Materials used to create the CD/Disc
or
The Cases they are sold in.
More and more game discs are cracking from the center, and no game store will take them in with cracks (none that I have found) nor does any "Scratch Protection Warrenty" cover this particular style of damage.
I treat my games with the utmost care - in fact for the first week of ownership I don't even touch the disc with bare hands- but latex gloves to prevent scratching/scuff/fingerprints, so when my discs, that I so spoil with care, end up cracking in the center - I get upset and look for the cause.
It is the Storage/Removal from the case doing this cracking. Either the materials used to make the newer discs (only see it on New Vegas, and many reports on newer games from Bethesda/Bungie/and a handful of other companies) or the cases themselves are making it occur.
I see how it COULD happen, the central point that 'locks' the disc in place has been Reinforced for some reason on a lot of cases, thicker plastic even a Textured design. Removing the CD from the case requires you to push firmly (and more firmly on the newer cases) on the central lock - and gently pull the disc upward, however - this causes the disc to slightly flex - and with the added strength in these newer cases (or weaker materials used in the discs) this flexing has become more severe, damaging the disc over time.
This is a notice to anyone willing to read it and to the company (and others) involved in manufacturing this:
This problem needs resolved.
A temporary fix can be done to prevent damage to your disc:
1) after first removal, being very careful, store the disc in another jewel case/cd sleeve/casing - just make sure you don't have to push the central knob down and pull UP on the disc to get it out.
2) break the central knob in 2 places, typically they face UP, DOWN,LEFT,RIGHT , by breaking the up/left , up/right, down/left, down/right tabs - you relieve the amount of effort to remove the disc - but can loosen how tightly the disc is held.
3) find another solution that doesn't require you to put the disc in it's original or other 'reinforced' case that can cause this damage.
I have noticed, the recycled cases (those with the plastic missing behind the disc) tend to flex more easily because of the lack of plastics - and allow the CASE to flex, instead of the disc- which is a good thing.
I'd like a replacement New Vegas disc - but I doubt that is gonna happen, so I figure I would spread the word.