European artist information from BOX=ART

[OVGA Database 30]

European artist information from BOX=ART

BOX=ART (B=A) separated its research into regions: Americas, Europe, and Japan. OVGA has reviewed this information and will publish B=A’s research by region as three separate threads in the Artist Appreciation section of OVGA’s forums. OVGA has only lightly edited this information and has not expanded artist catalogs, some of which may be incomplete. Artists already included in OVGA’s Artist database have been removed from B=A’s data and will not be repeated below. 

OVGA will consolidate in a separate forum topic the contributions of digital artists, art directors, and other individuals and companies that were included among B=A’s data.

 

European

 

Alan Batson – 

Hero Quest II: Legacy of Sorasil | Gremlin Graphics | 1994 | Amiga, CD32.

Litil Divil | Gremlin Graphics | 1993 | with Steven McKevitt | CD32, CD-i, MS-DOS.

Zool: Ninja of the “Nth” Dimension | Gremlin Graphics | 1992 | Amiga, MS DOS.

As with many gaming characters designed from the 8-bit generation to the 16-bit generation (1983-1996) they were first imagined as an in-game sprite, taking into account the host machines sprite size and color palette limitations (in Zool’s case a sprite size of 48x48 pixels and 16 colors). Once determined what would be possible a more detailed character art could then be designed.  

Zool’s character art would be deliberately simple and easy to animate, with designer Adrian Carless visualizing a body shape of two basic geometrical spheroids with a few sticks - much like Hudson’s Bomberman character. But it was Zool’s large eyes that set the ninja-alien apart from his contemporaries. They were overly large so the player could see his determined look. Zool’s coloring was also deliberate. Black - like a ninja; green - like an alien and so at speed the character didn’t turn into a black mass; red to help track his limbs and yellow so his eyes were the standout feature.

The final designs were then turned over to artist Alan Batson who would be responsible for the games promotional art. The Amiga version of  Zool is the original cover with the majority of ports receiving a alternative box art.

Zool: Ninja of the “Nth” Dimension | GameTek | 1993 | NA ver. | Game Boy, Game Gear, Genesis, SNES.

Zool: Ninja of the “Nth” Dimension | Gremlin Graphics | 1993 | CD32.

Zool: Ninja of the “Nth” Dimension | Gremlin Graphics | 1993 | EU ver. | Acorn, Amiga, Atari ST, Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System, Mega Drive, MS-DOS, SNES.

Zool 2 | Gremlin Graphics | 1993 | Amiga, CD32, Jaguar, MS-DOS.

 

 

Carlos Ezquerra – 

Strontium Dog and the Death Gauntlet | Quicksilva | 1984 | by Carlos Ezquerra | Commodore 64.

Strontium Dog: The Killing | Quicksilva | 1984 | by Carlos Ezquerra | ZX Spectrum.

 

 

CAZA (Gaza) – 

Drakkhen | Infogrames | 1989 | EU/ JPN ver. | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Super Famicom, SNES, X68000.

Kult | Infogrames | 1989 | EU ver. | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

 

 

Dave Gibbons – 

Rogue Trooper | Krisalis Software | 1991 | by Dave Gibbons | Amiga, Atari ST.

Rogue Trooper | Piranha | 1986 | by Dave Gibbons | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Dave Pether – 

Lemmings Chronicles, The | Psygnosis | 1994 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Puggsy | Psygnosis | 1994 | Amiga, Genesis, Mega Drive, Sega CD.

Wiz ‘n’ Liz | Psygnosis | 1993 | Amiga, Genesis, Mega Drive.

 

 

David Martin – 

Air Rescue I | MicroProse | 1984 | Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64.

Crusade in Europe | MicroProse | 1985 | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC Booter.

Decision in the Desert | MicroProse | 1985 | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC Booter.

F-15 Strike Eagle | MicroProse | 1985 | EU/ NA ver. | Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX,  PC Booter, Thomson TO, ZX Spectrum.

