While it’s unfortunate that studios have to replace covers for Japanese games with severely bland and more descriptive imagery to suit the market here, I do understand the motivation. The Sky Crawlers‘ North American box art conveys the idea of “Hi, I’m a game about planes on the Wii” immediately enough.
The bright side about XSEED is that they anticipated what a snob I am about such details and did something other publishers have occasionally done, but many more could stand to do more often.
Having traveled to the center of hell and battled fiendish register monkeys, I will now demonstrate first hand how easy it is to beautify a copy of The Sky Crawlers in two quick and easy steps, after the break.
Thank goodness for this!
When I initially saw the cover for this game I couldn’t believe that the North American release looked like such garbage…again. I’m relieved that they have given the option for the alternate cover.
But I’m sure based on their marketing experience, they felt they would have a better chance of selling the game to the mainstream audience by making it look purely like a flight simulation game.
Comment by Christina — January 17, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
Ok, XSEED already had my money once they announced they’d bring the game over here. They motivated me even further by pricing it at $30 (when I expected $40. And now they go ahead and do a reversible cover WITH THE JAPANESE ARTWORK! THIS is how you favor the buyer. Sure, the Japanese cover wouldn’t “appeal” to some of the american public, but those of us who have been wanting to get the game for a long time sure are pleased at their decision.
Comment by EdEN — January 18, 2010 @ 11:45 am
Wait… did they not put the Wii logo on the alternate cover?
Comment by Ujn Hunter — January 18, 2010 @ 2:21 pm
nope, just beautiful blue skies my friend…
Comment by Jamie Love — January 18, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
is that the Ubuntu logo on the jetpack?
Comment by seanbutnotheard — January 19, 2010 @ 10:05 am
It does, good eyes, I never would have noticed that in a million years!
Comment by Jamie Love — January 19, 2010 @ 12:56 pm
crap, wrong post.
Comment by seanbutnotheard — January 19, 2010 @ 10:05 am
I’m Still loving those Blue Skies.
Comment by Chrissy — January 19, 2010 @ 11:21 am
I also need to learn to be consistent with my name hehe.
Comment by Christina — January 19, 2010 @ 11:22 am