Sega Genesis question...

[jdchess]

I've noticed that some Genesis games had releases in different packaging. Most are in hard plastic black cases, but I've noticed that some of the SAME games were also released with a cardboard box and cardboard insert for the cart? Does anyone know which came first for the Genesis packaging?

[Sailorneorune]

The hard cases came first. The cardboard cases are for rereleases and later releases (example: Shining Force comes in a hard case. Shining Force II comes in that weak cardboard box.)

[theshizzle3000]

Its all about whats cheap my friend and paper is always cheaper than plasitc.

[BocoDragon]

I've recently gotten back into Genesis collecting, and one of the most interesting things about it was that the branding and packaging changes so much. They started with plastic cases showing a white grid on a black background, then they switched to the red candy cane striped bars along the side of the front, and eventually they went with cardboard versions of those. EA games were also massive and came in larger cases, even though they were officially licensed.

The Genesis was probably the only Sega console to reach its potential, too. I'm having a lot of fun getting back into it.

[Xexyz]

^ There were more, subtile differences as well. It seems that with every year, Sega did something different with the boxes. 89 was the only year where the releases got the 16-bit cartridge phrase printed under the boxart. In 90, they got rid of that, and with many releases, the front side boxart was tapered off into a box shape. Also, look at the Genesis logo on the side. It's a different size and/or look almost every year in reguards to the 89-early 93 black box releases. The black box, white grid style became a black box, dark grey grid style at one point too, before Sega started allowing 3rd party publishers to make their boxes whatever color they deemed fit. Then, somewhere in 93, when Sega introduced the unifying red box style, the word Genesis on the side and front was printed in silver. I don't know how many releases were like this, but they soon changed silver lettering to white. And of course, the cardboard boxes that started appearing in late 94 was a cost cutting issue.

I wonder if all the subtle changes run as rampant with the PAL Mega Drive games as they do with the Genesis.

[DKTheArcadeRat]

^^Don't forget the Sega Club games, or the "kids" games. The blue striped part on the side...you know, like for Barney's Hide and Seek Game??

[Ed Oscuro]

Ahh, the blue cases. Similar to later European Mega Drive packaging. Those cases are cool.

Cardboard boxes are beloved of Majesco, I'm afraid. Castlevania got a release like that (and I think the big M are responsible).

[Iron Draggon]

ah, those tacky cardboard case re-releases... the Genesis version of PS1's Greatest Hits... but even more deceptive... how do you know if it's one of those tacky re-releases, or just one of those games that never came in a nice plastic case? well what do you know, you just have to be aware of it!

[Ed Oscuro]

Caveat emptor, indeed! No buying games you can't see unless the price is right for the worst condition copy of the game imaginable.

[Perkar]

is there a list somewhere detailing which games came in BOTH the plastic clamshell AND the crappy cardboard? that's something i would like to see

and also with the cardboard cases... let's not forget the "Mega-Hits" variants.

[crazyjackcsa]

Love the Genesis Boxes. Favorite cases of all time for me, and if you think about it, way ahead of their time. If you look at them just right, the DVD cases of today owe a lot to the Genesis cases.

[Xexyz]

^ Actually, I think we should be acknowledging Segas 8-bit Master System game boxes more so, since they too were black plastic clamshell boxes truly ahead of their time.

[Richter]

ah, those tacky cardboard case re-releases... the Genesis version of PS1's Greatest Hits... but even more deceptive... how do you know if it's one of those tacky re-releases, or just one of those games that never came in a nice plastic case? well what do you know, you just have to be aware of it!if you have the box, look at the fine print near the bottom on the back. Chances are "Majesco" is printed there. The Majesco re-releases that I've own all have a no-gloss cart label.

[Ed Oscuro]

^ Actually, I think we should be acknowledging Segas 8-bit Master System game boxes more so, since they too were black plastic clamshell boxes truly ahead of their time.
Perhaps we should thank Tonka for that one, since the Japanese releases came in cardboard.

