[Little Writer]

Call me crazy but I like that cover. The previous version had more of that strip poker feel than this one.

[Intense Degree]

I'm with those who don't really care about the cover and just want to play the game!

Having said that though, if it was being released in a big box...

[Lee in Limbo]

Originally Posted by booB

To be fair, Mata Hari was about a prostitute...

No. She was a lot of things, and a saint wasn't one of them, but categorizing her as a common prostitute is wrong. Dancer, spy, courtesan, yes. I don't remember reading anything about her turning tricks on the street corner, however. And as far as that game cover was concerned, it entirely missed the point of how exotic and nearly mythological the Mata Hari persona has become. There are ways to sell with sex, and ways to say 'this product is pornographic'. The game was far from that. Marketing blew it.

Back on topic, I think the strip poker jabs miss the point. I think it's a very clever cover with some nice bits of symbolism. The ace up the sleeve concept is nice. Clearly they want us to see the heroine as being resourceful and plucky. The corsetry puts her in that class of female who isn't afraid of her sexuality, but her wardrobe bespeaks a woman who isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. I know we had something of a rash of female protagonists in these games for a while, but a fair number of them had a kind of prissy quality that always made me wonder if they'd ever have gotten up the nerve to do what we were expected to put them through. This woman looks to me like someone who can do pretty much anything she sets her mind to. As far as I'm concerned, that's double plus good, yeah.

[UPtimist]

Originally Posted by Hannes

Funny how I've liked both of them so far. Opinion is one thing, bitching another. I'm surprised ppl still even bother trying to please their fans.

I'm not sure why that's so funny... And I don't see how it's bitching, what has been going on. People have stated their opinions on the cover. Some like it more, some less.

But whatever. It's very true that the thing is overhyped and undermarketed. That's one heck of a combination indeed. One just has to make sure their expectations don't get way too high when they get the game, or else even the best thing is going to be a disappointment. And of course keep the GK comparisons to a minimum

[Lee in Limbo]

Originally Posted by UPtimist

One just has to make sure their expectations don't get way too high when they get the game, or else even the best thing is going to be a disappointment. And of course keep the GK comparisons to a minimum

Quoted For Truth.

[Intense Degree]

Originally Posted by Lee in Limbo

Quoted For Truth.

Spot on.

I'm both really looking forward to and nervious about this game. There are some who seem to feel that this game is going to cure cancer, poverty and world hunger when it comes out (not directed at anyone specific here), and whilst I cannot expect an AG from JJ to be anything but great I'm trying to avoid building up my expectations too high, which has been difficult with the delays etc.

Also I have convinced myself that this is not GK4 (as at least part of me hopes it will be!)

I just hope that when it comes out people give it a fair hearing as I don't want to see a good game slated because it falls short of perfection or doesn't completely "revolutionise" the genre.

[ncf1]

oh wow, I *really* dont like that cover at all. Get rid of the artwork, leave it black get a better font and just have the title with better font on a black background and spruce up the space image a bit on the word "Gray". That said I could care less as long as the game is good, thats all that truly counts in my books.

[inm8#2]

Oh my, all this uproar over a cover?

Let's all just give up on the game because the cover isn't what we imagined it. Sheeesh - CHILL OUT, people.

Expectations for this game are ridiculous. It's the same type of behavior as LOST fans complaining about every little detail in that show. Since people have waited for so long, they have formulated every aspect of what the game should be, right down to the fricking cover. And since the cover isn't exactly what they imagined, they freak out and start to complain like mad.

This game will rock in the hands of Jane Jensen. Relax, be patient, and hold out a little longer.

[MoP]

Originally Posted by inm8#2

Oh my, all this uproar over a cover?

Let's all just give up on the game because the cover isn't what we imagined it. Sheeesh - CHILL OUT, people.

Uhm...
Fien seems to be unimpressed with the game so far, cover included.
Zobraks and I are, let's say, perplexed by the cover (didn't say a word about the game itself).
D.C. and ncf1 don't care for it either, but "it won't impact their decision" or "could care less as long as the game is good".
And two pages of people who like (or don't mind) the cover.

"Uproar"? "Bitching"? Sometimes I'm perplexed by how oversensitive people can be to any criticism.
Chill out indeed

[Luna Sevithiainen]

That's the whole point with a hype like this and so little information we get: if we only get a teeny-tiny bit of news, that's all there is to be discussed, so we all eagerly do so.

I know of myself that if I get to see only one cover, I can't just say 'oh nice'. I have to elaborate what I think of it (which is what it is a forum for), so I see some things I like, and some things I think could be done better. That's no shame on the game, it is just an elaboration on the one single bit of info we have now, namely the cover. And since opinions vary, you will always end up with a bit of crticism.

Anyway, still looking forward to the game, no matter what the cover looks like, but I think that's a standard idea.
And I think we need some different information so we can stop going on like this about the cover

Edit: okay, I've decided to comment on this anyway and play devil's advocate (at least according to some of you):

Originally Posted by inm8#2

This game will rock in the hands of Jane Jensen.

