Ken Levine Gives an Excellent Explanation for Bioshock: Infinite's Disappointing Box Art
88 replies, posted
If someone is judging a game based on the cover of the game itself, then they shouldn't be buying games.
Cover art should be something that catches your attention on the shelf. If everything had a guy holding a gun on it, nothing would look spectacular and nothing would really stand out.
The back of the box is where all the information should be. The cover should get their attention, and then back should explain to them what the game is about.
I [I]always[/I] read the back of games so I know what kind of game it is.
[QUOTE=slayer20;38757136]If someone is judging a game based on the cover of the game itself, then they shouldn't be buying games.
Cover art should be something that catches your attention on the shelf. If everything had a gun holding a gun on it, nothing would look spectacular and nothing would really stand out.
The back of the box is where all the information should be. The cover should get their attention, and then back should explain to them what the game is about.
I [I]always[/I] read the back of games so I know what kind of game it is.[/QUOTE]
a cover should give you a good indication of the game you're about to play though.
And even if, it's just a really boring cover.
A Nathan Drake-esque motherfucker holding a gun. Whoop de doo. That tells me a white man will shoot up a bunch of dudes [B]wow never seen that before in any video game ever[/B]
Bioshock is so much more unique than that, and it's sad to see potential being wasted there for an awesome artistic cover using propaganda poster style or something.
For a game to be successful, it needs money. You want it to succeed? you need to appeal to the masses, at the end of the day if that means making a glitzy in your face cover to shift those extra few units then so be it. All you can hope is when that game is bought they see more to the game than its box art.
[QUOTE=Im Crimson;38757129]Makes sense I guess. Come to think of it, the practice of making promotional designs eye-catching as opposed to accurate reflections of the content it advertises is a pretty ubiquitous strategy in all marketing. I mean, check out TV commercials; sometimes you don't even see the product.[/QUOTE]
Often in ads, they use completely irrelevant shots then just throw the thing they're trying to market right at you at the end.
A good example I've seen recently;
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygeWsoYYMuQ[/media]
If you guys like comparing regions boxart's you should check out this tumblr: [url]http://boxvsbox.tumblr.com/[/url]
tbh it even looks shitty even for a "person with a gun" box art. the composition is honestly p weird when you compare it to something this
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Battlefield_3_Game_Cover.jpg[/img]
[img]http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/109/1099404/killzone-3-20100616055042869.jpg[/img]
of course they're bad since they're both "person with a gun" box art, but i mean, come on, you see some sort of background in them and more what the game is about. the bioshock infinite art is just like...it feels vaugely like '90s shovelware. at least these boxes TRY to present some more specifics about the game
[QUOTE=Sardonus;38757153]
Bioshock is so much more unique than that, and it's sad to see potential being wasted there for an awesome artistic cover using propaganda poster style or something.[/QUOTE]
But that's the thing though. You can't convince someone right off the bat who don't have videogames among their primary interest that Bioshock is more than an action game. Few to none would believe you if you told them Bioshock was also gonna be a deep, dark experience with philosophical undertones that leaves a lasting impression, because EVERY hardcore fan of EVERYTHING EVER says that. On the contrary, the statement "Hey, this is a good action game, you should try it" is much easier for a consumer to swallow.
[QUOTE=NeoSeeker;38756697]controversy over box art?
like shitty box art is going to change fuckall[/QUOTE]
You obviously didn't read the article.
[editline]8th December 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;38756780]Exactly. That said, it's easy enough to print out a replacement if need be. vgboxart has me covered.
[t]http://vgboxart.com/boxes/PC/44749-bioshock-infinite.png[/t][t]http://vgboxart.com/boxes/360/48517-bioshock-infinite.png[/t][t]http://vgboxart.com/boxes/PC/48150-bioshock-infinite.jpg[/t]
mmmmmmmmmmmm[/QUOTE]
Levine said in the article that they are going to provide official alternatives for you to print.
so videogames are like salad dressing
[QUOTE=meppers;38757347]so videogames are like salad dressing[/QUOTE]
It's true
I apply games to my salads very liberally
great taste
[QUOTE=Sardonus;38756934]Sweet! That's more the cover I wanted for the game.
Sad truth is North America really does not get the artsy covers. Compare Amnesia the Dark Descent.
Heavy Rain works equally as well.
Heavy Rain in Japan
[IMG]http://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/01/heavy-rain-japanese-box-art.jpg[/IMG]
Woah. Creepy. A corpse in the water. Depressing, really.
Heavy Rain in Europe
[IMG]http://cdn2-www.playstationlifestyle.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Heavy-Rain-PSLS.jpg[/IMG]
A bloodied origami creature, soaked in the rain? Well this certainly evokes some emotion. I'm creeped out looking at this thing. What kind of deranged killer does this?
