CoN 25th Anniversary: 1997-2022
The "Beta Cover" of Final Fantasy IX

Posted: 7th August 2024 01:06

*
Returner
Posts: 1

Joined: 6/8/2024


Hello CON. Long time lurker, first time poster. Inspired by a recent playthrough of FF9, I decided now is the time for me to get to the bottom of this mystery. What is this? (Link)

I have seen this image a several times over the years in various articles Youtube thumbnails, and other contexts, yet I have practically never seen anyone talk about it. What's up with the crazy shadows on Freya's face? Why do Zidane and Eiko look like that? Why does Garnet look like that? Quina looks like they've been scanned from a magazine and photoshopped in.

What is this image from? I've heard claims that it is beta cover art but I've never seen an actual source for this. Is it even real? It looks very fake. I know there is an unbelievable amount of concept documentation for this game, much of which we've never even seen/has been lost permanently. Is there more weird stuff like this?

This post has been edited by bytewizerd on 7th August 2024 01:21
Post #217379
Top
Posted: 7th August 2024 12:21

Group Icon
Totes Adorbs
Posts: 9,269

Joined: 31/7/1997

Awards:
Second place in the CoN World Cup soccer competition, 2018. First place in CoNCAA, 2018. Celebrated the CoN 20th Anniversary at the forums. Vital involvement in the Final Fantasy IX section of CoN. 
First place in the CoN Euro Cup soccer competition, 2016. Voted for all the fanart in the CoNvent Calendar 2015. Voted for all the fanart in the CoNvent Calendar 2014. Third place in the CoN World Cup fantasy game for 2014. 
See More (Total 29)
I don't think I've ever seen that image before, but it does look pretty awkward. I would certainly be willing to say that it's not the work of a professional based on some of the things you mention as well as the poor composition (why is the tip of Garnet's nose behind Freya's hat?) and the rough edges around some of the more intricate shapes like hair. The color saturation is pretty badly broken too.

I would say this was probably fanmade 20+ years ago.

Edit
Also, hi, thanks for joining!


This post has been edited by Rangers51 on 7th August 2024 15:12

--------------------
"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?
Post #217380
Top
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members: