Packaging of games sucks!

[Pedro Lambrini]

The pet peeves thread got me thinking about games and what I don't like about them (or the companies behind them).

Something that invariably disappoints is the packaging of games these days.

Remember when you bought Elite and you got the nice novella and stuff or Super Metroid in the big box with the book or the cloth maps with the Ultima games? I used to love finding games in the shops that allowed you to be more immersed in the game world by giving you real-life goodies to go with the virtual ones. It gave you something to treasure and to fawn over. I'd buy a game, say Elite 2, and I'd be sitting on the bus going home on the Saturday afternoon and I'd just have to open the box to see the goodies inside and read through all the paraphenalia - I was in the game world before I'd even stuck the game in my system!

Now it's a case of give us £40 and we'll give you a shitey generic DVD case and a pamphlet!

I still get excited about buying a nice new game but I don't feel the same anticipation of the 'product' anymore. Very rarely do I bother opening a game on the bus nowadays cos I already know what's inside...a paragraph to set up the story and the instructions in five different languages! I could blame it on the fact that I'm older but that's not really the reason - I just bought ChronoTrigger from someone on this very forum and the old anticipation came back, same when I bought my mint big box Yoshi's Island! And I still love my copy of Elite!

On a slight tangent I also think that more imaginative packaging would help cut down on piracy (even if by a small amount). From my point of view if I like a band I tend to buy their albums, you get nice photos and/or a lyric book. You get something else for your money. You get something tangible. If I like a game I'll just get a pirate until it comes down in price because there's no difference (except maybe it comes in a nicer silver box!) For example take DooM 3 (I did actually buy this game at full price!) - a highly anticipated game and I really enjoy playing it but the difference between the original and a pirate copy? Not a lot really...

At least bring back the big boxes for PC games (they look good on my book shelves! :D )

Sorry for the rant but it just really gets me! I could go on forever! Remember the wee plastic cases for Gameboy games.....

*Walks off into the distance mumbling "They don't make them like they used to, I remember when I wa a lad.....*

[Sylentwulf]

Whats even better now is the instruction manuals that say:

Page 1-4 - Legal Crap
Page 5 - how to turn the PS2 on
Page 6 - Check the in game tutorial for how to play or visit www.ea.com
Page 7 - Notes/Back cover

[Pedro Lambrini]

Totally! And people wonder why games aren't accepted as an artform! Where's the art in that? It's like buying the Mona Lisa (or the nice version of The Scream I just 'aquired'!) and sticking it to the wall with Blu Tack!

[kai123]

I could care less about packaging. I just want the game. Besides I don't think that manuals are the reason games aren't being accepted as an art form.

BTW I hate the big PC boxes. They should just come in dvd cases. Also they need to go to dvd-roms instead of cds, but that is an entire topic in itself.

[Achika]

Because now the goodies are for pre-order customers.

Uhm, the Lunar, Arc the Lad, and hopefully-not-vapor-ware Growlanser Generations have bonus stuff.

Xbox GTA pack in the US had Rockstar stickers, many of the "new Atari" games have a set of 3 stickers in them (Jeopardy, DBZ: Budokai 2 come to mind)

[charitycasegreg]

I could care less about packaging. I just want the game. Besides I don't think that manuals are the reason games aren't being accepted as an art form.

BTW I hate the big PC boxes. They should just come in dvd cases. Also they need to go to dvd-roms instead of cds, but that is an entire topic in itself.

I too hate the big boxes. I do like the little ones though. But theres a reason that they should be in dvd cases, because then so many people wouldnt through out the original packaging.

[Aussie2B]

Ya gotta go Japanese if you want cool packaging these days, although even back when US packaging was better the Japanese packaging was STILL superior.

I think there should be a nice balance, though. Working Designs takes it WAY too far, throwing in tons of worthless crap that jacks up the price sky high. A nice manual/guidebook, soundtrack, or map are one thing, but all the other junk should be sold separately, if at all.

[Jive3D]

Japanese packaging is the way to go. Almost always looks so much better.
Take the megaman/rockman boxes for the nes. All the US boxes ate shit in terms of aesthetic style, on the japanese side of things they had a good anime look that they stayed with all the way. You've seen the US boxes, you know they suck.

I actually started printing up Japanese bax art and inserting it into some of the boxes for my PS2 games.

[Pedro Lambrini]

[quote="kai123"]I could care less about packaging. I just want the game. Besides I don't think that manuals are the reason games aren't being accepted as an art form.quote]

Maybe you're right but the packaging doesn't exactly help the artform cause. Going back to the album analogy: Compare Seargent Pepper to a Britney Spears album. Putting aside the musical content. Which cover is most prominent in society's psyche? And guess which cover was done by an artist? It's taken the Movie industry years to cotton on to the idea of Collector's Editions and now they're raking it in! It seems the Games Industry is regressing and just becoming homogenous on all levels...

