Game wallpapers and logos?

from Demigod Forums

I've been thinking lately about why game producers show off wallpapers, and always put a large logo on it. For me, it completely ruins any use the wallpaper has - not only are the logos usually buttugly (sorry devs!) but it's just a piece of advertising I don't need on my own screen. If it was discrete, like a watermark type, I could understand it since it's a simple way to put your copyright on the picture. I just think that it would be better if people could say "wow, that's a cool picture, where did you get it?" instead of getting it shoved in their face often ruining the entire wallpaper. Let's be honest, 99% of the people who look at my desktop - well it's me. Marketing not needed (and I am one of those who think that marketing should always happen everywhere - but here it is a directly negative effect (yes, there is such a thing as bad marketing)).

Let's take the Demigod wallpapers as an example (found here: http://www.demigodthegame.com/downloads.asp ). There are 4 wallpapers, and one is just the logo.

The first of the other three ( http://www.demigodthegame.com/images/wallpapers/DG_Desktop_Rook_Concept_1920x1200.jpg ) has the logo in a different place than the thumbnail. As if that wasn't enough, the logo is actually covering a significant part of the demigod. No good.

The second one ( http://www.demigodthegame.com/images/wallpapers/DG_Desktop_TorchBearer_1920x1200.jpg ) has the logo in a better place, it still covers some units but it's not over the demigod. However, not only does the logo cover more than half of the horizontal space, the lightning on the logo is completely different from the theme of the wallpaper ruining the picture! No good.

The third picture ( http://www.demigodthegame.com/images/wallpapers/DG_Desktop_Rook_1920x1200.jpg ) is in my opinion the best solution, as the logo doesn't clash with the lightning, and it doesn't cover a significant part (still too large though!). The colours have been toned down on the logo, and it could _almost_ be mistaken for a sun. Not as bad as the others, but still...

Personally I am tremendously thankful that the background of the demigod website has no logo on it ( http://forums.demigodthegame.com/Themes/Demigod.v2/images/body.jpg ) which actually makes it useful.

Anyway... throw in your 50 cents. Does logos ruin using wallpapers, or am I being too sensitive about it? Do you use game wallpapers, and if you do what do you think about the logos?

off-topic
38,152 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I have a couple of C&C3 Tiberium Wars Wallpapers, all on which there are no logos at all, just the name of the artist in white in the bottom left. Personally I think that big logos are not good for the images, and should be in the side of the image. On another note, there are logos which does not represent the game, but the one who created the image, or who has a copyright on it. So you in your computer won't run around saying "I made this image".

If there is a theme you like, say Demigod, there are plenty more games like that and wallpapers from user art in the web. Just type "Sci-Fi Wallpaper" in Google Images and click on Extra Large Images, you get 1mil+ results with lots of cool stuff.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

You are 100% right.  I've said the same thing before.    I think its nice to have it with the logo sometimes, but I feel there should always be a picture that is just the image of whatever.   Blizzard usually does it right, and Master U pointed out his C&C3 wallpaper.  I think the company who is most sinful at putting the logo where it doesn't belong is actually nintendo.  Like if you visit the wallpaper sections they provided (or at least used to provide) for registering your game, most of the time its a tiny little stock image with a guy logo on clashing background.

I think having the logo is fine, provided its like a watermark, is small and in the corner, or just blends well with the rest of the picture.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

When I had a subscription to Cmputer Gaming World and got their demo discs they would often have wallpapers on them. Bad thing is they took an entire widescreen type box on top and bottom to put Computer Gaming World in bold letters. Just looked aweful, but a few minutes with GIMP took care of that. I have also skipped using many an otherwise cool looking wallpaper due to a big, ugly, out of place looking logo on it.

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

I completely agree. It's a pet-peeve of mine. There's nothing more annoying than when they turn your entire background into some big endorsement poster. I mean, who are they trying to sell the game to? Me? I obviously already know of the game, if I've got the wallpaper.

Quoting landisaurus, reply 2
You are 100% right.  I've said the same thing before.    I think its nice to have it with the logo sometimes, but I feel there should always be a picture that is just the image of whatever.   Blizzard usually does it right [...]
I have to disagree. Blizzard have to be one of the absolutely worst offenders.

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

Blizzard at least think about the color theme (I looked at wow-europe.com), but adding bars and having the logo in the "middle" isn't good. Anyway, half of their wallpapers are screenshots of the game with some editing done. That's just daft when the game looks as dated as it does. Clearly it would never be used by anyone not playing WOW, so sticking logos on em makes no sense at all.

Reply #6 from Demigod Forums Top

It's a tough one because the demographic is so wide.  You are going to get 12 yr old boys who buy into unsophisticated branding, and you are going to get 40 yr old gamers who really don't.  The publisher has to bridge that gap somehow. 

Generally though - have faith in the artwork and the design.  A discreet logo watermark, maybe a website reference, sure.  If your branding team insists on incorporating the logo, make sure you coordinate it with the artwork in composition and frame. 

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Oh god, I just ran into a classic example.

http://dragonage.bioware.com/_commonext/images/dragonage/gallery/wallpaper/greywarden_crest_widescreen_1680x1050.jpg

All of the Bioware/Dragon Age wallpapers are more or less like this. WHY would I want there to be logos and disclaimers all over my wallpaper? What kind of people actually use these wallpapers, when they're completely ruined?

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

You are 100% right. I've said the same thing before. I think its nice to have it with the logo sometimes, but I feel there should always be a picture that is just the image of whatever. Blizzard usually does it right [...]
I have to disagree. Blizzard have to be one of the absolutely worst offenders.

*puts foot in mouth*, my you are right.   I went looking around for wallpapers that didn't suffer the topic flaw and I found this

http://www.starcraft2.com/downloads.xml#wallpapers

I said, "now that is grand.   Look at those sexy, clean, logo-less wallpapers."   So I posted this message (the one I am re-editing now) to be like "SHIZAM! NO LOGOS"  but then I tried to download them to add them to my collection and BOOM!   a logo appeared.   you are right, they are the worst offenders because they trick you into thinking the logo is not there, and then it IS!    its not on the thumbnail!?   what are they trying to pull.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

That's just mean, Blizzard.

 

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