I have to disagree here. True, with what Jane Jensen has shown thusfar she is an amazing storyteller, and also getting better and better. However she still has to prove her skills with Gray Matter. Now I agree that she will very likely do a good job based on what I've seen of her before, but we don't know how she has written Gray Matter. It may be that she just fails to live up to what she is capable of. It's possible with her being human and all.
So I wouldn't say so definately that it will be good just because she wrote it. That's the whole problem with the hype about it being a Jane Jensen game. We expect her to live up to the GK series, but she may not do so with Gray Matter. We'll just have to wait and see.

[D.C.]

Even the Heavy Rain thread had some discussion on cover art and its variations -- it's not something unique to Gray Matter. The GK3 official forums also had all kinds of debates over seemingly minor details before its release too. For the most part I think people are genuinely interested, excited and optimistic about this game, otherwise they probably wouldn't even bother to comment in the first place.

[UPtimist]

I'd kiss all three above posts if possible, they're so true.

Originally Posted by Luna Sevithiainen

That's the whole point with a hype like this and so little information we get: if we only get a teeny-tiny bit of news, that's all there is to be discussed, so we all eagerly do so.

I know of myself that if I get to see only one cover, I can't just say 'oh nice'. I have to elaborate what I think of it (which is what it is a forum for), so I see some things I like, and some things I think could be done better. That's no shame on the game, it is just an elaboration on the one single bit of info we have now, namely the cover. And since opinions vary, you will always end up with a bit of crticism.

Anyway, still looking forward to the game, no matter what the cover looks like, but I think that's a standard idea.
And I think we need some different information so we can stop going on like this about the cover

This especially, you said exactly what I wanted to say earlier, I just didn't have the words

[DustyShinigami]

Originally Posted by Intense Degree

I just hope that when it comes out people give it a fair hearing as I don't want to see a good game slated because it falls short of perfection or doesn't completely "revolutionise" the genre.

I agree with this. At the end of the day, the main point of this title is to be given/told another (hopefully) well told story by Jane Jensen.

O/T: Whoohoo! My 1000th post.

[dekaneas297]

Originally Posted by Intense Degree

I just hope that when it comes out people give it a fair hearing as I don't want to see a good game slated because it falls short of perfection or doesn't completely "revolutionise" the genre.

This would have happened if it wasn't hyped so much with ridiculous comments such as 'it will be the game of the century', 'Jane Jensen is synonymous to perfection', 'expect nothing less than a masterpiece' etc.

Sorry folks but now it will be critisized heavily. Every tiny part of it. I know that it's not the developer's fault, but this is what happens when fanboys exaggerate.

[Monolith]

Originally Posted by dekaneas297

This would have happened if it wasn't hyped so much with ridiculous comments such as 'it will be the game of the century', 'Jane Jensen is synonymous to perfection', 'expect nothing less than a masterpiece' etc.

Sorry folks but now it will be critisized heavily. Every tiny part of it. I know that it's not the developer's fault, but this is what happens when fanboys exaggerate.

Is that not the problem with almost every media in a medium? People will say something is amazing and others will say its trash. It isn't the fault of this game or the developers. Some people just blow it out of proportion and cause the problem themselves.

In the end, we have to judge it for ourselves, instead of how the fans are hyping it up themselves.

[Roper Klacks]

Originally Posted by dekaneas297

Sorry folks but now it will be critisized heavily. Every tiny part of it. I know that it's not the developer's fault, but this is what happens when fanboys exaggerate.

Its true, and that happens in almost ever major game (and in other medium). But as bad as fanboys we also have the haters that are basically the same but with opposite goals. It will be important to ignore both of them, because GM wont be the second coming like fanboys will try to prove, but it wont also be the worst crap ever made like the haters will scream.

[gray pierce]

Originally Posted by Roper Klacks

Its true, and that happens in almost ever major game (and in other medium). But as bad as fanboys we also have the haters that are basically the same but with opposite goals. It will be important to ignore both of them, because GM wont be the second coming like fanboys will try to prove, but it wont also be the worst crap ever made like the haters will scream.

Very true! To assume that because JJ is involved it's gonna be great is just a little bit too optimistic. Then when it turns out it's not people start screaming it's awful. Truth is this game is very destined to be mediocre wich in my opinion can still be a lot of fun.

[Little Writer]

I don't think I've seen anything yet that reminds me of the Gabriel Knight series, other than Jane Jensen's name, so I certainly won't be expecting a GK4. What I'm expecting is a new, mainstream, serious, old-style adventure game with a solid storyline and with a certain fluency to the puzzles so as to solve them instinctually - nothing too difficult.

[gray pierce]

Originally Posted by Little Writer

I don't think I've seen anything yet that reminds me of the Gabriel Knight series, other than Jane Jensen's name, so I certainly won't be expecting a GK4. What I'm expecting is a new, mainstream, serious, old-style adventure game with a solid storyline and with a certain fluency to the puzzles so as to solve them instinctually - nothing too difficult.

I hope you're right! I don't think you are though. I think what we're looking at is an overcompromised game with an interesting topic but flawed execution and seriously undercut puzzles. In a way it kinda reminds me of "Black Mirror" so I guess that's what we'll get. I think that's still pretty good.

[Luther10]

The 2nd cover is a little bit better than the 1st one, but still, I'm disappointed... If I know nothing about the game and see these covers in a store, I'll probably pass right by without giving them a second glance... Good coverarts can attract the uninitiates and increase sales by impulse purchase. I can think of 2 coverarts that succeeded in this area: Gabriel Knight 2 and Phantasmagoria ...