The Eco-Box - Why your new game boxes look a bit different

[Wraith]

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2009/12/gam_greendisc2.jpg

From Joystiq (http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/eco-box-a-greener-way-to-protect-games/): If you've bought a new 360 game recently, you may have already noticed this curiously Trivial Pursuit-inspired packaging being employed for titles like Left 4 Dead 2 and Modern Warfare 2. According to the Viva Group, the company that designed the packaging, the new "Eco-Box" is not only better for the environment (using 20 percent less plastic and creating 31 percent less CO2 emissions) but has "no real difference in quality or performance" when compared with standard packaging.

We, on the other hand, worry that the cheaper, flimsier feel of the cases (which will come to the Wii and possibly PS3) will turn people off. After all, If we have to choose between our grandkids drowning in a melted glacier someday or holding sturdy game packaging right now, we're going to go with the packaging every single time.I saw the new cases first w/ Tropico 3 (PC), then with Assassin's Creed II (360). They feel a little flimsier, but... I can't really say whether they're less reliable or not.

[Vigil80]

I didn't notice. I don't mind, either. I'm not using my game boxes as doorstops or hiking with them on the bottoms of my shoes. They sit on a shelf. Durability isn't a huge concern, as long as everything is the way it's supposed to be when I first buy it.

[DoctorFinger]

How long before someone breaks off one of those spokes, puts an eye out and sues over it? January?

[txshurricane]

Noticed this packaging with some DVDs, too. The carbon emissions "improvement" doesn't move me at all, but if it works, then more power to the company for saving money and plastic.

[MachEnergy]

These are lighter, so cargo trucks hauling large containers of these packages will burn less fossil fuels.

[Kelegacy]

Damn it. I want my game cases to emit MORE carbon, not less.

[Goronmon]

I noticed immediately upon handling the case as there is almost no rigidity from the front and back faces of the case.

[Widgetcraft]

I'm sure they'll pass the savings on to the rest of us ::rolleyes::

[National Kato]

I noticed immediately upon handling the case as there is almost no rigidity from the front and back faces of the case.

That was my concern as well. I'd be twice as careful shipping any games from now on as it won't take much to crack the disc inside, especially since the Postal Service uses the Jaws of Life to handle mail.

[Goronmon]

I'm sure they'll pass the savings on to the rest of us ::rolleyes::Are we even sure the savings per unit is equal to a single penny?

[Panthera]

That was my concern as well. I'd be twice as careful shipping any games from now on as it won't take much to crack the disc inside, especially since the Postal Service uses the Jaws of Life to handle mail.

I've had games shipped without any case at all in an envelope without a problem. Hell, that describes netflix. Discs are tougher than you think.

[Widgetcraft]

Are we even sure the savings per unit is equal to a single penny?

I guess my point was more that this is probably a cost saving measure, disguised as being "green." Anyhow, the disc isn't in any more danger, but I guarantee you that the box art is going to get fucked up over time, just from being on a shelf packed with other games.

[inmostlight]

I just hate how the disc sticks extra tight on the spindle of these. I have to practically bend the DVD to get the thing out, I'm always worried one day it'll just snap. I liked the cases where you could just push the button in the center and the disc would pop off.

[Deimos]

I guess my point was more that this is probably a cost saving measure, disguised as being "green."

Can't it be both? We want companies to be greener but complain when they save some money in the process?? I guess some people can't be pleased.

[Purple Santa]

How long before someone breaks off one of those spokes, puts an eye out and sues over it? January?
I can get it done in December. I'll use my housemate for target practice.

I guess some people can't be pleased.

You just described the majority in game forums :p

[TheFlyingOrc]

Can't it be both? We want companies to be greener but complain when they save some money in the process?? I guess some people can't be pleased.

Green is primarily a marketing gimmick. Most likely, these save the company some small amount of money, and they did some math on carbon creation to make it look like it was positive for the consumer in some way.

Also, I doubt "game cases" are a big carbon sink. This does not affect the environment.

[boratika]

Damn it. I want my game cases to emit MORE carbon, not less.

Well, just take out the game and set it on fire. Problem solved.

[darkbase]

The first case I got like this was my 28 Days Later bluray and of course a hole was punched through the front cover during shipping from Amazon.

[BrassGecko]

As long as cases still have the New Game Smell, I have no preferences.

[Talanvor]

I wish they would improve the spindle actually holding the disc. Pisses me off to no end when that gets broken so the disc can fall out really easily and scratch itself to hell inside the case.

I don't see why this would be a problem, though I would have gone for more and thinner spokes to create more surface area myself.

[Kelegacy]

I guess my point was more that this is probably a cost saving measure, disguised as being "green." Anyhow, the disc isn't in any more danger, but I guarantee you that the box art is going to get fucked up over time, just from being on a shelf packed with other games.

I think the article states they had to do a significant investment to alter the moulds for the cases. So while it might cost them money at first, in the long run it COULD save them money.

I'm still waiting for game prices to fall, not rise. But even with no cases or manuals or shipping costs, etc, some DD still fails to beat out retail. So I've stopped hoping for savings passed along to consumers anytime soon, if ever. At least on the consoles.

[Savok]

So now we're not allowed have proper boxes? Great, just great.

[Narradisall]

A fair people around here had noticed it a few weeks back, me too esp with Assassins Creed 2 and L4D2. I can't say I've had any issue with them though. I've had maybe 1 case break in all my years of gaming, although I'm sure people have had more it's not a major issue.

Besides, don't we all get the gunmetal, collectors edition, developer supreme plus?

[muddi900]

Aren't BluRay(and PS3) cases thinner and smaller fro the same reasons? Hell, you go to the local pirated games shop and the cases are only twice as thick as the disc. Its just stupid waste all the material on something completely useless.

So now we're not allowed have proper boxes? Great, just great.

Define proper.

[Kelegacy]

So now we're not allowed have proper boxes? Great, just great.

The other option is to get the CE of each game, which means the box change could cost YOU more money for a decent case. But since I think CE's are a tax on the foolish, I don't buy them.

Me, I don't care too much. I grabbed a copy of Lego Star Wars: TCS off a shelf at Target last week and I thought it felt cheap and the cover was flimsy and easily pushed in. I went through every case thinking it was a defective one, but they all were like that. I doubt they had the new casing, however. I don't know what the deal was, I haven't opened the game since I think it'll be an Xmas gift to my friend's kids.

[tacitus]

Besides, don't we all get the gunmetal, collectors edition, developer supreme plus?
Great, now we need collectors editions to get sturdy cases.
[edit - of course the CE probably won't sit on the shelf right]

I am somewhat offended that objects costing $50+ come in cheaper cases; DVDs less so - they mostly "normalize" in price much faster. As others have said they need to figure out making spokes not suck.

