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Wow, that's actually pretty cool of sony for once. And yes, I do remember the cruddy NA box art for ICO, which also discarded an awesome cover for a "dull-protagonist pose" look. Booooring.
It's got water and rain, the title is called Heavy Rain, I mean you can't get more direct than that.
The problem with horrific box art in my opinion is that it puts off potential customers a factor I believe contributed a little to Ico's poor sales. I'm probably going to buy the game regardless and care little for whats on the box as its just going to be shelved with the rest of 'em.
A printable cover doesn't help ease any of the concern I have of another ambitious and inventive game being let down by poor marketing.
A printable cover doesn't help ease any of the concern I have of another ambitious and inventive game being let down by poor marketing.
Oh c'mon. The box art wasn't that bad. In fact I don't think it's bad at all. Who the hell is not going to buy a video game because of it's box art? This is just silly.
Doesn't matter, because I'm taking my Citizen Kane DVD slip, cutting it down to PS3 size and putting it on the box. BECAUSE THIS IS THE CITIZEN KANE OF GAMING.
That is pretty cool of them. Of course, I will need to get a really good printer to make it look good as I slip it in. Ugh. Clearly they still think that it will sell the game better with the 4 character models on it which is really annoying and quite a harsh statement about American consumers.
Yes, that really is cool of them and seeing this gesture by them puts a little good faith in me.
Box arts are not a deciding factor for me. I put the games in a drawer and they've never seen, but still, is it still the 90s to the people that make these box arts? It goes much farther than ICO, man. I keep an eye on imports so I see that it happens all the time today. I'm not saying the cover doesn't have to be artsy fartsy, but it would be nice to see some integrity or respect for the game itself.
I see many people here don't mind, but I believe these cover designers can raise their standards just a bit once in a while. Wouldn't surprise me if some fan on Deviantart could muster up something more pleasing than these photoshop experts.
Box arts are not a deciding factor for me. I put the games in a drawer and they've never seen, but still, is it still the 90s to the people that make these box arts? It goes much farther than ICO, man. I keep an eye on imports so I see that it happens all the time today. I'm not saying the cover doesn't have to be artsy fartsy, but it would be nice to see some integrity or respect for the game itself.
I see many people here don't mind, but I believe these cover designers can raise their standards just a bit once in a while. Wouldn't surprise me if some fan on Deviantart could muster up something more pleasing than these photoshop experts.
So... in other words "Go f*ck Yourself! Print Your own if You don't like ours!" lol... as if we could not print it without sonys approval xD
I people wonder why gamers get a sense of entitlement...
But seriously, who would buy a game or not based on the box art? Maybe I'm in a bubble here as I research the hell out of all my games and know what I'm going to buy well before I ever enter a store. Who cares what the box art looks like? You're going to play the game and then put it on the shelf for the rest of eternity. If anything, they should focus on making a sweet spine design as that's the only part anyone will see 99% of the time.
But seriously, who would buy a game or not based on the box art? Maybe I'm in a bubble here as I research the hell out of all my games and know what I'm going to buy well before I ever enter a store. Who cares what the box art looks like? You're going to play the game and then put it on the shelf for the rest of eternity. If anything, they should focus on making a sweet spine design as that's the only part anyone will see 99% of the time.
...because people won't by the game if the European box art is better than the American.
American games have box art that focuses on characters, thats just how it is. Just look at Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 European box arts. They don't have any characters, but the American version does. Most all American box art has the character plastered on the front cover. It's because we're stupid and won't know who's in the game if they don't do that.
American games have box art that focuses on characters, thats just how it is. Just look at Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5 European box arts. They don't have any characters, but the American version does. Most all American box art has the character plastered on the front cover. It's because we're stupid and won't know who's in the game if they don't do that.
"who would buy a game or not based on the box art?"
A lot of people. When I was a kid (before Al Gore gave birth to the internet and I could research a game prior to purchasing) I would beg my parents for a new NES or computer game when we were at a store if the box art made it look cool. Now, I know this game isn't intended for kids, but there are certainly adults rummaging through GameStop looking for a new game who would make just as uninformed a decision.
It's called marketing. It might not be responsible for all (or even most) of a game's sales, but it IS responsible for some, and bad marketing makes that number smaller.
A lot of people. When I was a kid (before Al Gore gave birth to the internet and I could research a game prior to purchasing) I would beg my parents for a new NES or computer game when we were at a store if the box art made it look cool. Now, I know this game isn't intended for kids, but there are certainly adults rummaging through GameStop looking for a new game who would make just as uninformed a decision.
It's called marketing. It might not be responsible for all (or even most) of a game's sales, but it IS responsible for some, and bad marketing makes that number smaller.
mrandydixon has it down pat. You might be an informed consumer (shit, you're going to a hardcore gaming website), but think of the millions of parents/young kids who are told "pick out whatever you want" that are duped by flashy box-art, or slogans like "lose weight in 7 days!"
Honestly, I like the US boxart. So whatever to Jim and everyone else who are complaining. There's really no reason to complain.
GTFO out with the 'hate" Destructiod, I was one of the people asking for the EU optional boxart, and it was not because I "hated" the NA one, it was because I preferred the EU one.