[anagrama]

I wonder if all the subtle changes run as rampant with the PAL Mega Drive games as they do with the Genesis.

Oh yes. I recently had 4 copies of PAL Streets of Rage 2 side-by-side, and each had some very minor differences. Throw into the deal all the games that had localized English/French/German/Spanish and/or Italian covers, and it's a real nightmare trying to track them all - Guardiana (guardiana.net) are doing a good job of it, but there's still "new" ones coming to light all the time...

[mariaud]

here is an example : http://www.guardiana.net/database/?id=293 :)

[cyberfluxor]

I can't stand the cardboard boxes and I have 3 or 4 of them. They are however better than having a loose cartridge and for that reason I keep them. There are a few that I've sold because I found the plastic cases and sometimes I swap out the manuals and cartridges for the better :-P. But the best solution is to have your cardboard games at the top of your stacks (if you have your Genny games in piles) or to the middle of the shelves to keep them from getting crunched on the ends.

[Spartacus]

is there a list somewhere detailing which games came in BOTH the plastic clamshell AND the crappy cardboard? that's something i would like to see

and also with the cardboard cases... let's not forget the "Mega-Hits" variants.


I asked about the cardboard vs clam shell Genesis cases when I first started posting here. You might find that thread useful, I know I did!

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42906

[xtremegamer]

I remember in 93' when I bought my first Sega Genesis, one of the selling points for me over Snes, was the hard cases. Man I was pist when the started that cardboard B.S.

[digitalpress]

is there a list somewhere detailing which games came in BOTH the plastic clamshell AND the crappy cardboard? that's something i would like to see

and also with the cardboard cases... let's not forget the "Mega-Hits" variants.

No but now that you mention it, we seriously need to have this in our online guide. Who's up for getting a list started? I can help but even though I've got a complete Genesis collection I've never been a variant collector. If anyone is interested in heading this up please PM or email me!

[mariaud]

In fact it's trully hard to find some informations about which games came on a cardboard, a plastic clamshell or both.
If it could help, I've got a small Disney's games list.

[Poofta!]

yeah, i LOVE the clamshell genesis boxes, makes collecting for the genesis such a joy!!!

maybe im wrong, but i dont think there are that many noteworthy games that are worth owning that came in cartboard only. i know vectormans, those are great, but cheap as hell, even today as brand new. i think the best, most expensive and of course hardest to find in a mint complete cartboard box are Crusader of Centy, Phantasy Star IV and of course Shinging Force II. having pristine copies of those is truly something to be fond of =]

[FantasiaWHT]

The biggest travesty of all was paying $100 for Phantasy Star IV... and STILL getting a shitty cardboard piece of crappy crap crap.

On an extremely tangental note, I just started playing it again (On PS2 Sega Classics Collections) and damn, for a $100 game, the translation sure is garbage.

[77punk]

I hate the cardboard boxes, they dont last at all. I have lots of the 32x boxes and they used these on them. I love sega and i would rather have the cardboard boxes still than these stupid really cheap dvd cases.. so unoriginal!

[Damaramu]

I think someone was scanning their paper boxes, printing them out on nice paper, and sticking them in spare clamshells. Better than cutting up the original boxes and spare clamshells can be found easily. I need to do that with my copy of Shining Force II.

[CosmicMonkey]

The US versions of Contra: Hard Corps and Castlevania Bloodlines are available in both hard case and cardboard box.

Sonic & Knuckles only came in a cardbox worldwide.

[Richter]

was the cardboard CV: Bloodlines a Sega printed release? I do that know that Majesco cardboarded it.

[Cryomancer]

I really hate the cardboard. Chaotix gets cardboard, football gets plastic? EAT ME. I pritned out a S&K insert someone here made and modified an EA plastic case for my copy of S&K. Works nicely. I'd do chaotix if I could make a decent insert for it.

And those black and white manuals...it's like they just photocopied the things. SONIC 3 WON'T SELL ENOUGH COPIES TO WARRANT COLOR, JEEZ.

/rant

[Push Upstairs]

At least the cover was in color.