This false green mentality is almost as annoying as the real greens.

[Narradisall]

I haven't really noticed much in the way of them being less sturdy though. It's not like the cases crumble to dust in your hands leaving only the disc and manual left in some new way to battle the second hand market.

I guess we'll have to refrain from skeet shooting with the new cases.

[Savok]

Define proper.
Enclosed and not easily mangled. Pick this up the wrong way you fuck up the slip. Granted proper box art died years ago but you get the odd good one.

Great, now we need collectors editions to get sturdy cases.

I am somewhat offended that objects costing $50+ come in cheaper cases; DVDs less so - they mostly "normalize" in price much faster. As others have said they need to figure out making spokes not suck.

This false green mentality is almost as annoying as the real greens.
Beautiful fucking world isn't it. Wonder when CEs will start promoting that and shit like "disc actually on spindle".

[Telefrog]

It could be worse. Some PC game discs are sold in a paper sleeve rattling around in a cardboard box.

[Kelegacy]

This false green mentality is almost as annoying as the real greens.

I agree. Like the argument that buying digital games is being green. I hate that it's come to that. A similar comparison is the advertisements on food packages that say zero trans fats, even when they never had any to begin with for dozens of years. It's now a marketing gimmick. The food could still be bad for you, like potato chips.

[Wraith]

Aren't BluRay(and PS3) cases thinner and smaller fro the same reasons?I haven't read up on it or anything, but I assumed the smaller case size allowed them to a.) ship more units per volume, and b.) differentiate Blu-ray on the market from standard DVD in a very visible way (along with the blue plastic for most movies). And maybe saving on material costs (using a little less paper, a little less plastic) was part of the equation too. But blu-ray cases seem pretty solid to me, even if they are a little bit thinner.

[Kelegacy]

Yeah, BR and PS3 cases are pretty darn durable.

[EternalGamer]

Until we can get to a complete Digital Download media, this is a nice middle step. And I don't see how anyone can deny that, when you consider the hundreds of millions of DVD and game cases produced each year that this will make a real difference. Both in terms of the amount of non-biodegradable plastic produced and the cost in terms of fossil fuels to ship these things. This one act probably saves more carbon emissions than any of us will produce in our life times.* It's not a revolution and it's a small thing, but those things are note "fake green"; they are the type of things that add up. Waiting on the mega-solution that will give us unlimited cheap energy and products that produce zero waste will never happen. The changes that are important and have impact in the long run, will likely be multitudinous and small.










*Except for those us who drive SUVs, play Haze, and ignore the brilliance of RE5.

[muddi900]

Enclosed and not easily mangled. Pick this up the wrong way you fuck up the slip. Granted proper box art died years ago but you get the odd good one.

Apparently you never bought a CD, with those horrible fucking jewel cases. Or a DVD, because most of them have a weird collar that makes taking out a DVD a painfully hard task. We never had 'proper' cases. NEVER!

EDIT: And don't even get me started CE cases; "ooh you paid 20 bucks extra, so you get this rubber spindle."

[Kelegacy]

*Except for those us who drive SUVs.

I'm glad I don't drive one. I own a sedan.

The best way for people to fully embrace DD and get rid of all the packaging is for DD to compete on the consoles, meaning reduced prices, sales, and more--pass along the savings. It would be hard for me to say no to many console games that enjoy Steam-like deals--my library would be even bigger than it is already. Currently the PC world enjoys tremendous amounts of DD purchases. If I was a PC gamer, most of my gaming library would be digital.

[Wraith]

This one act probably saves more carbon emissions than any of us will produce in our livetimes.*







*Except for those us who drive SUVs.Yeah, if all those jerks driving Ford Escapes around would switch to Lincoln Town Cars, the world would be a greener place!

I know this isn't P&R, I just wanted to make a snarky remark. :)

[Savok]

I have bought CDs, even games that came on them. Glad to see the back of those fucking things too, they'd either shatter or just fall apart in your hand. Plus they were the beginning of the end for box/album art.

[boratika]

*Except for those us who drive SUVs.

Pfft. Driving an SUV can't compete with just eating a typical amount of meat.

[Kelegacy]

Pfft. Driving an SUV can't compete with just eating a typical amount of meat.

He's directing that passive aggressive comment towards yours truly because my wife bought a Santa Fe over the weekend.

[EternalGamer]

Pfft. Driving an SUV can't compete with just eating a typical amount of meat.

You're right. It was a joke in reference to another thread.

[EternalGamer]

He's directing that passive aggressive comment towards yours truly because my wife bought a Santa Fe over the weekend.

Touche. Like that "passive aggressive" way you describe the "argument" that you hate that dd is green. ;)

A tit for your tat, sir.

[Savok]

Well that settles it then. We must kill every animal on the planet to stop global warming.

[Kelegacy]

Touche. Like that "passive aggressive" way you describe the "argument" that you hate that dd is green. ;)

A tit for your tat, sir.

Haha, you are right. Well played. :)

[Wraith]

Well that settles it then. We must kill every animal on the planet to stop global warming.Including the most dangerous game animal?

[Jboy001]

Including the most dangerous game animal?

I've already started hunting!

http://i50.tinypic.com/xmis8h.jpg

[EternalGamer]

I've already started hunting!

http://i50.tinypic.com/xmis8h.jpg

I don't think you need the camo and the beer. Just an an "open search" for contestants for the new season of American Idol.

[Kelegacy]

I'd be fine with a mass extinction...as long as my family and some of my friends survived. Man, that would be fun.

For a while. Until I had to start farming. But still...no people would rock.

[Wraith]

Nintendo of America told Kotaku that it is transitioning to "a new weight-reduced, recyclable case for all Wii software packaging, effective immediately." Wii games should be shipping with lighter packaging this quarter, with conversion to new game cases expected by early 2010.

"Nintendo's new software cases weigh just 48.9 grams, down from 66.2 grams," a spokesperson said. "That's a reduction of more than 25 percent. The new cases are 100 percent recyclable, and the lighter cases result in a 'greener' product, as they use fewer resources to produce and recycle."

That transition applies to Nintendo's first-party products currently, with third-party publishers expected to follow suit.Kotaku link (http://kotaku.com/5415367/changing-video-game-cases-go-for-the-green)

[Hawkzombie]

...Who would recycle the case for their disc is what I want to know.

[Kelegacy]

...Who would recycle the case for their disc is what I want to know.

I burn mine and use gasoline as the catalyst.

[Hawkzombie]

I burn mine and use gasoline as the catalyst.

I drive a car with six V8 engines driven by eight cyborg bears all running on diesel and plastic.

[MagGnome]

This feels like much ado about nothing.

"My game case is a little thinner, oh noes!"

Have we forgotten that game cases have already grown a lot smaller over the years, and this latest reduction isn't even all that significant?

