PC games get console packaging

My Age of Empires III game in a nice DVD style plastic container, but it's about 1" thick, enough to house all the CDs, manuals, extras, etc. I think it's a good idea considering some of my other PC game boxes are getting a bit tattered.

"They can't include manuals with console style packaging."

Why not? Did someone hide all the shrink wrap? Those damn timber companies!

Nice to see this happening more. Honestly, I believe that PC games should receive the same treatment as console games, as I just don't see the point in the companies paying for the extra packaging that will usually get thrown away.

I'd actually keep DVD-style cases, but it's getting rather annoying to have all of these jewel cases just lying around. I'd rather have more durable packaging, and I feel that DVD-style cases will give me that.

Well while they are busy invating console PC game boxes they should have add a changable ESRB rating pocket. That way every time ESRB changes ratings on a game because some mod unlocked something they wont have to recall the game they can just change the rating :)

Wikipedia has everything, doesn't it?

I don't care about the packaging! Give me plug and I'll be happy.

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Now that I finally start liking the smaller boxes they do this? I really don't like the dvd style cases. To me, it's the opposite as others have been saying; the dvd cases feel cheap and remind me of junky console game. Btw; Brothers in Arms came out in a thicker DVD style case but with a cardstock slip cover over it.

The reasoning behind the change to smaller packaging for PC games is that in many retailers, such as EB games and Gamestop, there have been complaints that PC games take up to much shelf space. Because of the fact that PC games don't sell nearly as well as PC games, retailers were getting angry that they are forced to use more shelf space to display PC games than the better selling console games.

As a result to combat these complaints, and in an effort to try and regain some of the coveted shelf space that PC games have lost (my local EB's PC game section is about 1/10th the size of the PS2/XBOX sections, or about half the size of the gamecube section) they have redesigned the packaging and made a standard, smaller package the norm.

While I don't think it will help sales at all, it well help retailers get more PC games on the limited amount of display space they have.

I must be old. I enjoyed the really large boxes. Why? The manuals. Now your lucky if you get a PDF. I remember buying the original DOS version of TIE FIGHTER, and it had a pretty manual and a story book with what was then considered cool graphics.

And I also remember buying my copy of Falcon 4.0 that came in a freakin three ring binder. It came with a 200+ page manual for everything from refueling in mid-air to comms.

Don't get me started on Falcon 3.0 Gold packaging. the game was on Floppies and it came with a manual, a thrid party published book, "Art of DogFighting(I think this is what it's called)." This book contained everything from spotting escape windows to flying in formation.

And does anyone remember the box for the HALO prequel, Marathon by bungie? Ahhhhh. those were the days.

I mean come on, even X-COM came with an 80 page manual.

Does anybody really care what kind of box their games com in? I'd have thought what's *in* the box would be more important.

This is one more sign indicating the growing lack of soul and of creativity in the games industry. Everything is standardized - same box, same genre, same bloody 3D engine.

- Alex