ArmA II: Operation Arrowhead discussion thread

[jw custom 56]

When i go into a store to buy a game i don't look on the shelves for a good looking cover, i'm looking for a title which i have decided to buy :)

I think the age is playing a big part on this, the older audience really don't care about the cover while the younger are looking for a cool cover and then takes it up and start read the back of it... dunno maybe?

[raizjames 10]

You do know this is a placeholder right? No way they'd use that as cover.

And just imagine trying to sell OA like this! It's not a known series among the game-buying public.

I wouldn't be surprised if they did, as I actually like it very much:rolleyes:

and it suits the title "Black Ops"

[Zipper5 74]

I think the age is playing a big part on this, the older audience really don't care about the cover while the younger are looking for a cool cover and then takes it up and start read the back of it... dunno maybe?

Yeah, look at the back of the MW2 case (> 100kb):

http://i.neoseeker.com/boxshots/R2FtZXMvUEMvQWN0aW9uL1Nob290ZXI=/call_of_duty_modern_warfare_2_backcover_large_W5nho06T7nLXgo0.jpg

Nothing but quotes from reviews and poster-esque statements. I lol'd when I first saw that. :rolleyes:

Edited May 4, 2010 by Zipper5

[EricM 0]

It's not about the age, it's about being informed or not.

If you are a fan(or a hater) and already know what's inside, it doesn't matter.

If you didn't know the game beforehand, it's about making the best impression in the shelf to trigger the interest of the potential buyer.

MW2 is actually a very good example : badass yet simple elegant front cover and adrenaline-fuelled-kiddy-action-mess-behind. The market is covered, the message has been conveyed.

It is not about the hardcore fans or the haters. Both already have made their minds. It's about the message it sends to the new potential customers, still unsure of whether to try it or get another shooter.

A mid-price game with a subpar cover smells like cheap product and is detrimental to the buyers confidence and potential sales.

Sometimes less is more, and here it's too much. IMHO.

Note : I'll still buy it twice or three times to give it to friends, but there were many other ways to make it look way better.

[jibemorel 10]

^+1^ Fortunately, behind this "B style action movie" cover, i'm almost sure there will be an hidden jewel.

[jw custom 56]

It's not about the age, it's about being informed or not.

If you are a fan(or a hater) and already know what's inside, it doesn't matter.

If you didn't know the game beforehand, it's about making the best impression in the shelf to trigger the interest of the potential buyer.

MW2 is actually a very good example : badass yet simple elegant front cover and adrenaline-fuelled-kiddy-action-mess-behind. The market is covered, the message has been conveyed.

It is not about the hardcore fans or the haters. Both already have made their minds. It's about the message it sends to the new potential customers, still unsure of whether to try it or get another shooter.

A mid-price game with a subpar cover smells like cheap product and is detrimental to the buyers confidence and potential sales.

Sometimes less is more, and here it's too much. IMHO.

Note : I'll still buy it twice or three times to give it to friends, but there were many other ways to make it look way better.

Well i dont agree, i still believe that the younger audience think that a cover with tons of action/explosions is cool while the older audience wants less but then again they often already know what they want.

Personally i couldn't care less, probably because i never go to a store looking for games to buy, but to pick up a title i know i want.

But yes with so many potential buyers there's most likely some there's lost due to the cover, but if the cover was made to suit them then it would lose some other potential buyers.

My point is that there will always be somebody that don't like something about it, that be the cover, the sounds or the vehicles or..... :)

[teaboy 11]

Why does it even matter about the cover? Jesus christ, if Arma was not doing very well in sales or there was not a demand for such games to start with, then they wouldn't have made Arma 2 and they certainly would not be making the standalone expansion pack now.

Sorry those saying it needs better cover, are talking a load of crap, as its clear by the fact that they made arma 2 and now making operation arrowhead, that the game clearly sells regardless of the cover. All thats needed is PR in game magazines both on and offline versions to make a game sell, after release all YOU need to do is pass the word to your mates, so they will buy it. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising for this type of game.

Alot of you are saying they need a better cover inline with MW2 to boost sales, yet as stated above, if they didnt have the sales in Arma/Arma2 then they would not have made the original expansions, nor would they now be making operation arrowhead. Yes extra sales will do the profit margin a load of good, but you clearly have not heard of the saying "never judge a book by its cover". In other words the cover could look fantastic yet the story could be the crappiest you ever read. Its PR that sells games like MW2 not the dam cover, at least not it this day and age when people use the internet to read about up coming games and get previews and reviews, all of which is PR. MW 1 and 2, BFBC 1 and 2, all had huge PR before release, if they hadnt had such huge scale PR before release of the 1st versions, then they would not have sold anywhere near the amount of copies they sold, regardless of the box cover.

If they used MW2 style cover's then they would be moving away from attracting a niche customer base to an arcade style shootem customer base, which will end up resulting in the knobs and kiddies wanting this to be or thinking it is another Modern warfare or battlefield bad company type game, and demanding such changes that would ruin the game for those of us that like it as it is, all because they wanted another MW2 or BFBC2 type game.

Am sorry but those that decide to buy a game based on its cover prior to going online to read about the game or read magazine reviews on it, and then complain when its not what they expected it to be (from their judgement of the cover), are nothing but fools, that this game can do without. Even Kids read about games online now before deciding whether to buy it or not, or ask their parents to buy it for them.

At the end of the day all that matters is its clear that BIS use of PR and Marketing is working, and as a result we get to see yet another expansion. So why should BIS change marketing plan (which cover design is part off) when its working. Doing so would be the same as trying to fix something thats not actually broken.

Edited May 4, 2010 by teaboy

[NoRailgunner 0]

Buying a product only because of the stylish cover seems to be close to mindless. If this would be the truth we would see on every military game cover - boobs and guns. Now go and make a sexy Operation Arrowhead cover that will break any sales record! Hurry up - it must have been done before the OA goldmaster is ready.