Gamers really will complain about anything. :p

[EternalGamer]

...Who would recycle the case for their disc is what I want to know.

You have to think more long term. 50 years from now, who will want those billion Xbox 360 cases when the system itself has been extinct for four decades. They will end up in landfills someday, especially when the convience of DD hits the point where you can download any of those older games in seconds for a couple of bucks.

[Kelegacy]

This feels like much ado about nothing.

"My game case is a little thinner, oh noes!"

Have we forgotten that game cases have already grown a lot smaller over the years, and this latest reduction isn't even all that significant?

Gamers really will complain about anything. :p

I wish all games came in old-school PC boxes, requiring a backpack to carry it home.

At least those boxes were cardboard instead of plastic.

Here in my city, we have free trash pick-up 3 weeks out of the month (taxes pay for it, but it's very convenient). On the 4th week, we have a recycle week. I have 3 containers that I can put by the curb filled with cans, plastic jugs, newspaper, etc. But they don't take cardboard. Instead, to get rid of cardboard, you have to go to the dump's recycling center and pay a fee just to get inside the landfill's limits. I'm sure the city makes money off the recycling, even if a bit, but I wish they just let me put cardboard on the curb. I did once, and I had a nasty little note stuck to the pile when I got home that said "NO CARDBOARD". If they are taking the other shit, why not? They have no problem if you put a mound of cardboard out on trash week, however.

[Wraith]

You have to think more long term. 50 years from now, who will want those billion Xbox 360 cases when the system itself has been extinct for four decades. They will end up in landfills someday, especially when the convience of DD hits the point where you can download any of those older games in seconds for a couple of bucks.It would be kind of cool to see old 360 cases recycled to make the hardware for the Xbox 1080 or whatever they're up to a couple generations out. Probably not practical, though.But they don't take cardboard. Instead, to get rid of cardboard, you have to go to the dump's recycling center and pay a fee just to get inside the landfill's limits. I'm sure the city makes money off the recycling, even if a bit, but I wish they just let me put cardboard on the curb.A few grocery stores around here have recycling bins sitting in the parking lot, with bins for the usual (plastic, glass), plus cardboard, magazines. Though it's only recently that they added cardboard, I think.

[MagGnome]

I wish all games came in old-school PC boxes, requiring a backpack to carry it home.

At least those boxes were cardboard instead of plastic.

Here in my city, we have free trash pick-up 3 weeks out of the month (taxes pay for it, but it's very convenient). On the 4th week, we have a recycle week. I have 3 containers that I can put by the curb filled with cans, plastic jugs, newspaper, etc. But they don't take cardboard. Instead, to get rid of cardboard, you have to go to the dump's recycling center and pay a fee just to get inside the landfill's limits. I'm sure the city makes money off the recycling, even if a bit, but I wish they just let me put cardboard on the curb. I did once, and I had a nasty little note stuck to the pile when I got home that said "NO CARDBOARD". If they are taking the other shit, why not? They have no problem if you put a mound of cardboard out on trash week, however.


I find it strange and somewhat backwards that each city/state is so different when it comes to recycling. Here in the Twin Cities everyone has recycling bins as far as I know, and we can recycle glass, cans, plastic, paper, and cardboard without fuss. My apartment building has multiple large bins in the back, and they are routinely stuffed full of recyclables.

Edit - We even have two bins in the laundry room for batteries and CFL bulbs.

[EternalGamer]

I find it strange and somewhat backwards that each city/state is so different when it comes to recycling. Here in the Twin Cities everyone has recycling bins as far as I know, and we can recycle glass, cans, plastic, paper, and cardboard without fuss. My apartment building has multiple large bins in the back, and they are routinely stuffed full of recyclables.

Edit - We even have two bins in the laundry room for batteries and CFL bulbs.

While our trash company doesn't recyle here, the local Walmart had bins in their parking lot for plastic. cardboard and newspaper. I say "had" because they removed them a few months ago, which sucks. It was almost always overflowing, so I don't understand why they are no longer providing that service.

[Widgetcraft]

I have bought CDs, even games that came on them. Glad to see the back of those fucking things too, they'd either shatter or just fall apart in your hand. Plus they were the beginning of the end for box/album art.

I used to break them for funsies just by staring at them really hard.

This feels like much ado about nothing.

"My game case is a little thinner, oh noes!"

Have we forgotten that game cases have already grown a lot smaller over the years, and this latest reduction isn't even all that significant?

Gamers really will complain about anything. :p

It isn't about the cases being thinner, it is about the switch from a solid front/back, to this "spoke" shit. You could easily pick up one of these cases, and put your finger right through the box art and touch the game disk without opening the case. That is bullshit.

[Narradisall]

This thread has made me miss old school PC game boxes....

[Kelegacy]

This thread has made me miss old school PC game boxes....

I have kept some just for nostalgic reasons. Some are really old.

[Khrymsyn]

This thread has made me miss old school PC game boxes....

Hell with the game boxes, I miss the old school game MANUALS.

Some of them were fairly entertaining or interesting (such as Star Control or Wing Commander)... and then there was Falcon 3.0 which basically contained a flight manual.

[MagGnome]

It isn't about the cases being thinner, it is about the switch from a solid front/back, to this "spoke" shit. You could easily pick up one of these cases, and put your finger right through the box art and touch the game disk without opening the case. That is bullshit.

Oh, I had no idea they were that bad. Carry on then.

[EternalGamer]

Oh, I had no idea they were that bad. Carry on then.

He's totally right. With these new cases, I will not be able to ram my forefinger into the front of my game cases and poke it furiously without making a hole in the case.

I consider this an assault on my basic rights as a human being. I should be able to poke at anything as furiously as I wish without worrying about making holes.

[EternalGamer]

It would be kind of cool to see old 360 cases recycled to make the hardware for the Xbox 1080 or whatever they're up to a couple generations out. Probably not practical, though.A few grocery stores around here have recycling bins sitting in the parking lot, with bins for the usual (plastic, glass), plus cardboard, magazines. Though it's only recently that they added cardboard, I think.

There are already CD and DVD cases that are made out of cardboard that are the same size/shape as regular DVD cases. I don't know why they just don't start using those. I imagine because they are probably more expensive than the cheap plastic.

[txshurricane]

It isn't about the cases being thinner, it is about the switch from a solid front/back, to this "spoke" shit. You could easily pick up one of these cases, and put your finger right through the box art and touch the game disk without opening the case. That is bullshit.
I'm not arguing, but is that really that big of a deal? Does touching the disc with the label scratch them? I would think the old cases would scratch the disc more easily, and it's not that hard to implode a solid DVD/game case.

[Drayven]

It isn't about the cases being thinner, it is about the switch from a solid front/back, to this "spoke" shit. You could easily pick up one of these cases, and put your finger right through the box art and touch the game disk without opening the case. That is bullshit.

