Melee Cover Preview

GlennDoren · 06-15-2018, 11:24 PM

I just found this, and no one's mentioned it here, from what I can tell...

Prelim Melee Cover

I gotta say... I'm not digging the art :(

Thoughts?

JLV · 06-16-2018, 12:50 AM

Yeah, I gotta admit this one leaves me a bit colder than the Wizard cover art did...

Of course, I'm still thinking of the original Danforth cover for Melee and the original Wizard cover (can't remember the artists name off the top of my head, but he was good!). I like cover art that tells a story, and both of those covers sure as heck did! These new ones, not so much, in my opinion.

However, I don't suppose Steve Jackson Games will be hiring me as an art consultant any time soon, and until they do, my opinion is worth about what you paid for it... ;-)

GlennDoren · 06-16-2018, 01:24 AM

I find this Melee cover even more 'toonish/comic book-ish, in a dull way. It just doesn't have a distinctive energy. It could be a generic image found in some fantasy-themed rulebook or historical book. But it just doesn't have a wow factor that makes you want to linger on it. The original melee/wizard/itl covers really do have a unique and impressive style. If we were looking at frames from an animated film/show, this new melee cover looks like it would be part of some choppy animated saturday morning cartoon, while the old covers would be playing on a big screen, double-featured with some Ralph Bakshi film. Meaning--they have a presence and a smooth cool quality.

Yes, it all comes down to opinions on art... this isn't a science... but you still need to consider gut reaction from viewers. Just not getting a good gut reaction.

Anyone love these?

And I say this WANTING to love the art we're seeing... but now's the time to make honest (if difficult) decisions. Need to make sure the art lives up to the quality bar set by the game design.

GlennDoren · 06-16-2018, 01:49 AM

If you do a quick "gladiator art" search on google, so many interesting and cool images come up. Would be nice to have something that exudes that energy and excitement for a game called "Melee". A simple name that packs a lot of punch. The art needs to pack the same type of potency.

And I hate coming down so hard on someone's art... but hey, this game holds a special place in my little kid heart. Especially if the point of this release is to give the game the cosmetic/makeover treatment it deserves... it deserves a slick cover/design.

And if you're going to put a face on the gladiator... make sure it has impact. Again, google "gladiator art" and a few images of russell crowe in gladiator comes up (in a few different portrait styles) and some of them... just... look... COOL. They set an intense mood appropriate for MELEE.

The existing prelim art for Melee v2.0... he just looks a but meh.

schoon · 06-16-2018, 01:50 AM

Yeah - that cover doesn't say "fantasy" to me.

It says vaguely historical. Doesn't seem to fit the theme of the game.

MIB.6361 · 06-16-2018, 04:02 AM

It does say "Not Final Art" so there's some hope there.

It looks like Cardboard Heroes art. In this size, it reminds me of a Lost Worlds book.

Either way, I'm excited to see the actual covers.

Chris Rice · 06-16-2018, 04:37 AM

I'd have to say it's also a thumbs down from me. We really need some better cover art to help sell this.

If you look at the Art for Dungeon Fantasy, it's far better than this and, no disrespect to DF, TFT is a much bigger game potentially. Firstly, it has history; many of us played it back in the day and at one point it ran D&D close in sales. Secondly, it's approachable and versatile; it can be played as pure skirmish or RPG which could attract a whole new audience of younger gamers.

I would expect the Kickstarter numbers to be closer to Ogre, with about 5k backers than Dungeon Fantasy which had about 1-1.5k backers. If the average spend is $100 then that's a lot of wonga potentially.

So please Steve and team, don't skimp on the artwork. We're going to do our best to make this big so please do your best to help us out.

Nebless · 06-16-2018, 10:40 AM

I always thought the front and back artwork of the original Melee cover got the idea about what the game was very well.

Was never a big fan of the follow on full color version; the guy and girl were OK, but something always seemed off about the monster he stood over, but once again you got the idea of what the game was about.

This new sample just doesn't do that. A charging Roman guy, OK, big deal.

And like one of the other posts said it reminds me of a 'Lost World' combat book cover.

06-15-2018, 11:24 PM	#1
GlennDoren Join Date: Dec 2017	Melee Cover Preview I just found this, and no one's mentioned it here, from what I can tell... Prelim Melee Cover I gotta say... I'm not digging the art :( Thoughts?

