him. He handed them to me in a big paper bag. It was full; it was heavy from all the games. I dropped it, on the concrete sidewalk. They came out ok!


Why did Sony use the Big Jewel Cases for..I thought it was only Sega from the Sega CD frisco

That size of case comes from the old longbox cases for (audio) CDs. When CDs first came out, they came in cases that size so that music stores could carry them on racks designed for records (put two side-by-side, it's the same size as a vinyl LP sleeve except thicker). However, they were almost always cardboard (like the earliest Sega CD releases), and their use for audio CDs was long discontinued by the time even Sega CD was out.