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

[Berserker]

words

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!

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...

[ScourDX]

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

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