Gamertell

In Japan, video game art and design is celebrated. People relish game design and respect the effort that went into creating them, resulting in the plentiful publication of books filled with various designs and extra images from games. In fact, nearly every major video game release has an art book devoted to it.

These art books aren’t the flimsy pubs found roaming wild in North America. You know what I’m talking about - 16~20 page pamphlets that some companies try to pass off as limited edition, sacred, preorder items. The art books in Japan are of extremely high quality with dust covers, or even hard cover compilations. They are to be treasured.

Concept artists will also create new scenes and images just for the art books. Some will even feature little comics in them, making light of certain characters or situations. So today Important Importables will look at video game art books and create an alphabet of art books. Enjoy, and try not to notice that a fluff column just happened to pop up the day after the author received a copy of Rondo of Swords.

So what do I do with an artbook?

Well, this may sound a bit strange, but you could look at it. Art books are meant to be enjoyed and perused at your leisure. You could use it as a coffee table book if you’d like. Or you could just have it as a keepsake, to remind you of your love for a favorite game. If you really wanted, you could remove a page or two that you particularly like and have it framed.

A popular use among computer and web savvy individuals is to use images from the books when creating layouts for websites and online journals. The images found within the books are really quite beautiful and by scanning them in a person can create a unique and individual layout which expresses their love for a game. This comes in especially handy if someone is creating a fan site for a game.

Where can I find an art book?

A Japanese book store of course. What? You live in America you say? Well, there are plenty of Japanese book stores located in the United States. Asahiya, Hakubundo, Kinokuniya, Nippon Book Company, Sawtelle and Sasuga all have locations around the country. The Freeman Foundation Undergraduate Asian Studies Initiative’s East Asian Collection Project has a list that provides locations for all of the Japanese book stores mentioned above. I’d recommend calling or emailing the store first to make sure they have art books in stock.

If a Japanese book store isn’t located near your home, then online will be your best bet. I’d recommend Sasuga, Akadot, Broccoli (which is temporarily closed) or Play-Asia’s online stores. Most have a separate art book section so it’ll be easy to search and find exactly what you want. The only thing is, these stores don’t distinguish between anime or video game art books, so keep that in mind while browsing.

The Nearly Complete Alphabet of Artbooks

And now, to show just how many video game art books are available, I have created the “Nearly Complete Alphabet of Artbooks.” There’s no ‘Q’, but do we really need one? No. Just use a ‘K’ if you have to and deal.

• A is for: The Art of Gyakuten Saiban (Note: I couldn’t find an ‘A’, so the Phoenix Wright art book comes close enough.)
• B is for: Biohazard the Umbrella Chronicles: Art of Arts (Note: This is a Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles art book)
• C is for: Capcom Design Works
• D is for: Disgaea Character Collection
• E is for: Evangelion Anthology Best Reissue (Note: What? They have Evangelion games.)
• F is for: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Reunion Files (Note: There’s pretty much an art book for each FF game.)
• G is for: Gran Turismo 4 The Bible
• H is for: Hiiro no Kakera 2 Official Visual Fan Book
• I is for: Izumo 3 Visual Art Book - BG-i Collection 38- (Note: I’ll admit it, I’m desperate. There aren’t many video games which start with vowels, so I’ll take what I can get.)
• J is for: Japanese Game Graphics - Behind the Scenes of your Favorite Games (Note: This is a domestic art book and may be available in a regular book store near you.)
• K is for: Kingdom Hearts: Character’s Report Vol. 1 & 2
• L is for: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Artbook
• M is for: The Art of Metal Gear Solid 1.5
• N is for: Namco X Capcom Official Navigation Guide & Illustration Book
• O is for: The Okami Official Complete Works (Note: This is being released in the US.)
• P is for: Persona 3: Official Design Works
• R is for: R20 Rockman & Rockman X Official Complete Works (Note: Rockman = Megaman.)
• S is for: Star Ocean 3 - Eternal Materials
• T is for: Tales of Symphonia Illustrations: Kosuke Fujishima’s Character Works
• U is for: Uzumaki Jump comics Naruto (Note: I told you I was desperate.)
• V is for: Valkyrie Profile Material Collection
• W is for: Wild Arms 10th Anniversary Fan Book - Absolute Reading for Marvelous Supporters
• X is for: Xenosaga Special Fanbook
• Y is for: Yoshi taka Amano - Hiten (Note: He does art for FFs - he counts. Oh, and there’s no space in the first part of his name. We had to do that for the vulgarity filter)
• Z is for: Zill O’ll Infinite Official Creation Collection (Note: Ha! Betcha thought I couldn’t find a ‘Z’! But I did - the Zill O’ll Infinite artbook.)

COMING NEXT WEEK: Next week Important Importables will talk about the kisekae set system. If you don’t miss a single installment of Important Importables, or want to know right away when the next column is up, then sign up for the Gamertell Newsletter and RSS feed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables reviewed Otometeki Koi Kakumei: Love Revo DS!!.

Site [Play-Asia] Site [Akadot] Site [Sasuga] Site [Broccoli] Site [East Asian Collection Project]