New "Green" or "Eco-Friendly" Game Cases or a Conspiracy?

You do realize plastic is made using petroleum right? So using less in millions of game and movie cases does use less oil.

Every little bit we can do to conserve helps in the long run.
 
This has to be the silliest crap I've ever seen.

This rates below someone saying "I'm going to take a crap now" on the significance scale. Even if this somehow bothers you, anyone that gets all hot and bothered from this has really poor coping skills. Someone quitting gaming because of it is hilarious.
 
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Of course to them it's about saving money, and the "green" bit of it is just PR, but it does actually use less plastic, so it's good in that regard.
 
[quote name='eddie291']

Besides, if the structural rigidity is still there, then is there really a big problem? I understand its now more prone to having holes being poked on the front and back covers of the case, but has that ever really been a problem to anyone?

[/QUOTE]


That actually has happened to me before. When I went to buy a new Street Fighter IV, the first copy they tried to give me looked like someone had jabbed a pen through the back of the case, since there already is a soft spot underneath the spindle. it tore the plastic and the back insert and scratched the disc.

The new case doesn't bother me, just means you have to check the back of the box before you buy, and the disc itself if its a used game (which you should be doing anyway)
 
I can't imagine anyone quitting gaming because of it.. it just pisses me off for some unknowable reason. Every time I look in those cases to get the games they hold out I am reminded of some sort of core primal rage.
 
I hope someone does something artistic with the new space they've been given on the inside of the case. You know, how some games have those labels that you can flip, because they put art on the other side, well something like that, but no need to flip it, because the art is there to be seen through the plastic holes.
 
[quote name='joeboosauce']Of course, Americans typically say this utter and complete nonsense. Living in their ivory towers they have not seen nor experienced firsthand the impacts of climate change. Go to another country, a third world country, and see the conditions. There is no argument when you see REALITY.

And seriously OP, this is your big cause? There are PLENTY of other worthwhile issues going on in the world and right here in the US.[/QUOTE]
And yet whenever a third world country gets hit with big typhoon, hurricane, earthquake, or other national disaster guess which country comes and helps them out with food and water? Answer: America. Its time as Americans to stop caring about third world countries (and their climates)and to think about our country, and we should start first with these eco friendly game cases.
 
[quote name='joeboosauce']
And seriously OP, this is your big cause? There are PLENTY of other worthwhile issues going on in the world and right here in the US.[/QUOTE]

Let's be fair - he's mostly asking for thoughts on the subject. He's not taking up a personal banner on it - he's said as much to me.

[quote name='EarthBound Sucks']And yet whenever a third world country gets hit with big typhoon, hurricane, earthquake, or other national disaster guess which country comes and helps them out with food and water? Answer: America. Its time as Americans to stop caring about third world countries (and their climates)and to think about our country, and we should start first with these eco friendly game cases.[/QUOTE]

And our country exploits tons of other countries for cheap labor, or preemptively strikes them, keeps up embargoes long after their efficacy is worthwhile, etc. There's no purity or innocence on one side of this equation - it's a dirty bomb long ago set off.

But this is getting WAY off topic, venturing into the Vs. forum territory. Besides, it's a discussion that has no final point, and we'd definitely just go around in circles about the pros and cons and never reach a satisfying conclusion.
 
[quote name='Strell']Let's be fair - he's mostly asking for thoughts on the subject. He's not taking up a personal banner on it - he's said as much to me.



And our country exploits tons of other countries for cheap labor, or preemptively strikes them, keeps up embargoes long after their efficacy is worthwhile, etc. There's no purity or innocence on one side of this equation - it's a dirty bomb long ago set off.

But this is getting WAY off topic, venturing into the Vs. forum territory. Besides, it's a discussion that has no final point, and we'd definitely just go around in circles about the pros and cons and never reach a satisfying conclusion.[/QUOTE]
I just want to say, I LOVE your avatar.
 
This whole "eco-friendly" and "green" crap is just another way for companies to make money off of the hysteria of the american people.:drool: Step on the grass and shoot a deer folks.:twoguns: Don't forget to invest in styrofoam and skip recycle days!\\:D/
 
As someone who unloads trucks for a retailer I can't say I'm a big fan of this move. But thats more because I see how the trucks are packed and unloaded.
 
[quote name='Strell'] Besides, it's a discussion that has no final point, and we'd definitely just go around in circles about the pros and cons and never reach a satisfying conclusion.[/QUOTE]

Pro!...uh...uh...I love you?
 
