Star Trek Voyager DVDs / video discs; changes in packaging?

[Gary7]

I've seen the packaging change for TOS, where the first remastered set came in thick hard plastic cases that were later substituted for your typical soft plastic cases.

Has the packaging changed for Voyager? I've seen some listings describe a hard case with clear plastic disc holders, while others describe a cardboard box with plastic sleeves for the discs. Was this a legitimate change, or are cardboard ones basically Chinese copies?

 

[F. King Daniel]

They were released in both the chunky plastic clamshell boxes and in cardboard boxes with slimline DVD cases inside. Same for all of Trek, AFAIK.

BUT cover art varies depending on where you are. The UK and US Voyager sets have different art.

Here is a page about the Voyager fakes.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

The US didn't get the plastic clamshell releases that we got in Europe.

ETA: The second release of TNG, DS9, Voy, and Ent in region 2 consisted of several plastic slipcases in a cardboard sleeve where each slipcase contained either 1 or 2 discs. I think that was the case also in region 1.

 

[milo bloom]

Aside from the original 2 eps per disc TOS release, the DVD packaging has ranged from "what were they thinking?" to "bring me the head of the graphic designer responsible for this atrocity".

That's one reason I've kinda avoided picking up DS9 and VOY. I keep waiting for them to release them in those cases that are standard DVD case sized but can hold 7-8 discs (like The X-Files, Buffy, Angel, etc have been re-released in).

What really bugs me is when bootlegs get better packaging than the ones from actual studio. We have the Rourouni Kenshin sets that were in those weird brown boxes, that immediately started falling apart, and all the discs are in CD sized cases and the whole things a mess. And then my wife accidentally bought a bootleg of some of the OVA's that came in a regular case with a nice cardboard slipcover. Why does that happen?

 

[Gary7]

^ Thanks a lot for the info, King Daniel, Asbo Zaprudder, and milo bloom. Also, that link about the Voyager fakes is very helpful. TrekCore has a gallery for DVD media too.

 

[Tan Ru]

Is the 7-season box set from Amazon legit?

I know many of the marketplace sellers box sets are questionable, but I was wondering about the set direct from Amazon?

 

[Tan Ru]

Anyone? Surely, someone here has purchased it from Amazon............

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Anyone? Surely, someone here has purchased it from Amazon............

I purchased season 1 VOY 'Brand New' from an alternate vendor through Amazon and it was the above bootleg with Asian subtitle selections. There were some hiccups with the video on many episodes and freezing. I watched all the episodes once and what really bothered me was there was no 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Only a 2.0 Dolby Digital track.
I gave it away by donation to the public library. Season one had a few keepers but with Netflix I can watch them anytime. With season 1 being only 15 episodes I don't think I'll be purchasing it for the same cost/per season as seasons 2-7 on DVD.

I purchased a legit season 2 VOY used via Amazon.com and am happy with it.
I'll probably get season 3-5 on DVD used via Amazon in the next couple years even though I can watch it on Netflix instant-streaming. (only in 2.0 stereo audio).

VOY is better in surround sound with a 5.1 speaker setup.

 

[Tan Ru]

Thanks for the input.

I'm looking to purchase the entire series now that it is down to a "pretty good" price. I just want to make sure that the Amazon box set is legit. I got burned on a Chinese copy of ENT from a different site a few years ago; looking to avoid that experience again.

 

[ChristopherPike]

I think we're on our third release of each series here in the UK. We're Region 2. Different video standard. They don't play elsewhere, unless your DVD/Blu ray has been modified.

There were separate plastic clam-shells, then separate slimlines and now, they're doing all the seasons together, in card packaging.

Region 1 still the same sets that originally came out. The exception being TOS which has had two sets, original 2004 and remastered in 2007.

 

[Gary7]

The good thing about Amazon is that they have a good return policy and customer service... although I don't know if there's any caveats with DVD's, as they may have to deal with people who "watch and return".

I don't mind a used set, so long as it is legitimate. Be aware there are a lot of people on eBay who buy the whole 7 year set in bulk and then split them up to sell as individual season sets (so they make some money off of it). They are the cardboard box with plastic sleeves version.