06-16-2018, 12:50 AM	#2
JLV Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Arizona	Re: Melee Cover Preview Yeah, I gotta admit this one leaves me a bit colder than the Wizard cover art did... Of course, I'm still thinking of the original Danforth cover for Melee and the original Wizard cover (can't remember the artists name off the top of my head, but he was good!). I like cover art that tells a story, and both of those covers sure as heck did! These new ones, not so much, in my opinion. However, I don't suppose Steve Jackson Games will be hiring me as an art consultant any time soon, and until they do, my opinion is worth about what you paid for it... ;-)

06-16-2018, 01:24 AM	#3
GlennDoren Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Melee Cover Preview I find this Melee cover even more 'toonish/comic book-ish, in a dull way. It just doesn't have a distinctive energy. It could be a generic image found in some fantasy-themed rulebook or historical book. But it just doesn't have a wow factor that makes you want to linger on it. The original melee/wizard/itl covers really do have a unique and impressive style. If we were looking at frames from an animated film/show, this new melee cover looks like it would be part of some choppy animated saturday morning cartoon, while the old covers would be playing on a big screen, double-featured with some Ralph Bakshi film. Meaning--they have a presence and a smooth cool quality. Yes, it all comes down to opinions on art... this isn't a science... but you still need to consider gut reaction from viewers. Just not getting a good gut reaction. Anyone love these? And I say this WANTING to love the art we're seeing... but now's the time to make honest (if difficult) decisions. Need to make sure the art lives up to the quality bar set by the game design.

06-16-2018, 01:49 AM	#4
GlennDoren Join Date: Dec 2017	Re: Melee Cover Preview If you do a quick "gladiator art" search on google, so many interesting and cool images come up. Would be nice to have something that exudes that energy and excitement for a game called "Melee". A simple name that packs a lot of punch. The art needs to pack the same type of potency. And I hate coming down so hard on someone's art... but hey, this game holds a special place in my little kid heart. Especially if the point of this release is to give the game the cosmetic/makeover treatment it deserves... it deserves a slick cover/design. And if you're going to put a face on the gladiator... make sure it has impact. Again, google "gladiator art" and a few images of russell crowe in gladiator comes up (in a few different portrait styles) and some of them... just... look... COOL. They set an intense mood appropriate for MELEE. The existing prelim art for Melee v2.0... he just looks a but meh.

06-16-2018, 01:50 AM	#5
schoon Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oakland, CA, USA	Re: Melee Cover Preview Yeah - that cover doesn't say "fantasy" to me. It says vaguely historical. Doesn't seem to fit the theme of the game.

06-16-2018, 04:02 AM	#6
MIB.6361 MIB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Phoenix, Arizona, USA, Earth, Sol, Milky Way, Infinity.	Re: Melee Cover Preview It does say "Not Final Art" so there's some hope there. It looks like Cardboard Heroes art. In this size, it reminds me of a Lost Worlds book. Either way, I'm excited to see the actual covers. __________________ Jessie/MIB 6361 Arizona Men in Black Cell Leader

06-16-2018, 04:37 AM	#7
Chris Rice Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: London Uk, but originally from Scotland	Re: Melee Cover Preview I'd have to say it's also a thumbs down from me. We really need some better cover art to help sell this. If you look at the Art for Dungeon Fantasy, it's far better than this and, no disrespect to DF, TFT is a much bigger game potentially. Firstly, it has history; many of us played it back in the day and at one point it ran D&D close in sales. Secondly, it's approachable and versatile; it can be played as pure skirmish or RPG which could attract a whole new audience of younger gamers. I would expect the Kickstarter numbers to be closer to Ogre, with about 5k backers than Dungeon Fantasy which had about 1-1.5k backers. If the average spend is $100 then that's a lot of wonga potentially. So please Steve and team, don't skimp on the artwork. We're going to do our best to make this big so please do your best to help us out. Last edited by Chris Rice; 06-16-2018 at 05:00 AM.

06-16-2018, 10:40 AM	#8
Nebless Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Washington	Re: Melee Cover Preview I always thought the front and back artwork of the original Melee cover got the idea about what the game was very well. Was never a big fan of the follow on full color version; the guy and girl were OK, but something always seemed off about the monster he stood over, but once again you got the idea of what the game was about. This new sample just doesn't do that. A charging Roman guy, OK, big deal. And like one of the other posts said it reminds me of a 'Lost World' combat book cover.