I also prefer Hawaiian pizza over combination pizzas, but that doesn't mean I "hate" combination pizzas.
I also prefer Hawaiian pizza over combination pizzas, but that doesn't mean I "hate" combination pizzas.
The box art wasn't that bad but the alternative is better.
@Parapraxis
Hawaiian is always > combination.
@Parapraxis
Hawaiian is always > combination.
@mrandydixon: Yeah... I get what you mean. But, then again, I think people that browse through a store and buy a game uninformedly will probably be more interested in the boxart with the characters faces than in a boxart that only shows an origami.
I can't recall the example, but I think some game had an alternative boxart in the other side of the paper... So people just had to put the paper on the other side. I think that was a cool solution...
I can't recall the example, but I think some game had an alternative boxart in the other side of the paper... So people just had to put the paper on the other side. I think that was a cool solution...
Better yet, just make it a double sided art insert so we can have a good quality one to simply flip over.
Again, this box art isn't terrible, but it's pretty boring. And it's not like the EU Ico box art was GOOD, either. It was boring and in an art style not representative of the game AT ALL. Sure, it beat the US art, but just about anything would.
Again, this box art isn't terrible, but it's pretty boring. And it's not like the EU Ico box art was GOOD, either. It was boring and in an art style not representative of the game AT ALL. Sure, it beat the US art, but just about anything would.
Gamers whine too much. I actually like the North American boxart. It's got all the main characters, some rain with a little side of heavy. Looks good to me.
hermes: "I think people that browse through a store and buy a game uninformedly will probably be more interested in the boxart with the characters faces than in a boxart that only shows an origami."
You could definitely be right!
For the record, I was never one of the "haters" of the US box art (I honestly couldn't care less about what a game's box looks like, and I don't plan on buying this game either way). I was just trying to show that box art DOES matter to a marketer, even if it doesn't to most of us.
You could definitely be right!
For the record, I was never one of the "haters" of the US box art (I honestly couldn't care less about what a game's box looks like, and I don't plan on buying this game either way). I was just trying to show that box art DOES matter to a marketer, even if it doesn't to most of us.
It's a good thing Sony does this. But I would prefer if they would just print it on the backside of the cover.
The ICO cover isn't half as bad as this one. At least the boring protagonist pose didn't look like a poorly posed mannequin.
I quite like the US cover art. So what if they have the characters there? It's not as horrible as, lets say, something like the Mass Effect 2 cover.
I did not purchase Ico, until just before Shadow of the Collosus came out, because of the box art.
Box art is a huge deal. Like it or not, those of us who don't read the videogame blogs, do in fact judge our books, by their covers.
Box art is a huge deal. Like it or not, those of us who don't read the videogame blogs, do in fact judge our books, by their covers.
Instead of a stupid print out that's going to look horrible if you don't have a really expensive printer why don't they just make it reversible and let the people who buy it decide?
I haven't seen the UK boxart yet, but the US art looks like the cover to a DVD season of some crime drama. I assume the other one doesn't?
Will Sony be printing the alternative covers for us? I wouldn't want to use the other cover if I had to print it myself, on my crumby printer it will look like I bootlegged the game.
Capcom actually sent me several professionally printed alternative covers for Okami on Wii after they screwed up and printed the original cover with the IGN watermark right on front.
Capcom actually sent me several professionally printed alternative covers for Okami on Wii after they screwed up and printed the original cover with the IGN watermark right on front.
@Jim Sterling
Before making a broad generalization about all games using European box art, don't forget the EU Box Art for The Grudge game on Wii.
http://n-europe.com/news.php?nid=13513
Terrible example because it's a pretty bad game, but still.
Before making a broad generalization about all games using European box art, don't forget the EU Box Art for The Grudge game on Wii.
http://n-europe.com/news.php?nid=13513
Terrible example because it's a pretty bad game, but still.
Jim...
NOONE needs to remember the ICO debacle
@RichardBlaine
the grudge was an awfullly shitty game, noone fuckin cares...
*clicks link*
MERCYFUL CHRIST, MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!
NOONE needs to remember the ICO debacle
@RichardBlaine
the grudge was an awfullly shitty game, noone fuckin cares...
*clicks link*
MERCYFUL CHRIST, MY EYES!!!!!!!!!!
That is pretty cool I suppose. The whole point of having good box art in the first place is to interest potential customers, but it'll at least make people like me happy to have the chance to print off a better box art cover. I'll guarentee I'll be doing that as soon as the game comes out.
Honestly, they both aren't that bad. The UK one is a bit more eye-pleasing, but there isn't anything offensive about the US box art.
Are you seriously complaining about the box art before you even play the game? Seriously? Either your a xbox fanboy or you need to get a new hobby!
Wasn't there an article in last month's issue of Game Informer on the topic of box art and the reason why its different between countries?
Pal region box art always seems to be better, but you know... I don't see the big deal. Oh and that grudge cover, yeah thats um... yeah. ew. Despite not being as awesome though, don't really see too much of a problem with the North American Heavy Rain art, sure its not as good as the European one, but its not that horrible. Once you have the game on your shelf you can only see the spine anywho right?
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