It’s a Grand Slam!
Popgun developed a unique visual language for the 2010 line of EA SPORTS game titles designed specifically for the Wii™. The challenge was to develop an individual identity for this line of packaging; one that would maintain the basic EA SPORTS brand tenets of authentic competition, but also family with the Wii’s style of simple and interactive game-play. The packaging needed to appeal to the casual gamer and sports fan alike.
Our solution was to define an illustration style that did both. The playful illustration feels unique to the Wii, while athletes and poses that mirror the core line maintain EA SPORTS’ authenticity and sophistication. The process to final art required numerous rounds of tight pencil sketches to establish style and point of view. The athletes are illustrated in a photo-realistic caricature fashion to emphasize their physical traits, true to the brand ethos “It’s in the Game.” Exaggerated body types and backgrounds bring the key art to life with a playful spin.
Grand Slam Tennis is the first Wii title out of the gate for 2010 with world-class champions Roger Federer, Serena Williams and the legendary John McEnroe gracing the cover.
Check out the viral video campaign released by EA SPORTS with McEnroe’s visit to the EA game development offices and his reaction to the cover art: