The Spine: Or how to discern a good game from a bad one

[AppleQueso]

I kind of have an idea what OP is talking about, though he's drawn a pretty absurd conclusion about it.

[Frontline Assembly and Front 242 albums]

Nice cds

[MrEco]

Funny, I always thought the way to tell if a game was good or not was by looking at the stuff inside the disk/cartridge. The story, characters, gameplay, graphics, sound, atmosphere, immersion, etc, etc...

Apparently the mystical gaming gods set everything in motion so that whether we like it or not all games are factually good or bad based on the lettering on the side of the box. Which is odd because I'm pretty damn sure a game cannot be dictated as factually good and is based solely opinion. But maybe I'm just wrong.

[Hobie-wan]

[Frontline Assembly and Front 242 albums]

Nice cds

Thanks. I apparently don't own any disc based games with upside down spines other than imports with vertical names and that was the first place in my CD collection I could think of with a bunch of examples.

[CRTGAMER]

Despite being drunk I'm still confused.

This OP might drive me to the bottle trying to figure it out.

If upside-down is the issue, then I guess then all the Japanese Dreamcast games must be bad.
When shelved in a CD rack with the English end Label out, the front is facing down at the bottom.

[Erik_Twice]

This is audio CDs, but was easier for me to find an example of what I think you mean.

Exactly. Look your collection and note what games are like that CD. Chances are that they either are a bad game or have a bad publisher (Or both).

@Mr Eco

Of course, you can have a good game that doesn't follow this, mainly because a bad publisher can print a good game, hence my examples in the OP. All those games are good but the publishers aren't.

[AppleQueso]

I'm thinking you're drawing somewhat absurd conclusions and looking WAY too into this...

[swiftzx]

I'm thinking you're drawing somewhat absurd conclusions and looking WAY too into this...

Nonsense! like Noise and Ninja the Gaiden.

[CRTGAMER]

Okay taking the bait. Maybe General_Norris is right.

What about U.S. City Crisis with just a black end label, no title just Playstion 2 writing on the spine.

Its not a bad chopper sim, but no Stunt Copter.
I really want some of what you are using for mind enhancement stimulation.

[Hobie-wan]

Exactly. Look your collection and note what games are like that CD. Chances are that they either are a bad game or have a bad publisher (Or both).

Even if there was some massive conspiracy to flip spines, D-force and Lufia II here have a little bit of a disagreement with you. (all boxed have their front facing down in this picture)


Among my disc based games, I only have one that I consider terrible that agrees with the general consensus and it isn't flipped. I have lots of mediocre games, none of them are flipped either. It's just art department mistakes and poor packaging QA man.

[mobiusclimber]

I'd say that Lufia II just confirms his suspicions... but I'd probably be stoned as a heretic for that. LOL

Seriously, I have lots of bad games and none of them have that thing w/ the spine.