Early screenshots (tech. question)

[robotriot]

Back in the 80ies and early 90ies it seems as if screenshots weren't technically possible yet, that's why game boxes had mostly really bad photos taken from a TV. I guess the graphics for console games had to be created on computers, so does anyone know why the artists didn't just put together the game elements into a mockup that looked like a screenshot so that this could be printed? Was it not technically possible to produce a digital mockup back then in the required resolution for print?

[jajaja]

Never really thought about that. But NES games do have clean and clear screenshots back on the boxes. Doubt they are taken with a camera from a TV.

[NESaholic]

Never really thought about that. But NES games do have clean and clear screenshots back on the boxes. Doubt they are taken with a camera from a TV.

Well they did,i have some HES games were you clearly can see that they were taken with a camera on back of box,so yeah they did it then and i guess they did it with alot of games.

[Berty]

I know that here in Australia, the first game to ever be advertised using only in game graphics was Gran Turismo 3.

Isn't what you've said though indicative of a time when graphics were not the be-all and end all of games?

[robotriot]

I know that here in Australia, the first game to ever be advertised using only in game graphics was Gran Turismo 3.

Isn't what you've said though indicative of a time when graphics were not the be-all and end all of games?

Heh, Rise of the Robots is probably an even earlier example ;)

But you're right, graphics weren't *that* important. But what else sold a game then when you went to a store without having heard of it before? Maybe the boxart ... or everyone believed the advertising blurbs on the back :) Still, those photographed screenshots bother me, they should have been able to do better back then ;)

[GarrettCRW]

Never really thought about that. But NES games do have clean and clear screenshots back on the boxes. Doubt they are taken with a camera from a TV.

I take it you've never seen the back of the box for the Namco run of Pac-Man. :D

[jajaja]

Ok hehe. I dont have those games. But I just checked back on some others like Tetris, Crackout and New Zealand Story. I couldnt think that they were pictures of a TV. Even if they ara, I couldnt see it.