Left 4 Dead Blog Update: Creating Box Art

[Hectic Glenn]

There is an interesting update on the Left 4 Dead blog, discussing how Valve came to the distinct green box art for L4D that we all recognise.[br]Jeremy Bennett, an artist working for Valve takes us through 5 previous revisions of the box art explaining why they did not work based on colour schemes, being too cluttered and characters being too dominant. Although not obvious initially, quite a bit of thought went into the finished product. Blog post link.[br]

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[br]The penultimate box art was a right hand, which was eventually changed to a left hand to visually represent the full title, as said in the blog. When we posted the right handed box art in July 2008, Escape was ahead of us all!

 

[mchammer75040]

lol louis looks like mos def in that first one

 

[Lucid]

Second one should've been the final, with a few tweaks to the survivors.

 

[Stigmata]

Second one should've been the final, with a few tweaks to the survivors.

Agreed. And maybe a green background instead of a red one, for all the reasons they went with green in the final box design.

 

[Vegeta897]

Nah, horribly awkward perspective.

And the first one is just horrible for the following reason.

If I'm in a game store looking at games I'm going to see that and say "who are these twats and why should I care?"

The final box is good because it both indicates what type of game it is and makes you curious to pick it up and find out more.

 

[knut]

The typography-focused one is horrible.

Good read, though.

 

[Druckles]

I'm content with their final decision, while we're discussing our preferences. It's simple and yet gets across its message. An attractive design. Eye catching.

I'd quite like more of these blogs, discussing the steps they took from concept to result, actually. Also, more concept art!

 

[Fiberawptic]

Prefer the one they went with. Its symbolic rather than all 'showy'.

But you have to admit, hispanic francis FTW! same with young-bill cosby louis.

 

[Unfocused]

Now I want to hear about how they came up with the horrible Orange Box cover.

 

[Reflex]

The final one is the best and also a good read.

Now I want to hear about how they came up with the horrible Orange Box cover.

Me too. :|

 

[Druckles]

I thought that was something to do with EA. Or was that just their excuse?

 

[Apocalypse89]

My personal favorite is the second one, although I can see why they went with the final design, especially with the whole colour issue. And I too didn't notice the significance of it being a left hand until now.

 

[smokeythebear]

I want to hear what happened with the OB boxart as well.

And the OB meteor commercial.

"well our artists were all home sick and our intern Dwight was itching for a new project..."

 

[Lizardizzle]

what's wrong with the OB boxart? :|

 

[swan_song1973]

2 and 4 are pretty good, but 1 is shit.

 

[Operational]

I liked how the box art came out, even though I didn't buy a boxed version.

 

[hool10]

I thought the first 3 was the best. I think in the end they just took a picture of a hand, photoshopped it, put lots of puke colors on the box, and put in the title. Simple, fast, and puts out the message. If I was to buy a game at a retail store, I wouldn't want that one box with neon puke green all over it. Reasons being it's too loud, it's ugly, etc.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

I thought the first 3 was the best. I think in the end they just took a picture of a hand, photoshopped it, put lots of puke colors on the box, and put in the title. Simple, fast, and puts out the message. If I was to buy a game at a retail store, I wouldn't want that one box with neon puke green all over it. Reasons being it's too loud, it's ugly, etc.

So, in spite of the fact that the blog post actually explains their reasoning behind it, you're going to go ahead and assume something totally different. Why am I not shocked?

 

[Xendance]

I can't believe Valve didn't think of the right/left hand thing. Makes me laugh.

 

[Druckles]

I thought the first 3 was the best. I think in the end they just took a picture of a hand, photoshopped it, put lots of puke colors on the box, and put in the title.

Yes, that is exactly what they did.

Simple, fast, and puts out the message.

I thought you were arguing against it.

If I was to buy a game at a retail store, I wouldn't want that one box with neon puke green all over it. Reasons being it's too loud, it's ugly, etc.

Yes. It's too loud. That's the point. Well done, you read the article. As for being ugly, I don't see how your viewpoint counts for anything. How can you say the second is better than the fourth? I suppose you masturbate over the Orange Box art.

 

[DoctorWeeTodd]

I prefer the final solution. I hate the Francis prototype's phohawk.

The survivors look plain awkward in the second image, but the zombies look great. I appreciate that they kept a retooled version of the third as the back cover.

 

[G-Dub]

These days I never buy a Valve game in-store, so I could care less...

but I do like their final decision

 

[Apocalypse89]

Also, I think the image of Francis holding the shotgun/rifle from the second box art was used in the icons for the campaign completion achievements. I actually saw people debating about them on the L4D boards a few months ago.

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

Final was best. They made the right decision.

 

[Apocalypse89]

I also just noticed that the positions of the Survivors in the main menu loading screen(the one that pops up right after the intro movie) is copied almost directly from the second box art, except Francis' gun is in a different position.

Interesting how the old concepts haven't completely disappeared.