Why does American game box art suck.

[Nomanslander]

And the thing is I'm American.

Now of course box art is a petty argument, but then again movie posters and album covers have always been an art form onto themselves.

So for me even though I'm not going to relate to the game from the bases of what I see on the cover of the box art.

It gets annoying when it seems like the developers just photoshoped a bunch of the main characters from the game and pasted them onto the cover.

For example, the theory is we Americans respond better to faces where as Europeans prefer a more metaphoric approach.

If you don't know what I'm talking about here's an examples where they got worried and photoshoped in the last min a couple of the main characters from the game Heavy Rain thinking Americans would react better.

Spoiler

Heavy Rain before:

After:

I guess the question is does this really work, we Americans responding better to faces in cover art and getting lost when there's none, or is it a bunch of sociological bull...lol

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

I think you're reading too much into this but who knows, I am neither an American or a psychologist so I can't exclude the possibility that the American demographic reacts better to a certain method of marketing.

I will agree that it is crappy looking though.

Also I made a thread a while back about how all movie posters uses the same two colour hues; blue and orange. Some said it was merely the stark contrast of both that made it ideal for posters and others said it's the hot and warm tones..not really relevant in this context I guess, but it goes to show that there is more to promotional art than what's on the surface.

 

[Legion]

I think it's possibly because of the celebrity culture that is strong in the US, where people relate and recognise faces more than anything else (Hence why movie posters always have the main character taking up most of it). I suppose the same logic could be used for games too.

 

[Jaranja]

I guess the question is does this really work, we Americans responding better to faces in cover art and getting lost when there's none, or is it a bunch of sociological crap...lol

I guess the whole "celebrity thing" in America makes people want to see faces instead of a symbol. Possibly. I haven't learned about Social Psychology yet.

It could also be that America wants to be different from the rest, thus making it worse. It's only a piece of boxart so it's hard to look that deep. Possibly something to do with making you want to buy it because it's got a girl in it.

 

[Nomanslander]

I think it's possibly because of the celebrity culture that is strong in the US, where people relate and recognise faces more than anything else (Hence why movie posters always have the main character taking up most of it). I suppose the same logic could be used for games too.

Hmm, maybe they should have nothing but Paris Hilton on the cover of every box art then, even though she has nothing to do with the game....0o

lol

 

[SniperWolf427]

Hmm, even Heavy Rain put boobs on center stage.

Note to self: When making a game's box art, include boobs.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

It's because Americans are accustomed to the style of advertising that is faces.. it's just how we're made we like to see who's in the movie rather then an oragami figure. It's the same with horror, Europeans are used to their style of Horror, Americans to theirs, and Japanese to theirs. It's a cultural thing :/

 

[noodles loves you]

Americans are stupid and require dumber covers. true story. Look up what happened to that film 'the boat that rocked' or as it's known in the US where idiocy reigns supreme 'pirate radio' or some such buggery.

 

[Latinidiot]

that woman is way too slim for her own good.

 

[Legion]

that woman is way too slim for her own good.

The other third of her body is behind the origami crane, that isn't her waistline.

 

[Kollega]

When a character takes up entirety of boxart/poster/whatever, that means one and only one thing. Artists responsible for that particular version were lazy. As i see it, it's easier to just stick a protagonist on whatever you need to illustrate rather than thinking up something more abstract. And social psychology or whatever has little to do with it.

I also like how this thread rapidly degenerates into "AMERICANS R STOOPID" type of flaming. Good job, everyone.

 

[tomtom94]

I think it's possibly because of the celebrity culture that is strong in the US, where people relate and recognise faces more than anything else (Hence why movie posters always have the main character taking up most of it). I suppose the same logic could be used for games too.

This makes a lot of sense, but I'm not sure if it's strictly an American problem. Faces do seem to be a key issue in marketing products (KFC, for example). I'm a Brit though so all I will say is we get rubbish covers too.

Remember, they're trying to market Heavy Rain which is quite a bleak game. The colouring adds to that.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Why does American game box art suck.

Interesting, the real question is, why do Australian games suck?

I'll tell you the minute you tell me why I am quoted for something I didn't say.

 

[Nomanslander]

Here's another example:

Spoiler

Oversees Resident Evil 4

American

 

[Latinidiot]

oooh.
erm
yeah, i'll hide my face now.

 

[More Fun To Compute]

Here's the classic example.

I think that US companies are just really ruthless in how they stick to the rules. It's like, fuck whether it's any good or not, it has to have these certain elements on it because if it doesn't and it doesn't sell then I will get fired.

 

[Mr.PlanetEater]

Well the only examples of American Box art where the protagonist isn't put front and Center, is Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time..but as I stated earlier the fact that most American box arts feature the protagonist front and center is it's a cultural thing, the American Culture is and always will be more inclined to put the protagonist front and center.