backtop

Print E-mail del.icio.us 22 comment(s) - last by nitrous9200.. on Oct 2 at 11:06 PM

Foam inside Australian Halo 3 box keeps disc in place  (Source: YouTube)
Halo 3 Limited Edition packaging Down Under are scratch-resistant thanks to foam

Halo 3 launched yesterday to millions of eager gamers, amounting to one of the biggest first-days yet in the video game industry. Halo 3 appeared in stores with three different versions: the Standard Edition, Limited Edition and Legendary Edition, ranging from $59.99 to $129.99.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Limited Edition’s packaging design did not include adequate measures to secure the DVDs in place, leading many gamers to find loose, scratched up discs inside the game box.

Gamers armed with the knowledge of the packaging defect and given the luxury of inspecting each Limited Edition box before purchasing had a greater chance of taking home an undamaged copy, but those who purchased through an online retailer were playing a game of chance.

Microsoft has responsibly updated its Xbox Disc Replacement Program to include the Halo 3 Limited Edition. Normally, Microsoft charges $20 to issue a replacement disc for its available game titles, but Halo 3 will be a free replacement up until December 31, 2007.

For one reason or another, Microsoft Australia avoided the entire Limited Edition flaw by including one cutting-edge piece of packaging technology inside the game box: foam. As shown in this YouTube video, a shaped piece of foam pads the inside of the game case and keeps the disc from popping off its center hub.

It’s unclear as to why the Australian copies of Halo 3 Limited Edition were given the foam treatment. Perhaps Microsoft manufactured and shipped Halo 3 to U.S. retailers first, with the later worldwide shipments taking place after an internal packaging revision. Future North American shipments of Halo 3 Limited Edition will likely include the special foam.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
Foam = Anti-Scratch Technology
By Quiksel on 9/26/2007 10:23:31 AM , Rating: 2
Hilarious connection. Great parody thread, even if it wasn't meant to be.

I've got some Gas-Powered Automobile Starting Units in my pocket that I might have to use on a cardboard box to acquire some of this Anti-Scratch Technology!

~q




RE: Foam = Anti-Scratch Technology
By Brandon Hill (blog) on 9/26/2007 10:26:22 AM , Rating: 2
" cutting-edge piece of packaging technology inside the game box: foam "

;-)


RE: Foam = Anti-Scratch Technology
By StillPimpin on 9/26/2007 10:31:07 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
cutting-edge piece of packaging technology inside the game box: foam


BRILLIANT!!!


By StevoLincolnite on 9/26/2007 12:27:25 PM , Rating: 2
Well we Aussies did Invent Fiber optics and the fridge' y'know, we might be lazy but our new "Cutting edge" foam is a stroke of genius! It took Hours upon hours (24?) to work something like this out! :P


By Omega215D on 9/26/2007 6:04:42 PM , Rating: 3
My copy of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Collectors Ed. shipped with a Large piece of foam.

That Tom Clancy sure knows how to predict stuff.


RE: Foam = Anti-Scratch Technology
By Mitch101 on 9/26/2007 1:20:48 PM , Rating: 5
We require 6 months of extensive testing to verify the foam ring is doing what its intended to do and a budget of a million dollars. Ultimately the project would be extended several times citing obvious concerns of the foam being a possible choking hazzard to dumb children and parents that do not pay attention to their kids here.

I also believe that Jack Thompson has declared the foam ring as satanic and including it requires a mature rating.


By Locutus465 on 9/26/2007 10:42:03 AM , Rating: 2
Usually the simplest solution is the best, the foam should work great and I'm sure gamers here in the US should start finding foam packed limited edition games shortly.


By AmberClad on 9/26/2007 11:35:29 AM , Rating: 2
Heh, when I saw this tongue-in-cheek headline via RSS, I thought it had to be from either my Register or Inquirer RSS feed.


Give that guy a raise...
By pauldovi on 9/26/2007 10:35:28 AM , Rating: 5
Who ever was smart enough in the Australian part of MS to include this advanced technology should be given a raise!




