Towards the early 1980s, before I started buying computer magazines I probably did base a lot of my software buying decisions on the inlay art.
I recall being excited by the inlays for 3D Monster Maze and Mazogs for the ZX81, which led to them both being purchased. On those occasions the games delivered, but there were many titles that did not live up to the promise of the inlay art.
Mid 80s onwards I started buying format specific magazines for the Speccy and would carefully read the reviews before buying. The inlay art at this stage become less relevant.
If you mean the cover picture (without screenshots) then the only one I recall is Gnasher from Mastertronic's initial line-up, as it made it clear it was a budget Pac-Man clone even without screenshots. And Silversoft's Orbiter - a flickery, but perfectly playable at the time, clone of Defender.
And I'm sure my parents bought Jason's Gem for me entirely based on the title. Great game nevertheless.
Of the later budget stuff with screenshots on the packaging I went for Transmuter, as it looked like a half-decent scrolling shooter. Should have gone for Chronos (that my cousin had) instead.
I don't think I bought anything full-price without either seeing a review or having played whatever arcade game it was a conversion of (though after buying Quartet I stuck strictly to reviews; well, sometimes previews, as I had to get R-Type on the spot).
But when it came to game art I could never figure out what the hell was going on in those multi-game multi-format Quiksilva ads.
Athena - although she wasn't quite so svelte in the game - positively tubby, in fact. Still, the game was OK as well. That was the only game which I bought on the basis of the cover art. Another one of my favourite covers is Stifflip & Co. The covers of the Level 9 games were good as well. Those are the only ones which I recall as making a particular impression. Oh, apart from Game Over, of course, before the censors spoiled it.
I bought the level 9 games because of the case/inlays. Had them all but never finished any. I still go back to Snowball and Colossal Cave every so often. One of these days I'll finish one of them
Comments
I recall being excited by the inlays for 3D Monster Maze and Mazogs for the ZX81, which led to them both being purchased. On those occasions the games delivered, but there were many titles that did not live up to the promise of the inlay art.
Mid 80s onwards I started buying format specific magazines for the Speccy and would carefully read the reviews before buying. The inlay art at this stage become less relevant.
I hope to buy this game someday along with the sequel on the side B of the same cassette :)
JSpeccy-win32-portable
And I'm sure my parents bought Jason's Gem for me entirely based on the title. Great game nevertheless.
Of the later budget stuff with screenshots on the packaging I went for Transmuter, as it looked like a half-decent scrolling shooter. Should have gone for Chronos (that my cousin had) instead.
I don't think I bought anything full-price without either seeing a review or having played whatever arcade game it was a conversion of (though after buying Quartet I stuck strictly to reviews; well, sometimes previews, as I had to get R-Type on the spot).
But when it came to game art I could never figure out what the hell was going on in those multi-game multi-format Quiksilva ads.
- IONIAN-GAMES.com -
Very true. I must admit I bought Vixen solely because of the inlay. Game was pants but the poster was a teenage wet dream come true ha ha
Harsh but true!!