Boxart Discussion

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Boxart Discussion
Tweet Topic Started: Dec 24 2011, 05:58 PM (1,008 Views)
Neo Metallix	Dec 24 2011, 05:58 PM Post #1
~Doomsday Overlord~ Posts: 15,568 Group: =SB= Emperor Member #1 Joined: April 8, 2006 Gender: Male Country: United States of America Playstation Network ID: Doc_Of_D Game Currently Playing: Tales of Xillia	So I was thinking a lot about box arts and decided to make a thread so we can make discuss our favorite boxarts and post any custom made ones we have made. One subject on boxarts is that it seems that EU/JP always gets better box arts than in NA. Here are a few examples: Box Art Examples Resident Evil 4 - Rest of the World: Resident Evil 4 - USA: Metal Gear Solid 4 - Rest of the World: Metal Gear Solid 4 - USA: Ico - Rest of the World: Ico - USA: Motorstorm Apocalypse - EU: Motorstorm Apocalypse - USA: The only one I have seen where I just thought the North American box art was miles ahead of the European one is Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction as seen here: Ratchet & Clank Example European Box: North American Box: And here is a box I didn't make but spliced together from other ones to make one that I really like. Spoiler: click to toggle
	Puncture the Porcupine, my fancharacter!


Brick Mage	Dec 24 2011, 06:26 PM Post #2
I'll be there every step of the way... Posts: 4,813 Group: C Rank Legend Member #1,680 Joined: July 13, 2007	Oh god, that really puts things into perspective. Europe really does have better boxart. I don't even see the point in changing them, though; is there a reason they do that? It's hard to think of any boxarts I find are exceptionally good... I do know that the Zelda series has always had amazing artwork, but the boxart itself is just very standard. Here's some embarassingly bad boxart:



SuperShadowgal	Dec 24 2011, 06:47 PM Post #3
The Female Ultimate Life Form! Posts: 3,112 Group: E Rank Legend Member #59 Joined: April 29, 2006	Well, that's debatable. I mean, for some games for example -- Spyro/Crash -- they made the box art cutesy. I had read a forum post about it once, here maybe? Anywho, here's a trope about it: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AmericanKirbyIsHardcore
	The navigation (links): Sonic FCs /\|\ Art /\|\ Hug? /\|\ Awesome /\|\ Free Cake /\|\ Internets /\|\ My Adoptables Latest blog entry: SSG Plays Pokemon White Version 2! Part 3! (11/3/12) =Outdated Help the dragons grow big and stwong. There used to be music here ~*


Lady BlizShadow	Dec 24 2011, 06:48 PM Post #4
I still can't use this. Posts: 6,546 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,722 Joined: March 16, 2008	Maelic Dec 24 2011, 06:26 PM Oh god, that really puts things into perspective. Europe really does have better boxart. I don't even see the point in changing them, though; is there a reason they do that? The box art for a game is part of its marketing. When you're dealing with different cultures, your marketing of the same product will be different to compensate. I can't remember where I read this, but America's box art tends to be active, with male protagonists who're armed and/or scowling because that's the type of shit we like to play. It's also very indicitive of what we're getting since games are usually action-oriented anyway; we're less likely to look at artsy covers and spend time trying to piece together what the game might play like. Japan and other eastern cultures, on the other hand, have a completely different view towards guns and violence, and in general prefer games with a high degree of style and artistic license, hence why their covers tend to look like condensed pieces of Jesus. This has always been one of my favorite covers though. It's so tasteful yet interesting:
	Because staff made me do it. =P Art Topic ~ Drawing Tutorial ~ The Seven Chaos Forum


Telnaior	Dec 24 2011, 06:51 PM Post #5
Flying Battery Act 1 Posts: 936 Group: C Rank Hero Member #11,535 Joined: October 30, 2010	Maelic Dec 24 2011, 06:26 PM Oh god, that really puts things into perspective. Europe really does have better boxart. I don't even see the point in changing them, though; is there a reason they do that? It's hard to think of any boxarts I find are exceptionally good... I do know that the Zelda series has always had amazing artwork, but the boxart itself is just very standard. Here's some embarassingly bad boxart: I'm pretty sure that was deliberate, as the entire game was supposed to be a homage to the original games (as "the original games" had embarrassingly bad boxart)



Brick Mage	Dec 24 2011, 07:00 PM Post #6
I'll be there every step of the way... Posts: 4,813 Group: C Rank Legend Member #1,680 Joined: July 13, 2007	Telnaior Dec 24 2011, 06:51 PM I'm pretty sure that was deliberate, as the entire game was supposed to be a homage to the original games (as "the original games" had embarrassingly bad boxart) Makes sense. Still funny, though. And Bliz, that makes a lot of sense, too. Thank you, I'm enlightened.



