Keep case
A keep case or poly-box is a type of packaging, most commonly used with DVDs.
Besides DVD-Video films, keep cases are very common with most video games since the PlayStation 2 as well as PC titles and MP3-CD audiobooks all use discs that are the same basic dimensions as a DVD.
Products using keep cases
The first products to be released in keep cases were VHS tapes, though most were stored in less expensive pressboard sleeves. In the days before video games were released on optical media, cartridges would rarely come packaged in specially designed plastic keep cases with lugs inside to hold the instruction manual, as opposed to pressboard boxes. Cartridges and cards for the Sega Master System platform were the first video games to be packaged in any kind of keep case. The vast majority of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games would come in a plastic keep case, but were later packaged in pressboard boxes, as a cost-cutting measure. Before the standard, commonly used DVD case was invented, early CD-ROM based video games such as Sega CD and early PlayStation titles, would often come in thicker and taller jewel case. These have been reputed to break very easily. Since the PlayStation 2, most major console-based video game software is packaged in some sort of keep case, including Nintendo DS cartridge titles, and Sony PSP titles.| Product | Color | Notes |
| Audio CD discs | Majority black, all other colors possible | Usually for audiobooks and student educational materials issued after mid 2000s. |
| DVD videos | Majority black, all other colors possible | |
| Blu-ray videos | Black | Rarely for individual discs. Used primarily for some Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. |
| PC CD-ROM games | Majority black or clear, all other colors possible | Usually for CD-ROM games issued after mid 2000s. |
| PC DVD-ROM games | Majority black or clear, all other colors possible | |
| Master System My Card games | Black | |
| PlayStation games | Navy blue | Only used for 1 game in the United States, Metal Gear Solid as part of a set. |
| PlayStation 2 games | Navy blue or black | Most contain a memory card slot |
| Sega Dreamcast games | Black or orange | Select titles in Japan only |
| Nintendo GameCube games | Black | North America/Europe. Most contain a memory card slot |
| Xbox games | Lime Green | |
| Xbox 360 games | Translucent lime green | |
| Wii games | White | |
| Wii U games | Bright cerulean |
| Product | Color | Notes |
| Audio CD Discs | Translucent orange | Used for some audiobooks and MP3 CD's issued after 2006. |
| DVD videos | Black and Clear | Rarely used for single discs, Black cases usually used for bonus features DVD disk in some Blu-ray and HD-DVD movie compilation packs. Clear cases used for some DVD music concert albums. |
| Blu-ray videos | Blue, often translucent. Other colors are used for some titles. | - |
| High Fidelity Pure Audio Blu-ray songs & albums | Clear | |
| Blu-ray 3D | Clear, though older titles in translucent blue | - |
| Ultra HD Blu-ray videos | Black | |
| HD DVD videos | Red, often translucent | |
| PlayStation 3 games | Translucent white | |
| PlayStation 4 games | Translucent blue | |
| Xbox 360 games | Translucent green | Used for select reissued Xbox 360 titles after backwards compatibility was added to the Xbox One, Left handed case, Both Xbox 360 and Xbox One logos are embossed onto the top |
| Xbox One games | Translucent green | Left handed case, The Xbox One logo is embossed onto the top |
| Product | Color | Notes |
| VHS videos | Majority black and white, all other colors possible | |
| Betamax videos | Majority black and white, all other colors possible | |
| Many Famicom games | Black | |
| Nintendo Switch games | Black | Only used for the limited edition issue of |
| Master System cartridge games | Black | |
| Many Sega Genesis games | Black | |
| Neo Geo games | Black |
| Product | Color | Size | Notes |
| Nintendo GameCube games | Clear | 149mm x 107mm x 17mm | Japan, also used for Game Boy Player startup disc in North America. Most contain a memory card slot. |
| Nintendo DS games | Black | 135mm x 122mm x 15mm | North America/Japan, most contain a slot for Game Boy Advance cartridges or DS options pak. |
| Nintendo DS games | Clear | 135mm x 122mm x 20mm | Europe, most contain a slot for Game Boy Advance cartridges or DS options pak. |
| Nintendo 3DS games | White | 135mm x 122mm x 12mm | Regular 3DS Games in all Regions; New 3DS exclusive Games only in Japan and North America |
| New Nintendo 3DS games | Black | 135mm x 122mm x 14mm | Europe |
| Nintendo Switch games | Clear | 170mm x 104mm x 10mm | Has tabs on right side above cartridge slot to keep promotional codes in place |
| PlayStation Portable games | Clear | 168mm x 99mm x 14mm | |
| PlayStation Vita games | Blue | 135mm x 105mm x 12mm |
Structure
Materials and features
The cases are made of soft, clear or colored, polypropylene plastic with a transparent polyethylene outer jacket, usually with a printed paper sleeve behind it. A variety of colors are produced, including black, white, red and clear. On the inside are sets of clips that may hold a booklet or additional sheets of paper with extra information. The DVD is held into place with a small protrusion which fits into the hole in the DVD. For console games like the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube, an extra protrusion is available for storing memory cards.Types of hubs
The structural differences between a CD and a DVD have led many manufacturers to study different hub designs for keeping the DVD in place: unlike CDs, which are made from one layer of plastic material, DVDs have two layers, which are thinner and not bonded all the way to the center. As a result, a DVD hub is weaker than a CD's, and may be damaged if stored in a case which is designed for CDs only.In addition to "pluck hubs", "push-to-release" hubs are very common: in this case the hub is made in such a way that simply pushing on it with a finger compresses its component parts, thus shrinking the space it occupies and releasing the disc center; under normal situations the release cannot occur accidentally and requires someone to push on the hub.
Damage risk
The larger size of the keep case compared to the CD jewel box means that if the disc becomes detached from the center hub, it can move around inside the box, and the playable surface can be scratched by the hub. This can be a problem during shipping.The center "Pluck-Hubs" are designed to keep a disc in place while shipping, but can be too tight for normal home use. Because of this, the disc can be damaged upon removal due to excess warping. However, the edges of the center hub can be permanently bent in slightly to allow for a looser fit. Discs are then able to slip out easily, ideal for the home shelf.
Physical dimensions
Case
The height and width of a keep case are fixed at 190mm and 135mm, respectively.The thickness may vary to accommodate more discs or to require less shelf space. For a typical single-disc case it is 15mm.
A keep case, thus, approximates the Video Software Dealers Association recommendation that a single-disc DVD-Video package have the same height as a VHS tape and the same width as a CD jewel case. These dimensions are similar to digest size magazines.
Paper sleeve
The printed paper sleeve for a standard DVD case can be printed on a standard A4 sheet of paper which, after cropping, can be slipped into the outer jacket. The paper room on the front and back panels of the case is 129.5mm × 183mm and spine panels have a width of 14mm or less. This gives 273mm × 183mm as resulting maximum overall dimensions for the printout.Inserts
Booklet inserts or leaflet material, when folded closed, should measure to a maximum of 120mm × 180mm.Similar, though not identical, packaging is used for commercial Blu-ray Disc titles and was used for HD DVD titles. However, the dimensions of the cases are somewhat different, about 19 mm shorter. The individual cases are color-coded, with blue being used for Blu-ray and red for HD DVD, and the format displayed prominently on a stripe above the cover art.