When Sega became Super Cheap

[Joe Redifer]

As most of you have no doubt noticed, most late-era Genesis games and almost all 32X games come in a crappy paper box instead of the glorious plastic clamshells we were used to with the Master System onwards (hell, even Power Strike had a plastic box). But then Sega decided that they hated their customers and resorted to making all of the boxes out of cheap cardboard, losing the color-covered instruction manuals and even using cheaper paper for the manual. I'm damn surprised that the game cartridge itself wasn't made out of cheap cardboard, or at least had a cheap black and white sticker instead of a color one. Yet they still released their CD games in the giganto-huge boxes that take up half my room instead of a normal-sized jewell case.

As you can see, this money-saving venture saved Sega and made them the richest, most powerful company in the world. :roll:

Anyway, I am going around used game shops buying crappy games that nobody wants that have good boxes so my paper-boxed games can have real plastic clamshells. What I am doing is scanning 3 sides of the paper box into the computer at 400dpi, touching them up to get rid of blemishes and whatnot, and then printing them out to legal-sized photo paper to fit into the clamshell. The result? It looks like the game came in the plastic box (except for the black and white instructions). With 32X games you either need to collect a hell of a lot of Quarterback Clubs and NBA Jams all with boxes, or you can use EA boxes as the cart pretty much fits into that as well (won't fit into a regular Genesis box). I've already fixed my Phantasy Star 4 so it has a box worthy of the game that won't wear out. I've scanned in Knuckles' Chaotix and Space Harrier but I still need to get more boxes before I print them out. The original boxes are kept intact (ie: not cut up to fit the cases) and stored away.

Here is a picture of my Phantasy Star 4:

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/ps4.jpg

I just wanted to show it off a little. :) Anyway I am all for sharing my efforts, but the TIFF files are huge (weighing in at around 60+ megabytes each) so I don't know who'd want to host them. Also, I only have 3 done so far, but I plan on doing more.

[Joe Redifer]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that there are no plastic boxes that Sonic & Knuckles will fit into. Actually it will fit into the Virtua Racing box sorta, but if you try to put the instruction manual in there, it won't close. So it has to remain in a paper box. :(

[atm55]

Wow, that's really great work, when you find a host site I'm gonna have to download these...

[Elusive]

Hah. The only paper box used in European markets was the Sonic & Knuckles box, and the 32x 'sleeve' boxes.

also, sell it off on eBay as 'SUPER RARE PLASTIC BOX PHANTASY STAR 4 IV' :D

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah but the European market had those UGLY blue Mega Drive logos and 10 billion languages on the box and in the instructions. :)

[GeckoYamori]

I thought the blue logos were better than the red Genesis counterparts, same with the Dreamcast. It goes better with Sega's logo. Red is for Nintendo.

[j_factor]

Damn, that PS4 looks great.

[Alvatron]

Hey Joe, that looks great! Can you do the same with old Sega CD games? You know the ones with the cardboard boxes? I have some extra plastic cases that I would love to put those old games in.

[Joe Redifer]

Hmmm I probably could, but back then I was stupid and cut up my cardboard boxes and put them into the jewel case. The spine labels would look a bit weird since they were thinner than the cases, though. I'd have to either stretch to fit or fill it in with the cardboard color, or maybe a bit of both. Amazingly the manuals would fit right in the front!

[Melf]

Oh yeah, I forgot to say that there are no plastic boxes that Sonic & Knuckles will fit into. Actually it will fit into the Virtua Racing box sorta, but if you try to put the instruction manual in there, it won't close. So it has to remain in a paper box. :(

Actually, it will fit nicely into an EA box, manual and all. The trick is to turn the cart sideways, so that the vertical grips can grab it on the side. I use one of those big EA boxes that has the logo on the side where the cartridge goes.

I did the same as you with most of my cardboard boxes, as I hate them with a passion. Mine don't look as sweet as yours does, but they look hella better than the original packaging.

[Joe Redifer]

Interesting, as Sonic & Knuckles did not fit into any of the EA boxes I tried. I assume there are thin, thick, and thicker EA boxes? I have a Road Rash box which is thin and taller than a normal box, and the cart and manual just sit inside completely unsecured. I'll have to keep a lookout for a massive EA box.