Lord Master of Darkness�	Dec 24 2011, 07:04 PM Post #7
Posts: 6,570 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,063 Joined: February 19, 2008 Xbox Live Gamertag: The Stig Pwnz Steam ID: mod1982	I remember the very first time I saw the box art for Sonic 3. Yes, that was some time ago so bear with me during this brief history lesson Above you see the US version. When I first saw this, it was without the borders or letters and was actually used as promo artwork in the UK! And what did we get on our side of the pond? A bit shit in comparison, I think we'll all agree. And what did the Japanese get?! I think all three clearly reflect on what Bliz just said about aiming them towards different cultures, but if anyone was wondering why Sonic Generations was so funky with its stars and other random icon/objects, this is why As for my favourite box art.... well, that's a tough one. Sonic 1 is a timeless classic, Gran Turismo 4 is easily the best for driving games, and R Type Final did a good summary of its contents. Created in a day and age where it was hand drawn, and scared the shit out of even grown-ups. Aaah, such fond memories. But look at that box. Doesn't that either freak you out a little, or send a shiver down your spine that says "this game WILL kick ass if I own it"? Plus it's quite good as far as artwork goes, for something of its age.[/i]
	Click to go to my YouTube channel - now over 1,200 subscribers! The Gaming MoD - a blog about gaming, by the Master of Darkness. Other links! Great comics currently in existence on SB(and my own, of course): \|Compensation\|~~Bar'd~~\|~~Park And Ride~~\|~~Sonic: Quest for the Chaos Energy~~\| Want your comic here? Make it a good one then! Where to find me on the net: \|~~Bleached Horizons~~\|~~Pitwall F1~~\|DevART\|


Nail Strafer	Dec 25 2011, 02:18 PM Post #8
Flying Battery Act 2 Posts: 1,218 Group: A Rank Hero Member #8,106 Joined: May 5, 2008	Quote: I can't remember where I read this, but America's box art tends to be active, with male protagonists who're armed and/or scowling because that's the type of shit we like to play. It's also very indicitive of what we're getting since games are usually action-oriented anyway; we're less likely to look at artsy covers and spend time trying to piece together what the game might play like. Japan and other eastern cultures, on the other hand, have a completely different view towards guns and violence, and in general prefer games with a high degree of style and artistic license, hence why their covers tend to look like condensed pieces of Jesus. To add onto what Bliz said, American gamers also like to see the main character(s) on the cover, kind of like how a Hollywood movie poster would be. We want to know what sort of characters we'll be spending time with for the duration of the game. If you look at Neo's original American examples, you'll spot this theme very quickly. Meanwhile, European box covers tend to stress the atmosphere and experience of the game more than any individual characters. The characters are likely to not be as prominent on the cover and you'll get a more artsy look at the world the game takes place in. Again, look at Neo's European examples and you'll spot this theme very quickly. Oh and MoD? Yeah I definitely think the American cover is still the best one for Sonic 3 Now, it's time for me to contribute my own bizarre box art (see first spoiler). Before you read the text on the box, do you think you can guess what this game is about? See the second spoiler for the answer. Spoiler: click to toggle [LINK] Spoiler: click to toggle It's definitely not about old men playing banjos It's a spaceship shoot'em up. In the early 1990s we had a glut of shmups on the market. To make this game stand out on the shelves more, they decided to go with this really bizarre idea for the artwork. Really though, it's the only reason this game is notable. This game is okay to play, but it's otherwise a pretty generic shooter. Edited by Nail Strafer, Dec 25 2011, 11:00 PM.



D-Metal X	Dec 25 2011, 05:07 PM Post #9
TIME TO REALLY EXPLODE! Posts: 1,354 Group: A Rank Hero Member #9,196 Joined: July 13, 2008 Playstation Network ID: MSX8976 Xbox Live Gamertag: MetalSyX	One of the more interesting dichotomies of box arts is the one with Kirby games. In Japan, the covers are happy but in the US market, Kirby is always angry and looking more "tough". Gotta get our violent American dollars, after all. xD As for my favorite box art, it's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's. Simple, to the point, and I love the color scheme.
	::DeviantART::MoDCast:: American Representative of the Shack Council


Lord Master of Darkness�	Dec 25 2011, 06:16 PM Post #10
Posts: 6,570 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,063 Joined: February 19, 2008 Xbox Live Gamertag: The Stig Pwnz Steam ID: mod1982	Nail - image fail, old friend
	Click to go to my YouTube channel - now over 1,200 subscribers! The Gaming MoD - a blog about gaming, by the Master of Darkness. Other links! Great comics currently in existence on SB(and my own, of course): \|Compensation\|~~Bar'd~~\|~~Park And Ride~~\|~~Sonic: Quest for the Chaos Energy~~\| Want your comic here? Make it a good one then! Where to find me on the net: \|~~Bleached Horizons~~\|~~Pitwall F1~~\|DevART\|


Nail Strafer	Dec 25 2011, 11:01 PM Post #11
Flying Battery Act 2 Posts: 1,218 Group: A Rank Hero Member #8,106 Joined: May 5, 2008	Fixed



Lord Master of Darkness�	Jan 1 2012, 04:00 PM Post #12
Posts: 6,570 Group: Former Monarchs Member #6,063 Joined: February 19, 2008 Xbox Live Gamertag: The Stig Pwnz Steam ID: mod1982	Nice one Nail, and woah. Talk about a little bit misleading... can you unlock the banjo at all?
	Click to go to my YouTube channel - now over 1,200 subscribers! The Gaming MoD - a blog about gaming, by the Master of Darkness. Other links! Great comics currently in existence on SB(and my own, of course): \|Compensation\|~~Bar'd~~\|~~Park And Ride~~\|~~Sonic: Quest for the Chaos Energy~~\| Want your comic here? Make it a good one then! Where to find me on the net: \|~~Bleached Horizons~~\|~~Pitwall F1~~\|DevART\|


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