[quote name='Chibi_Kaji']As someone who unloads trucks for a retailer I can't say I'm a big fan of this move. But thats more because I see how the trucks are packed and unloaded.[/QUOTE]


Do they come out of the boxes in an hourglass-type shape for you?

Whenever we get any games with cases like this they tend to be slightly bent or warped towards the middle after they come out of the box.
 
[quote name='CaptainJoel']Do they come out of the boxes in an hourglass-type shape for you?[/QUOTE]
I've seen a few like that. I've also seen games come in larger boxes where they have room to move around or even get buried under the heavier things). And then you have people sometimes throwing the boxes as well.
 
Box crushing shouldn't really be more risky on these eco-case.

The real added risk is something to stab through the wholes and scratch the discs--and there's shouldn't be anything in the boxes to do that. The cases rubbing together when the box is tossed around, smashed etc. shouldn't be any more risky as there shouldn't be anything in the boxes that was puncture the plastic and scratch the discs through the "eco gaps".
 
[quote name='Chibi_Kaji']I've seen a few like that. I've also seen games come in larger boxes where they have room to move around or even get buried under the heavier things). And then you have people sometimes throwing the boxes as well.[/QUOTE]
I've only seen a couple of them get crushed at work but the game's always fine.. I have noticed that these cases break more often than the old ones. We had 5 damaged copies of MW2 (over the span of three shipments) and 3 MUA2 damaged (in one shipment), as opposed to the usual none of any of the gaming shipments we usually get.
 
[quote name='Friend of Sonic']I do think there is one good point made earlier in the thread-- why the hell did the take more plastic underneath the disc instead of where the manual sits?[/QUOTE]

My only guess is that they worry that the front cover paper would get wrinkled up when the cases get compressed in the box during shipping. And that's what sits visible on store shelves.

Otherwise, yeah it makes much more sense to take it off the top of the case (or both sides).
 
I think we all know that the thinner these things get, the more prone to breaking they are. Given that most of us will happen to crack or break one of our game boxes at some point, most likely we will replace it. This means these "green" boxes, over the long run, will more than likely cause people to use more plastic to replace the broken ones. Annoying logic...

If they save 10% in plastic, what does it matter if it takes 90% more to replace a broken one?
 
I've never broken a game or DVD case. The plastic is pretty durable and flexible, so I'm not sure how people break them.


Only cases I've broken are CD jewel cases since they'll crack or shatter when being dropped etc.
 
[quote name='dmaul1114']I've never broken a game or DVD case. The plastic is pretty durable and flexible, so I'm not sure how people break them.


Only cases I've broken are CD jewel cases since they'll crack or shatter when being dropped etc.[/QUOTE]

I don't know if we're getting off topic, but I agree that those old jewel cases were a problem. They looked great but I always ended up with cracks and missing spindle teeth on my brand new game. I guess whoever invented them didn't consider temperature fluctuation and the mail system.
 
The most eco friendly case would be no case (or disc) and go 100% digital.

Since I'm still forced to deal with retail, until Microsoft and Sony sack up and just let me download all my games over their respective networks, I'd like to have a quality keep case.
 
Seeing how we are using these on all media soon. I am worried we will go to card board boxes for our physical media next. Then Digital.
 
[quote name='SNAKE EYES EX']The most eco friendly case would be no case (or disc) and go 100% digital.

Since I'm still forced to deal with retail, until Microsoft and Sony sack up and just let me download all my games over their respective networks, I'd like to have a quality keep case.[/QUOTE]

If they want to go "eco-friendly" on us, then they should put games in Jewel cases again (or in the size thereof). That way, it saves them money and us space.
 
[quote name='SNAKE EYES EX']The most eco friendly case would be no case (or disc) and go 100% digital.

Since I'm still forced to deal with retail, until Microsoft and Sony sack up and just let me download all my games over their respective networks, I'd like to have a quality keep case.[/QUOTE]

That's a horrible idea. If you think about it there's never going to be insane sales on videogame as you will find at amazon or brick and mortar stores from time to time like right now. I see no reason why They will ever drop the prices of these games if the only means of the getting them are through digital distribution through micro$oft or sony. Popular games like Call of duty Modern Warfare 2 will never drop below $60 for a long time as theirs no other competing store selling the same game.
 
There would still be price drops. Look at the Steam sale that's been going on for an example. Though I do agree the drops would take longer and sales before then would be less frequent.

But still, my main opposition to digital downloads of games is I get most of my games off of Goozex, and pretty much never keep a game after I beat it (or I'm tired of playing online for multi player games).

Losing that ability would even further cut back the number of games I pick up, which is already in the single digits per year.
 