[Aboliax]

Ya it really started making me mad when they started getting rid of those plastic cases that GB games came in. What the heck am I supposed to do with a little soft plastic slip! I have to buy cases from Nintendo or some third party company. Aren't they making enough money yet? Gah stupid, greedy, corporation.... *grumbles for a while*

O btw first post, yay for me!

[Daria]

I'm weird. On some of my older games I actually like the 80's style fantasy covers they gave them as opposed to the Japanese anime versions. It's also funny because it's usually some of the "not so great" games that have the "good" artwork.

For example: My favorite Genny cover art

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/814635/genny_exile.jpg
Exile - you can't see it here but I like the way that Renovation wraps the art work around the entire box. So the picture you see in back connects to the one in the front.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/814635/genny_trayasia.jpg
Traysia - Another Renovation title.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-8/814635/genny_SH.jpg
Super Hydlide - Really shitty game but I love this drawing. English version, American box art is the same but smaller.

[-hellvin-]

There is indeed some kick ass art on some of the genesis games. I've been looking for traysia forever =D.

My favorite one is splatterhouse 2, it looks cheesy but I love it.

[Aussie2B]

I'm weird. On some of my older games I actually like the 80's style fantasy covers they gave them as opposed to the Japanese anime versions.

I feel the same about some older titles too. Comes down to an individual game basis. I think out of all the Castlevania artwork styles that have been used, I like the grizzled barbarian look of the oldest games. I'd rank 'em: scruffy guys>>Kojima girly guys>>generic anime guys (from Rondo and such).

[soniko_karuto]

I'm weird. On some of my older games I actually like the 80's style fantasy covers they gave them as opposed to the Japanese anime versions.

I feel the same about some older titles too. Comes down to an individual game basis. I think out of all the Castlevania artwork styles that have been used, I like the grizzled barbarian look of the oldest games. I'd rank 'em: scruffy guys>>Kojima girly guys>>generic anime guys (from Rondo and such).

leave the generic anime alone!!! :(

[Kepone]

BTW I hate the big PC boxes. They should just come in dvd cases. Also they need to go to dvd-roms instead of cds, but that is an entire topic in itself.

If they do that, what are people who don't have DVD-Rom drives going to do?

[Pedro Lambrini]

BTW I hate the big PC boxes. They should just come in dvd cases. Also they need to go to dvd-roms instead of cds, but that is an entire topic in itself.

If they do that, what are people who don't have DVD-Rom drives going to do?

I suppose the same as what people did when games first came out on CD - buy one! :)

[Daria]

*kicks village photos*

Stupid red Xes. :angry:

[davidleeroth]

*kicks village photos*

Stupid red Xes. :angry:

It's only a right-click->view image away. I can take that. ;)

Funny thing I was just organizing my Spectrum stuff yesterday and I got me thinking what ever happened to cover drawings. I literally though "Would any publisher put a drawing of a vixen fighting a fire-spitting dragon on their game cover? Nah, nobody is cool like that anymore.

I'm happy we've atleast passed the "PlayStation rendered surgical cleanliness cover art"-phase. Man, some of those things were truly horrid.

[farfel]

I see games went full circle -today's 10-page pamphlets remind me of Atari's 10-page pamphlets. Simple;direct.

[Spartacus]

Hmmm... The Halo 2 Collector's Edition case is metallic and includes a second DVD. Is that art? I dunno...looked kinda nice to me, so I pre-ordered one. Something I'm usually loathe to do. I liked the big boxed stuff with the hard bound manuals. Were they priced outrageous when they first came out? I don't know. I bought mine 2nd hand and they were still kinda pricey. But, I do enjoy owning them. I hope there's more special collector's edition packaging in the future. But I also hope they will stay away from the paper box's. It's not very durable and no matter how carefull you are, each time you open and close it, you feel like you're damaging it a little. I hate that!

[delafro]

I have to agree with you on this one. I feel like it may be part of a general loss of art and creativity since the switch from sprites to polygons. GBA games are the worst offenders by far. They all look like they were rigged up in 5 minutes by some bored intern, meanwhite Japanese GBA games have dynamite box designs (but cost 10 dollars more, unfortunately)

[Griking]

and hopefully-not-vapor-ware Growlanser Generations have bonus stuff.

I hope its not vaporware, I just pre-ordered it at my local Gamestop. Generally I don't preorder games but I really wanted the collector's edition with all the bonus stuff.

[Griking]

BTW I hate the big PC boxes. They should just come in dvd cases. Also they need to go to dvd-roms instead of cds, but that is an entire topic in itself.

I guess I'm the minority but I actuall like the large boxes.

At least w/ a large box theres still a chance that I can get a full sized manual or some other sort of goodie.

[Pedro Lambrini]

Hmmm... The Halo 2 Collector's Edition case is metallic and includes a second DVD. Is that art? I dunno...looked kinda nice to me, so I pre-ordered one.

