Banner on EU Steelbook cases

[drbob]

I find the big "Games for windows" or "Xbox 360" banner on the European Steelbook cases really ugly.

In the past there have been steelbook games where the banner was printed on a clear plastic slip cover that the customer could remove to restore the full intended case design without the banal corporate branding. Why did 2K not use a slip cover for the bioshock case? Cost? Are Microsoft now insisting that the branding can't be removed?

I know it's too late for bioshock, but please keep this in mind for special editions of future games.

[drbob]

Here is the cover for those who haven't seen it:

[Marmot of Doom]

I agree with you about the banner - they could have put it on the cellophane or even on the back. Perhaps one of the reasons it is so "in your face" is to avoid confusion with the xbox version.

[weltschmerz]

I imagine that it's meant to be that way just to conform to the 'Games for Windows' requirement so there's really no way around it.

[Marmot of Doom]

Forgive my ignorance but I don't see why the game publishers have to conform to this requirement - surely if games work on windows it is to Microsoft's advantage (if I didn't want to play games in all their glory I would run linux...). I'm a bit sick of games being adorned with this banner across the top like 3rd rate advertising.

[drbob]

I imagine that it's meant to be that way just to conform to the 'Games for Windows' requirement so there's really no way around it.

They have to display the banner if the publisher is a member of the Games for Windows program. It's not obligatory, but many publishers have signed up.

Microsoft pay for special Games for windows sections in stores, offer co-marketing support etc. It's all about clearly defining Windows as a gaming platform; with certain minimum standards for ease of installation etc.

Other publishers have gotten around the ugly banner issue by printing the banner on a clear plastic cover which fits around the real case. Hence my question.