Carcassonne Central

Carc Central Community => General => Topic started by: Decar on April 03, 2016, 03:22:11 AM

Title: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 03, 2016, 03:22:11 AM
It's been quite a busy, week so this has been delayed again, I'm sorry about that.

This week we ask you:

What's your favourite Base game box art?

There have been several iterations of box design over the years, with variations of logos and awards, but this week we'll specifically ask you which artwork is your favourite, as opposed to overall layout/design.

There are 4 main variations to consider - I'd like to thank GabrielGeek - who is a member here - who has allowed me to share an image he created for BBG, saving me the hassle of photographing everything  :(y) So, please send him  (https://boardgamegeek.com/image/2869421/carcassonne) your gratitude.

(http://www.tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/pic2869421.jpg)

Early editions of the game come with a Knight and a Thief on the box art.

Soon after the 2nd editions were printed, the thief had been exiled to a bush, while a maiden is present on the box art.  I like to think this was because they thought that the box art would be more appealing to women.  I also like to think she's in cahoots with the Thief, as their trick didn't work last time the night was in town.

The third box, is very different.  The castle has had a face lift and so have the Knight and Maiden - They're now smiling, even the horse, because the game is so fun - and there is no sign of the thief.  The Thief has been replaced with a man riding a pig; which you should recognise as Hans from 'Hans im Gluck'.  I'm not sure Doris Matthäus was responsible for this cover, her signature is missing.

No doubt you'll all hate the new box art; arguing it's not accurate (
The roofs ARE blue (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Carcassonne_wall.jpg)). Even though, there's a lot of stuff going on - the thief is back to his own tricks.  The (somewhat creepy) shadow of the player can even be seen, breaking the fourth wall.  It's clear there's adventure to be had in this box and you'll be part of it.

Share your thoughts and let us know which if your favourite, or don't you care and do you need all 4 to be considered a completionist?
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: yimhj on April 03, 2016, 04:15:42 AM
I don't like the third one because, smiles disturb me ! I choose the second because, it's the one that I own, the box which made me mad about this game !
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Paul on April 03, 2016, 04:18:46 AM
I went with I don't care only as it fits the best, but truth is, I never paid much attention to the box artwork so it's not that I don't care blatantly. This goes for box art in general.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Halfling on April 03, 2016, 04:20:00 AM
Don't care!  It's what's inside that matters to me.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: CKorfmann on April 03, 2016, 05:47:38 PM
I didn't realize until now that they pig rider cover was a completely new piece of art.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Whaleyland on April 03, 2016, 07:16:53 PM
I have Big Box 1, so whatever art is on that one is the one I have (it's the second box). I've never been that kind of collector, though. My Expansion #6 and Expansion #8 are both German-language copies, for example, and I own none of the boxes before Abbey & Mayor. I'd say the only box I may be interested in is the original Inns & Cathedrals box where it just said "The Expansion". That's be pretty cool.

Also, none of your options above have "The River" printed above the gateway. Granted it was just badly included by RGG in 2001, but Z-Man did a better job of adding it. Oddly, Z-Man opted for the second box graphics rather than the third edition with the smiling knight and pig rider (which does appear on Big Box 5).
(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic974111_lg.jpg)(https://cf.geekdo-images.com/images/pic1454200.jpg)
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 04, 2016, 01:18:03 PM
After 18 votes, it looks like 33% of you don't care as long at the Carcassonne II artwork isn't inside the box, with another 22% not even caring about that.  I should forward this information to the Game's industry and recommend they just sell games in ziplock bags because no one cares!

I intentionally left out the Rio-grande and Z-man abominations.  Mainly, because they were bodged versions of the existing art and it would open the floodgates to weird versions like the Russian First Edition, or the Italian Edition that stuck a River Tile on the box, followed by every iteration of position of the SdJ logo. Secondly, I very much doubt anyone would actually vote for any of them, so I've only opened consideration to the HiG boxes here.

If we're listing bodged versions with the River (which arn't base game boxes any more) - Don't forget these too:
(http://www.tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/BoxImage2.jpg)(http://www.tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/BoxImage3.jpg)

The only non-HiG box to really consider, which I did forget to add was the Brazilian First Edition:
(http://www.tehill.net/carcassonne/fun/BoxImage4.jpg)

...and you all thought the CarcassonneII artwork was bad!
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Curt194 on April 04, 2016, 02:30:59 PM
I'm happy with any of them but I never actually noticed most of the changes between the boxes on the original artwork. The one where everyone is smiling I find especially interesting as I feel it does actually make the game appear a little less serious thank the others do.

This also got me looking at the box from the spare set I bought off eBay a little while ago and I noticed it has the 70 point score board on the back (although sadly not actually containing one)!

I also wouldn't mind if Carc II was in the box. At least it would still be Carcassonne! Apparently I'm warming to the artwork a bit after showing people the demo tiles a few times.

Edit: Also the Brazilian first edition looks like a totally different game, more like a duelling card game than Carcassonne.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: franks on April 04, 2016, 04:59:07 PM
I voted for the 'Thief' mostly for sentimental reasons of our first owned edition, (which we still play with and is worn from hundreds of games). However, I've always thought the range of these covers were somewhat bland and designed to fit in along all the Euro games of the day. It might have a truer medieval feel, but kind of blah, non the less, (IMO).

To be honest, (ducks for cover), and though it wasn't on the voting list; I like the Carc 2 cover art, other than the Disney looking main characters in the front, (yeah that almost kills it). But if I look past that I think it tells a more compelling story and I really like the landscape view showing the roads, towns and county side.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 05, 2016, 12:05:42 AM
I'll be ducking and covering with you - I think the new artwork tells a story and for Carcassonne to last another 15 years, it needed a refresh to jump out from the competition in the gamestore.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: kettlefish on April 05, 2016, 12:18:10 AM
I like the design from Doris Matthäus. I've voted for the edition from 2013 with the pig nearby the woman. And the "Hans-im-glück pig" is also in this graghics.

But why is there no opinion in the poll for the graphics from Anne Pätzke with the new Edition?
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 05, 2016, 12:21:56 AM
Whoops, there was meant to be one, I've added it now!

I thought the Carcassonne II box art was created by Chris Quilliams, rather than Anne Pätzke who did the nice tile artwork; perhaps I'm wrong, what did Chris Quilliams do?
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: kettlefish on April 05, 2016, 12:25:11 AM
Decar, you are right - the cover from the new Edition is from Chris Quilliams, the landscape tiles have the artwork from Anne Pätzke.

But what is with the Winter-Edition? Anne Pätzke did the graphics for the cover and for the landscape tiles.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 05, 2016, 12:29:31 AM
Yes I think so.  Anne Pätzke also worked on 'Cornwall'.

Winter Edition may be being included in a later poll.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: dirk2112 on April 05, 2016, 05:44:33 AM
I never noticed the pig rider on my box before.  Mine has the river, but no spiels de jahres mention.

Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: jungleboy on April 05, 2016, 06:01:07 AM
When this poll first came out I was travelling and didn’t have access to my box. I only have one base game box and I don’t keep my game in it anymore because I have the Basically Wooden boxes, so I couldn’t remember (or verify) what my box was. Instinctively, I liked the thief box the best of the ones that Decar presented.

So it was a pleasant surprise to look at my box today and discover that this is the box that I have :)

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160405/be89ed07c0d5eb85b1e1cda4f7399b4a.jpg)

I also like the less prominent SdJ mention than many of the alternatives.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: hunnymonster on April 05, 2016, 06:09:16 AM
No love for the 10 Year Anniversary box or the Müller Special Edition Tin? :D
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on April 08, 2016, 10:27:17 AM
It seems like with 13 votes, most people don't care what box the games comes in as long as there is only old Carcassonne art work inside.

Interestingly no one has voted for Carcassonne II.

As always, thanks for sharing your views and even pictures this week  :(y)

This thread and poll will remain open so that future users can share their thoughts too, but for now we're doing another
completionists poll all about Abbots (http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/community/index.php?topic=2604.0); this seems very apt considering how unfortunate Carcassonne II did this week!
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Christopher on April 08, 2016, 10:41:06 AM
I've only just got round to reading this thread, and... I voted CII. I like it! Apart from the player shadow, which is weird, I like the people, I like the birds in the sky, and the castle looks good. I like the fresh look. It's nice!

I still prefer the tile artwork of the original Carcassonne (naturally!) but I do like CII's box.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: jungleboy on February 10, 2017, 03:55:35 AM
Edit: Also the Brazilian first edition looks like a totally different game, more like a duelling card game than Carcassonne.

I only just saw this today for the first time. Edit: or at least I never remembered seeing it before, but surely I must have because it is on the first page of this thread.
No wonder Decar is desperate for a copy!

Picture from BGG (https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1381946/carcassonne?size=original).
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Decar on February 10, 2017, 12:25:07 PM
Yeah, it's the first edition from Brazil - by the time I found it, it was already out of print.  I have a photo of the postman thread somewhere of the 2nd edition.  The liberties they took with the box are hilarious!  It also have an ever so slightly unique scoretrack.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: ozgurceylan on February 11, 2017, 04:43:28 PM
Edit: Also the Brazilian first edition looks like a totally different game, more like a duelling card game than Carcassonne.

I only just saw this today for the first time. Edit: or at least I never remembered seeing it before, but surely I must have because it is on the first page of this thread.
No wonder Decar is desperate for a copy!

Picture from BGG (https://boardgamegeek.com/image/1381946/carcassonne?size=original).

You can see back side of the tiles in the photos attached. They seem quirky to me.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Just a Bill on September 19, 2017, 11:06:26 AM
Early editions of the game come with a Knight and a Thief on the box art.

And a farmer, and a monk. I quite like that all four follower-types were represented, an this is probably my favorite cover for that reason. (It's also the cover I own, since I bought my base game in 2000 or 2001.)

The third box, is very different.  The castle has had a face lift and so have the Knight and Maiden - They're now smiling

And the maiden's neckline has dropped significantly. Sort of an intermediate step in moving from innocent peasant to the royal temptress we see on the CII box.

the new box art ... The (somewhat creepy) shadow of the player can even be seen, breaking the fourth wall.  It's clear there's adventure to be had in this box and you'll be part of it.

I've tried to interpret the story that's going on here. Clearly the princess is the only one aware of the player, and she's quite pleased about something. Meanwhile, her brother the prince, or her betrothed (some other land's prince), or perhaps the captain of the guard, is quite unhappy. The story this all suggests to me goes something like this:
The point of the story, then, is this marketing message: Buy this game now, you princess-wooing stud, you.

It looks a whole lot better than that Brazilian atrocity, but really both of these covers tell stories that are ridiculously inapplicable to the game.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: franks on September 19, 2017, 11:36:33 AM

...

The third box, is very different.  The castle has had a face lift and so have the Knight and Maiden - They're now smiling

And the maiden's neckline has dropped significantly. Sort of an intermediate step in moving from innocent peasant to the royal temptress we see on the CII box.

the new box art ... The (somewhat creepy) shadow of the player can even be seen, breaking the fourth wall.  It's clear there's adventure to be had in this box and you'll be part of it.

I've tried to interpret the story that's going on here. Clearly the princess is the only one aware of the player, and she's quite pleased about something. Meanwhile, her brother the prince, or her betrothed (some other land's prince), or perhaps the captain of the guard, is quite unhappy. The story this all suggests to me goes something like this:
  • You (the hormone-laden young human viewing the cover art) have had some inappropriate interactions with the princess, and you have been found out. The royal family was alerted and now a castle-wide manhunt is on to bring you to justice. You threw a makeshift bedcloth rope out your chamber window as a diversion, then quickly but quietly crept your way to a seldom-used upper tower to wait until the coast is clear. Soon, everyone will have assumed you got away — everyone, that is, except the princess, who gives you a cautious wink and awaits your next clandestine encounter.
The point of the story, then, is this marketing message: Buy this game now, you princess-wooing stud, you.

It looks a whole lot better than that Brazilian atrocity, but really both of these covers tell stories that are ridiculously inapplicable to the game.

Since you've revived this old thread and shared your speculative thoughts on the cover, it comes to mind that I don't think I ever shared my own story on the cover. For what it's worth, here it goes:

Love it or hate it there are some intriguing features on the new box cover!

I recall a BGG post when the first Zman edition came out of some fun banter on the cover and I thought the shadowy figure might be more reason to speculate on the stories behind the picture.

I know there have been some thoughts about this already but thought I would also offer up some ideas.

Who in fact is the shadowy figure…on the bottom right of the box?

Just behind the ‘Z’ in Z-man version there is a shadowy figure. Who could that be? Speculations say it is the Phantom but could it be ‘you’ the game player?

Is the Princess looking at you, with an engaging smile or could it be the shadowy figure, perhaps its in fact the scheming Mayor!?

And what’s with the Thief in the tower? Is he a prisoner? Is he signaling the Shadowy figure with the colored flags?

Perhaps the Princess is in on a scheme and they are setting up the knight for a big fall? He is looking a bit precarious to that wall edge!!!

Conversely the shadowy figure could actually be a monk or Abbot who is actually looking over and protecting them both?

???



Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: LaPorxada (aka BigBoss) on September 19, 2017, 04:50:16 PM
A very good review of the german game boxes:
https://www.carcassonne-forum.de/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=2361 (https://www.carcassonne-forum.de/viewtopic.php?f=277&t=2361)

Credits: Heiko69@CarcF
 
;D
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: Whaleyland on September 19, 2017, 07:49:36 PM
Wow! The woman's neckline does get lower. Granted, it just shows more of her undershirt, but still, that seemed unnecessary. I miss the thief, although I appreciate the presence of a woman on the cover.
Title: Re: Favouritism Poll #4 : Base Game Box Art
Post by: aenima on September 19, 2017, 11:09:24 PM
It also have an ever so slightly unique scoretrack.

On the 0 space there is the logo of the company, right?

And the only other relevant difference is the back of the tile?