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| 19 OCT 2002 at 6:44pm |
JudySpace Cadet
Posts : 173
Joined: 17 FEB 2009
Status : Offline | Hi Harriet. I can tell by the screen shots on the box if it is an shooter or RPG game and I cruise on by those. If I like the looks of the screen shots, yes, it does influence my purchases.
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 6:55pm |
| Deleted User | I agree with you about the screenshots telling the story. Much more (IMHO) than the big picture on the front of the box.
Harriet
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 8:03pm |
dimidimidimiSchattenjger
Posts : 1784
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I am checking all the latest games on the internet so when I see them at a store I already know if it is an adventure or if it has gotten good reviews, so the box doesn't play such a big role on the matter whether I am going to buy it or not.
But developers should put effort to it anyway, cause there are people who go to the stores to buy a game without checking 25 reviews about it before, and they might be affected by the box.
The developers should also take care of the look of the boxes cause I save all my boxes and I think they look really nice on my bookshelf :-) The best boxes in my opinion were The beast within, phantasmagoria and TLJ (coincidentally 3 of my favourite adventures also). But one more of my favourite adventures, Syberia, did not have such a nice box (the european version). I bought it anyway.
PDF adventure magazine - The Inventory&&http://www.justadventure.com/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm&&&&What would you give to know the truth?&&http://www.brokensaints.com
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 8:11pm |
bleepnikPrivate Detective
Posts : 544
Joined: 13 OCT 2002
Location: US
Status : Offline | Not particularly, but I agree some thought should go into the presentation anyway. After all, I keep them, they look purty on my shelves, and heck, I don't wanna pay for f-ugly packaging!
Slightly unrelated, but a disconcerting trend I've noticed is that games no longer come shrinkwrapped. It's getting much harder to find game boxes in pristine condition. To that I say Grrr. Grrr, says I.
.gita, who really needs some sleep
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 8:51pm |
STooGE4444, EastCoastDoom...Schattenjger
Posts : 2099
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | When looking at a box, the cover art should keenly catch your eye. It has to reflect the artwork in the game on a bigger scale. Screenshots on the inside of the flip, the back of the box, or the Internet need to be in-game shots. The customer needs to see what they're going to get. You can't only show cinematic shots because that's misleading. There should be a variety of shots, too. For example, 1 cinematic, couple in game just walking around, 1 of the interface...etc. This will try to allow the customer to see what they buying before they buy. And this is what demos are made for.
Okay, now I really have to do some work...
SVT RBs
~rbeeler SVT &&Name's STooGE$$$$ Valpurgius TNT; it's not PLURAL&&[img]http://www.riseaboverecords.com/sleep/image/sleepfront.gif[/img]&&151.Generally speaking Sludge Doomsters are Angry, Gothic doomsters are sad, funeral doomsters are barely breathing, death doomsters are dirty, drunk and dribbling, Stoner Doomsters don't care, drone doomsters are out of it and traditional Doomsters are permanently pissed off, mainly with other doomsters
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 9:53pm |
mszvPrivate Detective
Posts : 751
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Hi,
If I have not heard of the game, the game box is a strong influence on whether I will buy the game. I look to see what it is - adventure, RPG, etc. Since game visuals are so important to me, I look at the box for the screenshots, to see what it looks like. I also look to see if it got good reviews from any of the sources I know.
Good topic.
Regards, mszv
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 10:22pm |
JonasKyratzesSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 280
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | A game with a good box is more likely to catch my attention, if I don't already know about it.
[i]
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 10:52pm |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Sure it does - It's probably the primary reason I purchased the first Dark Seed. As it turns out, I enjoied the game as well, but the box just screamed out "buy me"...
I mean, how could I resist that?
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| 19 OCT 2002 at 11:06pm |
STooGE4444, EastCoastDoom...Schattenjger
Posts : 2099
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | InlandAZ,
I bet you could resist if the head on the box popped out and started eating your leg or middle fingers. I mean that would kind of hurt, and then you couldn't flip the box off. I'd then complain to the manager.
But be realistic, I don't think a box would be that mean; she probably would only look at you strangely.
