7F Spine Obi

What the hell is a spine card?

Looking to expand my videogame collection, and to enjoy the
countless classics that never made it over the Pacific, I finally
decided to start importing. I learned what it took to successfully
import games (knowledge that can be found in SCG's Import Gaming
Guide). But, searching through the item descriptions of various online
auctions, I discovered that there was more to importing than just
getting a foreign game to function---especially for the collector. There
is the spine card. But what exactly is a spine card?

Also called an obi, a spine card is a slip of paper found on most books,
magazines, CDs, videogames, and other publications in Japan.
However, traditionally speaking obi is the Japanese word used to
describe the sash (belt) worn around the waist of a kimono (a
conventional, loose-fitting Japanese robe that extends to the floor). In
a similar fashion, the obis found on Japanese videogames wrap
around a side of the jewel case. They usually wrap around the left-
hand side, but can be around the right-side, top, or bottom as well.

Spine cards have several functions: 1) To make it easier to find items
on store shelves. 2) To allow the company to provide additional
information about the product. 3) To allow the company to advertise
and promote other products.

But, other than the aforementioned functions, obis do not hold any
significance for the casual consumer. With that in mind it may seem
like the attention I am giving to the spine card is a tad excessive, but
for the die-hard collector that thin piece of paper is imperative. For
the die-hard collector the obi completes the product. Consequently, it
raises the overall value of the product as well.

Thus, I learned of the importance of the obi----as online sellers would
proudly boast that the games in their auctions came "complete" with
the original spine card. But if you aren't as obsessive as I am about
your videogame collection then obis are pretty meaningless. And if
you care more about obtaining rare games just to play them than you
do about obtaining "complete" rare games just to make yourself feel
better then you can save a lot of money by going after imports
without spine cards. If you think you may end up selling your
collection later on though, you may want to collect games with obis
just because they will maintain a higher retail value.

So, what exactly is a spine card? In short, it is a seemingly worthless
slip of paper that wraps around the cases of Japanese entertainment
publications that can greatly increase the overall value of the
product. I've included a picture of the "complete" version of the
soundtrack to the videogame Rez to show you what a spine card
looks like. The spine card is the orange and white strip below the
case and to the right of the manual. It is unfolded and flattened out,
but it has two perforated creases to enable it to wrap around the
front, back, and left-hand side of the jewel case.