Poll: PSA on the Eco-Box and Broken Game Discs

[RUINER ACTUAL]

So the new games coming out as of late, such as MW2 and L4D2 are not using normal Xbox DVD cases. They are using these DVD cases called the "EcoBox." The name is printed on the inside spine. They are easily distinguishable because they are very light and have a spoke design where the disc is where plastic usually is, but there is just space. The boxes are suppose to use less plastic, save money, and produce less carbon emissions in production...Too bad they suck.

Two of my friends and several people I have talked to on here have had this problem. When I asked Microsoft about it, they said my friend was putting the disc in wrong. Either they think we are retarded, or they have no idea what I was talking about. Or don't want to pay damages.

Has anyone noticed these cases or had a problem with them? Any other DVD cases using them besides the Xbox 360 games? If you have a problem with the cases, please post a picture of the disc if you can. The damage is very distinguishable by small cracks in the inner circle that go out towards the game disc.

I suggest not using these cases. Get some empty DVD cases, CD cases, or binder for your games, or just do what I do and have your discs safely sitting on your console.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

All I can say is I'm glad they don't appear to use those over here. They sound like a pain, and I've accidentally broken enough regular boxes to know that LESS plastic can never be the answer.

 

[klakkat]

I use purely digital delivery these days. No box, no disk, no damage.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

All I can say is I'm glad they don't appear to use those over here. They sound like a pain, and I've accidentally broken enough regular boxes to know that LESS plastic can never be the answer.

It sure isn't the answer. The plastic is taken from the area where, I don't know, the box is suppose to PROTECT the disc. So the only thing protecting the majority of the disc is the paper cover and plastic that's over the cover.

 

[BULLDOGG33]

So the new games coming out as of late, such as MW2 and L4D2 are not using normal Xbox DVD cases. They are using these DVD cases called the "EcoBox." The name is printed on the inside spine. They are easily distinguishable because they are very light and have a spoke design where the disc is where plastic usually is, but there is just space. The boxes are suppose to use less plastic, save money, and produce less carbon emissions in production...Too bad they suck.

Two of my friends and several people I have talked to on here have had this problem. When I asked Microsoft about it, they said my friend was putting the disc in wrong. Either they think we are retarded, or they have no idea what I was talking about. Or don't want to pay damages.

Has anyone noticed these cases or had a problem with them? Any other DVD cases using them besides the Xbox 360 games? If you have a problem with the cases, please post a picture of the disc if you can. The damage is very distinguishable by small cracks in the inner circle that go out towards the game disc.

I suggest not using these cases. Get some empty DVD cases, CD cases, or binder for your games, or just do what I do and have your discs safely sitting on your console.

I found this story posted on this site claiming the same problem.
http://www.explicitgamer.com/blog/2010/03/the-eco-box-good-or-bad/

 

[squid5580]

I love them. The tabs have worked fine for me in every game and movie I have bought that uses them. I have a bigger problem wiht CE tins than these cases. At least these cases are functional.

 

[esperandote]

I think that as long you dont throw or hit the box there shouldn't be a problem.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

I've never had a single problem with the cases, and I have no idea how they'd scractch anything that anyone owned without misuse.

They don't scratch the disc. Why does everyone assume that? I thought I explained myself quite well. The center button causes small cracks (which grow) to form on the inner ring of the disc. nothing is scratched. These cracks grow, and where they meet, chunks of the disc fall off.

 

[BULLDOGG33]

I've never had a single problem with the cases, and I have no idea how they'd scractch anything that anyone owned without misuse.

They don't scratch the disc. Why does everyone assume that? I thought I explained myself quite well. The center button causes small cracks (which grow) to form on the inner ring of the disc. nothing is scratched. These cracks grow, and where they meet, chunks of the disc fall off.

I have the same problem with discs. I have old disks that are in great shape no cracks. Now since the eco case I have had two disks crack. Also, it is funny that I post a link and no one reads it. I guess people will always be arrogant enough to say it is the users fault.

 

[arealperson]

This thread may be long dead (I saw it referenced in the comments for Ubisoft game manuals, which was linked in reference to the EA Sports manual article), but I can't pass up the opportunity to share.