RE: Give that guy a raise...
By Alexstarfire on 9/26/2007 10:58:12 AM , Rating: 1
Yes they should, and whoever decided not to place it in all the other ones should be demoted.

As companies get cheaper and cheaper things just keep messing up more. I'd rather get a quality product and a couple bucks more than some POS crap that ready to die on me at any given moment.


Foam: practical or aesthetic reason
By kitchme on 9/26/2007 12:12:54 PM , Rating: 2
It’s unclear as to why the Australian copies of Halo 3 Limited Edition were given the foam treatment.

So they wouldn't get scratched unless they added foam purely for the comfort (or aesthetics) of discs.




RE: Foam: practical or aesthetic reason
By killerroach on 9/26/2007 12:20:21 PM , Rating: 2
My best guess is that Microsoft knew that the nub that the discs hold wasn't likely to survive such a journey, and wanted to make sure that the Australian copies would be able to survive the shipment...


By raddimus on 9/26/2007 9:35:31 PM , Rating: 2
On my Australian Limited Edition, the nubs hold the discs *really* well, to the point where I worry about breaking the disc before the nub releases it. I suspect the US problem is down to either rough couriers, the discs not being placed on to the nubs properly in the first place by manufacturing, or if the foam is the reason, perhaps it's because the foam stops the hardcover art book from banging against the nub during transport and releasing the disc (although with the amount of force required on mine, I think this is very unlikely).


MIT
By 5c8wc4 on 9/26/2007 10:32:17 AM , Rating: 2
Ground breaking technology




RE: MIT
By SanLC504 on 9/26/2007 11:02:32 AM , Rating: 2
At least it isn't disc-breaking technology, unlike the case.


..."special foam"...
By Legionosh on 9/26/2007 11:00:51 AM , Rating: 2
..I have to admit, that's too funny.

My brothers limited bonus disc had popped off the spindle, but the disc had no damage, so all was well.

Yeah, I can see all the future copies of the limited edition using this "special foam"..

Kevin




hmm
By narcispy on 9/26/2007 11:02:07 AM , Rating: 2
This is why everytime when I ship a game I make sure of putting something to make sure the disc stays in place during shipping. I had a non-LE Halo3 and my disc was floating around in the case, thankfully no scratches.




Copy Cats!
By Screwuhippie on 9/26/2007 11:44:25 AM , Rating: 2
Hey I used the same technology on my cat to keep it from scratching me ... he walks a bit funny but a nice piece of foam on each claw keeps him from scratching!

Anti-Scratch Cat Foam - look for it on store shelves Xmas 08




Almost There...
By bplewis24 on 9/26/2007 4:05:11 PM , Rating: 2
I tell ya, those Australians are on their way to being Ebay Powersellers yet. If the double-box this item I'll give them an A+++++++!

Brandon




We sure pay for it though.
By Bladen on 9/27/2007 6:10:38 AM , Rating: 2
In Aus, we certainly pay a premium for video games. So I guess they ought to be better protected.

That game costs $99.95 Aus in most stores, like most new games.




Technology
By nitrous9200 on 10/2/2007 11:06:52 PM , Rating: 2
It seems like everything has "technology" after it, whether it's this, or vacuum cleaners, or sponges or mops or any crap like that advertised on late night infomercials. Sometimes it's even for the stupidest things! Face it, foam is not technology. At least there's something to protect the discs, but it's just foam.




By SaySomeThingOrDIE on 9/27/2007 1:20:35 AM , Rating: 1
I read there was 200,000 copies scratched in the USA. Foam is far better the enough. Why didn't they just used a DVD sleeve?!

I know this was gonna happen, that DVD case was cheaply made. (I can't believe how SHORT Halo 3 IS!!!...) They didn't even add the plastic mode so the game disc could rest in, like most DVD cases. If the game was on a Blu-ray disc, scratches are impossible.

I finished Halo 3 in 12 hours. What a joke.




"If you mod me down, I will become more insightful than you can possibly imagine." -- Slashdot

DailyTech Poll
Do you use ad blocking software on your browser? 



45 Comments









botimage
Copyright 2010 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki