MOST game cases are too large...

Lately, I have noticed something that I'll bet most gamers didn't. I've noticed that most plastic cases for video games are actually too large for their intended purpose. These cases, at least when first used, probably cost more than standard jewel cases and also create a lot of wasted shelf space. I have pictures to demonstrate what I mean...

First, we have the plastic case that SEGA made for cartridges on their legendary Genesis console. This is where the idea of using plastic cases really took off. They used similar clamshell cases for the previous console, the Master System. There were also plenty of 3rd party companies making cases for other popular systems of yesteryear like the NES. However, no 1st party companies did this before the Genesis became a hit. Atari, Coleco, Mattel, Nintendo and anyone else that made a system in those days used cardboard boxes instead. That's why it's hard for collectors to find boxed games for a lot of these older systems. Cardboard doesn't hold up as well as plastic.

Here's a picture of a standard case for a standard Genesis game cartridge...

EA also made their own versions for their slightly larger Genesis cartridges...

So, why is this important? Because it started a trend of making cases that were too large. These cases could have actually fit at least 2 Genesis cartridges if you removed the brackets that held the cartridge in place. The cases for old cartridge-based games on SEGA consoles has actually been a blessing for owners and collectors. They have done a great job of protecting the games. So many well-preserved copies means that (so far) collecting the games for these systems is still relatively cheap. That amazes me considering how popular the Genesis was (and still is) but, I'm also not complaining either. My only issue is just how much shelf space is being taken up by these cases.

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Of course, it gets worse with Sony systems. Most games for PS1 came in jewel cases like regular audio CD's. For example...

However, there are the 'long box' games that were put out within the first year of the system's release, like this copy of Ridge Racer...

Now, tell me one thing: Why is it necessary for a game disc that is the EXACT SAME SIZE AS A REGULAR AUDIO CD to be in such a large box? It can't be simply for the manual. That could have been (and usually was) printed at the same size as the booklet that accompanied regular audio CD's. I suspect this was a case of 'monkey see, monkey do' on Sony's part. SEGA used these exact same kind of cases for the games on the CD add-on for their Genesis console and the Saturn console. This was when they first entered the console market and there was no guarantee that they would succeed. They were borrowing ideas from established players in the market who were successful.

So, why did SEGA use these unnecessarily large cases? I have no idea. My best guess is because they wanted the games to be seen and large-sized objects usually leave quite an impression on a person's psyche. After all, most of us do prefer to have a large house, large car and large TV set. Of course, the logic of using such a ridiculously large case didn't stand up to scrutiny and Sony quickly dropped the idea. I'm guessing SEGA quickly followed suit but, I can't say for sure. I haven't seen many Saturn games but, the ones I have seen (and own) are always in those large plastic cases.

And if you think those large plastic cases were ridiculous, it gets worse. Sony also made a few long boxes out of cardboard, like this copy of PlayStation Doom...

Was it really necessary to make a box for this game that probably could have fit at least 10 CD's inside for just one disc? I don't think so...

When SEGA released the Dreamcast, they started using ordinary CD jewel cases like PS1 did and audio CD's still do. Sony, however, decided to use the same case as a DVD movie for their games when they released the PS2. Here's a picture example of one...

Why did a disc that is the exact same size and shape as a regular audio CD need a case like the one used for DVD movies? I do like how they (at first) had a bracket for holding a PS2 memory card in the case but, it's not necessary. I could easily put it in another safe and secure place, assuming that I didn't just leave it in the console. That's what most gamers did.

While we're on the subject, why does a DVD need a case that big? They are also the exact same size and shape as an audio CD. Most DVD's don't come with any kind of manual or booklet anymore and they still use these kind of cases most of the time. Why? That takes up unnecessarily large amounts of shelf space. Using the same case as a DVD does make it easy to get replacements that fit the manuals and title cards for PS2 games (and virtually every other console since) but, again, why did they need to use these specific cases?

If I had to guess, I'd say it was part of selling the PS2 on its hardware features, which Sony does with its consoles. In this case, they wanted to go to whatever lengths necessary to remind people that PS2 played DVD movies. That feature is also what sold a lot of people on buying the console. When it was released, the PS2 was cheaper than stand-alone DVD players.

Now, moving on to PS3 (and finally finding a use for that perfect condition sports game disc that I recently acquired for free), we again see the cases are needlessly larger than the actual game media...

As usual, the game disc itself is exactly the same size and shape as a regular audio CD. So, why is it using the case of a Blu-Ray movie? And again, why are Blu-Ray movies using cases that are much larger than necessary? Sony can't even claim they are leaving a space for a memory card anymore. PS3 uses an internal HDD, cloud storage or USB thumb drives for save files and other game data. So, what is going on here?

The most logical answer is that this is the same scenario as with the PS2 and it's DVD playing abilities. Now that I think about it, the PS1 being able to play audio CD's was also a selling point for some people. CD players, while not uncommon, weren't quite as ubiquitous in 1994 as they are now. (Of course, every other CD-based game console could play audio CD's. So, why was this something that Sony went out of their way to advertise?)