Kennedy Approach | MicroProse | 1985 | Amiga, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, Commodore 64.

MiG Alley Ace | MicroProse | 1983 | Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64.

NATO Commander | MicroProse | 1984 | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64.

Solo Flight | MicroProse | 1985 | Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, PC Booter, Thomson MO, Thomson TO.

Spitfire Ace | MicroProse | 1982.

 

 

Dieter Rottermund – 

A320 Airbus: Edition USA | Thalion Software | 1993 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Albion | Blue Byte Software | 1995 | MS-DOS.

Ambermoon | Thalion Software | 1993 | Amiga.

Amberstar | Thalion Software | 1992 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Lionheart | Thalion Software | 1992 | Amiga.

 

 

Emmanuel – 

The artist looks to have only worked within the video game industry for short lived publisher Carnell Software. He is better known for working for fantasy magazine White Dwarf and various sci-fi/ fantasy book publications as a cover artist.

 

 

Adventures of St Bernard, The | Carnell Software | 1983 | ZX Spectrum.

Black Crystal | Carnell Software | 1982 | Commodore 64, ZX81, ZX Spectrum.

Citadel of Chaos | Carnell Software | 1982 | Dragon 32, ZX81, ZX Spectrum.

Crypt, The | Carnell Software | 1983 | ZX Spectrum.

Devil Rides In | Carnell Software | 1983 | ZX Spectrum.

Starforce One | Carnell Software | 1984 | ZX Spectrum.

Volcanic Dungeon | Carnell Software | 1982 | Dragon 32, ZX81, ZX Spectrum.

ZX Compendium | Carnell Software | 1983 | ZX81.

 

 

http://wiki.oldhammer.org.uk/v/Emmanuel

http://www.sanfransys.com/homepages/level9/magra/magra.htm

 

 

Gary McNamara – 

Alchemist | Imagine Software | 1984 | ZX Spectrum.

Battle Command | Ocean Software | 1990 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC,  Atari ST, MS DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Bewitched | Imagine Software | 1983 | VIC-20.

 

 

http://www.tallantyre-gallery.co.uk/Page/artist.aspx?aID=10096

 

 

Gavin Macleod - 

Arcade Flight Simulator | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Grand Prix Simulator 2 | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Italian Supercar | Codemasters | 1990 | Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum.

Jet Bike Simulator | Codemasters | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Super Stuntman | Codemasters | 1987 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

H R Giger – 

Dark Seed | Cyberdreams | 1992 | Amiga, Atari ST, CD32, Macintosh, MS-DOS, PS1, Saturn, Windows.

The original MS-DOS box let you detach the diamond shaped artwork (it was a smaller and slightly raised box), offering a rare effort in box design that went beyond the usual video game casings.

The rest of the game would also use Giger’s art, who was involved with the games art direction allowing Cyberdreams full access to his works. The artwork is one of Giger’s more famous pieces depicting Swiss actress Li Tobler and is named Li II. It was an airbrushed piece.  

Dark Seed II | Cyberdreams | 1995 | Macintosh, MS-DOS, PS1, Saturn, Windows.

Jaseiken Necromancer | Hudson Soft | 1988 | PC Engine.

 

 

Ian Craig –

After studying art and communication design in Sailsbury and Leeds respectively, Craig would embark on a career in sci-fi paint-work, taking a special interest in the “mystical, dreamlike” side of science fiction over spaceships and futuristic hardware the genre loves so much.  

Craig would get his start in the video game industry through his cover arts for publication Popular Computing. This led to Tim Langdell from developer Softec commissioning him for his earliest known box art Ice Giant (1984) and to design a cover for a book on the Dragon 32 hardware.

Ian would later produce two original covers for publisher Psygnosis under their Psyclapse line. Little is known of the artist's time within the industry post ‘89.   

Ice Giant | Softek International | 1984 | Oric.

Menace | Psyclapse | 1988 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS.

Nevermind | Psyclapse | 1989 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS.

