What I didn't like was:
-The overly stylized graphics, reminds too much the art design of Warcraft and the ilk.
One must be immersed in the game. What adds mostly to the immersion is the environment, the objects that surround you, the nature, trees, bushes, the grass. Right now it seems out of place for a Diablo game. I don't care if it has rainbows or not, they even add to the flavour, really. What I do have a grudge about is that it doesn't feel spooky anymore. 20 years has passed? Great. But hell is invading? Even more. But how does that add up to the environments we have been shown now? If there are lush grasslands with sunshine, fine, it seems like a welcome transition from the traditional gloom and darkness. But what I don't like is the details and the absence of them thereof. Textures are smooth, so are the models. They're all like polished diamonds. Don't they make bridges and staircases out of stone anymore? Just lego blocks? Worn out rock and stone does go a bit round around the edges, but I would like to see things that have a square-like look to them. A brick should be a brick, not a lopsided cobblestone or whatnot.
Judging from the videos and other media so far, the game does have an atmosphere, and a good one, but it doesn't feel like Diablo's. It feels more like Titan Quest or Mythos rather than Diablo. Going towards that more colorful style was a gamble. It seems that hasn't gone on well to the public as they (well including me), are pretty vocal about it. I'd buy the game anyway, if it stays like this, but it doesn't feel just right. Diablo I and II were spot on with their art design. Maybe I am just nostalgic, but to me D3 so far lacks the atmosphere and immersion that were the cornerstones of it's predecessors. If a random guy, totally new to the series sees D3, he might go "Wow, those graphics are amazing, I love it", but for me, I've been playing the series since the first game, the art style is just hard to give up on.
What I did like:
-Everything else.
-Also, the weapon effects were awesome. Flashy I'd say.
I really like what some of you have done with the before and after pictures. I definetly think they should make the colors a little bit darker/narrower pallete of colors. However, it truly is beautiful how it is also and won't make or break the game for me.
We only saw two sections of a massive game, an outdoors area which in fact is just about as bright as Act 2 in Diablo 2. You also have to take into consideration that we still haven't seen the "dark dungeons" we have just seen a town that was away from darkness for 20 years of course its not going to be so gloomy.
Personally I don't like staring at a dark screen like some of you may enjoy, i like to see what I'm doing, you guys are basically asking for the "light radius" which in my opinion was the stupidest idea ever. Thats what made the game "dark" the shadow effect of light radius.
Sure some of the game play trailer looked different than what you are used to but you also have to understand that its been a very long time, and all the graphics have changed.. I'm sure Blizzard doesn't want to disapoint their fans so you can expect a great game.
And its the game play and replay ablitly that we care about right? at least thats what I'm looking forward to.
Looking at some of the screen shots that were made, sure they may look cool but think about it while you are playing that "lighting effect" will just make all the different zones feel the same..
Never in D2 do you actually feel like your in the zone it all has the same grass color and the dark feel. I would much rather be amazed and see all the other zones of the world with more color sure dungeons could be dark but jeez can't the Diablo realm get some sun?
The Charachter models are not neerly detailed enough, I love the look of items in D2, especially the full body plate armour that first appears in ACT4, im really not for the leather half naked barb that i saw in the vid.
I guess you just answered your own question there. People are over analyzing this video and jumping to conclusions about everything left and right. I mean who knows what armor will look like in the later acts of D3 (assuming it has acts). I'd imagine there is going to be some awesome looking full plate.
Assumptions can be made, and many people have valid points based on observations from the video. However There is still so so much we don't know about this game that all this speculation seems like a big waste of time.
I do agree that the flat painted textures do look rather WoW like though. However all this can change with normal/bump maps, different shaders and sharpening of the textures. The idea of giving armor a metal diffuse shader would make it look shiny or dull metal and more like solid armor.
The idea of adding dampness to the rocks in the dungeon but using a wet looking shadder on some of the stones would give the appearance of a dark, dank, wet environment. This also works for solid dry rocks as well, giving those rocks a mat shader with a bump map would look like rough earth.
This biggest flaw I can see with the characters though besides the lack of shaders on the armor, is that there is no specularity on the skin at all. the skin should not look so flat and dry. It should have a sheen to it.
These changes would not require the art style to change at all but would give the appearance of realism through stylization since people would automatically recognize these materials as what they are meant to be in game, and it wouldn't seem just like a painted surface.
In the end its really as simple as adding bump/normal maps to the existing textures, and adding different shaders to objects already in the game to convey a sense of reality to the world around you and your character.
Honestly I think everyone is overreacting. From what I gather the gameplay trailor was from the start of the game. To me it seems that darkness is slowly creeping across the world. So at the start it will be somewhat bright and a little happy. That feeling will go away and will be replaced by the dark scary feeling.
They said that they were trying to use color to convey mood and at the begining the mood is not total despair like it was in the previous games. This time it appears that the games starts just before that point. I think the color need to be turned down just a smidge, but for sure get rid of that rainbow.
Since we don't know the story of Diablo 3 I wont make any judgments on the feel based on previous games. In Diablo the town was already forsaken and the blood of previous heroes was already dried. Diablo 2 was a little closer to a gradual step by step increase in the "grit". Who knows how Diablo 3 will play out, maybe we are just seeing the beginning of an all out war. Granted the abandon monistary seems to suggest that something bad happened there. My real problem with the graphics is the color pallet. Having played WoW for some time I most defiantly see the similarities. The blue/green dungeons is a WoW staple, the brick work of the monistary looks like it was a cut and paste. The inventory looks as if it was a WoW UI mod.
Blizzard I do love that you are taking ideas from WoW but if you want Diablo 3 to have its own feel please cut some WoW ties. Dungeons should be grey and dim with light around candles and the character. Not a true light radius but a more Noir style. I don't want to see around corners, not even the terrain. I kinda like the inventory system but loose the paperdoll and the icon weapons. Diablo is and will always be about loot and how to make room for it. The stonework is very bland give it some grit this would help give the game a gritter feel while keeping the overall color high not to mention get that Iron Forge look out of the dungeons. Only the stone needs grit the enemies look fine. Lastly, we all like armor but we also like believable armor. No giant armor sets and huge swords... not even for the barb. A barb should be an intimidation character from his ability and size, not the size of his freaking huge pauldrons or weapons.
The overall feel and look of the game as it is now will help bring in the casual gamers but lets be serious. The Diablo franchise still sells today because of the hardcore fans. As one of these fans I want a game that is a little darker and gritter with no blue/green dungeons so it feels unique and not related to WoW.
I have faith in you Blizzard, and in after effects (just in case).
x3omega do you honestly thing that you'd be a half naked barb in leather for the whole game...really..blizzard wont dissapoint, that's over analyzing and jumping to conclusions to the max
we see a witch doctor wearing purple so that must mean they're wearing purple throughout the whole game :/
I'm re-posting this as my last one got screwed up some how.
I do agree that the flat painted textures do look rather WoW like though. However all this can change with normal/bump maps, different shaders and sharpening of the textures. The idea of giving armor a metal diffuse shader would make it look shiny or dull metal and more like solid armor.
The idea of adding dampness to the rocks in the dungeon but using a wet looking shader on some of the stones would give the appearance of a dark, dank, wet environment. This also works for solid dry rocks as well, giving those rocks a matte shader with a bump map would look like rough earth.
This biggest flaw I can see with the characters though besides the lack of shaders on the armor, is that there is no specularity on the skin at all. the skin should not look so flat and dry. It should have a sheen to it.
These changes would not require the art style to change at all but would give the appearance of realism through stylization since people would automatically recognize these materials as what they are meant to be in game, and it wouldn't seem just like a painted surface.
In the end its really as simple as adding bump/normal maps to the existing textures, and adding different shaders to objects already in the game to convey a sense of reality to the world around you and your character.