Do you have one of those old school prosthetic arms? I mean really, do you like crush plastic/styrofoam cups when you drink from them?

[Kelegacy]

Do you have one of those old school prosthetic arms? I mean really, do you like crush plastic/styrofoam cups when you drink from them?

I crushed a kitten into pulp by just petting it. Hence, my inability to masturbate.

[txshurricane]

I crushed a kitten into pulp by just petting it. Hence, my inability to masturbate.
What a weird thing to be turned on by. I like naked women. Not so much crushed kittens.

[Kelegacy]

What a weird thing to be turned on by. I like naked women. Not so much crushed kittens.

I think you purposefully misunderstand me. :)

[txshurricane]

I think you purposefully misunderstand me. :)
No, never!

[Ghostbear]

Meh, I throw my discs into a binder anyways.

[MagGnome]

He's totally right. With these new cases, I will not be able to ram my forefinger into the front of my game cases and poke it furiously without making a hole in the case.

I consider this an assault on my basic rights as a human being. I should be able to poke at anything as furiously as I wish without worrying about making holes.

Yeah, I still think this is a bit of an overreaction. I can think of many things in the world deserving of anger and woe, and these game cases don't make the list.


There are already CD and DVD cases that are made out of cardboard that are the same size/shape as regular DVD cases. I don't know why they just don't start using those. I imagine because they are probably more expensive than the cheap plastic.

Now this I can get behind!

[Purple Santa]

I consider this an assault on my basic rights as a human being. I should be able to poke at anything as furiously as I wish without worrying about making holes.

We try to do that to Mags and tell him it's our right but he gets upset. Maybe he'll listen to your reasoning....

[MagGnome]

Oh my...

I'm going to go there.

[Widgetcraft]

I'm not arguing, but is that really that big of a deal? Does touching the disc with the label scratch them? I would think the old cases would scratch the disc more easily, and it's not that hard to implode a solid DVD/game case.

I'm not saying that I'm worried about the disks themselves being damaged, but personally, I don't like having a bunch of beat up game cases sitting on my shelf. That was one of the benefits of moving to DVD cases over jewel cases and cardboard boxes. Might as well package the games with nothing but the back of a slim jewel case and wrap it up in cellophane; I'm sure that would be super-green.

Just to be clear, I'm not basing this on speculation. My copy of Return of the Living Dead was packaged in a similar case, and I immediately noticed that something felt cheap the moment I picked it up in the store. You have to understand that when you're holding one of these things, you're likely holding it by the paper/rubber outside of the plastic, and putting any pressure on it at all dents the box art as there is nothing behind it. The spokes themselves are stupidly flimsy, it is obvious that in addition to the new mold, this is also a cheaper plastic (though that might not carry over to other releases). If I put any pressure on it at all (and I mean any at all; like enough to push a button on a TV remote) I can feel the spoke dimple outward. The rubber layer doesn't even look like it is fitted properly, as it is all wrinkly on the back, probably from being stretched inward during shipping while packed with other DVDs. It just looks bad.

[Mike Kelehan]

I honestly prefer these. Having a little give makes it easier to get the disc out without bending it. My new copy of You Don't Know Jack Volume 4 snapped in half when I tried to get it out of the case, so many years ago.

[jpc_theoneandonly]

I wish they would make cases out of wood. Redwood. And they would use one entire tree for one case. Because I am an asshole.

Maybe not to that extreme. I just think that this whole save the world kick everyone is on is pointless. I really don't believe that we are killing the earth. Sorry.

[EternalGamer]

I wish they would make cases out of wood. Redwood. And they would use one entire tree for one case. Because I am an asshole.

Maybe not to that extreme. I just think that this whole save the world kick everyone is on is pointless. I really don't believe that we are killing the earth. Sorry.

The recent bugaboo over the e-mails doesn't do much to change the mountains of research done on global warming; it really says more about not allowing a healthy and fully realized academic atmosphere that allows for dissent than it is about the actual body of scientific research.

Denying global warming or the issues involvng the scarcity of oil resources basically requires you to deny a belief in modern science, but perhaps you are one of those "the earth was created in 2,000 years" people, so I won't belabor that point. Just know it requires a pretty radical perspective.

But even if you take that stance, I don't see how you can can deny emperical evidence of all the tremendous amount of garbage we are producing. For example, there is about a thousand miles of plastic trash in the Pacific Ocean which has been the subject of study for over a decade now. It's not really deniable that it is there unless you want to deny your own eyeballs. You can go look at it. CNN just did a story on it, in fact (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/04/pacific.garbage.patch/index.html).

Then there are the landfills where the mountains of non-biodegradeble plastic continue to pile up.

Here are some cell phones in Atlanta George dump. Keep in mind that this is all from one single major city:

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cell-phones-chris-jordan.jpg

Here are the cell phone chargers:

http://www.informinc.org/gallery/chrisjordan/1114175929.jpg

Go walk through a local landfill sometime and reallize that there are literally hundreds of thousands of them (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/08/eco.about.landfills/#cnnSTCText) around the world then see how you feel about the idea that all this non-biodegrable plastic doesn't hurt anything.

[Savok]

Oh for fuck sake Dan Dan put down the Kool-Aid.

Wanna know why so much shit is in landfill? Because that's all it's good for. Used to be shit was made to last, now you're lucky to get 6 months out of something before it crumbles to fucking pieces.

I never had to toss game stuff until the advent of the CD and broken jewel cases became the norm. Now I'm going to have to buy replacement boxes when these shitty things break on me? Awesome, lets flood the god damn world with worthless crap and see what happens. Oh wait, we already did.

[Narradisall]

Thats second picture looks like something out of the matrix.

I don't have any issue with the cases being made like this (although they will never beat my awesome box PC Mechwarrior box *sigh*). While every other company can run out shit loads of plastic things that go into dumps as above though, while good, the game cases will make little difference in the long run.

[Widgetcraft]

Is it just me, or are there like five models of phones in that picture?

[txshurricane]

I'm not saying that I'm worried about the disks themselves being damaged, but personally, I don't like having a bunch of beat up game cases sitting on my shelf. That was one of the benefits of moving to DVD cases over jewel cases and cardboard boxes. Might as well package the games with nothing but the back of a slim jewel case and wrap it up in cellophane; I'm sure that would be super-green.

Just to be clear, I'm not basing this on speculation. My copy of Return of the Living Dead was packaged in a similar case, and I immediately noticed that something felt cheap the moment I picked it up in the store. You have to understand that when you're holding one of these things, you're likely holding it by the paper/rubber outside of the plastic, and putting any pressure on it at all dents the box art as there is nothing behind it. The spokes themselves are stupidly flimsy, it is obvious that in addition to the new mold, this is also a cheaper plastic (though that might not carry over to other releases). If I put any pressure on it at all (and I mean any at all; like enough to push a button on a TV remote) I can feel the spoke dimple outward. The rubber layer doesn't even look like it is fitted properly, as it is all wrinkly on the back, probably from being stretched inward during shipping while packed with other DVDs. It just looks bad.
Yeah, I actually could feel the weight difference, I think. It's not a big deal to me, though, because of the way I store and use my DVDs and games.

[Kelegacy]

All cases should be made of gold, silver or some other precious metal. Then we'd never throw it away. Not on purpose anyway.

And I agree with Dan--people choose to not believe we are destroying the planet, because to believe otherwise would be very inconvenient for our present and modern existence. That's why Gore's documentary was called An Inconvenient Truth. Because it is.

[EternalGamer]

Is it just me, or are there like five models of phones in that picture?

They are done by a pretty well known photographer. His name is Chris Jordan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Jordan_(artist)). He obviously takes the time to arrange things for aesethetic effect, but the material in the pictures are representative of a landfill in Atlanta. They certainly aren't fake photos.

He has since gone on to do even more representative work, meaning that he does use manufactured images to represent real world statistics. Here is a video of him talking about some of his later pieces. Amazing stuff:

http://www.ted.com/talks/chris_jordan_pictures_some_shocking_stats.html

[Savok]

All cases should be made of gold, silver or some other precious metal. Then we'd never throw it away. Not on purpose anyway.

And I agree with Dan--people choose to not believe we are destroying the planet, because to believe otherwise would be very inconvenient for our present and modern existence. That's why Gore's documentary was called An Inconvenient Truth. Because it is.
An inconvenient truth is how much money Gore and co make out of all this. Historians (probably Indian or Chinese the way we're going) are going to look at us in awe.

Of note there seems to be even fewer kinds of charger as well. It's awfully clean for landfill come to think of it.

[MagGnome]

The recent bugaboo over the e-mails doesn't do much to change the mountains of research done on global warming; it really says more about not allowing a healthy and fully realized academic atmosphere that allows for dissent than it is about the actual body of scientific research.

Denying global warming or the issues involvng the scarcity of oil resources basically requires you to deny a belief in modern science, but perhaps you are one of those "the earth was created in 2,000 years" people, so I won't belabor that point. Just know it requires a pretty radical perspective.

But even if you take that stance, I don't see how you can can deny emperical evidence of all the tremendous amount of garbage we are producing. For example, there is about a thousand miles of plastic trash in the Pacific Ocean which has been the subject of study for over a decade now. It's not really deniable that it is there unless you want to deny your own eyeballs. You can go look at it. CNN just did a story on it, in fact (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/04/pacific.garbage.patch/index.html).

Then there are the landfills where the mountains of non-biodegradeble plastic continue to pile up.

I've absolutely given up on trying to convince anyone of just how much we are trashing the Earth. People have their fingers in their ears and don't want to listen or flat out don't care.

Consequently I've also become more cynical and given up any hope that we'll actually change anything fast enough to make a difference. Humans are selfish, greedy creatures, and we'll continue to over-produce and over-consume until we are all wiped out or living on a planet so polluted that our quality of life is absolutely miserable. I just hope that it doesn't happen in my lifetime.

[EternalGamer]

I've absolutely given up on trying to convince anyone of just how much we are trashing the Earth. People have their fingers in their ears and don't want to listen or flat out don't care.

Consequently I've also become more cynical and given up any hope that we'll actually change anything fast enough to make a difference. Humans are selfish, greedy creatures, and we'll continue to over-produce and over-consume until we are all wiped out or living on a planet so polluted that our quality of life is absolutely miserable. I just hope that it doesn't happen in my lifetime.

Some people care and are just unaware/uninformed. There are those so committed to their poltical ideology that they refuse to acknowledge anything that contradicts it, but those people aren't the majority; they are just loud.

I had 50 students this semester in a conservative southern city in Mississippi and we spent the last month looking at issues surrounding the food industry for their final research project. We watched the film "Food Inc" and reading related essays to various problems in the Food Industry including global warming, genetic plant patents, migrant workers, animal treatment, and environmental and health consequences of mass production. We discuss the essays some and I try to present them with challenging counter arguments, but I never preach to them. No matter what argument they decide to make for their final paper (including the option to argue that nothing needs to be done), I require them to examine counter arguments.

At the end, I give a completely anonymous survey for my own purposes. I never ask them specific questions about the material, only what they thought about the topics discussed, which ones they liked, didn't like, which texts they enjoyed, what they would change about the course, etc. Only 1 student out of 50 thought the material was "too political." The vast majority of them said the class made them think about the issues in a ways they never have before and many of them specifically said it changed their eating habits. When you get outside of the Fox News crowd (which are merely a vocal minority, even among conservatives), you do find people that show concern when given access to the information about the world. Especially with issues like the environment, which is rapidly becoming not a conservative or liberal argument, but something important for everyone regardless of your other beliefs. This especially with the younger generation as I find in my students semester after semester.

[Widgetcraft]

They certainly aren't fake photos.

Yeah, he just happened to find thousands of the same five models of phone sitting in a landfill, in what looks to be nearly pristine condition; happens everyday.

I'm not one of those people saying that we aren't trashing the planet, but this kind of bullshit right here doesn't make the message more credible. And yes, Savok, most of the people promoting "green" shit these days are profiting while delivering iffy benefits. Much like this bullshit Eco-Case.

[EternalGamer]

As I said, he constructed the photos and arranged them. He is an artist who presents his work in galleries. But there are real world statistics to back up all of them.

And what is "iffy" about having less non-biodegradeable plastic. It's less plastic. There is no "iffy" thing about that.

[Drayven]

Can we keep this discussion about the new cases and leave the other stuff in the P&R forum?

[Widgetcraft]

As I said, he constructed the photos and arranged them.

He bought, or acquired donated phones, and piled them up. Then he took a picture of them. This is supposed to say something about the environment.

then actually man up and try to produce some evidence.

My evidence is common fucking sense. People do not throw away thousands of the same models of phone, in perfectly working condition. Stuff thrown into a dump does not remain clean long enough for this asshole to come along and gather thousands of them to take pictures of. It is probably one of the most poorly thought-out pieces of propaganda that I have ever seen.

And what is "iffy" about having less non-biodegradeable plastic. It's less plastic. There is no "iffy" thing about that.

How many game cases actually get recycled? Answer: Not that many. Will that make up for the amount of replacement cases that will be bought due to the general shitiness of these cases? Answer: Probably not. Would I care even if it did when I have a shelf full of shitty boxes with punctured/wrinkled box art? Answer: No.

