There is too much text on the backs of game cases

[mdubs]

Remember when the backs of game boxes used to actually tell you something about the game, or have pictures? This is the back of what the (non-U.S.) version of Far Cry 4 looks like.

Here is Assassin's Creed Unity:

And Sunset Overdrive (which isn't quite as bad):

Now I understand that they need to save money by putting text in multiple languages but this is just ridiculous. There has got to be some way to cut down on the amount of text that is on the back so that it actually tells you something about the game and has some pictures instead of a wall of text.

Also insert salty remark here about stupid bilingualism laws in Canada which make us have to deal with French on all of our packaging.

 

[Wreav]

OP:

This is why alternate, printable case liners are a thing. Personally I never look at my cases, too busy playing the game.

 

[McDougles]

A Ubisoft game with too much white text in front of a black backdrop?

Quelle surprise!

 

[quesalupa]

Dude that Farcry box is literally the only game cover I've seen with that much text.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

If you buy a game based on the cover you deserve to deal with that wall of shit.

 

[bananafactory]

I've noticed a few instances where the back of XB1 cases seems to have more of this stuff than the PS4 versions.

Anyone have a pic of the PS4 Far Cry back?

 

[Ramza]

Dude that Farcry box is literally the only game cover I've seen with that much text.

And it's only because the fine print is in three languages

 

[mdubs]

If you buy a game based on the cover you deserve to deal with that wall of shit.

What a stupid remark. Is it too much to want a nicer looking cover without a wall of text?

 

[benny_a]

Blame Canada for Canadian requirements.

 

[Galdius]

I think back in the 16bits era there was also a lot of text (but not as bad as the example you posted op):

 

[mdubs]

Blame Canada for Canadian requirements.

Also insert salty remark here about stupid bilingualism laws in Canada which make us have to deal with French on all of our packaging.

Possibly one of the worst laws we have here

 

[Spikeboy]

I've noticed a few instances where the back of XB1 cases seems to have more of this stuff than the PS4 versions.

Anyone have a pic of the PS4 Far Cry back?

Bad screengrab of an unboxing, but there's a lot more pictures and less legal text.

 

[mdubs]

Bad screengrab of an unboxing, but there's a lot more pictures and less legal text.

Damn it Microsoft. The back of that case looks much better

 

[adamantypants]

Jesus Christ

 

[MUnited83]

Even with the bilingual requirement it doesn't make sense to take that much space.Here in Portugal, especially with PS2 releases and with some PS3 releases, we got the same copies as Russia and Poland with text in all the correspondent languages. Never have I ever seen a box as "text-busy" as this.

 

[Ultima_5]

i feel like as a message board we're really trying to hard to find things to complain about

 

[TemplaerDude]

Unless you're some kind of anal collector (and if you're collecting mass issue video game cases you're crazy) I can't imagine why you would care. I never look at the back of case unless I'm rolling a joint on it.

 

[MrBadger]

I like to read the back of the box on the bus home before I can play the game

 

[-Horizon-]

There is little point to those three screenshots at the top of the case if they're gonna be that small.

 

[PooBone]

This is due to the elimination of the manuals they could insert with all that crap included.

 

[bananafactory]

Bad screengrab of an unboxing, but there's a lot more pictures and less legal text.

Wow, yep that's what I thought. Wonder why the Xbone versions look so different?

 

[Toki767]

I like to read the back of the box on the bus home before I can play the game

It used to be reading the instruction manual before I get home to play the game.

 

[Stereogatari]

Looks like we're getting to those based Japan levels.

 

[Neiteio]

I don't know what you're talking about
No sé lo que estás hablando
Je ne sais pas ce que vous parlez
Ich weiß nicht, wovon Sie sprechen

This post requires 16GB of HDD space

 

[stan423321]

OK, OP, is this a joke or something? Because if it isn't, this must be the most overtexted game box I've seen in my life, and in Europe, multi-language boxes aren't off the norm. Not that this is anything major, mind you... but I can understand.

Anyway, is this something specific to UbiSoft X Xbox One combination?

 

[mdubs]

Anyway, is this something specific to UbiSoft X Xbox One combination?

Probably. Watch Dogs is also just as bad. Sunset Overdrive and some of the Microsoft exclusives are getting to that level too

 

[jmood88]

What a stupid remark. Is it too much to want a nicer looking cover without a wall of text?

How much time do you spend looking at the backs of game boxes? This is a complete non-issue.

 

[mdubs]

How much time do you spend looking at the backs of game boxes? This is a complete non-issue.

Opinions, how do they work?

 

[cacildo]

I think back in the 16bits era there was also a lot of text (but not as bad as the example you posted op):

I want to play this game. More than any far cry or assassins creed

Look at buster face!

 

[rainz]

Just picturing the poor designer/finished artist working on this layout....After they probably originally had something that looked quite nice.

"Uhhh that new text is not gonna fit..."
"It HAS to fit, get rid of some pictures if you have to"
"ok"

Proceeds to delete ALL pictures to fit in rubbish copy...
Hah.

 

[RoaringMdog]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

 

[Ishida]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

"Warning. Game case can contain spiders."

 

[Rockondevil]

My Far Cry 4 version has probably about half of the text yours has on the back. Xbox One and Aussie.

 

[DadEggs]

they should have gifs instead.

 

[-Horizon-]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

Where are the screenshots?

"Warning. Game case can contain spiders."

I didn't know european games had a spider warning D:

 

[freddy]

There only needs to be one thing on the back of the box. Media outlets have been dropping the ball on this.

 

[Fbh]

Well the problem isn't realy that amount of text but the fact publishers are cheap and make a single design for several regions, which results in them having to put all the info in English, French and Spanish

 

[Yamka]

Seriously?

You are complaining about this?

Really?

You are doing I wrong. See there is this disc thingie, you put it in the game machine thingie and you play it.

The box it comes in is to:
1. Protect the disc
2. Identify the game (either displaying the front or the spine).

The back... is basically useless.

People will truly complaining about everything.

 

[Persona7]

i can't remember the last time I actually looked at the back of a game box.

now im curious

 

[Nanashrew]

I guess it's kind of a lost art to look at the back of the box. I would do it all the time when renting games when I was a kid to get a jist of the story with some screenshots thrown in to show what the game looks like.

 

[Leafhopper]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

Thought this was for kids. The lack of pictures is silly.

 

[Coonce]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

call me crazy, but how is this "bad"? for someone who has no recollection of how Disney infinity works (moms and/or dads) the back of the case does it's job as pure information.

 

[Manmademan]

Disney Infinity 2.0 is pretty bad too

"This game is full of spiders. Seriously dude, don't touch it"

 

[that1dude24]

Thought this was for kids. The lack of pictures is silly.

the kids probably know they want it before they read the back of the box.

 

[Krejlooc]

This is the back of what the (non-U.S.) version of Far Cry 4 looks like.

This has been the norm for European packaging for 25 years now.

 

[super-famicom]

Instruction manuals are non existent/only a couple of pages nowadays, so the publishers have to put that crap somewhere.

I like when case covers are reversible, so you can hide that text. Also, as another poster mentioned, printing out custom covers is also a good solution.

 

[Rhaknar]

whats a game case?

Spoiler

Im sorry

 

[Krejlooc]

I think back in the 16bits era there was also a lot of text (but not as bad as the example you posted op):

That's the US version. Here's the international version:

 

[stufte]

Wow, yep that's what I thought. Wonder why the Xbone versions look so different?

Lawyers.

 

[orthodoxy1095]

That's why this thread is a thing:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=442713

Minimal cases FTW.