Also, I hope they allow us to choose between having that crappy skills hot-bar and the classic Diablo potion belt; it wouldn't feel like Diablo without my potion belt and the potion-spamming it craves.
They've created an entirely new system to help reduce the necessity of potions. They won't bring back the potion hotbar. It is their state goal that they want to get away from Diablo 2's emphasis on endurance; simply hack and slashing the same monster with the same skill using potions until one of you drops.
I agree completely. An emphasis on skills, not on potions, will in the end make the game a lot more fun to play.
Like most of you I have wasted an untold amount of hours on the Diablo franchise. Love playing it and have lots of fun with it.
So like you I feel entitled to voice my opinion on it.
I say we wait. We saw 2 characters and 2 areas. Hardly a feel for the entire game. Still at least a year till release, probably longer. Lets see what they do.
Blizzard has a knack for giving us something really cool as opposed to dissapointing. So let them do their work.
Look at the mess that's come out of Starcraft 2, with people opening their fat mouths. The thor's best ability, the artillary barrage, is gone, and the battlecrusier now looks like a flying piece of tinfoil. And how much longer do we now have to wait on SC2, because of the devs having to go back in and do all this extra work?
Now I am not saying that the community should not make suggestions. It helps the devs when they get feedback. They like a different point of view. I'm just saying that we should tone it down and not overload the devs so much that their proverbial ship sinks.
Once again, this is a first showing, so let's just wait and see what happens.
I just feel that a lot of the game is played in dungeons and places like that where there is no real light source. I think that naturally most of the places visited in the Diablo games are darker areas. Now, when we are outside I have nothing against it being more lit up and such, but in the catacombs it should be darker with flickering light, afterall there are no light bulbs, just fires and candles. Basically I think that the lighting and amount of color should fit where we are in the game. Other than that, game looks great, I am super psyched!!
The rhetoric "Treating darkness as an emotion" seriously worries me. I don't need blue and green lights to tell me how to feel, this breaks immersion as far as I'm concerned. The light radius, and surrounding darkness has been an ingenious staple of the Diablo brand for well over a decade. I'm at a loss as to why this has been replaced by a green hue (presumably from tastefully positioned lava-lamps) that is meant to tell me how scary the evil dungeon is. (And, if any dungeon should look evil; it should be tristram cathedral.)
I am interested with a better constructed poll, to truley present the views of the diablo community
in a much more concise manner for others (perferably blizzard) to interpret.
Thank you
The poll needs to be entirely redone.
Options need to look like so:
What do you think of the Art Design Direction in Diablo III ?
1) It is perfect as it stands now
2) It needs a complete visual overhaul to resemble the previous games in the franchise
3) I love the new artistic expression and design but could use a little more bleaker/scarier tones
Options 3 and 4 are pointless in the current poll, and i had to vote option 2 when in truth I really Love the new art direction However I want cellars/caves/dungeons a lot more darkerand would very much enjoy just a little tweak to the entire visuals of the game being a little more evil.
The game has a nice use of color with different tones of dark and light as it is. the visuals in D1 and D2 got very boring very fast the only thing that would "lighten" the place up was like a mutilated rogue here and there or that pool of bodies and blood. They have taken a very good direction with the art of the game. we have only seen act 1 Im sure the later acts will have lots of dark and gory scenes as the evil (diablo) returns.
And do you really wan to wait for like a year onto of what we gotta wait for a bit new art work.
I hate the green/blue lighting thats being used in crypts in an attempt to give a "creepy vibe." It makes everything look way too colorful, and it just does not look like anything from the Diablo franchise. I want the light radius back; we should not be able to see everything on the edges of the screen, just things that approach our light source, or are illuminated by other light sources ie candles, fires, spells etc. This is what gave D1/2 a horror feel that had players sitting on the edge of their seats.
As far as outdoor environments go, I like the screenshots that were posted by other forum members. I don't care how much is drizzling or if there is a f-cking waterfall right next to my character, I Don't Want To See a Rainbow in the Diablo Universe!
