Sony declares death to the clamshell

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 21st 2008 at 11:45AM }

Have you ever tried to open one of those annoying plastic containers that so many companies seem to use? Y'know what we're talking about. These nearly indestructible packages hold your favorite toys (like the PlayStation Eye), but required Herculean strength to open. Sony Electronics has declared "death to the clamshell," and we're hoping that means SCE will follow suit as well. You wouldn't want to be like this guy, would you? (Video after the break.)

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: breaking, clamshell, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

stargateheaven @ Dec 21st 2008 11:49AM

awesome. i hate those packages..!!

Lordtombot @ Dec 21st 2008 12:03PM

I hate those packages, my headphones always come in them and I always have to attack them with kitchen scissors to get them open.

Tim Parsons @ Dec 21st 2008 1:20PM

ya they can be a bitch if your braindead. If you got half a clue you just slice em open with Scissors. Yet the Japan style ones are better,. like the Japan Dualshock3 it is plastic like in NA but the back is a thin piece of cardboard that slides out,.. maybe they don't have as much shoplifting in Japan as here in North America

AltCtrlPwn @ Dec 21st 2008 1:50PM

"Yet the Japan style ones are better,. like the Japan Dualshock3 it is plastic like in NA but the back is a thin piece of cardboard that slides out"

First thing I noticed when I got my white DualShock3.

"maybe they don't have as much shoplifting in Japan as here in North America"

That's what I thought too, it seems much easier to just slide off the cardboard back and steal something than to struggle with a blade and clamshell.

Tim Parsons @ Dec 21st 2008 9:39PM

LOL mine was white too ,. and matches well with the PS3 Keyboard

Joe @ Dec 21st 2008 12:09PM

Could that video be any quieter?

Think Adrian @ Dec 21st 2008 12:13PM

And could it be worse altogether?

oldmanpip @ Dec 21st 2008 5:39PM

It helps if you turn the volume up. :)

dbyzforce @ Dec 21st 2008 12:11PM

I agree 150%. Those packages are bad for our health and the environment...

dbyzforce @ Dec 21st 2008 12:13PM

More companies need to follow suit...

Daniel @ Dec 21st 2008 1:18PM

I have no problem opening those and don't see why others do. They really are very simple to open if you know how to. However, I'm glad they are getting rid of them because anything to save a little time and effort is nice.

PSN: John-Paul-Jones @ Dec 21st 2008 6:12PM

They're really annoying if you don't have the right tools, such as a big kitchen scissor and I usually cut all of the edges and open them so. One time I didn't have any scissors nearby and I used a pen to poke a hole so I can forcefully tear it open. The end result? A disgusting gash.

Daniel @ Dec 21st 2008 8:14PM

All you need is a normal sized pair of scissors. Cut it in the right place and they are simple to tear open.

Oddface @ Dec 21st 2008 12:22PM

Great news! Worst packaging ever!

ScottishPrik @ Dec 21st 2008 12:24PM

OMG I am so happy. Every time I try to open one of these I think something like that pic is going to happen. I am easily pleased if you can't tell.

ZeroCorpse @ Dec 21st 2008 12:51PM

I've had something like in the video happen. A nice, deep wound from a stupid clamshell package for a game controller. So I got the package open, but because my hand was cut badly, I couldn't actually USE the controller until I was bandaged... And it's hard to play a game when you have gauze wrapped around your hand.

C-Onor @ Dec 21st 2008 12:24PM

yay.

JonDoh @ Dec 21st 2008 12:33PM

Must be a slow news day thats all i can say.

Frickard @ Dec 21st 2008 11:23PM

Must be a slow day for trolls.

Game_playa @ Dec 21st 2008 1:13PM

Huzzah!

somedesigner @ Dec 21st 2008 1:47PM

Umm, scissors?

The_Icon @ Dec 21st 2008 1:48PM

I think Sony just won the console war.

shade4595 @ Dec 21st 2008 2:05PM

oh yeah. no doubt

maidsandharem @ Dec 21st 2008 6:15PM

its the little things that count

Mazrael @ Dec 22nd 2008 1:38PM

MS already started this on there explorer products.. although ignoring that.. this is 4 day old news..

http://www.leaderpost.com/Clamshell+packaging/1092159/story.html

Junction @ Dec 21st 2008 1:48PM

This video is even worse than the greying comb-over guy with his psp commentary.

iamkid @ Dec 21st 2008 2:09PM

from what ive heard/seen online, theyre pretty easy to open with a can opener, provided its sharp enough. i havent gotten to try it yet though...at least i know i wont have to for a while now :D

maroofh @ Dec 21st 2008 2:18PM

I think its also called blister packaging. nd yah, i hate them

maroofh @ Dec 21st 2008 2:20PM

Also, braniac did an experiment to find the easiest to open packaging, i think this came second inbetween something and something else

nic @ Dec 21st 2008 2:38PM

Really, really slow news day

Andrew Yoon @ Dec 21st 2008 9:49PM

Haha, what else were you expecting on a Sunday?

nic @ Dec 21st 2008 9:57PM

Not much. I hope I wasn't offending. And slow or not 20 of as geniuses replied :)

Mana Knight @ Dec 21st 2008 2:55PM

Sony has basically. Previously, games like SingStar and Buzz came in Clanshell packaging (in the U.S.). SingStar Volume 2 and Buzz! Quiz TV come in a box. I just hope they box their controllers, keypad, and others next.

Oh Bugger @ Dec 21st 2008 6:19PM

Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!!

CleanNJerk101 @ Dec 21st 2008 8:48PM

Wohooo & I was gonna buy a new DS3 controller. Maybe i'll wait since I don't need it.

Jamie @ Dec 22nd 2008 10:40AM

I just use one of those carpentry knives, and even then it is still difficult. Whoever made clamshell packaging should try and open it...and guess what: I even found a pair of SCISSORS (snip snip) in clamshell packaging!!! As if it wasn't bad enough.

exetermako @ Dec 22nd 2008 8:14AM

Goodness gracious FINALLY! How long have we been dealing with these moronic, incredibly hard to open packages? I still remember being a kid and getting some insanely sharp knife from the kitchen to open a present, only to cut my pinkie pretty badly (but only catching skin layers, thank God). I waved my hand around in surprise/panic while blood gushed out, splattering our entire kitchen.

Devil240Z @ Dec 21st 2008 11:31PM

Those packages are evil! I have had mighty scissors break in attempt to open a package(I think it was an xbox 360 controller) I had to use my Katana to get it ope n. True story.

Mike Crazy @ Dec 22nd 2008 2:36AM

I don't have problems with clamshell cases. I recently bought a Dualshock 3 and ripped the plastic with my bare hands without a sweat.

TJF588 @ Dec 22nd 2008 4:22AM

maroofh's mention of "blister packaging" comes off more 'right' to my ears; clamshells are what "high-end" VHS releases come/came in.

So, guess it's time for collectors to buy the mundane, not for what's inside, but for the tank that is the fortified clear-view bubble. I'd say at least the tear in a clean line, but to define "line" toward this requires an artistic definition, and when it decides to give more easily is sporadic, causing one to sometimes be pulling way too hard, and where that jerking motion takes you is up to your sense of universal positioning.

*goes back to typing FFVIIAC THE NOVEL into MS Word*