Logos can say many things and provide many messages. There are many things that go into the design, creation, and marketing of them. Think of all the logos you have seen and consider why it is you remember them.
Gaming logos, just like logos for any other business, tend to vary greatly in design. Some of them are colorful, abstract, or complex (like PlayStation) while others are much simpler. For example, sites like Nintendo, one of the largest and most influential video game companies in history, and Sky Vegas, which has hundreds of original creations for casino gaming, both favor simple, red and white logos. This design is classic and memorable without being overpowering — It isn’t distracting or confusing.
Other logos can trigger fond memories of afternoons spent gaming, along with some that can inspire interest in the company. Here are a few logos you may recognize, along with others that might have you researching what type of games you can play with the system.
Atari
This bright red logo inspired a generation to fall in love with the company’s first video game “Pong” Created by the company’s designer George Opperman, the first letter in the logo represents the company, while the second “A” is said to symbolize two players with the centerline representing a pong court.
Even today, the distinctive red Atari logo evokes fond memories of one of the first gaming systems. Some even credit it with starting the gaming phenomenon that today is a billion-dollar business.
Sega
Sega started in the 1940s as “Standard Games” and eventually moved to Tokyo to improve its ability to distribute its coin-operated games. The company was rebranded as “Service Games” which lead to the shortening of the company name to “Sega”. This is when the bold, blue logo was created.
The logo has changed several times over the years but it is the fourth version that resonated with gamers. This blue and white logo is still used today. Sega has also been known to include some of the most popular characters from their games in their logo. Sonic the Hedgehog and Garfield are two the company uses to entice players to try their games.
XBOX
Microsoft knew that it needed a distinctive logo if it wanted its gaming system to compete with industry giants Sega and Sony. The company came up with the eye-catching green lettering that is preceded by the silver ball with a bright colored “X”. The color for the “X” does change, but the most prominent is the green one that is instantly recognized by gamers around the world.
Assassin’s Creed
Whether you play the game on a console or a PC, the logo for Assassin’s Creed is instantly recognizable. It first made an appearance in 2007. Now the gaming franchise has nine titles that players can immerse themselves in.
There is an explanation for the logo in the game’s storyline. In the game, it is mainly used to mark various entrances to the headquarters, tombs, and bureaus used by the assassins. It is a “welcome” mark, but game developers claim that there is another meaning to the logo. It represents freedom and courage, two attributes an assassin needs.
Minecraft
Released in 2011, Minecraft is second only to Tetris as the current best-selling game. There were four logos created for the game, though the first one was never used. The initial logo used was simple. It used cobblestones to spell out the game’s name. The updated version, which is the second one released, changed the “A” to form a “creeper” face. This is the version most gamers recognize, along with new players.
Half-Life
The creators of the widely popular game “Half-Life” wanted a distinct logo that would stand out from the others. Designers came up with the familiar orange Lambda logo set against a grey background. While the logo is distinctive, it also uses a simple design and basic colors to capture gamers’ attention without confusing the brand.
Logos for games and systems are important for the success of the brand. The logo should be eye-catching, while also being simplistic enough so gamers can easily recognize the brand every time they see it. Without a recognizable logo, many games and systems would have fallen to their competitors, instead of enjoying a long life-span.
