Atari cartridge art

[Atari-Jess]

I don't know about you, but I feel that the box art of games is but a mere shadow of the great box art of the past.

 

Perhaps it is because today the game content replaces the need for such art, but I can't help but sigh at the sheer awesomeness (in its original sense)

that the Atari produced cartridges give me.

 

Take for instance Super Breakout. "my God, it's full of stars" anyone?

 

Looking at some of these masterpieces literally leaves me breathless for the sheer intellectual depth that sparks my imagination.

I wish I could have prints of the originals on my walls. Even more mundane titles like Video Chess, Code Breaker, Surround, AND BASIC FREAKIN PROGRAMMING.

These are games that by no means are spectacular titles, yet have amazing box art.

 

I wonder where all of these art works ended up

 

(maybe Curt Vendel could shed some light on this subject, surely he might have some documentation over their whereabouts or at least, final resting places)

[Lord Helmet]

I have often wondered the same thing. where did the original works go? There is really some amazing work, especially on the older Atari titles. Some of the art on the early intellivision games is pretty cool as well.

[number six]

Tempest can probably comment on this better than I as it looks like he started looking a few years ago - but I'm starting to collect video game cover art (originals) and have tried to track down any of the classic Atari artists.. it hasn't been easy.

 

If you google, there's a few names you can find but mostly the old box art went without credit, so even figuring out who the artists were in many cases is a chore. As we all know Atari wasn't about giving credit back then! Even in the few instances were the art was signed, I haven't been able to find any information on the location of the artists and haven't had any luck with the people I know in the illustration/art community either. Since this art is 25+ years old, finding the artists will be tough if they're even still with us.

 

The sad reality is these pieces were probably commisioned at pretty low pay to obviously good but otherwise unknown artists. (One artist in particular seems to be responsible for a good number of Ataris box paintings, and some are really, really nice!). In the era Atari probably retained the originals and what happened to them is anybodys guess. It wasn't uncommon for original art in companies like that to either 'dissapear' with management (this will look nice in the basement!), or in many cases get tossed out during storage purges.

 

By the late 80s things were a bit more civilized and art is easier to track down. I was able to obtain the cover for the old PC game 'Bad Blood' directly from Larry Elmore (the painter) for example.. so Origin at least, let some of the artists keep the originals. (Elmore was probably able to demand the original in the contract though, considering his level).

 

But still, i'd love to have anything form that early Atari era. When the games consisted of primitive boxes and lines you really needed the box art to sell the story and setting.. in some cases I think the art did that in a fantastic way. I've still got a few leads to follow, if I find anything i'll definitely report back..

Edited August 25, 2006 by number six