Heavy Rain in America
[IMG]http://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/01/Heavy-Rain-US-Cover.jpg[/IMG]
[[I]holy shit look at this chick's DRIPPING TITS AND OH MY GOD THAT GUY IN THE BACK HAS A GUN
[/I][/QUOTE]You know whats weird is that I bought my copy of Heavy Rain at launch in the U.S. but I have the European box art. I don't think I got a special edition or anything, its weird as hell.
I like it. I guess.
[QUOTE=Sardonus;38756934]
[img]http://assets.vg247.com/current//2010/01/Heavy-Rain-US-Cover.jpg[/img]
[[I]holy shit look at this chick's DRIPPING TITS AND OH MY GOD THAT GUY IN THE BACK HAS A GUN
[/I][/QUOTE]
The best thing about this is that [sp]it pretty much implies who the origami killer is[/sp]
I guess while we are talking about box-art -
[IMG]http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100225102812/teamico/images/thumb/1/12/ICOboxartcomparison.jpg/300px-ICOboxartcomparison.jpg[/IMG]
American on the left, everywhere else on the right
The worst boxart of all is an angry man with a gun walking towards the camera while covered in orange shit.
I think the box art's interesting because BioShock was all about not showing the character even though the story turned out to center completely on him, so this is a pretty big departure. Still it's extremely depressing that companies have to pander to the lowest common denominator in order to even make a worthwhile profit. It would be fucking infuriating to be dependent on frat bro morons for your income.
I understand they try to appeal to the lowest common denominator, but at least try to be original in some way. This 'dude with gun' boxart just screams "fuck effort".
[QUOTE=Clavus;38758486]I understand they try to appeal to the lowest common denominator, but at least try to be original in some way. This 'dude with gun' boxart just screams "fuck effort".[/QUOTE]
To play devil's advocate, I do like that the American flag is on fire in the background. It's a fairly minor detail, but a risky one.
[QUOTE=Aurora93;38757259]tbh it even looks shitty even for a "person with a gun" box art. the composition is honestly p weird when you compare it to something this
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Battlefield_3_Game_Cover.jpg[/img]
[img]http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/109/1099404/killzone-3-20100616055042869.jpg[/img]
of course they're bad since they're both "person with a gun" box art, but i mean, come on, you see some sort of background in them and more what the game is about. the bioshock infinite art is just like...it feels vaugely like '90s shovelware. at least these boxes TRY to present some more specifics about the game[/QUOTE]
Those covers are the representation of a games company making a game for a mainstream market, trying to pretend that their game is something incredible.
Bioshock Infinite's cover is the representation of a games company making an incredible game, trying to pretend that their game is for a mainstream market.
If they need to convince a bunch of stupid jock boys to get the money to deliver me the philosophical videogame ride that is Bioshock at a reasonable price, so be it.
my fave is the difference between american kirby and the rest of the world
[img]http://www.n-sider.com/images/inline_images/inline-4-407-3.jpg[/img]
cus kirby totally needs to look badass
If I didn't know anything about Bioshock, that cover would make me think it was one of those really generic games that's lucky to even get mentioned in a magazine.
[QUOTE=Paul McCartney;38756705]So I just went on Kotaku to see what they had to say about it.
There's an article complaining about how his finger is on the trigger, while idle.
Fucking seriously.[/QUOTE]
when did gunfox get a writing gig?
i understand that it's part of marketing, but the fact that they had to do this speaks volumes about our culture as it stands today
Am I the only person on planet earth that doesn't give half a shit about the fucking boxart? I don't care what they have there. I'm fine with a simple black box emblazoned with the title and ESRB rating. I'm just going to bin the box five minutes after I get it installed anyway.
[QUOTE=TestECull;38759190]Am I the only person on planet earth that doesn't give half a shit about the fucking boxart? I don't care what they have there. I'm fine with a simple black box emblazoned with the title and ESRB rating. I'm just going to bin the box five minutes after I get it installed anyway.[/QUOTE]
Yes. You're the only one. The two or three other people who said more or less the exact same thing as you were just lying. You're the only person who doesn't care about box art. Congratulations.
[QUOTE=TestECull;38759190]Am I the only person on planet earth that doesn't give half a shit about the fucking boxart? I don't care what they have there. I'm fine with a simple black box emblazoned with the title and ESRB rating. I'm just going to bin the box five minutes after I get it installed anyway.[/QUOTE]
Same here, All my boxes go on a shelf where nobody can even see the covers.
[QUOTE=BloodFox1222;38759215]Same here, All my boxes go on a shelf where nobody can even see the covers.[/QUOTE]
I have only about three boxes and I have unceremoniously shoved them into a drawer where they will most likely spend the rest of their sad and hopeless existence due to their complete obsolescence.
[QUOTE=Aurora93;38757259]
like '90s shovelware.[/QUOTE]
it seems like people just put random nouns with the suffix 'ware' to sound smart
horseware
spoonware
breadware
when does it end
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