Why Japanese box art is better...

[Perversion]

...except when it's not.

Interesting feature I just found. The differences between the JP Kirby and Ratchet and Clank boxart and their NA counterparts were what surprised me the most.


And of course, it goes without saying that the JP ICO cover is light-years ahead of the NA one.

[Karr Lord of Chaos]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

i wonder if its not culture related somehow? seams that western culture is more direct and demands the same from its products, yet japanese culture is more subtle, trusting that its people will get the silent meaning. its like western games are marketed like no one would buy them unless it appealed to every damn person that looked at it, like its marketed for idiots. creativity seams to be blurred, almost like marketers are scared to try something new and risk a non seller.

i find most box art insulting, its like saying your culture is so shallow that we prefer not to attempt anything oblique.

[Jehuty]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

Seems like the American box art is either "omg lookitboobs" or "bad asses standing heroically"

[marcus]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

i wonder if its not culture related somehow? seams that western culture is more direct and demands the same from its products, yet japanese culture is more subtle, trusting that its people will get the silent meaning. its like western games are marketed like no one would buy them unless it appealed to every damn person that looked at it, like its marketed for idiots. creativity seams to be blurred, almost like marketers are scared to try something new and risk a non seller.

i find most box art insulting, its like saying your culture is so shallow that we prefer not to attempt anything oblique.

Essentially, yes. American marketing is more direct. They take the most predominate elements in the game, which are often guns and big swords, and blow them up for emphasis without any regard to emotion or mood. Sometimes the artist will find a middle ground such as in the early Call of Duty covers:



Lookit that. Well designed, eye catching, beautifully rendered, follows the elementary rules of framing (rule of thirds), and you know what it's about instantly. I mean, that dude on the right is basically pointing at you like "WHAT THE **** ARE YOU DOING STARING AT THE BOX, BUY THIS GAME NOW AND GET YOUR ASS IN HERE WE'VE GOT A WAR TO WIN!!!" Whoever created this is an expert in their field because any lesser artist would've resorted to something boring that completely removing all background elements and doing an extreme close up of some dude screaming while prominently featuring a resting fire arm to let you know "lol this game has guns!"



Oh... wait...



Dear Infinity Ward: That's not how you hold a ****ing gun. Like, even casually.

[Alzar]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

i just like how kirby is mad in the US one and happy in the japanese one

[Vanilla Iced Tea]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

Lookit that. Well designed, eye catching, beautifully rendered, follows the elementary rules of framing (rule of thirds), and you know what it's about instantly. I mean, that dude on the right is basically pointing at you like "WHAT THE **** ARE YOU DOING STARING AT THE BOX, BUY THIS GAME NOW AND GET YOUR ASS IN HERE WE'VE GOT A WAR TO WIN!!!" Whoever created this is an expert in their field because any lesser artist would've resorted to something boring that completely removing all background elements and doing an extreme close up of some dude screaming while prominently featuring a resting fire arm to let you know "lol this game has guns!"

Yeah, that's actually what I wrote my thesis on.

[Red Dragon]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

Does box art even matter these days anymore?

With so many demos, trailers, conferences, reviews, blogs, videos, etc. You pretty much know what the game is about wayyyy before you see it in a store.

They could just have a red box with the title on it and everyone would know what it is.

[marcus]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

Does box art even matter these days anymore?

With so many demos, trailers, conferences, reviews, blogs, videos, etc. You pretty much know what the game is about wayyyy before you see it in a store.

They could just have a red box with the title on it and everyone would know what it is.

I'm paying $60 for a product (case, manual, and game) and I expect a complete package. Good presentation is an indicator that the developers actually give a damn about the final product. By comparison, Modern Warfare 2 looks soulless and robotic like it just came off the assembly line whereas Borderlands' cover looks like the devs were trying to capture the spirit of the game.

The final product is what's important but I'm less inclined to spend full price on a nice car if it has an ugly paint job.

[Alzar]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

i honestly didn't think anyone gave a ****

[Llednik]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

I second Alzar's thoughts.

[John Mora]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

I don't give a ****

[Red Dragon]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

I'm paying $60 for a product (case, manual, and game) and I expect a complete package.

I guess I just pay for the game. And that's why I mostly use Steam or Direct 2 Drive.

[John Mora]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

Ah yes, but Steam and Direct 2 Drive can't give you console games. :V

[marcus]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

I guess I jsut pay for the game. And that's why I mostly use Steam or Cirect 2 Drive.

And now, for the first time since Steam's launch in 2003 and the first time... well, EVER in my life as a PC gamer Infinity Ward has set an MSRP of $60 on Modern Warfare 2. This is a big deal for PC gamers because we recognize the bull****. PC games are cheaper to manufacture and don't have to go through the licensing issues required for release. It's even more ridiculous because the digital copy doesn't have to be manufactured or distributed at all.

This is a prime example of developer greed and the equivalent of Square's "Squenix Tax" on their DS games.

For everyone who says "I don't give a ****" realize that the line begins at your apathy. You may not care about something now but for every person that lets something slide you give the devs the idea that it's okay to keep toeing your line. Eventually you get bull**** like Epic saying you don't buy their games, only the license to play them, and Blizzard forcing you to buy each Starcraft II single player campaign even though all three factions are included in multiplayer. Once they step on your feet you start to care but it's too late then and they'll steam roll right over you.

[John Mora]

Re: Why Japanese box art is better...

You're dragging price into a conversation about packaging.