DJMAX Fever Box Artwork Redesign

DarkPraetor · 08-19-2008, 10:24 PM

Let's cut to the chase. I own my own graphic design and website design company run on the east coast. It's time to mention again that box art that was provided on the sale sheet for DJMAX FEVER..

I am calling your attention today to address a matter concerning everyone who has taken a look at the so-called "box art" provided with the DJMAX FEVER sales sheet. There is no doubt that this was a professional mock-up job, but unfortunately was met with a high volume of negative criticism on how the final product would look. Personally, to be quite light on the situation, I am less than impressed and many others seem to agree.. I can understand they are trying to appeal to the U.S. market, but I believe that the impression they released would not encourage popularity or sales. The U.S. loves anime fads! It has the potential to appeal to people young and old for gameplay.

DJMAX Portable 2 has always had it's own unique flavor as being one of the best professional platforms for portable music gaming. The game is worth owning for the artistic value alone. This should be expressed through the cover as well on the U.S. release. It shouldn't have to look like *cough* another known music game *cough* to keep itself alive and highly-rated. From what I remember, DJMAX Portable 2 is the SELLING GAME for the PSP system. It should have a cover that reflects this prestige and refined quality mirrored in the Korean version. The truth is that people do judge a book by it's cover, and I doubt gamers would want to gamble on a poor cover. Let's make sure money is well spent, shall we?

Since I'm a graphic designer, a few friends suggested to me that I should make another DJMAX FEVER cover to replace the old one. I would like for DJMAX FEVER to have "MAXimum" success in the United States. It looks like the company PM Studios is still relatively new and their main flash site isn't up yet. After some thinking, I redesigned and revamped the box art for DJMAX FEVER. It is still a mockup, open for criticism and for judging, but goes in a direction I doubt PM Studios was originally intending to go.

COVER A = Original (Yellow)
COVER B = Redesign (Blue, Red, Black)

Some rights are reserved. The background design for Cover B has already been registered and copyrighted by my design company. The high resolution version of the box art I have looks gorgeous up front. It was worth copyrighting the background design and placement since I didn't have the originals to play with.

I intend to possibly request an interview with PM Studios about the issue in the future and I believe we might run into a little difficulty with them accepting this new direction, but we'll have something that they don't have.. A consumer report and review! I have just set up a poll for you guys to vote. I encourage you guys to make an honest decision on what appeals to you and what you will be spending your money on, Cover A or Cover B? Which one will it be? I wonder! :P Go ahead and vote!

When commenting and posting, please keep in mind that PM Studios may be watching this thread.

Sincerely,
Kaz Sliter AKA DarkPraetor

EDIT: This is probably not the proper place to be posting this, but with DJMAX Fever currently residing on this side of the forums with updates, I thought it was appropriate to post this artwork change here.

Dreamcube017 · 08-19-2008, 10:47 PM

I'd go for cover B right away more than A... I'd still buy it with A but that's only 'casue I know what DJ Max is... if I didn't.... I'd put the game back... B would make me a bit interested though.

Dreamcube017 · 08-19-2008, 11:47 PM

bump... it would be really helpful if people coulld vote on this... Thank you.

zonic505 · 08-20-2008, 12:25 AM

B all the way. I honestly would print that out & replace the boxart if (for some strange reason) they kept A. I'd still get the game no matter the boxart, but B is just WAAAAAAY more appealing.

kimcicle · 08-20-2008, 12:58 AM

Why can't you just use the cover from dj max / dj max 2 and restamp it?

But if I had to choose between the two, it would definitely have to be B. Frankly, the A cover is terrible in my eyes.

DUBSTEPALLDAY · 08-20-2008, 02:43 AM

B only because A sucks.

The flaw with B is that the cover doesn't represent what the game is other than good Oblivion-esque art.

gundalf · 08-20-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milk Chan

B only because A sucks.

The flaw with B is that the cover doesn't represent what the game is other than good Oblivion-esque art.

Yes that is what i think too.
Cover B is someting to dark and gothic like but on the other hand much better than Cover A

BTW
For a great succes there must be more things done.
4key is to hard for the beginners so i thinkt there is a need for 2key.
Or an Guitar Hero like practice mode and much more...
However, importand is to attract the anime/manga people.
If they see the Cover... they will buy the game for sure instantly

BemaniAK · 08-20-2008, 07:26 AM

If I had no idea what DJMax was, neither cover would really get me to pick it up.

DUBSTEPALLDAY · 08-20-2008, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pentavision

Yes that is what i think too.For a great succes there must be more things done.
4key is to hard for the beginners so i thinkt there is a need for 2key.
Or an Guitar Hero like practice mode and much more...
However, importand is to attract the anime/manga people.
If they see the Cover... they will buy the game for sure instantly

Uhhh no. People will do just fine on 4key the only problem would be getting used to timing well.

Training mode wouldn't be bad though.

Dreamcube017 · 08-20-2008, 10:47 AM

Wow you're right... B doesn't really say much about waht the game is.... but it would make me pick it up at least.... or at least look into it if it was on a game site.....

A training mode would help... and a mode to turn off the kill thing so it odesont' cut you off....

Oh by the way, do you know that gamespot has NO NEWS AT ALL about FEVER so far?.... (Feel free to prove me wrong)

cj iwakura · 08-20-2008, 01:24 PM

A hamster sitting on a record nibbling a carrot would look better than Version A.

That said, the art on Version B is beautiful, but I agree that it doesn't say much about the game.

If a design can be pulled off that suggests the game's ties to music gaming, it'll be an even better improvement.

Also, the wording in 'DJ MAX' should be bigger like Version A's. US publishers tend to focus on making the name of the game as visible as possible.

I definitely approve of the effort to make the cover reflect the content of the game, because none of the animation in DJ MAX is as awful as that first image makes it look.

cj iwakura · 08-20-2008, 01:29 PM

Also, I disagree with the sentiment of reusing the covers for the first two portable games.

While they're nice and all, they are a little plain. I like the idea of a design with more depth than just having a mascot with a headset and/or microphone.

muddbunny167 · 08-20-2008, 04:00 PM

As to whether it would actually get me to BUY if I had no idea what it was? A I would write off as some kiddie game and walk right by, B I would at the very LEAST pick up to investigate. I agree with the comments said previously about it not showing anything about what the game is about and the title needing to be larger. Not sure whether or not any of the other official artworks would illustrate it any better (the original DMP covers sure didn't), but yeah~ Regardless, the cover you designed looks gorgeous ;o;~

Glas · 08-20-2008, 11:18 PM

mmmmmmmmmmmm i think i will select Box letter

/b/

DarkPraetor · 08-21-2008, 03:16 AM

A word to all:
Thank you for all your votes and support so far! Remember, every vote counts!

The background design is mostly the important thing and was worth grabbing rights to. The Nightmare artwork is like a one-layer overlay which can be replaced. The background design does contain spotlights, particle lighting, stage effects, a couple speakers as well as a silhouette of a crowd (which is unfortunately covered up because of the Nightmare anime overlay, sorry guys).

In this case, I just picked the Nightmare artwork because of it's match-up with the winged PORTABLE2 logo. Perfect synchro. In addition to that reason, it is probably one of the hardest songs in the game (like a boss) and deserves placement for a preview. Since it is mainly an "anime music game," I believe the box art should show at least one piece of anime art, DJ or non-DJ style.

Another thing I should also mention is that there is not that much public DJMAX high quality artwork out there to play with (and if it is, it's wide-screen, not tall enough for PSP covers). Blue, red and white are all American colors as well. I kept these colors in mind when designing the cover to enhance the depth of the U.S. playing a roll. To me, it is definitely eye-catching enough.

It should most likely be rated T though, I can't help but think some gamer will look at the title on the shelf and say, "Wow, a music game that is rated T and not E? It's got to be badass!" There has also been some news article that games that are rated E actually sell LESS in certain regions in the U.S.. How odd balled is that? A Teen rating would also allow more flexibility in importing everything together, making the game less childish yet still keeping it around the fantasy level.