[EternalGamer]

He bought, or acquired donated phones, and piled them up. Then he took a picture of them. This is supposed to say something about the environment.



My evidence is common fucking sense. People do not throw away thousands of the same models of phone, in perfectly working condition. Stuff thrown into a dump does not remain clean long enough for this asshole to come along and gather thousands of them to take pictures of. It is probably one of the most poorly thought-out pieces of propaganda that I have ever seen.


Alright, fair enough. Perhaps I should have been a bit more careful. If there was misrepresentation it was probably on my part, not his. I'm certainly no expert on his work. As I said, ALL his photos are representative of real world statistics. I absolutely know this to be true. I also know that some of his photos are from actual landfills and are arranged. Others are merely representative of statistics (such as the barbie dolls and the cigarettes in that video). In this case, I probably should have done more research to make sure one way or the other which kind of photo this was. I don't think he is "hiding" that. However, I don't really know what that changes. Whether they are the literal phones that were thrown out or just representations of the statistics of phones that were deactivated in a single day, how does that really change anything?


How many game cases actually get recycled? Answer: Not that many. Will that make up for the amount of replacement cases that will be bought due to the general shitiness of these cases? Answer: Probably not. Would I care even if it did when I have a shelf full of shitty boxes with punctured/wrinkled box art? Answer: No.

I don't see how you can argue that 60 years from now those 10 million copies of Gears 2 are all going to have welcomed homes and still be sitting on shelves. Some people might still have them yes, but how many people still have their Atari systems? Most of those are now in landfills just like most of the games.

But since you care more about the aesethetics of your game shelf than you do about any possible environmental advantage, it's sort of a moot point to discuss it with you. I just hope most people do care more than that. If my students are any indication, I think I'm right.

[Widgetcraft]

Perhaps I should have been a bit more careful. If there was misrepresentation it was probably on my part. As I said, ALL his photos are representative of real world statistics. I know that some of his photos are from actual landfills and are arranged. Others are merely representative of statistics. In this case, I probably should have done more research to make sure one way or the other which kind of photo this was. However, I don't really know what that changes. Whether they are the literal phones that were thrown out or just representations of the stastics of phones that were deactivated in a single day, how does that really change anything?

Well, for starters, I already know that people make objects and discard them. This is not news. I've seen a dump, and I pass by a recycling center every day. I'm aware that people create something called trash. So this photo really tells me nothing at all.


I don't see how youc an argue that 60 years from now those 10 million copies of Gears 2 are all going to have welcomed homes and still be sitting on shelves. Some people might still have them yes, but how many people still have their Atari systems? Most of those are now in landfills just like most of the games.

I'd wager that most are in attics or otherwise stored somewhere. People usually sell that stuff at yard sales and flea markets, they don't toss it.

But since you care more about the aesethetics of your game shelf than you do about any possible environmental advantage, it's sort of a moot point to discuss it with you. I just hope most people do care more than that. If my students are any indication, I think I'm right.

I hope that people realize that sometimes it is better to make something to last than to make something to fall apart by design. Sure, some things should be recyclable and/or biodegradable, but not everything. Some things are built strong for a good reason, and DVD cases are one of those things.

[muddi900]

I drive a car with six V8 engines driven by eight cyborg bears all running on diesel and plastic.

Pfft. I have a Conti-no-num(TM) Teleporter that is so eco-enemy its eco-friendly.

[EternalGamer]

Well, for starters, I already know that people make objects and discard them. This is not news. I've seen a dump, and I pass by a recycling center every day. I'm aware that people create something called trash. So this photo really tells me nothing at all.


In that case, it would "tell you nothing at all" either way. But the point is to make visible what are abstract notions to people. You might "know" we make trash or that thousands of cell phones are deactivated each day. But seeing those 3,000 cell phones or whatever gives you a better idea of what that stastic means. One of the problems we face with our trash is that we really don't see the consequences because it is not made visible. We don't see the CAFOs that cattle are raised on thousands of miles from us and most of us don't drive by the dump everyday. We are totally disconnected from the consequences of our actions and therefore don't see them as that important.


I'd wager that most are in attics or otherwise stored somewhere. People usually sell that stuff at yard sales and flea markets, they don't toss it.



I hope that people realize that sometimes it is better to make something to last than to make something to fall apart by design. Sure, some things should be recyclable and/or biodegradable, but not everything. Some things are built strong for a good reason, and DVD cases are one of those things.

And I'd wager that you are wrong that "most" of the 7 million copes of Pacman for Atari are still in people's atic. Regardless, even if you think longer term, that plastic doesn't go away. So it stays there for 30 years or 60 years. Eventually your Gears of War case will end up in a dump. Something that has millions of copies produced and can be available in non-physical media form is not going to be a valuable artifact that people need to hold on to. You seem to be still thinking pretty short term as in how durable it will be in your lifetime, but nobody will care about holding on to your outdated physical DVD copies of old anime in 50 years. They probably won't even have a device to use it on or even a TV that will be able to hook up to it if they did.

But I won't argue that this is a minor thing, merely that every bit helps. There are much bigger, immediate plastic related issues. Like the fact that in the U.S. we use TWO MILLLION plastic beverage bottles every FIVE MINUTES. I'm glad that MS, Sony, and Nintendo are starting to address these issues but I admit there are bigger issues. I recently started carrying my own thermos cup with me and keeping in my car for when I eat out or want a drink at a gas station. Can you imagine the impact that might have if we could reduce that two million every 5 minutes by even 1/3?

[Ink Asylum]

I may not be representative of most gamers, but I still have practically every game that I've ever bought since I started paying for games myself, back during the PS1/N64 days. I don't have the N64 boxes, since those were bulky cardboard, but I still have the cartridges. I have all my PS1 games in their jewel cases. I even have old PC games from that era onwards, in their jewel cases or cardboard sleeves, original boxes tossed.

At some point I suppose most of those will be thrown away. Perhaps I'll put all the old games into pocket binders and toss the cases to save space. Or I'll give away/sell the games with cases and whoever buys them will throw them away. Or my next of kin will toss them.

Once a game case is made it's going to become trash at some point in the future. It has the job of holding a single game and when that job is done it's garbage. The idea that there's some huge replacement game case market that will use up any plastic saved by these reduced cases is unlikely, in my mind. They say that the new cases use 30% less plastic. So you can make three cases with the same plastic that would previously make two. Gamers would have to replace the cases for one out of every three games they buy for the change to be worthless. I don't see that happening.

[muddi900]

I hope that people realize that sometimes it is better to make something to last than to make something to fall apart by design. Sure, some things should be recyclable and/or biodegradable, but not everything. Some things are built strong for a good reason, and DVD cases are one of those things.

