Portal 2 is the sequel to the acclaimed first-person puzzle game, carrying forward its love of mind-bending problems and its reckless disregard for the space-time continuum.
The original Portal had very simple box art to go along with it's small scope, so naturally the sequel needed something with a tad more production value, but why the co-op bots of all things? The best reason I can come to is that valve wants to ensure people remember the bots if/when they come back around in the future, but I would enjoy looking at the cover much better if I got to see a nice environment with a few turrets and some foliage, or Chell doing something that Chell likes to do. Even with Portal 2's much larger focus, some art with less inherent action would really help complete the overall atmosphere the game relies on so much (at least for me).
I honestly can't comment, because I don't have the game.. or think it's too much to look into.. but If I were designing it, I would have just went with this logo. I think everyone would have gotten the reference. Probably why i'm not in marketing... but in this case, (ha) minimal outside, lush expansive game inside. I like the idea that you're going into it thinking, more of the same.. (if you haven't been following).. then BAM. But that could be just me. : /
" I honestly can't comment, because I don't have the game.. or think it's too much to look into.. but If I were designing it, I would have just went with this logo. I think everyone would have gotten the reference. "
Cover art is for someone who's never heard of the game before. It's not to look nice, just to communicate what you do in the game and the tone of the whole thing. That's why minimalist arty covers are for collector's editions.
In terms of marketing, you're right.. but if we were to compare say.. books to games.. I think the minimalist logic still applies. I don't disagree with what you're saying though. I wonder why the thinking is this way. Isn't there any older great titles that took the minimalist approach and were still successful?
Valve knows that most people who have played Portal will buy and play Portal 2. They now must sell the concept quickly to new people walking around the Gamestore, and do so perfectly with the box art. Remember, Portal 1 had no proper box art because it was never sold by itself at retail.
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