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[G-Fex]

needs more old sega master system art.

 

[lunarworks]

Looking at this thread, I am reminded of how much PC game artwork used to seriously blow.

 

[camineet]

Looking at this thread, I am reminded of how much PC game artwork used to seriously blow.

Some yes. Some no.

 

[A Black Falcon]

Yea, but is that old guy in the game at all? I mean, how many games these days feature something on the cover art that isn't in the actual game? I can't think of any.

That was a new cover for the US version of the game, so it makes sense that it's not anything from the actual game. The original Japanese box was just a close-up of the ship...

http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/snes/image/588567.html?box=4634

The American art is cooler.

 

[thetrin]

You seriously think that list of shitty box art is better than what we have now? THOSE are better than THIS?! SERIOUSLY?!

 

[Speevy]

He could never love you like I can!

 

[MattKeil]

Shouldn't it be "...when they correct me" or "if they corrected me"?

The first is wrong because it doesn't match the tense of the sentence. The second is wrong because my French sucks.

And I'm totally with thetrin here. There are a handful of classic boxart examples that remain kickass (such as The Dig, posted above), but I don't see how anyone can argue that modern boxart isn't head and shoulders above the old days.

At least the collection of Sega boxart on this page beats the hell out of the OP's picks.

 

[radios shipping overview]

Okay, I'm usually all for these nostalgia threads, but this is ridiculous.

 

[camineet]

I have sweet, sweet memories of seeing so much amazingly cool box art (well front and back covers) at Toys 'R US during 1988-1992. I'd often spend a good hour or two there looking at the covers before buying the game I came to get.

 

[EphemeralDream]

Okay, I'm usually all for these nostalgia threads, but this is ridiculous.

Yep. There are plenty of old games with boxarts that are of amazing compositional quality and overall design but boxarts these days are way more consistent. I can sample pick any few games from last gen and the quality is rather decent overall. The quality from my NES library would likely be all over the place though.

 

[anotherworld]

:lol :lol :lol

:lol :lol

 

[Kandrick]

This thread is full of stupid.

People just linking to old shitty boxarts when there's lots of them that are really good.

I could do the same and link recent boxarts that fucking blows even more, but thats not the point of the thread to link shitty boxarts.

 

[rgun]

I like this one. Its pretty cool and the MJ one. But yeah most of those are just plain terrible man. Hide this thread because NINTENDO would want to use them again for their Wii games.

 

[Infernal Monkey]

This thread's in desperate need of some Psygnosis.

Also EWJ

Because. :]

 

[rgun]

Now thats a BOX ART. Sweet ass game as well.

 

[Innotech]

And let's not talk about Castlevania 3 / Akumajou Densetsu.

Famicom

compared to:

All American Konami art of 8/16 bit era is poster worthy

I still have/play that game on occasion

 

[NoirYuki]

Aren't those terms sort of synonymous?

Yes, yes they are.

 

[Kandrick]

This thread's in desperate need of some Psygnosis.

And awesome music.

 

[Walshicus]

Now thats a BOX ART. Sweet ass game as well.

You know, I was *sure* I'd uploaded that one. I'm convinced the Bioshock design took inspiration from BaSS. It really pushes the feeling of cybernoir.

This thread's in desperate need of some Psygnosis.

Fuck. Yes. Psygnosis were the dons. I can't upload the image as I'm at work, but I just love Ork's box art. The font in particular:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/ork/cover-art/gameCoverId,76672/


I think I've concluded that the point of inflexion in overall quality of game packaging art - regardless of whether you think my taste is shitty from the shots I posted in the OP - was when Box Art became Cover Art. I don't think many publishers or retailers regret leaving behind boxes for cases, and I doubt I'd have the space for the 40 or so 360 and PC games in my current collection were they all boxed 20cm*15cm*5cm or whatever... but I do feel that the transition marked the point where homogenisation took place.

 

[Beezy]

You can't be serious...

 

[The-Switcher]

WTF

WTF

WTFWTFWTF....

Wtf

wTf???!?!

 

[Walshicus]

You can't be serious...

I am serious. And don't call me Shirley... You were going to call me Shirley right? Well don't.

I understand that some people might appreciate the more professional approach, but is it really so alien to even contemplate that someone would prefer the more real stylisation, art you could tell was made by a Human rather than a machine?

Is it a generational thing?

 

[atomico]

reminded me of this:

leather coat guy and blue robot would work for both games, too. gotta love cyberpunk :lol

 

[RevenantKioku]

You seriously think that list of shitty box art is better than what we have now? THOSE are better than THIS?! SERIOUSLY?!

[]http://webzoom.freewebs.com/outerheavenresistance/Gear%20Site%20pics/MGS3%20Subsistence%20Alt%20Cover%20Metal%20Gear%20US.JPG[/IMG]

[]http://media.gtanet.com/images/3870_gta_iv.jpg[/IMG]

[]http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m299/Thrill_01/Diablo/D2box.jpg[/IMG]

They all lack something. I can't place what it is but something is missing. It's almost as the older boxarts give off some sense of heart I just don't feel as much today.

