Naughty Dog "Flat-Out Refused" to Change Last of Us Cover
- Thread starter Andy Chalk
- Start date
*looks at cover* I fail to the the issue. We have the two main characters, a badass looking guy in the center, and the cute girl who seems to be the emotional heart of the story a bit bigger, while holding a rifle over her shoulder. ...How is that a "risk"?
Because it doesn't have a guy in a standard "badass shooter pose" taking up half the cover, with nary a female in sight? ...Avoiding that is a good thing. If they went for that people might confuse it with the latest spunkgargleweewee game at first glance.
I like this cover.
Because it doesn't have a guy in a standard "badass shooter pose" taking up half the cover, with nary a female in sight? ...Avoiding that is a good thing. If they went for that people might confuse it with the latest spunkgargleweewee game at first glance.
I like this cover.
The cover isnt anything special and it does make sence to have the girl in the focus instead of the guy. From what I have seen from the game it looks like the girl is what matters in it, kind of like the movie "The Road", I wouldnt even be suprised if the ending was similar. The girl represents the future of the apocalypse, just like any other child in that world would.
You don't need a male character front and center on the cover. Sometimes, a massively popular platform-defining franchise and tons of fawning media previews will serve you every bit as well.
(*cough*)
Translation for the sarcasm-impaired: If "Last of Us" does well (as is likely), given the lead-up to it, it will be impossible to tell whether the cover image made one ruddy bit of difference.)
(*cough*)
Translation for the sarcasm-impaired: If "Last of Us" does well (as is likely), given the lead-up to it, it will be impossible to tell whether the cover image made one ruddy bit of difference.)
I love this cover, except for one thing: "Only On PlayStation."
Maybe I'll get a PS3 for this. I've always wanted to play a game where there's a non-sexualized female lead in an action-oriented role. I'd be a lot more interested if they just made a PC release, though.
Maybe I'll get a PS3 for this. I've always wanted to play a game where there's a non-sexualized female lead in an action-oriented role. I'd be a lot more interested if they just made a PC release, though.
It's interesting then to compare the approach of Naughty Dog (who I respect anyway, they gave me the early Crash and Jak games after all...) to that of Ken Levine and 2K Games, with the differing styles. One is focusing on the young female deuteragonist, while the other focuses on the manly gun-toting protagonist, and the reasons given for each art style are completely different. Personally, I don't look at the art of a game to decide whether to buy it, I already know what games I like and I'll take a look and read up on something regardless of what the box cover looks like. What the game itself looks like, and plays like, is more improtant in my eyes.
At any rate, I have great hopes for both games, and will most certainly be getting Bioshock Infinite, and lament sadly at my inability to get The Last Of Us (because as I've so often said before, to no avail, exclusive titles are the curse of the gaming industry, and shouldn't be allowed, but tough luck I guess...). I wonder though, if the sales will reflect the art, or more importantly will the sales reflect the quality of each game?
[small]EDIT: Post edited to reflect that Naughty Dog didn't make the early Ratchet and Clank games, that was Insomniac. Which I should have known, being a big Spyro fan and owning the first Ratchet games when they came out. Silly me...[/small]
At any rate, I have great hopes for both games, and will most certainly be getting Bioshock Infinite, and lament sadly at my inability to get The Last Of Us (because as I've so often said before, to no avail, exclusive titles are the curse of the gaming industry, and shouldn't be allowed, but tough luck I guess...). I wonder though, if the sales will reflect the art, or more importantly will the sales reflect the quality of each game?
[small]EDIT: Post edited to reflect that Naughty Dog didn't make the early Ratchet and Clank games, that was Insomniac. Which I should have known, being a big Spyro fan and owning the first Ratchet games when they came out. Silly me...[/small]
I love that they put Elle in the foreground because she IS a major focus of the game. It even looks like the male in the background, whose name I can't remember, is looking at her which makes sense as I wouldn't be surprised if he's walking through the hell they live in just for her.
I was going to try to get this game...eventually...money being tight and all, but it's bumped up several spots for me just because I respect NaughtyDog for sticking to their guns.
I was going to try to get this game...eventually...money being tight and all, but it's bumped up several spots for me just because I respect NaughtyDog for sticking to their guns.
Good on Naughty Dog. I find it interesting that this was even an issue, considering she is the main focus, and probably the only game I will ever acknowledge is being partially an escort quest game, yet looks very compell-AAAH IT BURNS!
In all seriousness though, Naughty Dog has yet to disappoint as a developer, which is quite an achievement these days. They know when to make something, what to focus on, and when to quit before it turns into a saturiation-fest (although Crash was digged up from his grave and crushed into the ground after they left *snif*).
They want this, and have had the vision for a while. This speaks to the story they want to tell. And I swear this, and Bioshock Infinite's cover art looks a thousand times more compelling then "X Broad-shouldered space marine wanna-be" on yet another box cover.
Looking forward to both of those games. And here's to Naughty Dog going strong in the future.
In all seriousness though, Naughty Dog has yet to disappoint as a developer, which is quite an achievement these days. They know when to make something, what to focus on, and when to quit before it turns into a saturiation-fest (although Crash was digged up from his grave and crushed into the ground after they left *snif*).
They want this, and have had the vision for a while. This speaks to the story they want to tell. And I swear this, and Bioshock Infinite's cover art looks a thousand times more compelling then "X Broad-shouldered space marine wanna-be" on yet another box cover.
Looking forward to both of those games. And here's to Naughty Dog going strong in the future.
Wait, Ellie being in front of Joel on the game cover was actually a controversy?
...Did I miss something? Did the apocalypse already pass and now I'm imagining stupid video game controversies to occupy my mind while I deal with the inevitable traumatic stress an apocalypse?
...Did I miss something? Did the apocalypse already pass and now I'm imagining stupid video game controversies to occupy my mind while I deal with the inevitable traumatic stress an apocalypse?
Yeah but that's only if the game has a plus +70% female playable character roaster list right? Games where it's about even, mostly guys, has a character editor/generator and/or Main Character(Male) they usually have a Guy as the center-stage biggest close-up on the cover.Djaevlenselv said:
Like the cover for Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
A Nemesis (Male) towering over in the back, Vector out ahead of everyone else in the middle of Beltway and Spectre and finally (the 3 women) Bertha, Lupo, and Four Eyes at the end of the "V" line-up of to the sides. Oh further insult to injury Lupo's the in-game story Leader of the Squad and doesn't get the forward spot on the cover. Playable Characters gender split is even at 3-3 Campaign or 6-6 Competitive with up to 4 on a team and the "Rival" team being a gender swap of the original 6.
The issue isn't any better when the game lets you make your own Main Character it's always(?) a Male character. (Mass Effect 3 doesn't count as it was technically the alternate main cover art.)
Yeah, I was particularly disappointed when I found out this was a PS3 exclusive. It's a game that looks like it's got a lot of heart, and for once I'd like to experience an emotive video game story that isn't just angst, and with a child character who isn't just a load to the protagonist.Matt Dellar said:
I was going to get the game long before the cover was unveiled; but I think they ought to change it up a little bit. I think most of the essential imagery for the cover is fine, and is an ideal way the convey the game, but I don't get the right immediate impression from the cover.
I don't think it conveys to a customer who isn't informed about the industry that this is a major, quality product and something of a marker on the overall games library at this stage of the generation's lifespan. They're more likely to assume it's a second tier side-track title and something along the expectation level of I Am Alive.
The title placement, the size of the overall image crop, and the trench-like street are the things that seem a bit "Off" to me.
The image succeeds in conveying 'barrenness', but the impression I get is of barrenness of the game world, rather than a narrative theme. Barrenness and linearity, as I interpret from the street.
I think they should open up the street somewhat, and possibly change that angle aswell. If they move the title around, they can shift Joel a bit to the left, so that he doesn't appear to be in Ellie's shadow and you get a better impression of a partnership between the two.
I don't think it conveys to a customer who isn't informed about the industry that this is a major, quality product and something of a marker on the overall games library at this stage of the generation's lifespan. They're more likely to assume it's a second tier side-track title and something along the expectation level of I Am Alive.
The title placement, the size of the overall image crop, and the trench-like street are the things that seem a bit "Off" to me.
The image succeeds in conveying 'barrenness', but the impression I get is of barrenness of the game world, rather than a narrative theme. Barrenness and linearity, as I interpret from the street.
I think they should open up the street somewhat, and possibly change that angle aswell. If they move the title around, they can shift Joel a bit to the left, so that he doesn't appear to be in Ellie's shadow and you get a better impression of a partnership between the two.