As far as the character models go, I dont have too much of a problem with them aside from the new choice in genders, and the armor that they are wearing. Lets try and stay away from WoW influence and look at the armor in D2. I don't want my character to have paldrons that go over his eyebrows, and from what ive seen I hope the texturing on armor/weapons is not complete yet.
since this is taking so long ill just list everything else I don't like:
The new inventory.
The bright robes/mechanical arm on the "Dark Summoners"
The "Hammer of the Anciets" skill. (it just looks dumb/doesn't make sense)
The hotbar (maybe add an option to hide it? I can remember 12 skills in f1-12 config pretty easily)
Witchdoctor... but idk yet havn't seen too much of him. But he looks like a poor remake of the necro
That aside, what I liked:
kept the isometric camera, even though you incorporated the unessisary zoom.
brought back the barb, made him age and gave him scars
Giant bosses that look badass.
the creatures crawling up wall, falling down pits, and how you can use the environment against your enemies.
New randomized monter attacks (not the same attack used over and over like a lot of guys in d2)
The cinematic were absolutely beautiful I must have watched it 30 times by now.
I voted cartoony because of the witch doctor. The gear and that mask with all those bright colors make him look like a WOW character.
that sad thing blizzard took, probably, a lot of time developing the following:
- a perfect flavor of concept artwork that fits the diablo universe - developing a backstory that makes him unique - differentiating the character as much as possible from the necro class (cause necros can still be in the game according to the d3 game) - fitting his clan/people into the lore of the diablo universe as best as possible without any holes.
its just sad to see all that work come out and all of us still feel they be better off just having a reimagened Necro.
What I didn't like was:
-The overly stylized graphics, reminds too much the art design of Warcraft and the ilk.
One must be immersed in the game. What adds mostly to the immersion is the environment, the objects that surround you, the nature, trees, bushes, the grass. Right now it seems out of place for a Diablo game. I don't care if it has rainbows or not, they even add to the flavour, really. What I do have a grudge about is that it doesn't feel spooky anymore. 20 years has passed? Great. But hell is invading? Even more. But how does that add up to the environments we have been shown now? If there are lush grasslands with sunshine, fine, it seems like a welcome transition from the traditional gloom and darkness. But what I don't like is the details and the absence of them thereof. Textures are smooth, so are the models. They're all like polished diamonds. Don't they make bridges and staircases out of stone anymore? Just lego blocks? Worn out rock and stone does go a bit round around the edges, but I would like to see things that have a square-like look to them. A brick should be a brick, not a lopsided cobblestone or whatnot.
Judging from the videos and other media so far, the game does have an atmosphere, and a good one, but it doesn't feel like Diablo's. It feels more like Titan Quest or Mythos rather than Diablo. Going towards that more colorful style was a gamble. It seems that hasn't gone on well to the public as they (well including me), are pretty vocal about it. I'd buy the game anyway, if it stays like this, but it doesn't feel just right. Diablo I and II were spot on with their art design. Maybe I am just nostalgic, but to me D3 so far lacks the atmosphere and immersion that were the cornerstones of it's predecessors. If a random guy, totally new to the series sees D3, he might go "Wow, those graphics are amazing, I love it", but for me, I've been playing the series since the first game, the art style is just hard to give up on.
What I did like:
-Everything else.
-Also, the weapon effects were awesome. Flashy I'd say.
Also the green/blue tint for 'darkness' - that isn't right.
Personally I don't like staring at a dark screen like some of you may enjoy, i like to see what I'm doing, you guys are basically asking for the "light radius" which in my opinion was the stupidest idea ever. Thats what made the game "dark" the shadow effect of light radius.
Sure some of the game play trailer looked different than what you are used to but you also have to understand that its been a very long time, and all the graphics have changed.. I'm sure Blizzard doesn't want to disapoint their fans so you can expect a great game.
And its the game play and replay ablitly that we care about right? at least thats what I'm looking forward to.