 

[thetrin]

They all lack something. I can't place what it is but something is missing. It's almost as the older boxarts give off some sense of heart I just don't feel as much today.

I believe it's "suck" that's missing.

The only box arts that surpass anything posted here are the old school Psygnosis covers. Psygnosis rocked so hard back in the day.

WTF

WTF

WTFWTFWTF....

Wtf

wTf???!?!

That, btw, is the reason, I'm guessing, why Crackdown is called "Riot Act" in Japan.

 

[LiK]

japanese super famicom box art blows away pretty much all covers, imo. well, maybe there are SOME exceptions...

 

[mr_nexus]

Not enough robot nipples in today's boxart.

 

[industrian]

I need to play this game.

 

[RevenantKioku]

I believe it's "suck" that's missing.

The only box arts that surpass anything posted here are the old school Psygnosis covers. Psygnosis rocked so hard back in the day.

Eh, I can't say I agree. All three of your posted images lack soul or just don't work as boxart. Their art may be "better" but they don't scream "We made this game for your enjoyment" like a lot of the earlier boxarts did. It's not even nostalgia because I haven't seen most of these boxarts before, but they just evoke a feeling while a lot of todays just feel too commercial.

 

[joedan]

"Revengers of Vengeance"?? Awesome name. Next Seagal or Van Damme flick

 

[Fuu]

Wow, this one is awesome.

 

[Kandrick]

Wow, this one is awesome.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qipWqOwkceg

AWESOME I SAID.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

to me, nothing beats this sheer minimalism

 

[LiK]

i love the original RE PSOne DVD case cover art. better than the Japanese Biohazard cover. one of the few US box arts from PSone i like displaying on my shelf

 

[jett]

Man Tobey Maguire buffed up!

 

[The-Switcher]

 

[Icomeinpeace]

I think the main difference is that they used to be hand painted with real brushes and paint as of today it's mostly 3D renders or painted in Photoshop.

 

[LiK]

I think the main difference is that they used to be hand painted with real brushes and paint as of today it's mostly 3D renders or painted in Photoshop.

that's true

oh yea, the US Starfox SNES cover was awesome. they actually made a Star Fox puppet :lol

 

[atomico]

I need to play this game.

I guess the box art works, then

it was average at best in the arcades, never tried the home version (and that U.S. Gold guarantees things will stay that way)

 

[Guybrush Threepwood]

 

[thetrin]

I think the main difference is that they used to be hand painted with real brushes and paint as of today it's mostly 3D renders or painted in Photoshop.

I personally hate covers with renders, mostly. This is partly why I love Metal Gear covers that use Shinkawa's art, or any other games that use original art from the game.

Eh, I can't say I agree. All three of your posted images lack soul or just don't work as boxart. Their art may be "better" but they don't scream "We made this game for your enjoyment" like a lot of the earlier boxarts did. It's not even nostalgia because I haven't seen most of these boxarts before, but they just evoke a feeling while a lot of todays just feel too commercial.

If by "too commercial" you mean "weren't airbrushed by a dude with a mullet and a fu manchu", then yes, I agree.

 

[LiK]

i love this cover. i wish they sold the doll :lol

 

[Kandrick]

I think the main difference is that they used to be hand painted with real brushes and paint as of today it's mostly 3D renders or painted in Photoshop.

My thoughts exactly, there are still a few box art right now that are still good, but i am seeing too many crappy renders and all that crap.

 

[proposition]

I love LeChuck's Revenge's box so much.

 

[Haunted]

http://ui03.gamespot.com/642/mi1boxart_2.jpg[/]

[IMG]http://ui20.gamespot.com/1875/mi2boxart_2.jpg[/][/QUOTE]
You do your name proud. The MI2 box is so awesome.

 

[LiK]

My thoughts exactly, there are still a few box art right now that are still good, but i am seeing too many crappy renders and all that crap.

agree, bad stock photos are probably worst

 

[Pureauthor]

I'm noticing a trend amongst boxarts which are good as 'artwork', but don't fit well as boxart itself.

The example that comes to mind is the FFT:TWotL boxart.

 

[leesmapman]

 

[proposition]

I like that the Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis box actually looked like a proper IJ movie poster.

 

[dark10x]

Now thats a BOX ART. Sweet ass game as well.

Hell yeah, I love that design. I actually tried to recreate that for one of those "make something with MS Paint" threads from a while ago. It looks reasonably close, I suppose...

I have this piece of shit right behind me

Words cannot describe it.

Oh man, IntraCorp released so many awful games back then. Corridor 7, Witchaven 1 and 2, TekWar etc. Awful company.