At first glance for damage, including a flip of the disc, I thought "Phew, nope," but then on closer inspection I did see small cracks forming. My case in particular was damaged on delivery, so I thought that aspect was a personal anecdote I could add to the Eco-Box case. I've uploaded some pictures, hopefully you can make something out from them:

<spoiler=Case crack when closed>
[http://photobucket.com]

<spoiler=Modern Warfare 2 disc in case>
[http://photobucket.com]
<spoiler=Disc outside of case> [http://photobucket.com]

<spoiler=Close up of cracks--Look for shadows>
[http://photobucket.com]

You may be able to make out three small cracks in the inner plastic ring. &nbsp;While obviously not significant, the small disc cracks would likely be due to the case itself more than any other factor.

As a bit of background, I got the game in the Modern Warfare 2 360 Bundle, shipped from Amazon. &nbsp;This means that the case was in both the Amazon shipping box and the Xbox 360 Bundle box. &nbsp;The case was tightly packed into the top of the box and the boxes showed clear signs of wear from being roughed up when shipped (the corners were fairly beat up), so there was some cause to the damage. &nbsp;Don't think it would have been evident on the case had it been made of the older more durable plastic though.

While I don't admire the new cases, the issue hasn't been of too large a concern (yet). The most disappointing aspects to the bundle were the short cords, lack of HD cable, and ultralight manual. A second headset would have been nice, but as the game doesn't support local 2-player online...

 

[spectrenihlus]

I've never had a single problem with the cases, and I have no idea how they'd scractch anything that anyone owned without misuse.

They don't scratch the disc. Why does everyone assume that? I thought I explained myself quite well. The center button causes small cracks (which grow) to form on the inner ring of the disc. nothing is scratched. These cracks grow, and where they meet, chunks of the disc fall off.

Hmm never had that problem before but it seems totally plausible. I try to be aware of it from now on.

 

[Jamash]

This thread may be long dead (I saw it referenced in the comments for Ubisoft game manuals, which was linked in reference to the EA Sports manual article), but I can't pass up the opportunity to share.

At first glance for damage, including a flip of the disc, I thought "Phew, nope," but then on closer inspection I did see small cracks forming. My case in particular was damaged on delivery, so I thought that aspect was a personal anecdote I could add to the Eco-Box case. I've uploaded some pictures, hopefully you can make something out from them:

<spoiler=Modern Warfare 2 disc in case>
[http://photobucket.com]
<spoiler=Disc outside of case> [http://photobucket.com]

<spoiler=Close up of cracks--Look for shadows>
[http://photobucket.com]

You may be able to make out three small cracks in the inner plastic ring. &nbsp;While obviously not significant, the small disc cracks would likely be due to the case itself more than any other factor.

Those types of cracks are caused that specific type of case spindle and aren't exclusive to Eco-Boxes, I had the same problem with the collectors/GOTY editions of Oblivion and Need For Speed Carbon, whic I bough pre-owned and both featured 2 discs in the case and those hard spindles.

I think the cracks are caused when you don't depress the spindle when removing or putting the game back into the case, because if you don't depress and make the spindle smaller than the disc hole you have to force the disc on or off it, which stresses the plastic and causes the cracks.

This is even more likely to happen when you place the disc back into the case after play, since the disc will be hotter and more brittle after a gaming session, meaning it will be more likely to crack if you don't place it on the harder spindle very carefully.

Those small cracks may not seem like much, but they will start causing Disc Read Errors because they make the diameter of the disc hole slightly larger, which mean it won't fit properly onto the spindle inside the DVD drive and the disc will slip while spinning.

If you can, you should install the disc onto your HDD so at least you'll have the game data and it will only have to perform a low velocity disc check on start-up, which shouldn't cause it to slip as much as the high velocity spinning it does when playing from the disc and constantly streaming data.

It's an unfortunate problem, even more so because it's completely caused by the user not handling the discs carefully enough, but there's also a distinct lack of knowledge about how the discs can specifically damaged in this manner by not pressing the spindles when removing or placing discs in their cases.

