It has come to my attention in my line of work that there is a serious problem with Either:

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.

I have discs upwards to 10 years old that have been used many times. No cracks. I take care of my stuff, but nothing to the extent of using latex gloves, I just simply don't abuse my things.

I don't either, I also don't share/lend my things out, so I don't understand why these newer discs are cracking - I work at a gamestop too - and we see HUNDREDS of "new titles' cracking from the middle too - I used to think it was just them being rough - but now that I have cracks in mine - I know that's not always the case.


When not in use they go up on a shelf, safe from everything, I am real strict about 1 game out at a time too - 1 game in drive, no discs out of case. when i stop playing i put it in it's case before I get my other game.

So it's simply astounding to see my discs starting to crack all over.

Actually, I've recently discovered that the reason why discs keep cracking is because of the different types of central knobs in the center of the case. The 4 arrows pointing in the center push-n-pull case can cause severe cracks when used a constant amount of times. The square bumped edge case causes less damage but is very difficult to remove the disc that you may accidentally crack it yourself. I've had recent problems with my discs cracking (Call of Duty 4, Dragon Age, Fable 2, etc.) but solved the problem by either installing the disc and/or keeping them out of there case (leaving them on a soft cloth). I do agree that the discs have become weaker / thinner since the original Xbox but thats just to save money. :blush: