Meet the Box Art for Left 4 Dead 3 - Er, Heavy Rain
- Thread starter John Funk
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I don't have a PS3 yet, but when I get one I intend on getting Heavy Rain with or without the abstract box art.
The American box-art looks more like a movie poster since it tries to show off the "actors." Notice that it also only has the woman with a full torso shot *cough*for her boobs*cough*. I think it looks less interesting but having more junk shove into it may entice the average American moron more.
Well, the boobs are pretty obvious, but the font was changed for two reasons that I can think of:
1) That clean-cut style is the current fad for everything from fonts to ipods to GUI's. So they wanted to be "current."
2) The PS3 is no exception, and its logo and game-box border follow the clean-cut aesthetic. Therefore, they wanted the game font to match. And it does match better, even if it's less original.
1) That clean-cut style is the current fad for everything from fonts to ipods to GUI's. So they wanted to be "current."
2) The PS3 is no exception, and its logo and game-box border follow the clean-cut aesthetic. Therefore, they wanted the game font to match. And it does match better, even if it's less original.
I'm starting to feel insulted.Nutcase said:
It's like they have some American box-art design flowchart or checklist at Sony HQ that goes soemthing along the lines of this:
"Are there tits?" - Yes
"Is someone holding a gun?" - Heck yeah!
"Explosions?" - had to make room for the tits, but at least they are wet!
"Is there something related to the actual thing we are advertising?" - I think so...
Excellent! Now the American demographic will eat your game up!
I see no problems with it. Actually, I prefer it. The EU boxart offers no hints as to what the game is about other than origami: it looks like a expensive art game. The US one looks like a detective game, which is far more accurate.
The italics are weird, but the rest of the box for the US is solid work.
The italics are weird, but the rest of the box for the US is solid work.
US market: not mature enough to appreciate a game unless it has a hollywood style 'profiles poster' box art. Hurray! I'm going to go back to suck on my pacifier now! [/smug]
Americans, caught in perpetual puberty, are far more character-centric, reacting more favorably to the box art that best displays the action-hero machismo and titillating jugglies that best hold the attention of the 13-year-old boy mentality they are marketing to, even (lately ESPECIALLY) when that is not even the demographic that will want to play your game. Every notice how many game boxes are adorned with the main protagonist's mug taking up most of the front? Especially in combat/shooter games. And they all look eerily familiar at that, and have the same fucking grim determination scowl plastered all over their five-o'clock-shadowed faces.
Europeans, on the other hand, can be best equated to the snobbish late 20 to early 30-somethings art house crowd twats. Their tastes in box art aesthetics mostly align with that of classic film. If you compare box art, many EU games go the atmosphere route, setting the scene and tempo a player can expect from the game while paying less attention to the protagonist or foregoing showing him/her all together.
As for Japan, they like bright colors and shiny objects. Loud noises will also hold their attention.
Europeans, on the other hand, can be best equated to the snobbish late 20 to early 30-somethings art house crowd twats. Their tastes in box art aesthetics mostly align with that of classic film. If you compare box art, many EU games go the atmosphere route, setting the scene and tempo a player can expect from the game while paying less attention to the protagonist or foregoing showing him/her all together.
As for Japan, they like bright colors and shiny objects. Loud noises will also hold their attention.
I feel the same wayHallow said:
Though I'm not surprised most people agree with the poster of the news article, that happens a lot on the Escapist.
I honestly thought this box art looked very professional and sleek but reading all these comments makes me second guess myself. The EU box art, to me, just looks like a rushed, ugly, slapped-on mess. It's depressing and not professional.
EDIT: And I hope that's just a really low-quality version of the EU box art because it is quite fuzzy
What is is with US boxart and suckage? Seriously, it always seems like we get shafted when it comes to boxart. Just look at the Japanese box art for Ico, for crying out loud! That shit's ART, man! Now look at the US art! It's awful!
Really? I mean I agree with the fact that the EU box art is better, but you seriously have no idea why companies redesign for different markets? Honestly, you like answered the question with the question, they do so because its different markets. That would like me tring to sell tap water to Americans and Africans. In America, I'd have piss poor business because they'd know its just fucking tap water, so I would have to come up with some gimmick to make mine seem better. Whilst in Africa I could say its just fucking tap water and probably be just fine.Monshroud said:
I have to agree with you here, most people here seem to be forgetting what game cover should do ... above all it should give you an idea of what the game is about or show the characters involved in it which in turn hints at what type of game it is (i.e Thief: the dark project has Garret carrying a bow and covered in heavy shadows and wearing a dark blue cloak ... it shows he is a thief and that shadows play a big role in the game .. a.k.a stealth gameplay .. and that's just one example)scotth266 said:
So the EU cover is too ambiguous and doesn't give an idea what the game is about or even hint at it ... EU cover is more suitable for game artwork book or an art exhibition .. not a game cover .. they should never be abstract IMO.
Boooooring!
It's a pity the art is so uninspiring because the game is done by Quantic Dreams game so we can be guaranteed some sort of headf*ck.
It's a pity the art is so uninspiring because the game is done by Quantic Dreams game so we can be guaranteed some sort of headf*ck.
I never said I didn't know why. I said I didn't understand the need. For some products I admit it is necessary. At least in my experience between US and EU, the gamers seem to have similar tastes. Now the Asian market is a different story.Snowalker said:
For myself, the US box art actually doesn't interest me. If I knew nothing of the game and I saw the US box art, I probably would pass right by it. The EU version would at least make me pick up the box and read the back just to see what that is all about.