 

 

Ian Naylor – 

Air Support | Psygnosis | 1992 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Armour-Geddon | Psygnosis | 1991 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Ghouls ‘n Ghosts (大魔界村) | U.S. Gold | 1989 | EU ver. | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Naylor’s cover would be a reworking of the North American arcade flyer by Frank Cirocco, but with the comic book look replaced with a fantasy paint job more in line with what European box artists in the 1980’s were designing.

Motor Massacre | Gremlins Graphics Software | 1988 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Red Zone | Psygnosis | 1992 | Amiga.

Thunderblade | U.S. Gold | 1989 | EU ver. | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Jamie Grant – 

Hired Guns | Psygnosis | 1993 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

 

 

Jim Gardner – 

Blind Panic | Dennis Publishing | 1988 | ZX Spectrum.

 

 

John Harris – 

Awesome | Psygnosis | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST.

The Amiga version would get the panoramic box treatment that displays Harris’ artwork to its fullest. It would be an original commission and is arguably one of the finer sci-fi covers within Psygnosis’ pantheon.  Atari ST owner would have to suffice with a smaller box and a cropped version where the gravitas of the original is greatly lost.

The lettering was likely a Roger Dean effort.

 

 

John Howe – 

J.R.R Tolkien’s War in Middle Earth | Melbourne House | 1989 | Amiga, Apple IIgs, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring | Hozer Video Games | 2002 | Atari 2600/ VCS.

This homebrew release would reuse Howe’s artwork titled The Bridge of Khazad-dum (1995. First published in the 1997 Tolkien calendar).

“This painting has a lengthy genesis. I originally did a sketch of Glorfindel's final battle with the Balrog - bloated moon, flying cloud, icy mountain peak, the whole lot - but it was judged too harsh for a book cover and went quietly to sulk in a box in the attic for a few years.

In 1989 it surfaced again after a spring cleanup and Glorfindel became Gandalf and the bridge of Khazad-dum replaced the precipice. I made the error of masking the Gandalf silhouette before drawing it properly, and he spent the duration of the picture shuffling back and forth on the bridge with his staff and Glamdring stuck in one place until he finally found firm footing...” - via www.john-howe.com.

 

 

Kevin Walker – 

Kings Table: The Legend of Ragnarok | Mirage Technologies Ltd | 1993 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Perfect Assassin | Grolier Interactive Inc. | 1997 | MS-DOS, PS1.

Retribution | Gremlin Interactive Ltd | 1994 | MS-DOS.

 

 

Lee Gibbons – 

Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax | Palace Software | 1988 | EU ver. | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Barbarian II's predecessor, Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior, was a critical and commercial success on its release in 1987. Reviewers enjoyed the game's exciting sword fights, and its profile was greatly enhanced by marketing strategies employed by its developer, Palace Software, a subsidiary of media company Palace Group. The developer had engaged Maria Whittaker, a model known for topless shoots, to pose on the box covers and posters of the game. The image of bikini-clad Whittaker created a hype that pushed the game beyond the attention of the video game industry, producing a controversy in which members of the public criticized the industry for promoting Barbarian in a sexist manner.

Palace Software repeated the strategy for the sequel, publishing a poster of Whittaker as Princess Mariana, this time in metal bikini armor, and Michael Van Wijk as the barbarian. Steve Brown, creator of the Barbarian games, recalled that the bikini's chain "snapped a number of times" in comical Carry On fashion during the shoot. Brown was behind the concept of the poster, which was brought to fruition by Lee Gibbons, a commercial artist, over the course of four weeks. The image of the barbarian and princess poised over the fallen body of a large, scaly monster was a photomontage, created by superimposing three photographs—one of each subject—on one another. The creature was a small-scale model made of Plasticine. After cutting out the subjects from their photos and composing the cut-outs to form a new scene, Gibbons painted the background and added effects such as smoke to form the final image.  Via wikipedia.

