Speak-Up On Kotaku: Damaged Packages, Missing PS2s, Bad Science, And Cheating [Speak-

[Collector's Edition]

From Kotaku (http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/kotaku/full/~3/3D67SIHEN9I/)
In this week's installment of Speak-Up on Kotaku, Pykestein, Jimmuhpage, Sazzrah, and WhiteMåge is in fact a boy take on packaging woes, PS2 availability, cheat devices, and Jo Frost.

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The Importance Of Packaging

Pykestein (http://kotaku.com/people/Pykenstein/) is a little miffed (http://kotaku.com/comment/19249619) about tape ruining his precious Divine Edition of Dante's Inferno. How important is packaging to you?

I love EA, but man. Just got home with my Dante's Inferno Divine Edition. I pre-ordered from GameStop for the first time ever. I am one of the old school douches who still values packaging and will go to extremes to preserve it. I'm PISSED because the adhesive on the plastic tabs used to hold the sleeve in place pulled the foil off the cover. I have 2 perfect semi-circles and 2 other places where chunks are missing. Petty, I know. But EA, come on. Come onnnn......... I shouldn't have to steam the game above a boiling pot of water for 5 minutes just to open the damn thing without ruining the package!

[twistedsymphony]

I saw this on Kotaku, I thought it was interesting, Mostly because I also purchased Dante's Inferno Divine Edition and while I took enormous care removing the stickers (sliced with a razor first and then carefully pealed it wasn't without insident. I managed to get the ones othe back removed without a problem as well as the sticker on the top, but the one on the bottom came half way off and then began to tear. I stopped and replaced the sticker before going further. I trimmed it down to remove the portion that I could but I've got half a piece of tape stuck to the bottom of the cover essentially holding the reflective material in place :(

Though I'd rather look at an ugly piece of clear tape than have a chunk missing out of the artwork.

would it have really killed them to wrap the whole case over the slip cover instead of using tape that ruins it... if you're going to charge extra for a special case than why ruin it with the seal?

[scourdx]

They did the same thing to Mass Effect 2. The first time I tried to get rid of the sticker, the adhesive began to peel off some part of the glossy box. I hate when EA goes cheap.

[nodge2k]

It's not just game publisher's though. My copy of the GTAIV CE was absolutely ruined by the retailer putting a) a massive sticker with the price on that ripped all the artwork and b) a sticker with my surname on it because I preordered it. Half of Nico's face is ripped off as a result.

Also, what's with more and more retailers breaking security seals and keeping the game discs/manuals behind the counter. I know its to curb theft and all that, but it means the only way of me getting sealed copies is to buy online and I don't trust Royal Mail anymore.

[twistedsymphony]

Also, what's with more and more retailers breaking security seals and keeping the game discs/manuals behind the counter. I know its to curb theft and all that, but it means the only way of me getting sealed copies is to buy online and I don't trust Royal Mail anymore.

It's not to curb theft, that's just their handy excuse.
they could just as easily keep the sealed boxes behind the counter with a dummy on the shelf (like Best Buy does), this is cheap and easier for the store and it's easier for the consumer...

In reality it's to devalue the new games so you're more likely to buy a new game.

what's the difference between a used game that someone played once and a new game that's had the case cracked open that someone else hasn't played (or maybe it was played since the clerks are allowed to take the games home to familiarize themselves with the product... no joke)... about $10 so you might as well get the used one that they make more money on.

I go to my local Gamestop a lot, mostly because it's the only place to buy games unless I want to go on a friggin road-trip.

I've refused to purchase games on several occasions if they broke the seal. "oh it's been opened, never-mind I don't want it, I'll go order it online instead" I've convinced enough of my friends to do the same so now they keep a few sealed copies behind the counter, so if you want it sealed... just ask.

[Maven]

I have to agree that the stickers used are truly annoying. Fortunately the Death Edition ordered from Game came in a cellophane wrapper but this is not always the case & no matter how well you've mastered the art of removal there is always an accident waiting to happen.

[Skoolstah]

God, that reminds me of Street Fighter IV: CE. The big box came with this annoying sticker on each side. Started trying to peel it off, but it tore as soon as I started pulling. My last 3-4 purchases have had stickers on them I've given up mostly on peeling. Just slit them open and leave the sticker on. Sure, it's ugly, but it beats having a torn box.