Game Covers -- Japan versus U.S.

[MechaGear]

Has anyone else noticed that in general, the original covers for Japanese games tend to be more "artistic" than their eventual U.S. versions? Just looking at classic mecha games, at least, this can be seen pretty frequently.

Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram
Japanese version
U.S. version

Gundam: Rise from the Ashes
Japanese version
U.S. version

Same with Tech Romancer, Einhander, etc...

Seeing as giant robots were mostly considered "too Japanese" to be successfully marketed in the U.S., it's interesting how the U.S. versions tend to over-emphasize the robot in a more straight-forward fashion than the Japanese ones. Though I'm guessing this is done to try and remove any trace of an "anime-like" style.

What do you guys think? Can American audiences handle more visual sophistication in their marketing, or do things need to be dumbed down for us before we buy them?

[Fritz Ashlyn]

I disagree(?)

Edit: Also, please remove the image tags from your post.

[G-Slayer]

The same thing is done with anime DVD covers.

I just don't get the reasoning behind this practice, though MechaGear may be on to something.

[Recon 5]

With regards to the Einhander package and other game packages with completely unrelated/ metaphorical pictures, I can say that US publishers are probably trying to appeal to impulse buyers, i.e. people who will not even pick up a game box (much less check the back where all the info is) unless it gets their attention. As a shooter/ mecha fan myself, I'll say that if I had seen that hand X- Ray before I knew what 'Einhander' was all about I would have just moved on without a second glance.

Sadly enough, most buyers are like that, responding to pretty (and relevant) pictures. Only the most dedicated fans will make an effort to know the titles beforehand and pick up boxes based on that.

[mcred23]

IIRC, the cover art for anime DVD's is changed due to the fact that companies don't want to pay the artists to keep the original art (This got mentioned somewhere, either on this forum or someplace, recently, but for the life of me, I can't find it). It wouldn't surprise me of games coming from Japan do the same thing for the same reason (To reduce costs for the company slightly).

[Yuusha Tokkyu Might Gaine]

Out of curiosity, was there ever a game that kept the Japanese cover art for the US release?

[Wedge14]

Out of curiosity, was there ever a game that kept the Japanese cover art for the US release?

Some of the games from the Suikoden series kept the same cover art. Tho they were slightly modified to be in English and what not. The first game in the series has the a wonky different cover art, but the original japanese art exists as the cover of the instruction manual.

[Kyranik]

Out of curiosity, was there ever a game that kept the Japanese cover art for the US release?

Devil May Cry 4.


It seems Europe does it a lot more for some reason, with the European release of Dynasty Warriors Gundam using the coverart from Gundam Musou, albeit with the Dynasty Warriors Gundam logo replacing the Gundam Musou one, and the EU release of Gundam: Target in Sight/Crossfire is the exact same cover as the Japanese release. (Also using the TIS name)

Also, the covers for Final Fantasy games are the same in Europe as Japan, except with the small katakana below the title removed. Which I personally think are nicer then the US covers.

[G-Slayer]

Out of curiosity, was there ever a game that kept the Japanese cover art for the US release?

Bleach: The Blade of Fate (DS) kept its original box art, though it's slightly modified and the original title was also changed.

[G-Slayer]

Out of curiosity, was there ever a game that kept the Japanese cover art for the US release?

Bleach: The Blade of Fate (DS) kept its original box art, though it's slightly modified and the original title was also changed.

IIRC, the cover art for anime DVD's is changed due to the fact that companies don't want to pay the artists to keep the original art (This got mentioned somewhere, either on this forum or someplace, recently, but for the life of me, I can't find it). It wouldn't surprise me of games coming from Japan do the same thing for the same reason (To reduce costs for the company slightly).

To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me either. Good eye by the way.