Deactivators | Ariolasoft | 1986 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Hound of Shadow, The | EA | 1989 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Hyperforce | Ariolasoft | 1986 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 16, Commodore 64.

Starburst: A Walk on the Wild Side | Ariolasoft | 1986 | Commodore 16, Plus/4.

Starfox | Datasoft | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Lucio Parrillo – 

Loki: Heroes of Mythology | Crimson Cox GmbH | 2007 | Windows.

Original character art painting.

 

 

http://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=519674&GSub=82202

 

 

Luis royo – 

After the War | Dinamic Software | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Aventura Espacial, La | Aventuras AD | 1990 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Aventura Original, La | Aventuras AD | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Chicken Itza | Aventuras AD | 1992 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Comando Tracer | Dinamic Software | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Game Over | Dinamic Software | 1987 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, PC Booter, Thomson MO/ TO, ZX Spectrum.

The game is best known for a controversy regarding the image of Queen Gremla where a visible nipple that can be seen in its advertising and inlay artwork (which had originally appeared on the cover of Heavy Metal (May 1984 - Vol.8 No.2) called Cover Ere Comprimee and is attributed to Luis Royo). Oli Frey, the art editor for Crash magazine, painted over the original bare-breasted image with a thin gray corset so that it could be printed, but retailers still demanded that logos be placed over the nipples.

Game Over won the awards for best advert and best inlay of the year, according to the readers Crash (Wikipedia). It is possibly the artist’s first cover art.

Game Over II | EA | 1988 | Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Hundra | Dinamic Software | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Narco Police | Dinamic Software | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, PC Booter, ZX Spectrum.

Navy Moves | Dinamic Software | 1988 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Satan | Dinamic Software | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, MSX, PC Booter, ZX Spectrum.

Summoning, The | SSI | 1992 | MS-DOS.

Templos Sagrados Vol I, Los | Aventuras AD | 1991 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Templos Sagrados Vol II, Los | Aventuras AD | 1992 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Turbo Girl | Dinamic Software | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

http://www.luisroyo.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Royo

http://www.polcbolt-online.hu/heddy/royo/bio.html

http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/royo_luis

 

 

Mark Wilkinson – 

Mindfighter | Abstract Concepts | 1988 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

The artist’s first box art would be commissioned by the games creator Fergus Macnell who at the time was a fan of Mark’s art for the rock group Marillion. Mark recalls, “Fergus wanted a boy - much like the boy I had drawn for Marillion’s Misplaced Childhood (1985 album)...who existed in some dystopian future...he had the ability to shape-shift into other creatures - and I used an Eagle.

The artwork was created using airbrushed acrylic ink. Poster.

Parisian Knights | Abstract Concepts | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Troll | 1988 | Kixx | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Melvyn Grant – 

The famed Sci-fi and fantasy painter who is probably best known for his Iron Maiden cover arts, would have his work reused as box art under Psygnosis’ sister publisher Psyclapse.  All four known box arts were originally commissioned elsewhere, and other than Baal were cover arts for novels.  

Melvyn’s style of art would add a somewhat dark-fantasy look to Psygnosis’ box art catalogue and would sit comfortably alongside the likes of Roger Dean and Peter Andrew Jones’ artworks. All four covers were painted in oils on canvas.

Anarchy | Psyclapse | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Baal | Psyclapse | 1988 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS DOS.

Melvyn Grant’s Baal would ditch Psygnosis’ usual sci-fi box arts and vehemently assert its own horror-fantasy instead. Originally a cut-out children’s mask available in the mid-80s on the back of a UK cereal box, the artwork was called “Jaws” and painted in oils on a 6.5 x 12 inch board.  It was then commissioned by the Liverpool developer in 1988.

Possibly Melvyn’s first box art for Psygnosis (it could also be Captain Fizz meets the Blaster-Trons), he would go on to provide the developer with further commissioned pieces, adding a darker edge to the publishers box art portfolio.

Ballistix | Psyclapse | 1989 | Amiga, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Electron, MS DOS, PC Engine.

In keeping with many of Psygnosis’ box arts, Melvyn’s art was reissued having been originally designed for sci-fi novel ‘The Steel Tzar’ by Michael Moorcock (1981) - of which the cover gets its name - and then later as cover art for Judas Priest LP ‘Rocka Rolla’ (reissue ver. 1987).

The artwork would be used across the globe and its use in Japan would end up being one of only a handful by Psygnosis to make it East.

Captain Fizz Meets the Blaster-Trons | Psyclapse | 1988 | Amiga, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Electron, ZX Spectrum.

http://www.melgrant.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvyn_Grant

 

 

Michael Hellmich – 

Atomix | Thalion Software | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS DOS.

Backgammon | Magic Soft | 1990 | Amiga.

Bundesliga Manager Professional | Software 2000 | 1991 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS DOS.

Charly | Magic Soft | 1991 |  Amiga.

Cubulus | Software 2000 | 1991 | Amiga, Commodore 64, MS-DOS.

Death or Glory: Das Erbe von Morgan | Software 2000 | 1994 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Die Kathedrale | Software 2000 | 1991 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Enchanted Land | Thalion Software | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Ghost Battle | Thalion Software | 1991 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Hexuma: Das Auge des Cal | Software 2000 | 1992 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Jonathan | Software 2000 | 1993 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Kengi | Software 2000 | 1991 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Manager, The | Software 2000 | 1992 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

O.B.Y.1 | Magic Soft | 1991 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Prehistoric Tale, A | Thalion Software | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST.

Shiftrix | Software 2000 | 1991 | Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS.

Think Twice | Magic Soft | 1991 | Amiga.

Tower Fra | Thalion Software | 1990 | Amiga.

Wild West World | Software 2000 | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

 

 

Mike Mcmahon – 

Judge Dredd | Melbourne House | 1986 | by Mike McMahon | Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Nigel Fletcher – 

ATV Simulator | Codemasters | 1987 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

BMX Freestyle | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

BMX Simulator 2 | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Death Stalker | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum.

Dizzy the Ultimate Cartoon Adventure | Codemasters | 1987 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Fast Food | Codemasters | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

International Rugby Simulator | Codemasters | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Mig-29 Soviet Fighter | Codemasters | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, ZX Spectrum.

Moto X Simulator | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Mission Jupiter | Codemasters | 1987 | Amstrad CPC.

Ninja Massacre | Codemasters | 1989 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Poltergeist | Codemasters | 1988 | Commodore 64.

Race Against Time, The | Codemasters | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

SAS Combat Simulator | Codemasters | 1989 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Star Runner | Codemasters | 1987 | ZX Spectrum.

Super G-Man | Codemasters | 1987 | Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Terra Cognita | Codemasters | 1986 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 16, Plus/4, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Treasure Island Dizzy | Codemasters | 1988 | Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Treasure Island Dizzy saw resident Codemasters artist Nigel Fletcher take the reins again after also designing the previous and debut cover for Dizzy the Ultimate Cartoon Adventure (1987).  In comparison to that cover, Treasure would drop the distinctly airbrushed look and instead adopt a more cartooned approach - that wouldn’t look out of place in an 80’s Beano strip. It would inspire all other Dizzy box arts.

Vampire | Codemasters | 1986 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Moebius –

Fade to Black | Electronic Arts | 1995 | EU/ NA ver. | MS-DOS.

Panzer Dragoon (パンツァードラグーン) | Sega | 1995 | JPN ver. | Saturn.

Taking clues from the game’s opening level and its “Alexandrian” inspired architecture, Moebius would deploy his trademark style of minimalist detail and masterful use of color.  He would also add a healthy dose of surrealism to the mix whilst doing away with the usual blasting and destroying that shooter cover arts often depicted.

His work on comic book Arzach in 1975 would be one of Team Andromeda’s main artistic influences for Panzer Dragoon, and Moebius would go on to produce original artwork for their creative process.  It would be an unusual collaboration for its time but his influence on Japanese illustrators, and such famed purveyors as Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli), Katsuya Terada (Blood: The last vampire) and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), would certainly explain Sega of Japan commissioning him.  

The box art would interestingly not make it to western shores making it one of a few European cover arts from that period to be exclusive to Japan.  Unfortunately Europe and America would have frowned upon them a computer art equivalent with none of the comic-book-wonder of Jean’s.  

 

 

Phillip Castle – 

Elite | Acornsoft | 1986 | Acorn Atom, BBC Micro.

The famous cover and poster artist (Aladdin Sane, Clockwork Orange, Mars Attacks!) would be responsible for designing the first box art for this seminal space-trader game.

The artwork’s spaceship and space setting was standard 70’s/ 80’s design but the piece would be elevated by the glorious and dominating logo. The logo, inspired by pilot’s wings, would also have the look of a gryphon applied to it giving it a coat of arms feel.

The popularity of the game meant that publisher Firebird ported it to every going home computer of the day along with the NES. On these box arts a version of Philip’s logo would be all that was used. It is a iconic and imposing design that is still striking to this day.

Revs | Firebird | 1986 | Commodore 64.

Revs+ | Firebird | 1987 | Commodore 64.

Overlord | Virgin interactive | 1994 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

 

 

Richard Clifton-Dey – 

Ork | Psygnosis | 1991 | by Richard Clifton-Dey | Amiga, Atari ST.

 

 

Richard Shenfield – 

Richard would be part of pioneering publisher Quicksilva’s original lineup of cover artists - along with David John Rowe, Susan Rowe and Steinar Lund.

His covers were all designed using airbrush. He would also take on commissions from Firebird before his untimely death in 1987.

BBC Music Processor | Quicksilva | 1984 | ZX Spectrum.

Gryphon | Quicksilva | 1984 | Commodore 64.

Hive | Firebird Software | 1986 | Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum.

Metor Storm | Quicksilva | 1982 | ZX Spectrum.

Mined-Out | Quicksilva | 1983 | BBC Micro, Camputers Lynx, Dragon 32, Electron, Oric, ZX Spectrum.

This early Quicksilva cover would be part designed using vector graphics (an expensive process for ‘83) and then the line-output airbrushed over.  It is also an early example of nudity being used on box arts - the game’s author, Ian Andrew, has no idea why it was included.

Ocean Trader | Quicksilva | 1983 | ZX81.

QS Scramble | Quicksilva | 1982 | ZX81.

Space Intruders | Quicksilva | 1982 | ZX81, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

Rodney Matthews - 

Darius+ | The Edge | 1989 | Amiga, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum.

Fury, The | Martech Games | 1988 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Seas of Blood | Adventure international | 1985 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Shadow Master | Psygnosis | 1997 | PS1.

Transarctica (Arctic Baron) | Silmarils | 1993 | Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, MS-DOS.

 

 

Rolf Mohr – 

BC Racers | Core Design | 1995 | Mega/ Sega CD, MS-DOS, Sega 32X.

Curse of Enchantia | Core Design | 1992 | Amiga, MS-DOS.

Dragonstone | Core Design | 1994 | Amiga, CD32.

Universe | Core Design | 1994 | Amiga, CD32, MS-DOS.

 

 

Susan Rowe – 

Joining video game publisher Quicksilva and its growing list of artists in 1981, Susan would become one of the earliest box artists in Europe - and possibly the first female.  Not only would her love for the fantastical and for Wizards be obvious from her cover art output but also her artistic taste for the whimsical. Created using watercolor her cover arts would stand out from the industries then reliance on air-brushed compositions.

She is also the wife of David John Rowe who was one of the period’s high profile box artists.

Castle of Jasoom | Quicksilva | 1984 | Commodore 64.

Dungeons of BA | Accelerated Software | 1984 | Commodore 64.

Fairlight II | The Edge | 1986 | Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, ZX Spectrum.

