Favorite Game Packaging \ Media Format

Marriott_Guy1 · Postby **Marriott_Guy1** » April 14th, 2007, 5:08 pm

This was brought up a little in a previous post (new Wii format versus the old GameCube mini disks) and it got me thinking. What is your favorite media format and game packaging?

For the media format (I am referring just to the cartridge/disk appeal, not the overall capabilities\storage capacity\durability), I think it is definitely hands down the Neo Geo AES carts. That monster cart blows away every other media format that has been released, with maybe the huge LaserActive disks coming in a distant second. When you bought a Neo Geo game, you felt good even after over paying $50 if for no other reason just due to it's girth. The Hue card is a close third.

Game packaging is a bit trickier.

I like the Neo Geo packaging a great deal. They are durable, display well, have vibrant colors against that black background and are easy to keep organized.

Sega IMHO was the best overall with how they packaged their games, starting right off from the Master System. Those sturdy, hard plastic game boxes were great and I think they were smart to keep the same thing with the Genesis. The Sega CD cases were pretty cool as well - sleek, nice spine insert and manuals, but the durability of that cheap plastic case was the worst.

But I have to go with the original 3DO long boxes as my favorite game packaging. They were neither durable nor consistent in their look from developer to developer. They are not easy to organize with it's dimensions, and they can't stand up on their own without assistance.

I was one of the fools that was at the store with my $699 + tax + money for 1 game the day the 3DO game out. I loved that big box that Madden came in. I have around 1,000 video games in my 'Room of Doom' from the Fairchild Channel F to the PS3 (I don't own a Wii yet either VGC), and those 3DO big long boxes still do it for me for some reason. Neo Geo packaging comes in a close second.

What are your favorite game packaging and media formats?

m0zart1 · Postby **m0zart1** » April 14th, 2007, 5:23 pm

[QUOTE=Marriott_Guy]But I have to go with the original 3DO long boxes as my favorite game packaging. They were neither durable nor consistent in their look from developer to developer. They are not easy to organize with it's dimensions, and they can't stand up on their own without assistance.[/QUOTE]

Whoa! You just named every reason I've had to hate certain types of game packaging, used them to describe the 3DO, and then listed it as your favorite among all of them. What is up with that?

Marriott_Guy1 · Postby **Marriott_Guy1** » April 14th, 2007, 6:11 pm

Mozart - I know what you are saying, but the cases are unique and, for me at least, there is just something about them that I like. It might just be the large graphical work that is required to fill that space on the front and back of those boxes - I don't know. Yes, I need to seek help

a1 · Postby a1 » April 14th, 2007, 6:14 pm

I think my favorite media format would have to be the Genesis carts. They look really cool, and I've never really had a problem getting any to work. My favorite cases are basically any current gen. I like the Wii and Xbox cases because they stand out, and the PS2 case has a nice dark blue. My least favorite case is by far the Saturn case, for obvious reasons.

andrew · Postby **andrew** » April 14th, 2007, 6:52 pm

atari vcs packaging is my favorite. Nice art and straight to the point instructions on the back

Atarifever1 · Postby **Atarifever1** » April 14th, 2007, 7:49 pm

I'm a little torn here. I love the Master System and Genesis packaging, and carts for that matter (yes, I actually like the uniformity of Master System carts). However, having started to buy so many 7800 games still in the original shrinkwraped boxes (many even still having the things to hang the games on the rack), I'm finding those old, silver Atari boxes and carts pretty nice too. Once again, it's the uniformity of the packaging that I think I like as a collector. Add in the nice artwork, and I'm not sure if the Sega stuff is still top of my list.

Postby **VideoGameCritic** » April 14th, 2007, 8:48 pm

I think the Neo Geo packaging is best. Big, sturdy, and heavy, the boxes feel like thick, hardback books! The plastic Genesis cases are pretty sweet too.

The CD cases and DVD cases of recent years are space-savers, but they aren't very imaginative.

The worst packaging is probably the 3DO. Those tall boxes are mostly air! The Turbografx games don't look too hot either.

Leo Ames · Postby **Leo Ames** » April 14th, 2007, 8:50 pm

As far as games go, I find the picture label and silver labeled 1st party Atari 2600 titles to look the best.

For packaging, I like the DVD cases of the PS2/GC/Xbox generation.

Adamant1 · Postby **Adamant1** » April 14th, 2007, 9:31 pm

The Gameboy boxes, hands down.
No, not those crummy cardboard things, I'm talking about those pale plastic boxes that came with each new game, completely covering them, protecting them against absolutely everything. They are see-through, so they can be used for any game you'd like. They fit perfectly in those Game Boy carrying case things. Can easily be carried in any random pocket. They won't open no matter how hard you drop/throw them, yet they open easily when you want them to. They can take a lot of damage. You can easily fit a small post-it note with game passwords in one along with a cart, and not risk it falling out when you remove the cart. Beautiful.

Why did you take the away, Nintendo? Whyyy?

Atarifever1 · Postby **Atarifever1** » April 14th, 2007, 9:59 pm

[QUOTE=Adamant]The Gameboy boxes, hands down.
No, not those crummy cardboard things, I'm talking about those pale plastic boxes that came with each new game, completely covering them, protecting them against absolutely everything. They are see-through, so they can be used for any game you'd like. They fit perfectly in those Game Boy carrying case things. Can easily be carried in any random pocket. They won't open no matter how hard you drop/throw them, yet they open easily when you want them to. They can take a lot of damage. You can easily fit a small post-it note with game passwords in one along with a cart, and not risk it falling out when you remove the cart. Beautiful.

Why did you take the away, Nintendo? Whyyy?[/QUOTE]

Hey, I forgot about those things. You're right; they were incredible. That brings up something I can't believe I forgot: the N-Gage. The cases are basically sawed in half DVD cases. Not only do they fit more places than a DVD case, but when you store them you can stack them two on top of each other next to DVDs and it looks pretty good. Also, they come with Gameboy like plastic cases in each box, except, conveiniently, the plastic cases hold 2 games each, so you end up with a surplus of storage.

Here's a picture of a case:
http://www.pathwaytoglory.com/img/thefront/buyPtg/qd_game-preorder.jpg

In this one yo can see the protective case (it's open, you fold it in half).
http://ngagemedia.ign.com/ngage/image/DSC05660.jpg