To download games on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii, you need to use a credit card or buy a points card. All the points card has is a code. Here’s how the big three package that code.

The first card is $US20 in PlayStation Network points. The second is $US20 in Nintendo points. The third is $US50 in Microsoft points. (All purchased yesterday by me at a Brooklyn, NY Gamestop.)

Take the cards out of the plastic and this is what’s left. The numbers need to be scratched off or peeled off the cards.

And this is what’s left of the packaging that held the cards.

I swear, if there’s a Retail Packagers’ Association, its mission statement must be: “Forcing You to Use Something Other than Your Bare Hands, Preferably a Steak Knife, to Open the Shit You Just Bought.”

It’s like this for everything from video games to video tape to this brand of potato chips, which come in a bag I swear was sealed with a motherfucking hot melt glue gun. But Sony, in a gesture that I could never cover with enough praise, has said enough is enough: Death to clamshell packaging.

About a month ago, Sony said it was teaming up with Best Buy and Walmart to offer more convenient packaging that still provided enough anti-shoplifting security. Now, in a post on its electronics blog last week, it has said definitively the clamshell is finished.

I know consumers, including myself, get annoyed about how difficult they are to open. In fact, they typically can’t be opened without the use of a sharp device of some kind. Sony is working on the matter and I expect we will have a new alternative to announce soon.

Amazon announced a “frustration-free” packaging initiative for certain products back in November. Even then, a DualShock controller (not in the program) arrived in its standard plastic fortress that I still had to ginsu open. Sony throwing its weight behind this consumer-friendly initiative is very commendable and should motivate others in the industry to join up as well.

Here’s a silly video Sony put together announcing the, uh, announcement. Warning, there’s blood.

Bravo, Sony. Now, not to sound ungrateful, but when you get a moment can you take a look at those hermetically sealed DVDs and games …

Sony Declares Death to the Clamshell! [Sony Electronics Blog via Joystiq]

This dodgy diptych of box art features a slightly too muscular Chun Li (c’mon she may be a strong lass, but as drawn here she could throw shot at the Moscow Olympics) a Ryu who looks like he is trying to do long division in his head and typography that looks like the artist was doodling band logos during double geography.

If you look closely, you will see that Ken is striking exactly the same pose (even down to the spray of mud at his heels) when fighting both Chun Li and Ryu at the bottom of their boxes.

Ryu, incidentally, is demonstrating an ancient fighting technique, known in the East as Goatse Hadouken.

[Thanks to MarkMan for the tip]

“We release jewel games for the first time especially for Russian market. Owing to 1C’s optimised distribution system our cooperation will become the next step in expanding EA games on regional markets of Russia and CIS”, – says Murad Shapiev, Sales Director for Electronic Arts Russia.

Of course jewel cases means that the folks in Russia, along with Ukraine and Kazakhstan (careful, they’re sensitive) will probably be missing out pack-ins like bulky manuals, maps, posters, and other goodies, but considering the giant piles of such items cluttering my apartment that might not be such a bad thing.

Electronic Arts and 1C Company signed a distribution agreement

Electronic Arts and 1C Company signed a distribution agreement to spread EA games over Russia and CIS countries

MOSCOW, Russia – September 18, 2008 – Electronic Arts and 1C Company announce an agreement to create new channel for distribution of EA games. According to the contract signed 1C receives the rights to distribute EA titles for PC and consoles in Russia and CIS countries. The collaboration of these two companies is firstly aimed to consolidate and advance the largest markets (after Russia) – Ukraine and Kazakhstan. 1C Company already has offices in the region and has leading market share in these countries.

Another important stage in the cooperation of Electronic Arts and 1C Company is the distribution of EA games for PC in economy jewel packs in Russia. For the first time ever part of new games released by world’s leading publisher will be distributed in economy packs (CD jewel case). Electronic Arts plans to release three new jewel packed games for PC – Crysis Warhead, C&C Red Alert 3, NHL 09. These games will be released in autumn 2008.

“Choice of 1C as our strategic partner is not a random decision. Nowadays 1C is a key player on the distribution market of PC games in jewels. Due to its professionalism this company gained high business reputation and we are interested in long-term and mutually profitable relations”, – comments Peter Laughton, EA Vice President and General Manager of Central and Eastern Europe.

“We release jewel games for the first time especially for Russian market. Owing to 1C’s optimised distribution system our cooperation will become the next step in expanding EA games on regional markets of Russia and CIS”, – says Murad Shapiev, Sales Director for Electronic Arts Russia.

“The agreement signed is an unprecedented event for Russian market. World’s leading publisher will unite its strength with the largest Russian software company. We greet Electronic Arts’ initiative to distribute games in economy packs”, – notes Nikolay Baryshnikov, International Sales Director for 1C Company. “1С became one of the first companies to introduce that scheme in Russian industry. I am sure that the experience gained along with our distribution network which is the biggest in Russia and CIS countries will contribute to effective collaboration and further growth of Russian game market.”

In Crysis Warhead the player has to fit in the Nanosuit of Sergeant “Psycho” Sykes, one of the most memorable characters of Crysis. Occurrences in the story of Psycho, who has always been more aggressive and impudent than his comrade Nomad, take place at the same time with the original game in another part of the island. They turn out to be even more dynamic and intense. Fortunately, Psycho’s Nanosuit can perform a lot as it is equipped with modifiable weapons and many new techniques, helping the players to find out the right way from any complicated situation. Besides of that remarkable campaign the player can also participate in multiplayer mode.

C&C Red Alert 3 presents a thrilling journey to the future of the alternative universe that appeared as the result of unsuccessful travel in time. Developed by EA Los Angeles Red Alert 3 sets new standards in real-time strategy genre, introducing campaign for co-operate mode. The campaign keeps renowned non-complicated style and classic rich gameplay.

NHL 09 introduces the opportunity to step on ice rink on your own! New “Be a Pro” mode allows to customise the character looking anyhow you wish. And in “Hall of Fame” you can not even simply create a character to play, but also to join him in the way to glory through AHL and NHL. Improved “Skill Stick” and control system, taken from NHL94 allows the player to command with his characters clearly and easily.

“If a customer has a hard time getting an item and putting it in a shopping cart, it’s going to reduce sales of it”, said Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail industry consulting and research firm.

That’s what Hasbro and EA are trying to get around with the upcoming “N-Strike” game. Johnson said he expects retailers to make similar arrangements this holiday season with related products from other game and toy companies.

If it were up to game makers, such arrangements would be the rule. Ubisoft, for instance, makes a line of personal improvement and education games under its “Coach” brand that it would like to sell in related areas of retail stores, rather than in the games department.

But few analysts expect retailers to make wide-scale changes anytime soon. One reason is fear of theft. Games, particularly in the first four weeks after they are released, are frequently stolen, said Joel Alden, a principal at A.T. Kearney, a management and consulting firm.

I’m lazy and have Amazon Prime, so I can’t remember the last time I was in a brick and mortar store to purchase things like books and games, but I have a hard time seeing big box retailers moving gaming inventory from glass boxes — though I suspect real concern is over big, popular titles that would be magnets for sticky fingers. Will gaming break through the glass window on a large scale anytime soon?

Game industry tries to break through glass wall [San Jose Mercury News via PlayNoEvil]