Never in D2 do you actually feel like your in the zone it all has the same grass color and the dark feel. I would much rather be amazed and see all the other zones of the world with more color sure dungeons could be dark but jeez can't the Diablo realm get some sun?
I guess you just answered your own question there. People are over analyzing this video and jumping to conclusions about everything left and right. I mean who knows what armor will look like in the later acts of D3 (assuming it has acts). I'd imagine there is going to be some awesome looking full plate.
Assumptions can be made, and many people have valid points based on observations from the video. However There is still so so much we don't know about this game that all this speculation seems like a big waste of time.
I do agree that the flat painted textures do look rather WoW like though. However all this can change with normal/bump maps, different shaders and sharpening of the textures. The idea of giving armor a metal diffuse shader would make it look shiny or dull metal and more like solid armor.
The idea of adding dampness to the rocks in the dungeon but using a wet looking shadder on some of the stones would give the appearance of a dark, dank, wet environment. This also works for solid dry rocks as well, giving those rocks a mat shader with a bump map would look like rough earth.
This biggest flaw I can see with the characters though besides the lack of shaders on the armor, is that there is no specularity on the skin at all. the skin should not look so flat and dry. It should have a sheen to it.
These changes would not require the art style to change at all but would give the appearance of realism through stylization since people would automatically recognize these materials as what they are meant to be in game, and it wouldn't seem just like a painted surface.
In the end its really as simple as adding bump/normal maps to the existing textures, and adding different shaders to objects already in the game to convey a sense of reality to the world around you and your character.
They said that they were trying to use color to convey mood and at the begining the mood is not total despair like it was in the previous games. This time it appears that the games starts just before that point. I think the color need to be turned down just a smidge, but for sure get rid of that rainbow.
Blizzard I do love that you are taking ideas from WoW but if you want Diablo 3 to have its own feel please cut some WoW ties. Dungeons should be grey and dim with light around candles and the character. Not a true light radius but a more Noir style. I don't want to see around corners, not even the terrain. I kinda like the inventory system but loose the paperdoll and the icon weapons. Diablo is and will always be about loot and how to make room for it. The stonework is very bland give it some grit this would help give the game a gritter feel while keeping the overall color high not to mention get that Iron Forge look out of the dungeons. Only the stone needs grit the enemies look fine. Lastly, we all like armor but we also like believable armor. No giant armor sets and huge swords... not even for the barb. A barb should be an intimidation character from his ability and size, not the size of his freaking huge pauldrons or weapons.
The overall feel and look of the game as it is now will help bring in the casual gamers but lets be serious. The Diablo franchise still sells today because of the hardcore fans. As one of these fans I want a game that is a little darker and gritter with no blue/green dungeons so it feels unique and not related to WoW.
I have faith in you Blizzard, and in after effects (just in case).
we see a witch doctor wearing purple so that must mean they're wearing purple throughout the whole game :/
its stunning!
Seriously! i have yet to see a Night Time for all this colorful visuals in the Day Time.
I do agree that the flat painted textures do look rather WoW like though. However all this can change with normal/bump maps, different shaders and sharpening of the textures. The idea of giving armor a metal diffuse shader would make it look shiny or dull metal and more like solid armor.
The idea of adding dampness to the rocks in the dungeon but using a wet looking shader on some of the stones would give the appearance of a dark, dank, wet environment. This also works for solid dry rocks as well, giving those rocks a matte shader with a bump map would look like rough earth.
This biggest flaw I can see with the characters though besides the lack of shaders on the armor, is that there is no specularity on the skin at all. the skin should not look so flat and dry. It should have a sheen to it.
These changes would not require the art style to change at all but would give the appearance of realism through stylization since people would automatically recognize these materials as what they are meant to be in game, and it wouldn't seem just like a painted surface.
In the end its really as simple as adding bump/normal maps to the existing textures, and adding different shaders to objects already in the game to convey a sense of reality to the world around you and your character.
They've created an entirely new system to help reduce the necessity of potions. They won't bring back the potion hotbar. It is their state goal that they want to get away from Diablo 2's emphasis on endurance; simply hack and slashing the same monster with the same skill using potions until one of you drops.