Mighty Magus | Quicksilva | 1985 | ZX Spectrum.

Velnor’s Lair | Quicksilva | 1983 | Commodore 64, Oric, ZX Spectrum. (1)

Wizard, The | Quicksilva | 1983 | BBC Micro.

Wizardry | The Edge | 1985 | Commodore 64.

 

 

http://www.crashonline.org.uk/22/oncover.htm

 

 

Tim Stamper -  

As one half of the Stamper brother team (the other being Chris), Tim would be the creative output authoring almost all of Ultimate Play the Game’s box arts as well as in-game graphic design. The artist’s first cover, Jet Pac in 1983, would set the tone for the rest of the years output, with large, bold characters and objects, painted in airbrush with the Ultimate logo emblazoned in the bottom right corner.

The publisher’s first game of 1984, Sabre Wulf, saw Tim take the company’s box art and promotional duties in a radical new direction. The packaging – including casing – became a premium product (which was reflected in the game’s higher than usual price), and the distinctive, font and bordered art format would be a mainstay for the majority of releases throughout 1984-1986.  

In 1987 the newly coined Rare released their first game published by Nintendo, Slalom. The box art followed the same “black box” design as many early Nintendo published NES games did and included Tim’s in-game graphics.  Tim’s final known box art is his airbrushed work on Battletoads for the NES.

Alien 8 | 1985 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Atic Atac | 1983 | Ultimate - Play the Game | BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum.

Battletoads | 1991 | Tradewest | EU/ NA ver. | Amiga, CD32, NES.

Blackwyche | 1985 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Blubber | 1987 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Cookie | 1983 | Ultimate - Play the Game | ZX Spectrum.

Cosmic Battlezones | 1986 | Ultimate - Play the Game | BBC Micro.

Dragon Skulle | 1986 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Entombed | 1985  | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Gunfright | 1986  | Ultimate - Play the Game | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum.

Imhotep | 1985 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Jetpac | 1983 | Ultimate - Play the Game | BBC Micro, VIC-20, ZX Spectrum.

Knight Lore | 1984 | EU ver. | Ultimate - Play the Game | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Lunar Jetman | 1983 | Ultimate - Play the Game | ZX Spectrum.

Night Shade | 1985 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Outlaws | 1985 | Ultimate - Play the Game | Commodore 64.

Pentagram | 1986 | Ultimate - Play the Game | MSX, ZX Spectrum.

Pssst | 1983 | Ultimate - Play the Game | ZX Spectrum.

Sabre Wulf | 1984  | Ultimate - Play the Game | Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Slalom | 1987 | Nintendo | NES.

Staff of Karnath | Ultimate - Play the Game | 1984 | Commodore 64.

Tranz Am | Ultimate - Play the Game | 1983 | ZX Spectrum.

Underwurlde | Ultimate - Play the Game | 1984 | Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

After the functional cover arts throughout Ultimate’s first year (1983), the venerable Saber Wulf at the the beginning of 1984 introduced a provocative and head turning style of art that follow up Underwurlde also adopted.

The change in art direction coincided with the company’s new increased price point that was justified by both the ‘big box’ the cassettes now came in, and the detailed instruction manual. This overall packaging effort was designed to discourage kids from pirating their copy of the game, and for its time was an unusual business move that actually worked. The artwork was also used to promote Underwurlde in trade mags.

 

 

Tom Chantrell – 

Super Star Wars | JVC Musical Industries | 1992 | Game Boy (as Star Wars), SNES, Super Famicom.

This box art would reuse Chantrell’s famous “Style C” one-sheet poster for the original movie release in 1977.

http://chantrellposter.com/biography

 

 

Tony Roberts – 

The famed illustrator would be at the forefront of the SF art scene of the 70’s and 80’s. Tony’s start in the video game industry would be somewhat pioneering in that he was one of the first fantasy/ sci-fi painters to design box art for the tentative European computing scene and who was by far its highest profile in 1982.

