everybody loves good box art
I was referred to Geek on Stun where they have a scan of the box art to Everybody Loves Katamari Damacy!
Dull computer rendered cover art is all too common in western territories, but I’m sure that you will agree that this image is a refreshing and original concept – much like the game.
Ever wondered why gamers go to the difficulty and extra effort of importing games from Japan – when they often get released some months later?
Box art: For such a technologically advanced country, the use of hand drawn artwork is still widely used alongside computer assisted creations. Vibrant colours, original and often very stylised characterisation is widely used as well. Examples in mind from recent months include: Switch (SEGA, PS2), Katamari Damacy (Namco, PS2), Kirby (HAL Labs, GBA) and Wario Ware (Nintendo, GC/GBA). I’m not a big sports fan, but even Winning Eleven 6 Final Evolution manages to transcend it’s scope with this cover (Konami, PS2).
Packaging: Japanese homes are smaller, so it follows that boxes and packing will not waste any unnecessary space. GameCube and GBA boxes are fine examples of this. I’m still trying to work out why PSP cases take up so much unsay space though.
Instructions: Picture the scene – a new game, you have unpacked its shrink wrap marvelled at the cover, but to your disappointment its badly written instruction manual is in black and white print and looks like it was thrown together three days before publishing date. For a little extra effort, the booklet could be made to fit into the mood and style of the game that it accompanies; colour could be used (no excuse!) – and think how to present the information in an original way. Atsumare! Made in Wario (Nintendo, GC), Chaos Legion (Capcom, PS2), Initial D (SEGA, PS2) are a few examples that spring to mind.
A very good article on this subject can be found in EDGE #000 (Month 0000).
This entry was posted
on Thursday, June 09, 2005 at 7:49 pm.
