BA4 - Game Design Document - entry 7

I've been considering what we are going to have as box art, or a 'front cover'. Obviously, this is a very important aspect of how the game is finally presented to an audience. Generally, box art can be changed right up until a release date. Personally, I think good cover art is; bold, simple, striking, clearly communicating the idea of the game straight away. Cover art can be iconic and eye-opening, or it can me mundane, generic and uninspired. For our game, I created a couple of example of possible box art, very early in the game's development.

These examples above were completed within the first week of the project. At that time, we knew we wanted to create a cavalry-centric game, in World War One, but not much else. We also were looking at the 2010 'Medal of Honor' game, which resulted in our artwork being heavily influenced by it.The top example, with the German lancer, was very similar to the actual cover from the 2010 game. Looking back, I feel it would be unsuitable now, as our ideas have grown so much since then. Also, I feel that this piece was simply too closely related to its original. The piece below it, shows a British cap badge, fallen in the wet mud. I think that it just looks to boring now. It's just too grey and flat. Also, the composition isn't perfect, with the two black shapes outlining the image, not being of any use.


Later in the project, I sketched up these three ideas for box art, as shown below.

I thought that this image was too violent, even when the game itself is very violent. The depiction of a German soldier being run through with a lance may show what a player will get to do in our game, but it would be too graphic I think. Also, what would German audiences think?! Not very good as a multinational hook.

 

 

 

This image shows the player galloping through a battle, shells exploding all, the ground rushing by them. A metaphor for how the warhorse is only a creature within the war, rather than something directly involved, like a human officer. The player's presence in the war is not wholly attached, after all, they are simply a beast of burden, being lead about by their human masters.

This image both me and my partner like the most. It shows the player, the horse, with a human rider. Fittingly, the focus is more on the horse, rather than the soldier. Obviously, this is a rough sketch, but it is just a simple, straight view of what the game is about, playing as a warhorse.