Tony’s cover arts would be a mix of original commissioned covers (ACE and Adventure series) and box arts that were originally SF novel covers (Chrono Quest 2, Galaxians, Robinson’s Requiem).

Tony would start to move away from SF art by the late 1980’s and into abstract fine-art.

ACE: Air Combat Emulator | Cascade Game | 1985 | EU ver. | ZX Spectrum.

ACE 2 | Cascade Games | 1987 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum.

Adventure A: Planet of Death/ Agony | Artic Computing/ Psygnosis | 1982/ 1992 | Amiga, ZX Spectrum, ZX81. (1)

Adventure A’s original 1981 cover art would be typical of early UK bedroom-coder style covers that were functional but hardly inspiring.  

Publisher Artic Computing would take the pioneering step of commissioning established S.F painter Tony Roberts to create the re-release cover in 1982.  Tony is at present the earliest high profile artist to design video game box art. He would go on to design Adventure B and Adventure C’s covers.

Psygnosis would also commission the artwork for it’s game Agony (1992) and it would additionaly be used on various Italian novel cover arts.

Adventure B: Inca Curse | Artic Computing | 1982 | ZX Spectrum.

Adventure 😄 The Ship of Doom | Artic Computing | 1982 | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum.

Chrono Quest 2 | Psygnosis | 1990 | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS.

Galaxians | Softec Software | 1983 | ZX81, ZX Spectrum.

Robinson’s Requiem | Silmarils | 1994 | 3DO, Amiga, Atari ST, Jaguar, Macintosh, MS-DOS.

 

 

Vincent Segrelles – 

Demons Forge, The | Saber Software | 1981 | Apple II.

The legendary designer Brian Fargo’s first video game, The Demon’s Forge would be home to a box art of extraordinary detail and beauty. Its high level of artistry would raise the bar on what had come before it, and gave an early taste of a style of art that post mid-80’s proliferated in the industry.

Painted in oils by Spanish artist Vicente Segrelles, it would be an early example (if not the earliest) of a recommissioned artwork used as a box art. Originally the cover art to Segrelles fantasy epic El Mercenario #3: Los Juicios (1980), it is also presently the earliest known example of a European artist’s art adorning an American video game.

The artwork was exclusively used for the Apple II, North American release, with the later PC Booster port (1987) getting a completely new cover art (by Oli Frey) that paid little stylistic homage to the original - but is still rather good - and is the artists only known box art to date.

 

 

William Tang – 

Horace and the Spiders | Sinclair Research Ltd | 1983 | Timex, ZX Spectrum.

Horace Goes Skiing | Sinclair Research Ltd | 1982 | Commodore 64, Dragon 32, Timex, ZX Spectrum.

Hungry Horace | Sinclair Research Ltd | 1982 | Commodore 64, Dragon 32, Timex, ZX Spectrum.

 

 

 

 

[Bronty 69]

Was this really a "recommission"?   I thought it was simply a reuse of the image?    Maybe just an ambiguous choice of words but isn't just a reproduction of the movie poster art?

----

 

Tom Chantrell – 

 

Super Star Wars | JVC Musical Industries | 1992 | Game Boy (as Star Wars), SNES, Super Famicom.

This box art would recommission Chantrell’s famous “Style C” one sheet poster for the original movie release in 1977.

http://chantrellposter.com/biography

 

 

 

 

 

[Ibrahim_UK 98]

On 3/29/2023 at 4:52 PM, Bronty said:

Was this really a "recommission"?   I thought it was simply a reuse of the image?    Maybe just an ambiguous choice of words but isn't just a reproduction of the movie poster art?

----

 

Tom Chantrell – 

 

Super Star Wars | JVC Musical Industries | 1992 | Game Boy (as Star Wars), SNES, Super Famicom.

This box art would recommission Chantrell’s famous “Style C” one sheet poster for the original movie release in 1977.

http://chantrellposter.com/biography

Good catch @Bronty; I have gone ahead and updated the entry.