The 1980s: When PC game box art used pictures of real people
So cheesy. But so awesome.
There was a period of time, during the 1980s, when the artwork featured on the boxes for computer games featured live action models (read: photos of real people).
Not screenshots of gameplay. Nor stylized drawings (or 3D renderings) of some portion of the game world.
No, sir. Instead they used live action models. Cheesy ones.
We’re talking “high school senior pictures” level of cheesiness.
What follows is a sampling of such computer game boxes that you absolutely need to have gazed upon. It is essential for a full life.
I've also included a screenshot of each game. Just so you can see how wildly different the box art can be from the games themselves. Enjoy.
1989’s “Windwalker” from Origin
What did Windwalker gameplay actually look like? Well. A bit different…
1989’s “Rick Dangerous” from MicroPlay (a division of MicroProse)
Rick Dangerous actual gameplay (on the C64)…
1986’s “Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego?” from Broderbund
Such a fun game for kids in the 80’s. Here’s what it actually looked like…
1987’s “Street Sports Basketball” from Epyx
lol! That dude is getting his dunk on! Here’s what the game on the Commodore 64 actually looked like…
1987’s “Sid Meier’s Pirates!” from MicroProse
Pirates! is one of my all time favorite games. And that box art! Ha! Awesome! Just check out that totally authenticate pirate!
What did that original CGA version look like?
1989’s “Space Rogue” from Origin
Origin Systems — the company that gave us Ultima and Wing Commander — produced some of the most corny, cheesy, and (objectively) awesome box art in PC gaming history.
Just look at that box art from Space Rogue. Everything about it. His jacket. That helmet (which definitely is not for riding a dirt bike — wink wink). That scarf! I love every bit of it.
What did the game look like?
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