What is a Spine Card really used for?!

[8bit]

Ok, I have googled and googled this question with no really good answers. I am sure this question has come up but a search in thread topics and first posts resulted in no good results. I know the following things about it:

1) A spine card is used on many different games, cds and even books in Japan.
2) It highly affects the value of most collectible games.
3) It shares detailed information about the game that can also be found on the back on the case. Sometimes has a UPC on it as well.
4) I have some and still don't know what they do thats so important or how they are applied.

So basically thats it. What purpose do these things really server except to drive ppl crazy trying to figure it out?! How is a retailer or a home user suppose to use the spince card? Does anyone have a picture of one in use? Does anyone even care that these things exist and that the US does not have them!? Someone please enlighten me!

[masteroftheclaw]

I don't really KNOW but I suppose having the spine card just makes your item more "complete" just as having the instruction booklet and stuff. It tells you the basic stats of whatever item it is on but mostly just seems like it should be a throwaway piece of paper.

I've kept the spine cards for most of my Japanese music and books because I know that it adds to the value apparently, but it's mostly annoying. I just stick it inside the jewel case or book otherwise I'd lose them . Either way my purchases aren't valuable at all probably because I ripped open the shrink wrap to actually use the product!

[GamerMON]

You know those annoying stickers on CDs and DVDs that seal a game and have the game on it. That is the american equivalent.

[masteroftheclaw]

You know those annoying stickers on CDs and DVDs that seal a game and have the game on it. That is the american equivalent.

Yeah though those price stickers are usually put on the games by retailers. The spine cards come packaged with whatever product in the shrink wrap.

Oh wait you mean those stickers that make it all hard to open the cases! Damn I HATE those things. Yes, keeping those on purchases would add to the value because it would be unopened (spine cards really don't hinder you from opening anything). But keeping them after opening it would be mostly useless.

[Gamerforlife]

You know those annoying stickers on CDs and DVDs that seal a game and have the game on it. That is the american equivalent.

No, not really.

Still,they are pretty useless though. Only important to uber hardcore collectors. That said, I have a copy of Radiant Silvergun complete with spine card, which is pretty cool. I'm thinking I may end up selling it to someone on this forum someday(at a discount because Racketboy members are cool) as there are people here who are FAR more into these types of shooters than me. Not quite ready to part with it just yet though. I mean,it's frikking Radiant Silvergun!!!

[pepharytheworm]

I don't understand why collectors care so much for them. To me its equivalent to the ads and registration cards in games. Yeah its cool to have, but I am not paying a premium for them. Some collectors won't buy games unless they come with them, but the other stuff I mentioned they could careless for. The ones that I do own I put under my cd tray.

I did buy a couple of music CD's that had them in the US. All from Earache records. They were on the top though.

[Inazuma]

Considering that the title of the game is already on the spine, the spine card seems totally worthless to me. I don't care if the games I buy include them or not, but if they do I will put it inside the manual to save it. I won't pay extra for the spine card, however. On the other hand, I rarely buy a game that's missing the case and/or manual.

[REPO Man]

Electric OBILand Glossary of Terms

More info here

And info from Wikipedia ("spine card" redirects to "obi strip")

[J T]

The world of collectors is a bizzaro land where things that have absolutely no practical value have insane amounts of monetary value. Seriously, shrink wrap, spine cards, and the like shouldn't make such a difference in the price, but that's just not how it goes down.

[Breetai]

When I buy used games here, I always pick the ones without the card if they're cheaper. Spine cards are completely useless.