Protoype vs Infamous: The Battle of Box Art

[dcheppy]

I was inspired by the recent article on Left 4 Dead's awesome box art to create my own box art thread of sorts. Good box art equals better sales especially on new IPs.

Prototype and Infamous are new IPs. With the similar sells. My question to you is which one do you think will sell better based on their box art. After adjusting for differences in installed user bases. (Prototype is multiplatform.)

[img Infamous]http://scrawlfx.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/infamous-box-art-reveal-560x643.jpg[/img]
Yellow on black/dark grey is striking. The logo is cool. The sell is you're an angry guy with lightning powers. It gets the point across. Little clutter. Your eye is drawn right to the badass on the box. Simple and effective. I like it, but why is it inFAMOUS? Our hero is kind of generic looking isn't he? It's not a classic. There is no single iconic image that defines it. No zombie claw, or triforce symbol, lancer, or whatever. The yellow jacket is cool but I doubt it has much to do with the actual gameplay.

[img prototype]http://www.ebgames.com/common/images/lbox/270132brp.jpg[/img]
I couldn't find a bigger image maybe because it's not a final image, which is good because this, I don't think is very good. The main character is in the background? Are we selling the badass hero with a blade for his arm or the title of the game? White logo on a white background? The only color is in the arm which effectively draws your eye to the blade which is the important image, but that arm doesn't look very menacing to me or even like a weapon. More of an infected arm. He looks like he's praying. It's decidedly not badass. Red, white and black aren't bad colors even if they are a little boring. And I don't have to say and it but, Assassins Creed much?

Spoiler: That Box

[img creed]http://www.psu.com/media/articles/assassins_creed_box1.jpg[/img]

Based on the boxes alone my money is on Infamous to sell relatively better. Do you guys agree?

 

[SmilingKitsune]

Oh I do love a good bit of box art, in this case I'll go with Infamous, very nice contrast between the dark grey of the backround and the yellow of his jacket.

 

[xitel]

I personally think Prototype's box art looks better. It's simple, whereas inFamous' box art is incredibly busy and messy. Plus, the point of the box is to catch the eye and make it want to product. The stark contrast of red on black on white catches the eye quickly, then your eye is drawn to the title of the game, which is what is supposed to happen. You should know the name of the game so that you know what it is that you're buying.

 

[dcheppy]

Boxes alone? Maybe.
Hard to tell. I know I won't be getting it, though, 'cause I don't have a PS3.
I don't remember if Prototype comes out on PC, but if it does, that'll be one more sale for it.

It does.

 

[OldSchoolFool]

Infamous looks better IMO theres a lot more going on and a lot more to catch your eye.

 

[Syphonz]

Prototype looks more like a prototype picture (har har...oh I'll stop), its not great, but not bad either. InFamous' not a fan of it either. I call it the 'Cartoony/less serious than it's supposed to be' look. Observe these two box arts, they're from the PS2 games The Suffering, and it's sequel.

What looks more awesome? Never mind which was the better game, but what would draw you in more? Clearly, the first one right?

 

[scotth266]

I personally think Prototype's box art looks better. It's simple, whereas inFamous' box art is incredibly busy and messy. Plus, the point of the box is to catch the eye and make it want to product. The stark contrast of red on black on white catches the eye quickly, then your eye is drawn to the title of the game, which is what is supposed to happen. You should know the name of the game so that you know what it is that you're buying.

This is pretty much all I thought. I don;t like yellow much so the box art for Prototype appeals to me more.

 

[God's Clown]

IMO the infamous guy looks like guy from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Could be his twin for all I know.

 

[jboking]

Hum, I admire the Look of cleanness to the prototype box art. The Infamous box art is very busy but the color contrast draws more attention to it. Pretty even, however, there is one thing on the Infamous box that makes it win, the Sucker Punch logo.

Spoiler: I still liked this art more though

 

[Pimppeter2]

Who cares, prototype is gonna kick some major asscake

 

[dcheppy]

I personally think Prototype's box art looks better. It's simple, whereas inFamous' box art is incredibly busy and messy. Plus, the point of the box is to catch the eye and make it want to product. The stark contrast of red on black on white catches the eye quickly, then your eye is drawn to the title of the game, which is what is supposed to happen. You should know the name of the game so that you know what it is that you're buying.

This is pretty much all I thought. I don;t like yellow much so the box art for Prototype appeals to me more.

The rubble in the background does create uncalled for clutter. It'd be better served with just the street and a dark sky. A Cleaner look. I get that they want to communicate that it takes place in a city but it isn't needed.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Hum, I admire the Look of cleanness to the prototype box art. The Infamous box art is very busy but the color contrast draws more attention to it. Pretty even, however, there is one thing on the Infamous box that makes it win, the Sucker Punch logo.

Spoiler: I still liked this art more though

Too much empty space in that one. It's unappealing to a casual glance.

 

[megapenguinx]

I'm going with I like Prototype's boxart better, but I'm still getting both because they seem to play like Spiderman 2 and I loved that game.

 

[jboking]

Hum, I admire the Look of cleanness to the prototype box art. The Infamous box art is very busy but the color contrast draws more attention to it. Pretty even, however, there is one thing on the Infamous box that makes it win, the Sucker Punch logo.

Spoiler: I still liked this art more though

Too much empty space in that one. It's unappealing to a casual glance.

Yeah, I can see where you are coming from with that. Doesn't the prototype demo box art suffer from the same problem though?

ps. If they tightened up the image a bit, incorporate the logo into the center maybe, would it be more viable.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

Compared to the box art of prototype I like inFamous better, BUT, I don't really like either of them.

 

[Booze Zombie]

It's actually quite fun to look at the mock-up box art. Check it out:

I choose Prototype, obviously.

 

[Yokai]

Well, Infamous's cover just shows a guy with lightning powers. That's cool, but so many videogame characters can shoot lightning it's almost ridiculous. On the Prototype cover, you have a simple image of what looks like a normal guy--except he's got a giant red-streaked black spike for a left arm. More original, definitely more badass. It draws you to it, if only because it clearly shows you get to play as a guy with a huge freaking spike for an arm.