The Misleading World Of Atari 2600 Box Art (RunDLC)

Box art has come a long way since the 1970s and 80s, back when artists had to dream up elaborate sketches and paintings to up sell games devoid of detail. At least today, the artwork on the shelf resembles characters and situations from the game it represents. You know, as opposed to everything on the Atari 2600. God forbid someone turns the case around and sees what the game actually looks like.

On that note, we took some of Xbox Live Game Room’s most popular offerings and compared them to their classic box art. We’re sure you’ll agree that the con was on.

John Artest (RunDLC)

[thorstein]

Adventure was EPIC!! I played that title for hours. So sorry you'd have to use your imagination to make the game better.

Good article, but Adventure was the shit.

[Buff1044]

Oh Adventure was great. Don't get me wrong. I remember having to use my imagination to make games more enjoyable, creating side stories and what not. Ah yes, the good old days. :)

[Smiling535]

I used to do that with Haunted House....crazy game, but it looked nothing like the cover.

[specialguest]

That was one fun ass multiplayer game.

[Buff1044]

Missile Command is another good one, and breakout, with the astronaut. I mean really, come on. lol

[Smiling535]

I'll give it to Jungle Hunt, though....the cover shows a guy swinging on vines, and you actually swing on vines. :)

[Buff1044]

Haha I still have that game somewhere in the attic.

[donniebaseball]

The old days of box art might have taken more liberties but that's kind of what made them special I think.

[Buff1044]

They're vintage, that's for sure. I guess it was all part of the era. You know, like consoles with a wood finish. :)

[big_silky]

What a coincidence, I just ordered a copy of Halo 2600.

[nemesis enforcer]

With that level of technology, the better way to sell games on these days was to impress the potential customer with the boxARTS, and yes, there were good and bad games, but so what? The important is we had great moments of joyment and memories, and, IMO, the atari 2600 covers are the best, they are real ART!!! And that's why we really care about them: Space Invaders, Missile Command, Xevious, Space War, Indy 500, Backgammon, Surround, Beamrider, Pele's Soccer, Othello, etc.
How many of the next and current generation can say the same?

[big_silky]

Amen. Compare these covers to the "intern with mild photoshop skills" covers we get today, especially in the west. Modern cover art is so bad that it's embarrassing. Every fps has the "lone soldier" on a monochrome background. Almost every 3rd person game has the protagonist aiming a gun/sword at something off-screen and grimacing.

[00000000000000000001]

I have put more hours into Atari's 2600 Adventure than any PS3/360 game. I even purchased it again for the Game Room! Graphics does not make the game, game play does.

[Relientk77]

OMG!!!
I remember Warlords haha, like wtf is it

the cover has NOTHING to do with the game

[Wile]

I enjoyed Adventure!

Other favs were:

Yar's revenge
Star Master
Pitfall
Combat
Space Invaders

ahh the memories!