I agree completely. An emphasis on skills, not on potions, will in the end make the game a lot more fun to play.
Like most of you I have wasted an untold amount of hours on the Diablo franchise. Love playing it and have lots of fun with it.
So like you I feel entitled to voice my opinion on it.
I say we wait. We saw 2 characters and 2 areas. Hardly a feel for the entire game. Still at least a year till release, probably longer. Lets see what they do.
Blizzard has a knack for giving us something really cool as opposed to dissapointing. So let them do their work.
Look at the mess that's come out of Starcraft 2, with people opening their fat mouths. The thor's best ability, the artillary barrage, is gone, and the battlecrusier now looks like a flying piece of tinfoil. And how much longer do we now have to wait on SC2, because of the devs having to go back in and do all this extra work?
Now I am not saying that the community should not make suggestions. It helps the devs when they get feedback. They like a different point of view. I'm just saying that we should tone it down and not overload the devs so much that their proverbial ship sinks.
Once again, this is a first showing, so let's just wait and see what happens.
in a much more concise manner for others (perferably blizzard) to interpret.
Thank you
The poll needs to be entirely redone.
Options need to look like so:
What do you think of the Art Design Direction in Diablo III ?
1) It is perfect as it stands now
2) It needs a complete visual overhaul to resemble the previous games in the franchise
3) I love the new artistic expression and design but could use a little more bleaker/scarier tones
Options 3 and 4 are pointless in the current poll, and i had to vote option 2 when in truth I really Love the new art direction
However I want cellars/caves/dungeons a lot more darkerand would very much enjoy just a little tweak to the entire visuals of the game being a little more evil.
Sign for a Darker Art Direction in the dungeons/caves/etc.
www.myspace.com/mariocamillo
www.youtube.com/mariospeedwagon
And do you really wan to wait for like a year onto of what we gotta wait for a bit new art work.
GO BLIZZARD YOUR DOING WELL!
As far as outdoor environments go, I like the screenshots that were posted by other forum members. I don't care how much is drizzling or if there is a f-cking waterfall right next to my character, I Don't Want To See a Rainbow in the Diablo Universe!
As far as the character models go, I dont have too much of a problem with them aside from the new choice in genders, and the armor that they are wearing. Lets try and stay away from WoW influence and look at the armor in D2. I don't want my character to have paldrons that go over his eyebrows, and from what ive seen I hope the texturing on armor/weapons is not complete yet.
since this is taking so long ill just list everything else I don't like:
The new inventory.
The bright robes/mechanical arm on the "Dark Summoners"
The "Hammer of the Anciets" skill. (it just looks dumb/doesn't make sense)
The hotbar (maybe add an option to hide it? I can remember 12 skills in f1-12 config pretty easily)
Witchdoctor... but idk yet havn't seen too much of him. But he looks like a poor remake of the necro
That aside, what I liked:
kept the isometric camera, even though you incorporated the unessisary zoom.
brought back the barb, made him age and gave him scars
Giant bosses that look badass.
the creatures crawling up wall, falling down pits, and how you can use the environment against your enemies.
New randomized monter attacks (not the same attack used over and over like a lot of guys in d2)
The cinematic were absolutely beautiful I must have watched it 30 times by now.
Too lazy to read about the latest technology? Then visit TigerDirectBlog for Tech Update Videos.
that sad thing blizzard took, probably, a lot of time developing the following:
- a perfect flavor of concept artwork that fits the diablo universe
- developing a backstory that makes him unique
- differentiating the character as much as possible from the necro class (cause necros can still be in the game according to the d3 game)
- fitting his clan/people into the lore of the diablo universe as best as possible without any holes.
its just sad to see all that work come out and all of us still feel they be better off just having a reimagened Necro.
Sign for a Darker Art Direction in the dungeons/caves/etc.
www.myspace.com/mariocamillo
www.youtube.com/mariospeedwagon