[Melf]

Try one like Desert Strike or Techno Clash. The big ones work great. Thin ones, like the Immortal has, won't fit the lock-on part.

[Joe Redifer]

OK I now have two EA boxes with the EA logo on the cart side (one of them from Desert Strike). If you put an EA manual in it, it is too small and flops around but a real Genesis manual fits perfectly. But I still can't figure out how to arrange the Sonic and Knuckles cartridge so that it fits. Is there any way you could take a picture of the game placed in your box?

[segagamer]

That PSIV plastic case looks really sharp!!!

[Hidden_Darkness]

the plastic case really improves the look of the game by alot. the cardboard ones were just horrible in my opinion...

[Genesis Knight]

I tried the S and K in Desert Strike, and it didn't work at all. I got closer with the ultra-wide NHLPA Hockey, but that wasn't great, either. Pics, Melf?

[Joe Redifer]

If you take an EA box like the Desert Strike one (preferably something you buy USED for 50 or so cents) and slice off just one of the corners wth an exacto knife, it'll fit. I'll try and post pictures if I am not too lazy.

Here is my super rare Knuckles' Chaotix plastic box:

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/chaotix.jpg

:)

[Jason Allen]

Man, these look great! I did the same many years ago with my Sonic 3-D Blast and Final Fight CD.

[Melf]

Here are some pics. Forgive their crappy quality:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/Melf00/SK1.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/Melf00/SK.jpg

[ary incorparated]

cool i did that too with my sonic and knukles and then a had it twice i seld the one pushed into that ea box,They saw it as very cheap and ripped from collectors valeu id did the same with my n64 boxes i where going to trade those,the boxes inc manuals wherent calculated with the total price actually its am good way to go if you just play the games but if you collect you would ruin its origenality and the price wil fade highly,because people know that thats not the full supported origenal but one with a home made shell.I also have knuckles ghaotix but still in paper and un damaged.Tough some sega covers suck hard like european sega saturn if the gleu was weak your case would be broke,not to forget Dreamcast cases one vall and its broken just like a Geekcollectors hart when ripping the skin of a snes game.Just a example im not a collector of anything really.

[Joe Redifer]

Oh man Melf that's a crappy box! You must go to the used game store and pick some random EA sports game with the HUGE box and buy it. Get home, throw away the sports game, and there you go! It looks to me like you sliced off the right two tabs. Did you? Also I've never seen a box with those two tabs on the top and bottom. What box was this from originally?

[Elusive]

Here are some pics. Forgive their crappy quality:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/Melf00/SK1.jpg http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y9/Melf00/SK.jpg

Oooo, ex-rental? My Columns cart had all the 'VOID' text slathered all over it after I removed the rental sticker =P

[ary incorparated]

Bye bye Collectors valeu eyy,I did the same with Sonic and knuckles,the price went from 25 to 5 euro.

[Obviously]

Sonic and Knuckles isn't exactly a rarity. I saw six of them at Gamestop the other day.

[Joe Redifer]

Hell it'd be worth more in the plastic box than in the paper box.

[ary incorparated]

BS thats hell not true and jou know it when,maybe it becomes rare,colectors know what they want,and thats the origenal and maybe even sealed,they cant show of with a sonic and knuckles in a home made way,in a snapcase.Oke Put youre rare Knuckles ghaotix in a snapcase the valeu fades allot.Paper isnt that good i agree but for the collector,just keep those games save from getting ugly and Finally having ript paper boxes etc,BTW panzer dragoon saga has a paper shel ,You automatically know that youlle have to keep it save,if youre not a collector just a gamer then it doesnt care,but if you want to show of youre cool origenal Knuckles ghaotix In perfect condition,exept that youve made it fit in a Clamshell then other HC collectors,or people that know the valeu of it,could say yeah so 1 it isnt sealed(understandable)second you have it complete(pretty fine) Third you have the origenal box without scratches etc on it,Perfect you get the retrospect for the game and even collectors,Knowers appreciate you kept it in origenal valeu,But since you cutted the cover and fitted it in a clamshell it has no valeu anymore.Here like put all youre snes games in clamshels,The valeu is just gone only the cartridge plus Bookl get valeu but not the benefit of the doubt thats its rare,It isnt in the origenal sealing anymore,so the ugly covor maybe trown away when selling to the local Gameshop and theyle buy the game for a lot lesser then its worth,like Final fight 3 is very rare here in europe lets complete its worth 40 euro well since the the box is home made,The box maybe would be trown away by the seller and the game plus booklet valeu is about 15 euro and they set it for sale for like 25.I dont know how it is in America etc but here in Holland etc,The valeu is a bit ruined when the box is cutted.Ya know there are a lot of scatch free box Freaks and thats whorse,but true.I dont have everything in box either but the things i have boxed,i dont going to make em fit thanx to a sissor,like i got Knuckles ghaotix origenal and scratch free,Paper,so what let it be,snes had it al the way. :D

