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NeoGAF's struggle with the meaning of "minimalism"
- Thread starter cj_iwakura
- Start date
TheMoon
Member
It's actually not if you look at the OP and don't just get hung up on the word used in the title.
OP misused the word minimalist to describe simplistic covers to contrast the "bloated covers" thread from earlier. Most posts here fit perfectly with that while some are clearly nonsense and don't fit either the proper minimalist definition nor the "simple"/"clean" design example provided in the OP.
I'd love it if every other post in here wouldn't be "lol not minimalist, y'all dumb" and we'd simply keep posting box arts fitting the spirit of the OPs question and not get hung up on that word.
SomedayTheFire
Member
But what is simple or clean with regards to this thread? Many non minimalist box arts posted here aren't simple or clean either. A few people, jokes notwithstanding, are simply just posting their favourite box arts regardless of minimalism, simple or clean.
No one is saying this is bad but how on EARTH is that minimalist. There's far to much there to be classified as a cover with very few elements on it aka a minimalist cover.
THe logos screw it up but this is what I believe to be a "minimal" boxart. Just Jill, a zombie and a hallway with the title.
Astral/H3X
Member
Say what you will about the game but the Japanese box art was a stroke of genius. Here's the kicker: the red stuff is actually a cardboard sleeve that you can remove to reveal Samus's full face. And it's also a reversible cover that features her younger version on one side and her older version's face so you can switch them around as you like.
Fuck that is awesome.
TheMoon
Member
JumpCancel
Banned
You're absolutely right. What's the point of thread titles? Lets just post aimlessly with no direction whatsoever.
Skull Face was right. Language needs to be purged.
Deus Ex's HR DC box art is the best example of minimalism this thread has seen, aside from a few FF boxes that are simply their logo.
Stevey
Member
I always liked the "leatherbound book" motif they used for the World of Warcraft Collector's Editions.
It's been a ten year game series, but if you put all the releases together they still look consistent on your shelf. How many other franchises can you say that about?
Can't argue with that, but they're not very minimalist really.
SomedayTheFire
Member
Whoops skipped that sentence on first read sorry.
sixteen-bit
Member
That thread title change, lmao.
Just a new joke poster going by posts in other threads.
There really need to be some structure to this thread, probably remove minimalism to start with.
It is a really specific art style that everyone is really butchering, I dont think there is a cover that would fit into it to start with. It is way to constraint, just the title on the covers makes is to complex to fit the art style.
Just something like "simple covers" found probably be a better descriptions of almost half the covers atleast. Some people really dont have an idea what minimalism means.
My favorite, and probably what I would say be closest to minimalism so far would be this. But not really, to many lines.
EDIT: gg thread title
It is a really specific art style that everyone is really butchering, I dont think there is a cover that would fit into it to start with. It is way to constraint, just the title on the covers makes is to complex to fit the art style.
Just something like "simple covers" found probably be a better descriptions of almost half the covers atleast. Some people really dont have an idea what minimalism means.
My favorite, and probably what I would say be closest to minimalism so far would be this. But not really, to many lines.
EDIT: gg thread title
Jawbreaker
Member
Perfect thread title change.
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
it's minimal because it's my favorite video game and i want to post the box here and all these haters just wanna ruin everyone's favorite video games
Stevey
Member
Doppelganger detected V:
OT, I just went through my 360 collection, can't seem to find one which I'd consider minimalist.
tauroxd
Member
Gentleman Jack
Member
Accurate thread title is accurate. There's like less than ten game covers posted that fit the term 'minimalist.'
Static Veins
Member
LMAO that title change.
And we started so well with the Gravity Rush Remastered cover...
And we started so well with the Gravity Rush Remastered cover...
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
thanks mods, was getting tired of the shitters just coming in here and saying nothing anyone posted was minimalism
Vulcano's assistant
Banned
It is the bunch that think minimalism is an art style the ones who are wrong (not as wrong as the covers every milliliter of it with detail thought). Minimalism can be expressed in anything from composition, layout, to art style.
TheMoon
Member
A similarly cool treatment was given to the Wii Music box art (I think globally, at least EU and Japan got the same box).
This musical note art on white background is also a cardboard sleeve that when removed reveals the following artwork:
The point was the the OP wasn't actually asking for strict "minimalism."
WadiumArcadium
Member
Minimalism at it's best.
zer0blivion
Member
Who do they think they are, trying to educate people and keep the thread on topic.
LightJak007
Neo Member
I really enjoyed the alternative box art for The Last of Us that they handed out at PAX Prime 2013. Fairly minimalist:
Living up to the new thread title...
-Two full characters
-Rendered in full color with shading and highlights
-A three line game logo
-With a symbol behind it
-With a motif behind THAT
-Next to a pentagram
-And featuring a studio logo
The only thing that could possibly be construed is minimalist is that the predominant color of the characters is white, I think that's honestly it....
I'm sorry I know I sound like a dick but there's like three covers in here that are legitimately minimal, the rest are just "covers I like."
Probably the most recognizable example for sure.
There's really no reason to even attempt it, since the cover will be cluttered with extraneous bullshit regardless - ratings, format, publisher, dev logos, etc.
Flintty
Member
This thread (and title change) is hilarious. Thanks GAF, you always deliver.
/Dead
/Dead
Actually it's fairly debatable whether that would be minimalist is the sense that some are describing in here.
If they were keeping the thread on topic they should look at the OP and understand the definition wasn't specific.
Probably doesn't count. But that's my favorite Megaten one.
Maybe these are better?
these look pretty busy to me. At least in comparison to some of the other box arts suggested. Not to say they aren't good though
JumpCancel
Banned
Is Skull Face a mod on Neogaf?
Such a lust for linguistic understanding.
Such a lust for linguistic understanding.
TheMoon
Member
Thing is, barely anybody is trying to "educate" those who don't know. Most posts are just "lol y'all have no clue what it means and I do!"
Shang
Member
Make that two. I largely like the second cover because of the positioning of the assets within the image, although the city in the back does look better than literally nothing. The way Kat's back arches works in unison with the curve in the Gravity Rush logo. In the NA one, Kat's off-center and her foot is partially covering the E in "Remastered".
If we were looking at a low detail version of Kat in front of a white background, we'd be all good. But as it stands, Kat is as she would be in the city, shadows, outlines and all, making it look like someone traced her in Photoshop and layered her out of the box art.
The glow in the second box art and the "smash hit vita" sticker are fucking awful, though.
It takes all of four seconds to get to the Minimalism Wikipedia page and see the canonical example of minimalism:
TheMoon
Member
It takes all of four seconds to get to the Minimalism Wikipedia page and see the canonical example of minimalism:
Which ultimately tells you nothing. So even the MGS cover is disqualified since it has a logo and isn't just plain white. That's what I'm taking from your example.
Dreadnought
Member
This is my new favorite thread
SomedayTheFire
Member
Jawbreaker
Member
You can't fool anyone with that lack of punctuation!
Reverend Funk
Comfy Penetration
Take a fuckin art class people I mean come on