This is one of the main reasons I don't by pre-owned games any more (ever since I experinced this problem with Oblivion and NFS:C), since I can't be sure whether the previous owner followed this little know unwritten rule about handling discs properly, so there's no guarantee that they haven't caused microscopic but fatal damage to the disc. Also, every time I get a new game I take it out of the case by depressing the spindle, install in onto the HDD, and then keep it in a disc wallet so it will never be damaged in this manner.

It's a shame that this PSA has to be made and that so many gamers are unaware of this problem with discs, thinking that proper disc-care only entails protecting the underside from scratches - I did too until I experienced the problem myself.

I think this information should be printed in the manuals or disc boxes, with patronising diagrams and a explanation stating why you must depress the spindle and exactly what will happen if you don't remove/replace the disc properly... game discs (especially with the current generation of consoles that play from the disc) may look like DVD's but they are put under far greater stresses, spun at far greater speeds and at higher temperatures than any music, movie or PC disc, so this information needs to be more widely know.

 

[arealperson]

-snip

Well thanks for the concern, I do attempt to press down the spindle every-time, but perhaps I could put more caution into it. I do have some disc wallets, but I tend to put my mature rated games back into their case and out of sight for family reasons (I'm over the age of majority, just to be clear). A family member does share the games now and then, but it's more than likely my own carelessness was the cause (It's probable that I was in a rush to put the disc away or put it away in the dark). I don't believe I've had a disc-read error with this disc in particular (I'm pretty sure the only times I have, were with used games and broken consoles -- PS2) and I don't tend to sell my games, (never have yet) so hopefully I won't victimize another like yourself.

A warning for the times when discs are under heated conditions may help, but in light of that I think they should sooner abandon the current cases -- especially concerning the trend of abandoning manuals altogether.

I'll by sure not to assert blame on the particular Eco-Boxes in this case (accidental pun), but the case crack and flimsiness will still get my evil eye. But wait, the Eco-Boxes do make the area holding the spindle softer and more susceptible to accidental improper disc-placing-procedure... okay I'll just drop it.

 

[Eclectic Dreck]

I have had problems with similar cases for DVD's but never video games. More than once I've had a DVD crack in transit because I did not take sufficient care to place the case protecting the disc in the best possible part of the bag in which I put the thing assuming that the protective case would, you know, protect the disc.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I fucking hate this cases, not because they crack my disks (hasn't happened to me yet), but because there's nothing actually protecting the disk on either side. I mean, the way these stupid boxes are designed I might as well just wrap some cellophane around my disk and it'll have the same effect.

Why couldn't Microsoft just make their game boxes SMALLER, like the PS3 boxes. They'd save the same amount of plastic while still retaining structural integrity. Seriously, xbox 360 boxes waste soo much space for nothing.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I fucking hate this cases, not because they crack my disks (hasn't happened to me yet), but because there's nothing actually protecting the disk on either side. I mean, the way these stupid boxes are designed I might as well just wrap some cellophane around my disk and it'll have the same effect.

Why couldn't Microsoft just make their game boxes SMALLER, like the PS3 boxes. They'd save the same amount of plastic while still retaining structural integrity. Seriously, xbox 360 boxes waste soo much space for nothing.

Or even go back to the early DVD case design, which was mostly cardboard, with just a little bit of plastic to hold the disc and for a latch to close the box? Those suckers were more durable than you'd think, and did a much better job of protecting the disc than these eco cases ever could, although they weren't as good as the standard amray case that most people think of when you say "DVD case."

OT: I can't say I've had that problem, but then I don't have many (if any) games that use it. I think I might have a single Wii game with the eco case design, but I almost never play the wii, so that disc is safe. I do have a couple of movie DVDs that use the eco case, but I'm not constantly pulling those in and out of the case, so the main thing that worries me about them is the fact that the disc isn't protected properly within the case, not that pulling it in and out might damage it.

 

[Digitaldreamer7]

Mine end up in a 50 cd binder. you just have to be careful with that, make sure you get the binder the has the pouch that covers the entire disc or you will get scratches from the discs rubbing together. This problem is better seen on cd's and dvd's where the actual disc printing is lighter, but, as we all should know if you scratch the painted top part of the disc, you're fucked.