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Games @lemmy.world

eru777 @lemmy.world

4w ago

Can an American explain to me what's with the grooves on PS1 NTSC cases?

Is this because everything in america has to be bigger?

27 comments

It's a holdover from the original PS1 long boxes:
- I have never seen those before and I owned plenty of PS1 games. Is that how the American ones looked?
  
  Yeah, at launch in 1995 they were all like that.
- That's fascinating. Why where those like it? To not slide around so easily?
  
  I think it was just a design differentiator. Saturn and Sega CD cases looked like oversized CD cases.

The grooves?
The pattern on the left is actually just inside the case, under a clear part of the case. That part is black in the Euro version, but the case looks the same otherwise. (We have cases like that, too.)

Edit: Also, that Japanese one? I'm pretty sure it's the same style, but turned upside down. That's the base of the case. Searching Google, I found a copy on Ebay that shows the front, and that section of the front of the case is clear for that one, too.

Canadian here. We had that pattern too, except for things like Greatest Hits editions which were arguably even uglier.

I'm not sure why it's like that. It does kind of remind me of the grooves in the side of the original PS1 though.
- We only had the "Platinum" line, just a ~~silvery~~ platinum color instead of the very tasteful green you showcase.

Is this because everything in america has to be bigger?
? it's the same size?
Anyway, I guess they thought it looked cool? idk it's just part of the back cover, it's not molded into the plastic or anything
- As someone pointed out, they are actually not the same size. I was mentioning the grooves being part of the "everything needs to look bigger and meaner in USA". As part of the whole marketing strategy that still goes on to this day. E.g. In kirby game covers in the US he looks angry.

I love the groove. Problems start arising when they sell enough to gain Greatest Hits status 😬
- We got Platinum in PAL.
  It actually made the game look slightly cooler.
  
  (not my image, just found on google)
- This looks radioactive.

"Ribbed, for their pleasure."

Is this because everything in America has to be bigger?
Wow. Starting off with stereotypes that are incorrect right away, are we?
Let me guess, European? Or Canadian?

Never seen a CD jewel case before?
- No, only plastic ones.

Klonoa <3
- Amazing platformer!

In a fraction of the time it took you to make this, you could have confirmed yourself that these are all the same size
- They're not the same size. European is bigger. Also the groves are just an inlay print, literally paper thin.

Is this because everything in america has to be bigger?
You're thinking of Texas.
- For many foreigners, Texas is America lol

27 comments