Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Week 13 (week 5): Success and Failure of Video Game Covers

Successful Cover: "Journey"

Journey is an indie video game developed by Thatgamecompany for the Playstation 3. It was released on March 13, 2012, via the Playstation Network. In Journey, the player controls a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. Much like the stylistic choices of the game, the cover also represents the vast simpleness that is compelling to look at. The cover utilizes leveling that evokes a peaceful, yet mysterious like scenery. The game does utilize with a tiny bit of stress with the character cloaked in the non-muted color of red. You almost feel like you're in his place among the vast earthern desert. Also evident is a strong vertical axis. Your eye is guided from the star on top down to the robed character on the bottom. Along the way, your eye witnessed the title of the game: "Journey". Simple, clean, this is an excellent example of a game cover. 

Failure Cover: "Batman: Arkham City" 

Despite winning numerous awards, Batman: Arkham City, was lauded for having one of the worst video game covers ever conceived for their "Game of the Year Edition". This is an example of Stress gone horribly wrong. Despite the fact that at first view, the game looks like it's titled "10 out of 10", the game also uses a quote from Gamepro (which no longer exists). All the quotes that "promote" the game actually highly detract from the subject matter of the game. There is no specific grouping; quotes are thrown about everything so you eye has to travel everywhere to read them all. Also Batman, who arguably, should be the subject matter, is reduced down to too much negative space, so you eye only focuses on the full quotes themselves. Ironically, game of the year also earns worst game cover of the year too. 

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