Successful games get second editions or re-implementations. Depending how much time has elapsed since the original game and if the new one is done by the same publisher, there might also be brand new cover art for the game....

Successful games get second editions or re-implementations. Depending how much time has elapsed since the original game and if the new one is done by the same publisher, there might also be brand new cover art for the game. Let’s have a look at two different covers of (almost) the same game – the venerable (1996) Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage (Mark Simonitch, Valley Games) and its 2018 re-implementation Hannibal & Hamilcar (Mark Simonitch/Jaro Andruszkiewicz, Phalanx)!

Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage

Before we start, let’s remind ourselves of how the times have changed since Hannibal: Rome vs Carthage was published. Nowadays, we find a wealth of information on nearly any game on the internet (and many of these games are bought online as well), but back in 1996, chances were that someone walked into a game store (or even a less specialized toy store or department store) and picked a game based on nothing but the information conveyed on the outside of the box. Thus, the point of cover art was then (even more than now) to give a prospective buyer an idea of the thrills to be expected from playing the game.

Let’s see how the cover art does that. In the foreground, we see the bust of a man. Given the game’s title, we can safely assume that he’s Hannibal (an assumption also reinforced by his ancient garb including a red cape and an elaborate crested helmet which give him the look of a general). Hannibal stares into the distance. Him having set his sights far in the literal sense gives an idea of his figurative far-sightedness, his strategic thought, his leadership.

Behind Hannibal, we see various high mountain peaks covered in snow, and, traversing the mountainous landscape, there are soldiers with elephants. The frozen mist indicates low temperatures. The scene clearly references Hannibal’s most famous military feat, the crossing of the Alps with his elephants (most of which died in the crossing or shortly after).

Thus, the cover contrasts the awe-inspiring challenges of Hannibal’s army with the calm, collected leadership of their general. The viewer is invited to face these challenges herself… and do at least as well as Hannibal.

Last but not least, the top of the box cover sports the key piece of information: The game title, complemented with a contextualization that this game is about the Second Punic War. While the publisher Avalon Hill is mentioned both on the top and in the bottom right, the name of the designer Mark Simonitch is conspicuously missing – apparently it was not considered to be a selling point for this first edition.

Hannibal & Hamilcar

Let’s see the newer cover! The general layout is similar: A man in the foreground, a mass scene with elephants in the background.

There are two names on the game box this time (both Hannibal’s and his father Hamilcar’s), but once more, the man depicted is Hannibal – the eye patch referencing the loss of his eye after an infection he contracted in an Etruscan swamp. This time, Hannibal does not look into the distance, but straight back at the viewer. His face is determined, and possibly a bit menacing.

The menace is expanded upon by the tight row of elephants marching into the direction of the viewer who faces an impressive ancient army and its commander. In that sense, while the original cover took a Carthaginian perspective – Hannibal’s army struggling with the plight of the Alps – the new one places the viewer as a Roman bracing for impact. That is not to be taken literally – as stated above, Hannibal’s elephants were already dead when he threatened Italy – but the general fear the Romans had of Hannibal is neatly captured by the perspective.

Text-wise, the new cover references the old game – twice. On top of the right half, we see the words “20th Anniversary Edition”, letting the viewer know that this game is a classic which has stood the test of time. Further down, the original subtitle “Rome vs Carthage” reminds players who have heard of the original game that this is a re-implementation of that game. The rest of the text on the right half of the cover gives the information on game title and designers – with a clear distinction between the two main scenarios of the game: “Hannibal” is in a much bigger font size than “Hamilcar.” Hamilcar designer Jaro Andruszkiewicz is mentioned only in the small designer section under the subtitle. The more famous Mark Simonitch appears no less than three times on this cover – together with Jaro Andruszkiewicz, as the designer of the original game (“Mark Simonitch’s” above “Hannibal), and, his signature makes an appearance on the bottom of the cover, indicating that this is a “signature edition” of a game by an accomplished designer. Finally, the publisher’s name in the bottom left is flanked by the two awards the game won (Golden Geeks for Best 2 Player Game and Best Wargame), reinforcing the notion that this is a high-quality game.

Comparison

Both covers provide a short summary of the thrills to be expected from the game, the older one from a Carthaginian, the newer from an (imagined) Roman perspective. The new cover sacrifices the generally higher level of information conveyed by the original for a more unified artistic composition (presumably because prospective buyers may already know this information either from their previous online research or because they know the original edition). The original cover goes without mentioning the designer, reflecting the state of the hobby in the 1990s, whereas the new cover sees it as an important selling point, mentioning one designer once and the other three times.

What do you think of the two covers? Do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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