Story behind PAL dual CD case and regular black label

dwall96 · 29-09-21, 20:00

I've noticed on eBay that there are 2 black label versions of tomb raider, a dual CD style case and a regular pal ps1 case. What is the story of these two releases? Which came first?

_Seth · 30-09-21, 08:42

I have the dual CD case and it does not actually have a second disc holder. I suspected it may have been because the PAL releases had to have every European language included in the manual, which ends up being thick enough to require a thicker case. But then I don't know why the regular case would either have less translations or have fit anyway, in which case, I don't know why it has the pseudo-dual case originally.

dwall96 · 01-10-21, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Seth

I have the dual CD case and it does not actually have a second disc holder. I suspected it may have been because the PAL releases had to have every European language included in the manual, which ends up being thick enough to require a thicker case. But then I don't know why the regular case would either have less translations or have fit anyway, in which case, I don't know why it has the pseudo-dual case originally.

So do you think the original launch version was the double CD case?, after doing a bit of research it seems that a few early PS1 games had a double cd case for demos (although not all of them actually included them as with TR1).

Then maybe when the PAL case was bought in early in PS1 life the next run of TR1 came in that case and hence they had to reduce the size of the manual

_Seth · 01-10-21, 17:14

The original launch version looked to be a double CD cse in every way, except an actual second disc holder ring thing doesn't exist in it, so I guess no demo was to be included.

I might be wrong in that conclusion, though. I'm only saying it because my thick case doesn't have a second disc ring.

AndersL · 04-10-21, 17:16

In the early days, all PS1 games came in those double disc cases in Europe. A few games came with demos included, but most didn't. I guess Sony hadn't yet designed the cases which later became the standard cases in Europe.

At the time TR1 came out (November 1996), other games had already been released in the "new" standard European PS1 cases, like Street Fighter Alpha (May 1996) and Resident Evil (August 1996), so I don't know why TR1 was still released in a double disc case, but that's how it was first released. It did not come with a demo at first.

A later reprint of the game in 1997 came with a Fighting Force demo. Interestingly, the second tray didn't really have teeth to hold a disc, so the demo disc was just loose inside there:

https://crimson-ceremony.net/demopal...rce#SLED-00881

(This reprint can be told apart from the 1996 first issue by the added magazine scores on the front and the yellow sticker advertising the demo, and probably some minor details on the back insert. I sold my first pressing and only kept the reissue with demo...)

Copies in the new standard European PS1 cases were released later than the double disc case releases.

Greatest TR · 12-10-21, 19:01

PS1 Tomb Raider had like a DVD case, same for Resident Evil, Tekken 1 and Fully Loaded then Tomb Raider came with PS1 double case then Standard PS1 case. That's how I can remember during my childhood

AndersL · 13-10-21, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatest TR

PS1 Tomb Raider had like a DVD case, same for Resident Evil, Tekken 1 and Fully Loaded then Tomb Raider came with PS1 double case then Standard PS1 case. That's how I can remember during my childhood

No PS1 games were released in Europe in DVD-sized cases. Maybe you are confusing them with the Saturn releases of those games, which both came in very large cases similar in size to DVD cases.

The only Tekken variant in a big case of similar size is the American PS1 release. Resident Evil 1 also had a big case release in the USA. TR1 did not.

Kidd Bowyer · 06-11-21, 17:08

What do you guys mean by "DVD-sized cases", exactly?

I grew up in the UK, and almost every non-multi-disk game came in one of these little square boxes, about half as tall as a DVD case and with a slightly wider spine.

Paft · 06-11-21, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidd Bowyer

What do you guys mean by "DVD-sized cases", exactly?

I grew up in the UK, and almost every non-multi-disk game came in one of these little square boxes, about half as tall as a DVD case and with a slightly wider spine.

Yeah, I am also from the UK and have never seen DVD-sized cases. A quick google shows they're a thing. All I ever saw here were the jewel type, like the music cases.

Edit: Those might be custom cases..not sure... I'm occupied with other things atm so can't research.
Edit: some info on Wiki:

Quote:

Initially, in the United States, PlayStation games were packaged in long cardboard boxes, similar to non-Japanese 3DO and Saturn games. Sony later switched to the jewel case format typically used for audio CDs and Japanese video games, as this format took up less retailer shelf space (which was at a premium due to the large number of PlayStation games being released), and focus testing showed that most consumers preferred this format.[178]

Jathom95 · 06-11-21, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paft

Yeah, I am also from the UK and have never seen DVD-sized cases. A quick google shows they're a thing. All I ever saw here were the jewel type.

It depended on who the retailer was I believe. There were several different formats released over the years in every country.

You had the boxes you guys mentioned, trapezoid style boxes, jewel cases, DVD style cases, etc.

29-09-21, 20:00	#1
dwall96 Hobbyist Join Date: Sep 2021 Posts: 2	Story behind PAL dual CD case and regular black label I've noticed on eBay that there are 2 black label versions of tomb raider, a dual CD style case and a regular pal ps1 case. What is the story of these two releases? Which came first?

04-10-21, 17:16	#5
AndersL Hobbyist Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 7	In the early days, all PS1 games came in those double disc cases in Europe. A few games came with demos included, but most didn't. I guess Sony hadn't yet designed the cases which later became the standard cases in Europe. At the time TR1 came out (November 1996), other games had already been released in the "new" standard European PS1 cases, like Street Fighter Alpha (May 1996) and Resident Evil (August 1996), so I don't know why TR1 was still released in a double disc case, but that's how it was first released. It did not come with a demo at first. A later reprint of the game in 1997 came with a Fighting Force demo. Interestingly, the second tray didn't really have teeth to hold a disc, so the demo disc was just loose inside there: https://crimson-ceremony.net/demopal...rce#SLED-00881 (This reprint can be told apart from the 1996 first issue by the added magazine scores on the front and the yellow sticker advertising the demo, and probably some minor details on the back insert. I sold my first pressing and only kept the reissue with demo...) Copies in the new standard European PS1 cases were released later than the double disc case releases. Last edited by tlr online; 04-10-21 at 17:29. Reason: Restored link.

12-10-21, 19:01	#6
Greatest TR Archaeologist Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Great Britain-Oxfordshire Posts: 1,273	PS1 Tomb Raider had like a DVD case, same for Resident Evil, Tekken 1 and Fully Loaded then Tomb Raider came with PS1 double case then Standard PS1 case. That's how I can remember during my childhood __________________ Rest in Peace - rr_carroll

30-09-21, 08:42	#2
_Seth Professor Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: England Posts: 3,362	I have the dual CD case and it does not actually have a second disc holder. I suspected it may have been because the PAL releases had to have every European language included in the manual, which ends up being thick enough to require a thicker case. But then I don't know why the regular case would either have less translations or have fit anyway, in which case, I don't know why it has the pseudo-dual case originally.

01-10-21, 17:14	#4
_Seth Professor Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: England Posts: 3,362	The original launch version looked to be a double CD cse in every way, except an actual second disc holder ring thing doesn't exist in it, so I guess no demo was to be included. I might be wrong in that conclusion, though. I'm only saying it because my thick case doesn't have a second disc ring.

06-11-21, 17:08	#8
Kidd Bowyer Student Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 244	What do you guys mean by "DVD-sized cases", exactly? I grew up in the UK, and almost every non-multi-disk game came in one of these little square boxes, about half as tall as a DVD case and with a slightly wider spine.