The only difference here with the PS3 case is that Sony is now promoting that PS3 (and the PS4) also makes for a great Blu-Ray player. Like PS2 with DVD's, it was also MUCH cheaper than stand-alone players at the time of its release. Again, Blu-Ray movies are also the same size and shape as regular audio CD's so, there's no need for them to be in cases larger than a regular CD jewel case, either. What is going on here?

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Just so it doesn't look like I'm picking on SEGA and Sony, let's move on to Nintendo and some of their more recent systems. Nintendo isn't without sin here, either. When they finally switched to optical media with the GameCube, they went with a much smaller than usual proprietary format for the game discs used by the system. However, the cases they used were still the same size/shape as a standard DVD case. You can see one in the picture below...

The game discs for the GameCube are about the same size as a MiniDisc audio CD. That format didn't catch on anywhere except Japan. Even there, it never had more than a cult following, at best. Even if they were worried about the manuals being too small to for most folks to read, they still could have printed out some that were large enough for standard CD jewel cases and put the discs in there. It's not like they would have any trouble fitting in one...
We won't bother mentioning the Wii or the Wii U since those are using standard-sized media discs and standard-sized DVD cases like everyone else.

If you think this is getting a bit ridiculous with the consoles well, it's semi-ridiculous for portables too. When the Game Boy and Game Gear were both released by Nintendo and SEGA, they came in small cardboard boxes. Inside these boxes with the games were also these small plastic clamshells for the cartridges. This way, you could take the games with you and keep them fairly well protected. Those cases are a blessing to this day and collectors often hoard and re-sell them for a considerable profit. SEGA didn't continue with protables after Game Gear. Nothing could stand up to the Game Boy line in the marketplace. Despite making money hand over fist with their portable systems, Nintendo inexplicably stopped making the plastic cases for the cartridges. I'm not sure if this coincided with the introduction of the Game Boy Color or if it happened a little earlier.

However, years later with the Nintendo DS, they brought them back... in a way. They sold the DS games with a plastic clamshell box that (at first) also had a slot for a Game Boy Advance cartridge. That came in handy if you were taking the games on the go or just needed a place to put a loose GBA cartridge. These cases also made it a lot easier for retailers to make the games visible on the shelf. It also probably helped to deter theft since a case that wasn't much larger than the tiny cards used for game media would be easy to put in a pocket. For once, a case that's considerably larger than the actual media is starting to make sense! Hallelujah!!!

A picture of one of these early cases is shown below:

After a while, the cases no longer had a slot for GBA cartridges. You could still put one (or several) in the box but, they would be rattling around. Why did the slot for GBA games go away? Because the DS eventually lost backward compatibility with the GBA after the introduction of the DSi model in 2008 and 2009. Having that slot there was no longer necessary since GBA was no longer supported in any form.

Why would Nintendo get rid of the GBA slots in the cases? It's not as if the earlier forms of DS were no longer supported. Most folks did not throw away their old DS systems and rush out to get the new version. I didn't replace my original unit from the 2004 launch until 2010 when the DSiXL became available. I still have and use that original DS as well, for both DS & GBA games. I have more than a few loose GBA games too. It would be nice if I could just slip them into a DS game's case somewhere. I could easily keep track of their location in my manifest and this would make storage a LOT easier. (Not to mention taking up less shelf space...)

There's no need to look at cases for 3DS games because they are virtually the same as the original DS game cases. I'm not going to bother with cases for PSP or PS Vita, either. It would just be another example of case that is much larger than necessary and that would be redundant. However, the cases for PSP are large enough to fit 2 UMD's inside and that can be beneficial for multi-disc releases. I have one of them in the form of the Mega Man Dual Pack.

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CONCLUSION

To summarize, I am forced to conclude that game companies are wasting resources with these larger-than-necessary cases. These cases aren't a problem for most folks but, they tend to be a pain in the ass for those of us with large media collections. The market has responded to the need and provided special media shelving options that handle DVD/Blu-Ray/Game cases. However, none of that would've been necessary if they had just stuck to regular CD jewel cases.

Standard CD jewel cases are perfectly fine for ANY console or computer that used/uses optical discs for it's media. They are also quite easy to acquire. That same argument can be made for DVD and Blu-Ray style cases too but, would they be as cheap as the standard CD jewel cases? One thing is for sure, the standard jewel cases take up a lot less shelf space. That means I have more room for more media. That means I have a little extra incentive to buy more games, movies and audio CD's. Starting to get the picture, game companies and movie studios? You didn't have to re-invent the wheel or try to fix something that was never broken. You should have just followed the music industry's (and to an extent, the software industry's) lead on this one. The 31 titles I have for the PS1 take up considerably less shelf space than the 25 titles that I have for the PS3.

- Lord Publius