[jw custom 56]

If this would be the truth we would see on every military game cover - boobs and guns. Now go and make a sexy Operation Arrowhead cover that will break any sales record! Hurry up - it must have been done before the OA goldmaster is ready.

LOL yeah that might actually be true :p

[wamingo 1]

"never judge a book by its cover". In other words the cover could look fantastic yet the story could be the crappiest you ever read.

Yes, you can't judge a book by it's cover. It is unfair and no one should do so.

I judge a book by it's cover. It's highly efficient and it serves its purpose very well.

If it looks crap, no doubt it is.

It saves me time and effort and therefore I do.

Even Kids read about games online now before deciding whether to buy it or not, or ask their parents to buy it for them.

If this is true, and I believe it is, then no logical reason remains as to why arma couldn't be without a less cheesy appearance.

There's a saying among aircraft engineers: "if it looks good, it flies good"

Lockheed won, Boeing lost.

[That guy 10]

I agree whole heatedly with EricM. the cover says "im trying to hard to grab your attention, to cover for the fact im just another fucking shooter!"

we here all know this is false, but some one who sees it on the shelf wont. if i did not know what OA is, i wouldn't bother to look at it based on its box art. i mean come on, hes got a skull on his glove (idiocy) hes screaming at the top of his lungs, and hes shooting madly (with the safety on :p). remove those elements as well as the cluttered back ground, and its not so bad

the art does not affect or represent the game experience, but it is its representation to the world, its face, what people will see of it, and judge it by in the store. I just keep on about this because i just want us, and the game to look a little more respectable before our big day

[jw custom 56]

the cover says "im trying to hard to grab your attention, to cover for the fact im just another fucking shooter!"

...and then we change so you think it looks nice, then 10 other people think it looks boring and on we go :p

[Flash Thunder 10]

If this would be the truth we would see on every military game cover - boobs and guns. Now go and make a sexy Operation Arrowhead cover that will break any sales record!

Its already in the works mate.

Jan was doing some AO press coverage in the UK. :p

On the OA boxart BIS should just lie, In gold print:

Most Soad game ever!

Best online shooter FPS ever!

Boobs and gun porn, YOU GOT IT! :)

Insta 5 Million units.

[SASrecon 0]

Why do people keep saying AO?

isn't it OA?

Does AO mean arma operation? surely it should be AOA then :confused:

[Flash Thunder 10]

Why do people keep saying AO?

isn't it OA?

Does AO mean arma operation? surely it should be AOA then :confused:

It was a joke awhile back.

adults only. :p

[Electricleash 133]

Well I got distracted from the design project I'm working on and thought I would cobble together an unofficial cover, built from the various screenies released, only in-game elements used (and a few paintbrush strokes).

Very rough, see what you think of 30 minutes hacking around just for fun:

E's Cover

[SWT_Janowich 10]

Well I got distracted from the design project I'm working on and thought I would cobble together an unofficial cover, built from the various screenies released, only in-game elements used (and a few paintbrush strokes).

Very rough, see what you think of 30 minutes hacking around just for fun:

E's Cover

From the lightening the CH46 does look not well placed.

[Flash Thunder 10]

Well I got distracted from the design project I'm working on and thought I would cobble together an unofficial cover, built from the various screenies released, only in-game elements used (and a few paintbrush strokes).

Very rough, see what you think of 30 minutes hacking around just for fun:

E's Cover

I really like your Boxart. Good work.

BIS needs to hire some of the very diligent working community members.

Cant name all of them, but it would be alot of new ideas and brains to make Arma 2 even much more awesomesauce.

[Laqueesha 474]

Well I got distracted from the design project I'm working on and thought I would cobble together an unofficial cover, built from the various screenies released, only in-game elements used (and a few paintbrush strokes).

Very rough, see what you think of 30 minutes hacking around just for fun:

E's Cover

It's better than the current one, that's for sure. ;)

[EricM 0]

E's Cover

SEE ? Keep his mouth shut, and the cheese factor goes down 5 levels immediately !

Now you got me interested at giving a shot at it...

Here are my versions :

First

Second

Third

[PacX 10]

Sorry those saying it needs better cover, are talking a load of crap, as its clear by the fact that they made arma 2 and now making operation anchorage, that the game clearly sells regardless of the cover. All thats needed is PR in game magazines both on and offline versions to make a game sell, after release all YOU need to do is pass the word to your mates, so they will buy it. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising for this type of game.

Alot of you are saying they need a better cover inline with MW2 to boost sales, yet as stated above, if they didnt have the sales in Arma/Arma2 then they would not have made the original expansions, nor would they now be making operation anchorage. Yes extra sales will do the profit margin a load of good, but you clearly have not heard of the saying "never judge a book by its cover". In other words the cover could look fantastic yet the story could be the crappiest you ever read. Its PR that sells games like MW2 not the dam cover, at least not it this day and age when people use the internet to read about up coming games and get previews and reviews, all of which is PR. MW 1 and 2, BFBC 1 and 2, all had huge PR before release, if they hadnt had such huge scale PR before release of the 1st versions, then they would not have sold anywhere near the amount of copies they sold, regardless of the box cover.

Sorry, but I couldn't help but notice :P

[wamingo 1]

Here are my versions :

First

Second

Third

The hind is awesome, but that camo version is completely brilliant.

gj

[teaboy 11]

Sorry, but I couldn't help but notice :P

Lol Opps I ment arrowhead. :D

[sbsmac 0]

Yep, major improvements over the 'stock' cover. Like wamingo I think the camo version is rather good as is ecrocs.

[bravo 6 0]

I like the cammo version.

Hope BIS make the cover good and simple.