~rbeeler SVT &&Name's STooGE$$$$ Valpurgius TNT; it's not PLURAL&&[img]http://www.riseaboverecords.com/sleep/image/sleepfront.gif[/img]&&151.Generally speaking Sludge Doomsters are Angry, Gothic doomsters are sad, funeral doomsters are barely breathing, death doomsters are dirty, drunk and dribbling, Stoner Doomsters don't care, drone doomsters are out of it and traditional Doomsters are permanently pissed off, mainly with other doomsters
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 3:31am |
InlandAZGuild Master
Posts : 5586
Joined: 4 MAY 2007
Status : Offline | Well, put like that perhaps. Then again - I just might be so intregued by the whole thing I just have to buy it.
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 3:51am |
bistroSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 240
Joined: 15 OCT 2002
Status : Online | The cover art definitely plays a big role as to whether I pick it up to look at it, but not necessarily buy it. Cover art can be decieving as to the quality of the game.
I always check the game out on the net first...reviews (3 to 4 reviews at least and good screenshots...I don't trust a publisher who only will show thumbnails....(what are they ashamed of?). Trailers are nice, but OF COURSE they look good. Ever see a trailer that shouts "ON"T BUY THIS GAME"? I don't put much stock in them. Play the demo instead.
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 10:48am |
JoYSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 208
Joined: 10 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Hmmm... It doesn't really determine if I will buy it, but more when I will buy it.
If from the box (and anything else I have read about it) I do not get the impression that it will be a very good game, I will just wait for it to hit the bargain bin and buy it then!
JoY
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 12:09pm |
NellieSorcerer Apprentice
Posts : 359
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Because there have been really bad games with really good graphics, I don't trust game boxes or screenshots in the slightest when it comes to buying. But I still pick the boxes up and have a good nosey because it's fun to do.
[b]£1bn -[/b] Amount British government has pledged to paying off debt of poorest nations over next 10 years.&&&&[b]£5bn -[/b] Amount British government has already spent on Iraq campaign.
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 4:12pm |
GayleSchattenjger
Posts : 2544
Joined: 12 OCT 2002
Status : Online | In a way it does help make the decision. The front cover is of course the come on so you will pick the game up and perhaps buy it. A lot of times in magazine ads and the sites they don't show what the play will truly be when you buy the game.
For me, the back is important. I don't like tiny, tiny characters. Was in EB store yesterday and there was Divine Divinity or whatever it is called.
Front of box looks so intriguing but when I looked on the back, the shots on the back showed that it isn't a game I would buy because the characters are so small you need a magnifying glass to see them.
I do go to sites to check a game out too but to make really sure that I would play the game I sometimes rely on the backs to see exactly how the shots will look.
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 6:14pm |
The Terror of the Wolf part 3Schattenjger
Posts : 2391
Joined: 11 OCT 2002
Status : Online | Technically, I suppose the boxes do influence if I purchase a game or not.
For example. If it says on the back "Astonishing realistic combat engine, massive worlds, thousands of enemies" but doesn't actually tell me what the game is ABOUT.. I won't be too interested in it.
Also, I do prefer DVD-sized boxes. Easier to store.
[url=http://www.justadventure.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1136331866/0#0]GAMES FOR TRADE!![/url]
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| 20 OCT 2002 at 7:37pm |
| Deleted User | I agree about the DVD size boxes being easier to store but when I pay a big price for a game I feel a bit cheated by the smaller box. I think that is irrational but...
Harriet@JA
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| 21 OCT 2002 at 2:49am |
collectimaniacIntergalactic Janitor
Posts : 12
Joined: 16 OCT 2002
Status : Online | I have noticed the trend toward DVD sized boxes. I liked the bigger ones, too, but there is a lot of wasted space . . . . I also liked it when they were shrinkwrapped, except that now it means you can't open the flap on the front.
Of course the packaging is important. I like to browse software aisles almost everywhere and what is on the front compels me to pick it up or not.
For collectibility I hate the older games coming out in just CD form - That's about all I see for the McGee's Alice game (I hope I got title right). It's a shame if you ultimately really like the game and like me collect stuff and like to collect stuff in nice condition with nice packaging.
I liked in the olden days when the IF games came with stuff besides the disks - little game tokens and letters and cool stuff to really immerse you. This helps explain why the box when the only thing in it is the disk.
Kimmie
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