[ary incorparated]

Btw America etc isnt europe ey,S&K is rare in holland.but it was only a example. :D

[Obviously]

The point is either a lot of people ruined the paper boxes over time and don't have them anymore or they want to keep their collection looking nice and uniform for display with all plastic boxes.

There's also nothing wrong with making the plastic cases for display and keeping the flimsy paper original safe somewhere else if you ever for some reason want to sell it.

[Joe Redifer]

Ary I seriously have a dificult time reading your posts. They are very hard to understand.

But I will say that the paper I print them on is of higher quality than the paper that normally comes with the clamshell-boxed games. It looks every bit as good if not better. Also, there are many games that come in both a paper and a plastic box (Castlevania, Contra, Gauntlet, etc). Which would you rather have? Also, why would someone buy a sealed game never to open it? I hate people who do that (though I don't mind people who sell me sealed games). I buy games to enjoy them, not look at them collecting dust on the shelves, and the plastic clamshells are not only much more durable under wear (the box to my Altered Beast which came with my Genesis in 1989 still looks BRAND NEW), but they look better than the super cheap paper boxes as well. Huzzah!

[ary incorparated]

Joe,get the idea,you sead it wrong,you never mentioned copying covers,Huzaah.thats a Total diffrent story,then what i was trying to tell,but since you couldnt read it you couldnt get it obviously.If you sell n64 games in clamshell and the cutted paper boxes the valeu is lowwer obvious,whci you where talking about,Huzahh 2.Btw you make it sound like a competition,i didnt started it i where only giving things that could be treu for collectors,BTW you dont care what they found of youre valeu of games,Thats what i sead also.That its no probe if you aint selling it anyways,at least not planned to.Just my instruction about that you dont have to post back,but hey if you didnt gett ill Write a little better so you would.BTW thanx for the comment im still working on that. :D

[Joe Redifer]

I would never cut up the orignal box.

The N64 example is a bad one, being that N64 games never came in plastic boxes.

[Joe Redifer]

Check out my super-rare Sonic & Knuckles in the plastic box! There are only two like it in the ENTIRE WORLD!

http://pixelcraze.film-tech.net/crap/sandk.jpg

[Obviously]

I'll have one order of Sonic and Knuckles with a side of awesome sauce please. Really nice.

[David J.]

Really cool, but for some reason, the custom S&K box looks a bit faded. Camera?

Sadly, i'm not to keen on complete Genesis games today, and I wasn't as a child (I lost a few manuals for some reason) but I always loved the plastic cases, and hated the cardboard ones. Ugh.

[Joe Redifer]

Possible combination of camera flash and crappy transparent plastic EA liked to use. It does look a bit better in real life (the black is actually black, etc). Also my digital camera is older than photography itself. It isn't even a megapixel.

[ary incorparated]

n64 is a good example of cutting boxes and put em in clamchells,maybe i misunderstaed youre situation because i read it strangly the words,just cut the edges. :D Ill recomment never do that unless the cassete hasnt got any valeu or value left,Keep it up Joe,Nice work s&k boxed in plastic. :D

[ary incorparated]

maybe where talking bpout diffrent thing Joe,the my english isnt just good enought to explian.sorry mate.