Eternal Poison art book gets N. America exclusive cover art!

ETERNAL POISON PRE-ORDER ART BOOK GETS NORTH AMERICA EXCLUSIVE COVER ART!
Wait...we get something Japan didn't? ZOMG!

How often do we North American JRPG fans get something that Japan doesn't? Not very often, if ever at all. Well, Atlus wants to change that.

http://www.atlus.com/res/eternalpoison_fullglamourshot.png

The art book cover you've seen so far (it's even in the glamour shot above) is just a placeholder. Master artist tomatika, whose unique gothic style has generated buzz among strategy RPG fans, will create a work of art exclusive to North America which will become the official cover of Librum Vespera, the Eternal Poison art book. So it's not just 100 pages of full color visuals in a 5"x8" art book, but an exclusive cover to boot!

Between now and the game's release, we're going to share with you work-in-progress updates and personal commentary from tomatika himself.

'Tis the season for North American exclusives!

http://www.atlus.com/res/ep_naexclusivecover_1.jpg

STAGE 1:
"First of all, I put the principal colors on the layout. For this piece, I wanted the atmosphere to be based around oriental mysticism. To achieve this, I chose a diamond shape for the character arrangement and the patterned background. I usually do my initial drawing lightly and then add detail during the painting phase."

-tomatika

- - - - - - - - - -

Expect later stages of development on the exclusive cover art in the near future!

[jeffx]

There's one problem with this whole "spoils" thing. None of us are guaranteed to get our art books because they're not boxed-in, unlike Growlanser or P3. Some people are already reporting not receiving their Yggdra Union soundtracks... and I personally never received my Izuna 2 poster. So yeah, I'm a little worried.

Solution? Stop relying on gamestop/amazon.com and create your own webstore (a la NISA) I'd get the added fuzzy feeling bonus of knowing my money directly puts food on your collective tables. PLUS YOU COULD FINALLY CATER TO YOUR HUGE CANADIAN FANBASE.

[unknown]

I think Atlus already explained why they don't do that anymore.

But yeah, I'm pretty worried that I won't get my artbooks when picking up the games at Gamestop and stuff.

[jeffx]

I think Atlus already explained why they don't do that anymore.

ohhhh my memory is a bit fuzzy. Refresh it if you will... I think you may be right though.

[prince]

can admins confirm EBgames in Canada would have the preorder bonus... cause I know a lot of preorder bonus don't get into Canadian hands. Ex. Disgaea 3 SoundTrack.. soooo disappointing

[Thunder-Slash]

That's awesome... How do you guys manage to get an exclusive art?

Here's to hoping that all preordered copies will get it.

[unknown]

ohhhh my memory is a bit fuzzy. Refresh it if you will... I think you may be right though.

Something about it being easier, faster, and cheaper to sell it through Amazon, cause they used to keep the games at Atlus HQ and then ship them out when ordered I think, not entirely sure.

[atboob]

There's one problem with this whole "spoils" thing. None of us are guaranteed to get our art books because they're not boxed-in, unlike Growlanser or P3. Some people are already reporting not receiving their Yggdra Union soundtracks... and I personally never received my Izuna 2 poster. So yeah, I'm a little worried.

Solution? Stop relying on gamestop/amazon.com and create your own webstore (a la NISA) I'd get the added fuzzy feeling bonus of knowing my money directly puts food on your collective tables. PLUS YOU COULD FINALLY CATER TO YOUR HUGE CANADIAN FANBASE.

So, who didn't give you the poster, Gamestop or Amazon. Amazon looks like they tried to get the materials out to pre order customers. As for Gamestop, unless clerks removed them, or folks boosted them, I still see them inserted behind most covers in stores. Not that you should have to, but put the clerks on the spot sometimes, ask them where the stuff is. Atlus can't really control things at that level any way.

Last time I looked, some Gamestops had removed the slip covers and art books completely from the P3 sets, leaving only the inner box, making the game itself hard to find and the customer ignorant of the bonus materials he should be receiving. Its tough to offer "out of the ordinary" items sometimes, and that's probably half the reason you don't see many companies trying things like what Atlus is doing.

[thinkfreemind]

I would trust Amazon to deliver the pre-order stuff more than I would Gamestop. There have been plenty of times I've gone into my local GS store and been given free stuff, some of which I know dang well was an old pre-order bonus that someone didn't pick up. Maybe they had extras though; who knows?

[dragonlife29]

I have to say, Stage 2 of the cover looked incredible! The artist was absolutely spot-on in what they (He? She?) said: I immediately looked at EVERY character's face, since it was truly what I noticed first.

Man, so beautiful...

[Lorinosan]

My God! the second phase of the cover. It's especially drool worthy and definitely grabs my attention. O_O;;

No....way!

There have been plenty of times I've gone into my local GS store and been given free stuff, some of which I know dang well was an old pre-order bonus that someone didn't pick up. Maybe they had extras though; who knows?

Yeah, it's always lovely when I see someone else with my pre-order bonus and they didn't even reserve the game. This has happened to me a few times. >.<

[slayn]

I just picked the game up and Gamestop did not seem to have the art book. I'll give them the benefit of a doubt now and guess it's in another box (they were still working through their deliveries). Still, if it doesn't show up by the end of the day, I plan to cancel my existing preorders and go through Amazon.

[TheMagicHat]

I ALMOST didn't get my game or my artbook today. The guys who were there didn't even know that EP existed when I told them I had a preorder for it. They almost literally had to tear the place apart looking for both the game and artbook. All this with a growing line of uppity, irritable parents behind me. I very much appreciate thier professionalism in that situation, I doubt I could have kept my cool like that.

I'll thank them when I go back later. Gotta pick up WoW, too.

[Lorinosan]

Something tells me the art books missed a day for shipment. Amazon hasn't shipped my order yet and the game has been "in stock" all day. Not sure if this is the case but I'm curious if anyone else's Amazon order shipped yet.

[Chrome Lore]

I don't know where else to post this so I'm just throwing it in here. I got my pre-order of Eternal Poison and my first impression so far is I LOVE it! And I haven't even put the game in the PS2 yet, ^^. The art book is amazing. Ridiculously detailed and beautifully done. If the game is half as good as the art book I'll be hooked on it for quite a while.

Thank you Atlus! I hope the other pre-order goodies are up to par because this definitely raises my bar. The only thing that could've made it better would be a hardcover (the slick paperback version's already slid off of my lap and onto the floor a few times, >_>).

And I apologize in advance if this post is misplaced, I just wanted to drool over this art book on the internet as soon as possible, =X.

[cinnabin]

I wish I would of pre-ordered, I had all the time in the world to, I just didn't for some reason, I really want an art book. eBay perhaps.. at least I have the soundtrack.

[Lorinosan]

Bit late for this but I love the freaking cover! I mean wow....mere words cannot describe it. The entire art book itself is just insanely beautiful.

I'm completely envious that I cannot replicate this process. :(

[lisa]

Bit late for this but I love the freaking cover! I mean wow....mere words cannot describe it. The entire art book itself is just insanely beautiful.

I'm completely envious that I cannot replicate this process. :(

I agree, that cover is intense, I wish I could draw like that