All your hypotheses depend upon the argument that regular DVD cases are durable and work when, in fact they do not. The best DVD packaging I have is ones that came with early pirated DVDs. It was flimsy as hell, but at least there wasn't any danger of break the disc or the spindle or my finger. You also seem to forget that jewel cases were designed to fall apart without a eco-friendly label. Crying and whining just because it has that label doesn't make it any worse(or inversely any better).

This just a business decision, the eco crap is just a PR thing. This will save them a lot of money on logistics.

[EternalGamer]

This just a business decision, the eco crap is just a PR thing. This will save them a lot of money on logistics.

I suppose "a lot" of money is relative but plastic is pretty damn cheap. We are talking about pennies per case, which for big companies like MS might add up enough over the year to supply the slush fund to take out the board for a lunch. I certainly don't see it being enough that it would cause them to change their business model, unless they feared a possible future carbon tax of some sort. In that case, this might preempt some of the expenses.

But either way, I'm not sure how the plastic saved is just PR. That generally means it has no real world impact when this clearly does. Intentions don't really matter here. The environment doesn't much care about intentions nor do intentions have an effect on it. We are talking about real world material objects and the impact of those objects, not someone's intentions.

[roboninja]

I'd wager that most are in attics or otherwise stored somewhere. People usually sell that stuff at yard sales and flea markets, they don't toss it.

Are you insane? In 60 years most of the copies of Gears are going to be in attics? WTF would be the reasoning behind that? Unusable hunks of plastic in an attic. Not saying it does not happen, but to think it would be the norm is ludicrous.

[Savok]

Logistics, Dan Dan, he means the weight which is how shipping is measured. We won't see any of the savings of course, hell they'll probably charge us extra for the carbon soon.

[muddi900]

I suppose "a lot" of money is relative but plastic is pretty damn cheap. We are talking about pennies per case, which for big companies like MS might add up enough over the year to supply the slush fund to take out the board for a lunch. I certainly don't see it being enough that it would cause them to change their business model, unless they feared a possible future carbon tax of some sort. In that case, this might preempt some of the expenses.

What part of LO-JIS-TICKS went over your head. They are not saving money on plastics, they are saving money on shipping. 22 grams per case, as adds up to a lot in high quantity when you are being charged according to weight. I know because my father happens to run a plastics factory. I assure you, game companies will save thousands per shipment from China.

Also, we have no real data how it helps the environment to be better. "Going green" is just another PR gimmick for companies to go cheaper. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[Generation ABXY]

Personally, I have no problem with paper boxes, even slip cases (though I am a fan of manuals), but I get that others aren't. However, I think there’s a compromise to be had in something like this:

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1908/img0157.jpg
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1478/img0158.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8601/img0160gg.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/3092/img0161.jpg

That’s how most of my CDs are, and I’m sure enough stylistic and maybe even ecological changes could be made to suit both crowds.

Either way, I find the change inconsequential for the good it might do – I mean, it doesn’t require a lifestyle change (like, say, giving up meat) – so I won't get too pressed, unless it ends up damaging the games in some way.

[muddi900]

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/1908/img0157.jpg
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/1478/img0158.jpg
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/8601/img0160gg.jpg
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/3092/img0161.jpg


You see that ass-tastic collar around the CD; I hate THOSE! this is not as bad as my Buffy season 2 DVD though, where only one finger hold(those gaps to pick it up) is open. The center spindle/clip is so tight! and this is high quality packaging.

Logistics, Dan Dan, he means the weight which is how shipping is measured. We won't see any of the savings of course, hell they'll probably charge us extra for the carbon soon.

We don't get to know every money saving technique used by game manufacturers. The only reason this was announced was because "Going Green" is in now.

[Savok]

Now see that is nice.

[EternalGamer]

That is what I had in mind earlier when I mentioned the cardboard casing of a lot of DVDs/Music CDs. Although I would imagine that would weigh more which woudl offset both the cost savings and fuel consumption in shipping.

[Generation ABXY]

You see that ass-tastic collar around the CD; I hate THOSE! this is not as bad as my Buffy season 2 DVD though, where only one finger hold(those gaps to pick it up) is open. The center spindle/clip is so tight! and this is high quality packaging.

Actually, it's not bad at all on those. Just a little lift on the side as you push down on that center clip and it pops right off.

That is what I had in mind earlier when I mentioned the cardboard casing of a lot of DVDs/Music CDs. Although I would imagine that would weigh more which woudl offset both the cost savings and fuel consumption in shipping.

Oh, I have little doubt, but there is room for improvement (I'm sure the covers, for one, could be thinned quite a bit with no real problem).

[tacitus]

<cell phones and chargers>
Cell phones and chargers ... well, first we are allowed and encouraged to buy cell phones on an installment plan eg contract. So some often get a new cell phone whether you need it or not.

Second, problem with modern technology is that the batteries and chargers is that battery technology generally sucks and wears out over time for these energy sucking devices. And of course nobody uses the same battery. However, I read somewhere that some of the big makers were going to make compatible chargers.

A couple of years ago ... all I wanted was to get a battery replacement for a approximately 7-year old sprint pcs cell phone. (ust wanted a big cell phone with a big display - for gasp telephone calls) Sprint didn't have any so I went some other joint and of course the battery was dead so I gave up and bought a new phone. My old phone would have been fine - if I could have replaced the battery.

I am currently in a dither to find a new AAA operated mp3 player that can play audible.com files, for when my creative one bites the dust. I use NiMH rechargeable batteries.

[Widgetcraft]

Are you insane? In 60 years most of the copies of Gears are going to be in attics? WTF would be the reasoning behind that? Unusable hunks of plastic in an attic. Not saying it does not happen, but to think it would be the norm is ludicrous.

Because no one keeps records, or eight tracks, or beta-max, or VHS...? I mean, it isn't like those are common finds at thrift stores and pawn shops, along with NES and other retro game carts.

Alright, serious question here: Who here still has their VHS tapes? I still have mine. If I wanted to get rid of them, I seriously doubt I would throw them in the garbage. I don't think I know anyone who has suddenly dumped a bunch of media in the trash.

[Vigil80]

This is why NASA needs more funding. We need to develop an affordable method for blasting our garbage into the sun.

[Wraith]

This is why NASA needs more funding. We need to develop an affordable method for blasting our garbage into the sun.Oh, imagine the uproar some environmental groups would have about polluting the sun. :p

[Kelegacy]

Because no one keeps records, or eight tracks, or beta-max, or VHS...? I mean, it isn't like those are common finds at thrift stores and pawn shops, along with NES and other retro game carts.

Alright, serious question here: Who here still has their VHS tapes? I still have mine. If I wanted to get rid of them, I seriously doubt I would throw them in the garbage. I don't think I know anyone who has suddenly dumped a bunch of media in the trash.

I don't throw stuff like that in the garbage either. Goodwill and Salvation Army are great places to get rid of old stuff. There is still a market for things out there.

That's where I get rid of all my clothes, too, if nephews or my brother doesn't want the stuff.

[maharahaj]

Alright, serious question here: Who here still has their VHS tapes? I still have mine. If I wanted to get rid of them, I seriously doubt I would throw them in the garbage. I don't think I know anyone who has suddenly dumped a bunch of media in the trash.

I have. I recently trashed my VHS collection of 20+ titles from when I was a kid.

But they don't take cardboard. Instead, to get rid of cardboard, you have to go to the dump's recycling center and pay a fee just to get inside the landfill's limits. I'm sure the city makes money off the recycling, even if a bit, but I wish they just let me put cardboard on the curb.

My neighborhood does this as well, so rather than pay a dumping fee, I just haul it to the dumpster at the business park where I work. Saves me money and a trip to another location. If they want to charge to recycle, I say fuck em. Why the township can't take it for free and then sell the post-recycled content to a manufacturer to generate income is lost to me.

[maharahaj]

As far as the OP is concerned, I hate the new boxes. I can easy feel a greater amount of deflection in the case with very little pressure applied to its surface area.

[MagGnome]

At the end, I give a completely anonymous survey for my own purposes. I never ask them specific questions about the material, only what they thought about the topics discussed, which ones they liked, didn't like, which texts they enjoyed, what they would change about the course, etc. Only 1 student out of 50 thought the material was "too political." The vast majority of them said the class made them think about the issues in a ways they never have before and many of them specifically said it changed their eating habits. When you get outside of the Fox News crowd (which are merely a vocal minority, even among conservatives), you do find people that show concern when given access to the information about the world. Especially with issues like the environment, which is rapidly becoming not a conservative or liberal argument, but something important for everyone regardless of your other beliefs. This especially with the younger generation as I find in my students semester after semester.


That's very encouraging, and I hope that you are right.

[Kelegacy]

When I was teaching, there was an anonymous survey as well. Attached to each one was a picture of my penis.

I haven't taught in years. They won't even call me to sub.

[jpc_theoneandonly]

The recent bugaboo over the e-mails doesn't do much to change the mountains of research done on global warming; it really says more about not allowing a healthy and fully realized academic atmosphere that allows for dissent than it is about the actual body of scientific research.

Denying global warming or the issues involvng the scarcity of oil resources basically requires you to deny a belief in modern science, but perhaps you are one of those "the earth was created in 2,000 years" people, so I won't belabor that point. Just know it requires a pretty radical perspective.

But even if you take that stance, I don't see how you can can deny emperical evidence of all the tremendous amount of garbage we are producing. For example, there is about a thousand miles of plastic trash in the Pacific Ocean which has been the subject of study for over a decade now. It's not really deniable that it is there unless you want to deny your own eyeballs. You can go look at it. CNN just did a story on it, in fact (http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/04/pacific.garbage.patch/index.html).

Then there are the landfills where the mountains of non-biodegradeble plastic continue to pile up.

Here are some cell phones in Atlanta George dump. Keep in mind that this is all from one single major city:

http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cell-phones-chris-jordan.jpg

Here are the cell phone chargers:

http://www.informinc.org/gallery/chrisjordan/1114175929.jpg

Go walk through a local landfill sometime and reallize that there are literally hundreds of thousands of them (http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/08/eco.about.landfills/#cnnSTCText) around the world then see how you feel about the idea that all this non-biodegrable plastic doesn't hurt anything.

I completely agree with the fact that we have tons of useless crap that just keeps piling up. It is also a fact that global warming is a natural cycle of the earth. If our carbon emissions cause that cycle to raise by one degree more than normal I am not denying it but we surely are not the root cause.

I think that we should be less wasteful and not build things only to be thrown away a month later that will take 100's of years to decompose. But a lot of the things being pushed by so called environmentalists is nothing more than a push for tax breaks and their own personal gain.

It is not that I don't believe that we are trashing the earth. I just believe that long after we are gone the earth will still be here. It will shake us off like a bad case of the fleas. Granted, before it does we may cause the earth to chew on its butt for a while, but that will heal.

Back on track, I have one of these cases and I don't like it at all. It feels...cheap. And not in a good way. I keep all of my cases and my games stay on a shelf. I also brought a few games with me on my deployment and they survived with not one case broken. I am afraid that my MW2 case may not be so lucky.

[EternalGamer]

That's fair, the earth is not fragile, the human race and other species, are. Though I'm not sure if that is supposed to be reassuring that you aren't that concerned about the survival of the human race.:confused:

[jpc_theoneandonly]

That's fair, the earth is not fragile, the human race and other species, are. Though I'm not sure if that is supposed to be reassuring that you aren't that concerned about the survival of the human race.:confused:

Yes I am some what concerned for the survival of the human race. But I am more concerned with things such as stem cell research that could prolong our existence rather than the type of box my video game comes in. You do make very good points though. Sorry to derail the thread everyone.

[MagGnome]

When I was teaching, there was an anonymous survey as well. Attached to each one was a picture of my penis.

I haven't taught in years. They won't even call me to sub.

100 tiny voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

[EternalGamer]

Back on track, I have one of these cases and I don't like it at all. It feels...cheap. And not in a good way.


What DOES feel "cheap in a good way," aside from those pictures of Kelegacy's penis, that is.

[Savok]

Humanity isn't going anywhere. Civilization on the other hand...

[MagGnome]

What DOES feel "cheap in a good way," aside from those pictures of Kelegacy's penis, that is.

EG brings out his sassy side!


Humanity isn't going anywhere. Civilization on the other hand...

Civilization is on my hard drive. :D

[jpc_theoneandonly]

Civilization is on my hard drive. :D


Problem solved! :D

[Talanvor]

Wow, you guys went kind of nuts since I last saw this thread.

Anyway. I just bought Predator on Blu-ray (Target has it on sale for $9.99, and there's a $5 coupon off any Blu-ray floating about) and it has a very similar case as the OP's pic. Though instead of plain spokes they were shaped as the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle arrows. Bizarre.

[Deadend]

My god.. what a total bitchfest.

[jpc_theoneandonly]

My god.. what a total bitchfest.

Meh...it is an internet forum. Where else would you find such great commentary?

[Wasson_]

Thats second picture looks like something out of the matrix.


No...it's wobot busghetti.

[Stoke]

It appears I'm late to this thread but I just noticed it and had to voice my displeasure. I first saw this in my roommate's MW2 and then in my Dragon Age case. I absolutely fucking hate it. I already regularly see cases with holes punched in them that go through the plastic, with only the box art to guard the disc they surely would have been destroyed. I don't care about the savings for the company, nor the environmental effect. It's not worth it if it makes the disc more vulnerable.

Now continue with the bitching. ;)