[quote name='bringerofdeath']That's a horrible idea. If you think about it there's never going to be insane sales on videogame as you will find at amazon or brick and mortar stores from time to time like right now. I see no reason why They will ever drop the prices of these games if the only means of the getting them are through digital distribution through micro$oft or sony. Popular games like Call of duty Modern Warfare 2 will never drop below $60 for a long time as theirs no other competing store selling the same game.[/QUOTE]

Nice use of the cash symbol for Microsoft, but you forget that $ony only wants your money too.

As for these cases, I've run into them with copies of Fairytale Fights and I distinctly remember seeing holes in the front as well as the back.

As to the off-topic discussion of gaming going to all digital distribution, fuck that. If that's the route gaming takes, then my days as a gamer are OVER. No resell rights/physical media=no gaming for me. This topic is full of win btw. LOL
 
This is happening with Wii games too; my copy of Crystal Bearers arrived today from Amazon and the case has recycle-logo shaped holes in the front and back. And of course, the artwork was bent all to hell because of the flimsy case.
 
They're dumb. I can just see now the cover slip being pushed through the holes in the case and getting wrinkled. The plastic is there for a reason.
 
[quote name='bringerofdeath']That's a horrible idea. If you think about it there's never going to be insane sales on videogame as you will find at amazon or brick and mortar stores from time to time like right now. I see no reason why They will ever drop the prices of these games if the only means of the getting them are through digital distribution through micro$oft or sony. Popular games like Call of duty Modern Warfare 2 will never drop below $60 for a long time as theirs no other competing store selling the same game.[/QUOTE]

Steam, Direct2Drive, XBLA Deal of the Weak, PSN Sales, iPhone sales...these don't happen? Because I've gotten great deals lately by NOT leaving the house.

It costs a lot of money to merely ship games in the US, not to mention the $15-20 cut retailers receive on a $60 game. There are a lot of great game purchases lately because retailers are going insane with loss-leader pricing to get people in the door and move inventory because everyone is credit strapped in this economy.
 
[quote name='FroMann']Seeing how we are using these on all media soon. I am worried we will go to card board boxes for our physical media next. Then Digital.[/QUOTE]

Well Computer games have already when there... small cardboard box with a disc in a paper sleeve, but some still ship in DVD box.

Frankly I don't see why we don't go back to JC for things... or at least come up with a case that small, it'll save a ton in shipping.


I guess the only thing I'll note though, cutting that plastic should cut some cost down, shipping and materials, but I know we, the Customers, will NEVER see that.
 
I've been griping about this for a little while now. I don't think it's a "big deal", per say. The "going green" part of it is a good idea - but the execution stinks...

The thing that ticks me off about these cases is that they don't properly protect the disc - there are GIANT GAPING HOLES where the disc is.

Meanwhile, there's an obvious solution that would use less plastic, less paper, reduce the total shipping weight by a greater amount - and - reduce the total shipping VOLUME - which the current cases do not.

Smaller DVD cases that are the size of Jewel Cases or DS Game Cases, made out of this thinner plastic (or a corn-based plastic, if you like). Make 'em full size and you can stick a manual in them. Make them slim-line and clear, put some notes on the back side of the artwork (simple instructions and health/safety warnings) and put an electronic manual on the disc. If you use the slim-line cases, you could ship six copies of a game in about the same volume of two of the original or the new "eco" DVD cases. All of this without putting GIANT GAPING HOLES in spots that leave my discs unprotected.

It's greener and saves more money for the companies *and* is better for consumers.

But no, let's go with this stupid idea instead.
Click to expand...

I see some previous posters have mentioned the Jewel Case-sized cases... so I'm not alone in seeing this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320301912424

I don't mind making sacrifices to "go green" - but in this particular case, it just seems like someone went with a really stupid decision when a much better one was staring them right in the face.
 
The cases are dumb since the rest of the plastic is already very thin, thus needing more 'flex' to pop a disc out.

I bent a game disc way more than I should have to get a certain free game out. I just wanted to see how it felt since I was trading it in anyway and hadn't seen these new cases before. Didn't feel good at all.

Took it to Gamestop, and of course they do their own little checks, the clerk broke the disc in front of me, apologized, and gave me the credit. I didn't care, but something I now keep in mind. I've heard stories of people breaking discs when taking them out of cases, jewelbox, or otherwise, but this was the first time I had ever seen it. And I worked for a couple years at a big record store.

With PS3 cases being as thick as they are, I don't see future 'eco' cases being that big of a problem, though I'd prefer them left as is.

Actually, I wish all games came in black and white paper sleeves.
 
