Blizzard is known for their long and arduous development process. Rather than working linearly, they will create areas and then revisit over and over again until they eventually perfect the area and then looked over again. This development process was noticed recently in some recent screen shots of the Demon Hunter . Pointing out two particular pictures, a user on Battle.net asked Bashiok about the difference between the two pictures. Both screen shots are of the desert from Act II, however, they clearly look different from each other as far as lighting, contrast, and detail of the environment.
Click image for larger version.
Click image for larger version.
Bashiok pointed many reasons for the differing looks despite them being the same area. First off, it is important to note that the difference has nothing to do with any sort of day/night cycle. As already mentioned, the game will not feature any such mechanic. Instead, the lighting is specially designed for each area to create a specific tone to the particular environment. Bashiok began with a very simple explanation for the differences.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Hrm, well it's possible the witch doctor one was taken in a pre-release build and didn't have final lighting. Possible in time crunches where screenshots need to be taken and approved before an event.
Basically, the lighting phase of that area was possibly never completed at the time of the initial release and therefore it looks different. Not working linearly would explain how an environment could be done but not completed.
However, this is not the only possible reason. Bashiok commented on several other situations that may be effecting this difference. Again noting the reiterative process, Bashiok commented on this as a possibility. It is possible that with some play testing, the development team was not happy with the lighting in this area. With the first version being much darker, it is possible that the team wanted to reflect a brighter sun drenched desert than previously designed. Going back and making these changes shows the dedication that the development team is putting in to perfecting the game.
While there will not be any day/night cycle, that does not mean that every time you visit an area it is going to look the exact same. Rain, snow, sand storms, and other environmental weather will be in place in each area causing some drastically looking environments.
Official Blizzard Quote:
It's possible the darker look is from a strong sand storm effect that used to permeate the majority of the area, which isn't present or toned down in the DH screen.
As Bashiok said, the first one could be under the influence of a sand storm causing the blocking out of the light and creating a muck darker looking desert. Interestingly, the weather will come and go changing how we will experience each area every time we visit it. While these weather patterns existed in Diablo II, they certainly seem to be more drastic in Diablo III.
Lastly, Bashiok responded that it may be a combination of all three of these factors causing the difference in looks. No matter what the reason, this does give us a glimpse out just how much work is being put into creating this game. The stages of the development of each area is being handled by different people to ensure the utmost quality is being applied. Then, the team goes through the area over and over again to make sure the game is exactly how they want it to be. Lastly, ensuring that their is still randomization to the areas, weather patterns are being created to change how we experience the area. Hopefully, this well-rounded and in-depth development process will give us a game that we all want to play for years to come.
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The second image definitely looks a lot sharper and more defined... If you look under the two guys standing on the bottom left of the screen you can see in the first image that there is no shadows underneath them, But in the second image you can see shadows for all sprites in the picture. I'm glad blizzard takes the time to perfect even the smallest of details. This game will be Legendary!
Huh? I would say the Lacuni in the DH screenshot look darker than the WD one.
I definitely like the changes from the WD to DH shots. The lighter environment makes it look much more like a desert. And I'm loving the contrast between those rocks and the sand, it has a really nice look to it.
I think they both look good in their own way.. Therefore i would have wished that there was a day/night cycle and the darker one was night and the brighter one was day. This wouldn't apply to indoor maps like dungeons etc though.
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Click image for larger version.
Click image for larger version.
Official Blizzard Quote:
Hrm, well it's possible the witch doctor one was taken in a pre-release build and didn't have final lighting. Possible in time crunches where screenshots need to be taken and approved before an event.
However, this is not the only possible reason. Bashiok commented on several other situations that may be effecting this difference. Again noting the reiterative process, Bashiok commented on this as a possibility. It is possible that with some play testing, the development team was not happy with the lighting in this area. With the first version being much darker, it is possible that the team wanted to reflect a brighter sun drenched desert than previously designed. Going back and making these changes shows the dedication that the development team is putting in to perfecting the game.
While there will not be any day/night cycle, that does not mean that every time you visit an area it is going to look the exact same. Rain, snow, sand storms, and other environmental weather will be in place in each area causing some drastically looking environments.
Official Blizzard Quote:
It's possible the darker look is from a strong sand storm effect that used to permeate the majority of the area, which isn't present or toned down in the DH screen.
Lastly, Bashiok responded that it may be a combination of all three of these factors causing the difference in looks. No matter what the reason, this does give us a glimpse out just how much work is being put into creating this game. The stages of the development of each area is being handled by different people to ensure the utmost quality is being applied. Then, the team goes through the area over and over again to make sure the game is exactly how they want it to be. Lastly, ensuring that their is still randomization to the areas, weather patterns are being created to change how we experience the area. Hopefully, this well-rounded and in-depth development process will give us a game that we all want to play for years to come.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the News team
I definitely like the changes from the WD to DH shots. The lighter environment makes it look much more like a desert. And I'm loving the contrast between those rocks and the sand, it has a really nice look to it.
Find any Diablo news? Contact me or anyone else on the news team.
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