I dont mean to be picky but I said 'Artform' - it's not quite the same as art, it just means that it's something with artisitic leanings (layman's explanation!) :) But yep, the Halo 2 tin does look nice so I have ordered one as well and I don't even own an Xbox yet! And Microsoft did do the huge Age of Mythology pack with the figure and CD etc. I can't believe I'm supporting Microsoft here but for once I think they're maybe getting something right - next thing you know I'll be going out and buying Windoze LOL !

And Delafro, I couldn't agree more. Just compare the Japanese Mini Fmicom stuff to the PAL or American versions. Your Honour, I rest my case!

[EnemyZero]

I love getting new games for my jap gc and even older sealed games for saturn and opening them waiting to see whats inside...and rpg's dont even have that feel....i loved buying lunar complete..or arc of the lad collection and getting all the cool extra's...or chrono trigger..man id be have so much fun lookin at what ELSE they gave me an hour goes by and im like damn...i should start playing now...rpg's always gave the best goodies, thank you working designs :D

[Graham Mitchell]

In another analogy to records, a fancy packaging adds value to the product as time goes on. I just bought Public Image Ltd.'s Second Edition on vilnyl for about $12. The Metal Box version sells for $200 minimally. Quite an increase for a 25-year-old record.

Meanwhile, remember the Gold Ocarina of Times? (N64) I still see those things in the bargain bins selling for just the same price as the non-shiny ones. For some reason I think that video games don't hold their value very well right now. Hopefully that will change as these things grow older, but when I can still buy sealed Atari 7800 games for $5, I'm not filled for much hope with that. And of course, there are exceptions. I'm sure there are tons of games and paraphanalia that have held their value rather rare (or even increased!) So don't think I'm making a blanket statement here.

[Pedro Lambrini]

[quote="Graham Mitchell"]In another analogy to records, a fancy packaging adds value to the product as time goes on. I just bought Public Image Ltd.'s Second Edition on vilnyl for about $12. The Metal Box version sells for $200 minimally. Quite an increase for a 25-year-old record.
quote]

Indeed. I just saw the Id Anthology box set go for over £101 on eBay the other night! That's pretty high for a PC title!

[THXII38]

remember when PC games in the big boxes, actually had stuff in the boxes to warrant the big box? :)

Just sorted out some junk, and I came across some old flight sims, Red Baron, Flying Corp, those sort of titles.

One of the, had a whole paperback reporduction Royal Flying Copr flying manual in it! I do miss all the extra's with games, the documentation, the novellas etc.

And also, when I bought Civ2 originally, I had a cheaper repro, and I hate, absoultely hate, trying to read a huge manual on a .pdf file.

I hate those acrobat reader thingys, and I can't ever get the hang of them.

Also, what is it with PS2 games? Unless you already know a bit about the game, it can be quite difficult figuring out just what sort of game it is if you pick up an unfamiliar title. Couple of tiny images, and about three vague sentences on the back cover, and usually a drawing of some kind on the front cover.

[Graham Mitchell]

remember when PC games in the big boxes, actually had stuff in the boxes to warrant the big box?

Just sorted out some junk, and I came across some old flight sims, Red Baron, Flying Corp, those sort of titles.

One of the, had a whole paperback reporduction Royal Flying Copr flying manual in it! I do miss all the extra's with games, the documentation, the novellas etc.

And also, when I bought Civ2 originally, I had a cheaper repro, and I hate, absoultely hate, trying to read a huge manual on a .pdf file.

I hate those acrobat reader thingys, and I can't ever get the hang of them.

Also, what is it with PS2 games? Unless you already know a bit about the game, it can be quite difficult figuring out just what sort of game it is if you pick up an unfamiliar title. Couple of tiny images, and about three vague sentences on the back cover, and usually a drawing of some kind on the front cover.

Yup, I remember the big boxes. Sometimes I found them rather UNNECESSARILY LARGE, but I loved all the nicely-made stuff. All the Sierra games came with really cool stuff.

I can relate to your problems with Civ 2, because I bought Space Hulk as a cheap repro and had the same problems. Complex strategy games really should come with exhaustive and user-friendly manuals. Sim City for the SNES has a great one.

Your comments about PS2 games are especially poignent. I don't have time to rent every stupid thing on the planet or read all the magazines anymore, so I have to go by what's on the boxes. POV's and camera angles are all configurable now, so they tell you nothing. 9 times out of 10 I buy something that I think is gonna be interesting and it turns out to be a fucking FPS, just like everything else. Because the boxes tell you nothing about the games anymore, I find that I buy more sequels and continuations of series that I'm familiar with more than anything (which I know is perpetuating a bad cycle. Bear in mind, though, I rarely buy a PS2 game anymore.) Most of those end up being disappointing.