[quote name='Danil ACE']The case on my MW2 game was broken. I've never had that happen with the old case design.[/QUOTE]I got the MW2 Xbox 360 and the bottom of the game case was cracked.
 
[quote name='limelight022']Ps1 used regular jewel cases which have less plastic, i dont see why they cant just do that again.[/QUOTE]

Because then you'd have some of the same people who are currently bitching about these new cases causing them to damage discs(I took out a copy of Fairytale Fights from the newer 360 case it was in to double check it wasn't damaged and had NO problems getting it out and back in without a hassle)bitching about how the smaller jewel cases don't fit with their collection that they stare at collecting dust on their shelves.

There are people on here who have their collections alphabetized by system, with ZERO value edition versions(because they 'zomg detract from the collection')and the clear JC cases would throw off their feng shui mojo because you know game collections were made to stare at and obsess over. :razz:
 
I'm one of those people who like my "collection" to look pretty on the shelf. But I'd be willing to sacrifice "looks" if the sacrifice was being done for a good cause (in this case, using less plastic and less fuel).

I wouldn't want to go to jewel cases though - those things are super-fragile.

A Jewel-case sized case made from the thinner plastic used in these new "eco" cases would be perfect.
 
Why cant we use slim DVD cases? or design a slim Blu Ray disc case (little shorter than dvd cases). They work pretty well.
 
I despise these dippy new cases. They suck. I'm no tree-hugging hippie, give me something sturdy again! These things are flimsy, don't protect the disc well, and wrinkle the art sleeve most of the time. This move does NOTHING for me as a consumer. I get zero benefit from it therefore it should never have been done in the first place.
 
[quote name='FroMann']Seeing how we are using these on all media soon. I am worried we will go to card board boxes for our physical media next. Then Digital.[/QUOTE]

Damn, and I thought I was done seeing those WB snapper-style DVD cases.
 
[quote name='SNAKE EYES EX']The most eco friendly case would be no case (or disc) and go 100% digital.

Since I'm still forced to deal with retail, until Microsoft and Sony sack up and just let me download all my games over their respective networks, I'd like to have a quality keep case.[/QUOTE]

You really want Microsoft and Sony to have full control over how you can get your games? Yeah, no thanks. Say bye-bye to competition. Say bye-bye to clearance dale. I know I can't wait to pay $50 for a 5 year old game.
 
[quote name='UncleBob']I'm one of those people who like my "collection" to look pretty on the shelf. But I'd be willing to sacrifice "looks" if the sacrifice was being done for a good cause (in this case, using less plastic and less fuel).

I wouldn't want to go to jewel cases though - those things are super-fragile.

A Jewel-case sized case made from the thinner plastic used in these new "eco" cases would be perfect.[/QUOTE]

A jewel case is much stronger than a DVD case. Press a little too hard on a DVD case and you damage the artwork. If the jewel case broke they are pretty to replace as well.
 
[quote name='bigdaddybruce44']You really want Microsoft and Sony to have full control over how you can get your games? Yeah, no thanks. Say bye-bye to competition. Say bye-bye to clearance dale. I know I can't wait to pay $50 for a 5 year old game.[/QUOTE]

As I said earlier, it's not being able to trade and sell games when I beat them that kills digital download for me.

There would still be big sales--especially on older games. Just look at the Steam sales this past week for an example. Once sales slow down, prices have to drop to move more copies regardless of whether its a physical disc or a download.

What we would miss is sales on newer games as retailers try to clear out stock. So you would have to wait longer for deals in the form of price drops. But I could deal with that since I don't buy all that many games a year anyway (5-10 the past few years). But not being able to trade or sell a game after beating it is a deal breaker for me with most games.
 
[quote name='62t']A jewel case is much stronger than a DVD case. Press a little too hard on a DVD case and you damage the artwork. If the jewel case broke they are pretty to replace as well.[/QUOTE]

Then don't press hard on them!

I've not damaged any of my DVD cases--and I've been buying DVDs since 1998 and have moved probably around 10 times during that time frame. Only ones that show any wear are the ones in cardboard/paper cases or slip covers. And even those are minor with some wear on corners etc.

Jewel cases don't fare as well since they crack so easy when they get dropped on hardwood floor etc., while a DVD case is fine.
 
I come from the school of Gamecube game poppin' as far as these new cases go-- I press down on the center and disc pops up. Haven't noticed any broken cases yet, but who knows, maybe it's coming.
 
Problem with the jewel case idea is that you can't cram a useful manual into them. Don't even get me started on how much I've disliked EA's manuals the past few years. Two pieces of paper barely stapled together with everything in a 6-pt font is a travesty.
 
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