I guess it's not too surprising that Roper wouldn't have the most complimentary things to say about the upcoming game, and I definitely disagree with his thoughts on it not really "ringing with Diablo". Having played the game at BlizzCon, I can say that it doesn't just ring Diablo... it screams it. It's the Diablo I was hoping for all these years, and the whole idea of starting in a somewhat lighter area and descending into darkness rather than just having the game begin in the depths of hell (ie: where do you go from there?) seems perfect to me. We've only seen a tiny bit of Diablo 3 so far, and sometimes it's easy for people to lose sight of that."Roper, ex-vice president of Blizzard North, the now defunct Blizzard satellite studio that was responsible for the Diablo games, told VideoGamer.com in an interview to be published later this week, that while he "didn't look at it (the released Diablo III gameplay footage) and go, oh my God that's horrible", "as a player it just didn't really ring with Diablo".
He said: "One of the things I always enjoyed about that separation between Blizzard and Blizzard North was that the Diablo games had a very distinct art style. They had different art directors, they had different people working on it, they had a different sensibility about them. Diablo was I think grittier and darker and a little more leaning towards the photo realistic. Whereas the Craft games that were being built down in Irvine were bigger and broader in scope, brighter colours, just different pallets and different presentation. Both of those were very strong from that visual standpoint, for example.
"But it makes complete sense to me where they went because they basically took the Diablo universe and then approached it from the Blizzard Ivine stance for the visuals. That's the way they approach things. It wasn't that I looked at it and went, oh my God that looks terrible. I was like, that looks like Blizzard. The guys in Irvine. That's what it looks like to me. Their interpretation of it."
When asked if he was disappointed or pleased with Diablo's new art style, Roper, who is now design director and executive producer of Atari-owned Cryptic Studios, and in charge of Champions Online, a superhero MMO due out on PC this spring, said: "You know, I liked the darker grittier. I liked the differences in art style, to be honest. So, I think I would personally from a player standpoint prefer that."
"I think that one of the things that we always tried to get across was that Diablo was Gothic fantasy and I think there was just a need that was put in there from the visuals that I didn't necessarily get. I got it from the architecture and to a degree from the character design but not the feeling of the world. I can't say that I dislike it. I didn't look at it and go, oh my God that's horrible. But I looked at it and went, it's not really... to me as a player it just didn't really ring with Diablo.""
So what are your thoughts on the interview with Roper?
I guess You are just more loyal, so NO matter what crap Blizzard does, you still always say Great things about them always.
Putting some colors, Rainbows, Bunnies in... No problem, still the best thing since Sliced bread to you. Right?
I am on the other hand, am being a fan of old Diablo games, I don't pledge any Loyality to Blizzard. So if there is something I see I don't like, that is NOT like the Diablo I used to play... hey I MUST Complain!
I have been waiting for Diablo 3 in a LONG time too (see my older posts), but these art styles (Whether I couldn't wait for Diablo 3 or not) isn't fit for the Diablo world, period.
I am NOT less a fan or having sexual issues (What the hell that has to do with this?) I just don't accept ANY crap Blizzard do!
When Blizzard makes the move to revive this franchise with an all new 3D approach to the isometric camera, they also create a dynamic colouring system to make the game more vibrant, so its more than just "dark". It can be light outside to give a sense of atmosphere and when you enter the confines of Hell, the DARK will be that much more potent and meaningful.
I thought that even that early video of the Barbarian in that dungeon was pretty decent. With the new colouring system, there can be all types of dungeons. Bluish greenish and reddish hues can make every dungeon feel very different. We've seen very little of the geography of the game, but its silly to have a 2010-2011 video game that is one big shadow. Nostalgia isn't an excuse to confine Blizzard from creating greater graphical quality with more dynamic colouring to make the game feel a bit more layered.
While Killing and picking loots is great, but it's NOT what makes Diablo, Diablo you know? Tons of RPGs today suffices that same purpose. And they are also Great games, Yes Sir, but they aren't called Diablo!
What makes Diablo, Diablo is the Gothic, darkness, Demon filled dungeons, scary Bone-chilling music, and scary Bone-chilling scenery reasons for me that made Diablo memorable to me!
I waited ALL these Hard years for Diablo 3 to get back that exact same feelings I had while I played 1st Diablo.
Graphics has Improved, and that wasn't the problem, but putting so much childish crap like Rainbows, bunnies in Crosses the Line!
How do you know it's Much scarier than the upper grounds?
They obviously did not screw up the graphics at all, but they Screwed up the Style!
I don't look at this game and see bunnies hopping around or beautiful rainbow and say "This game has Great graphics"... or whatever. I look at it and ask myself "Do they belong?" and to me, "HELL NO, they DON'T belong at ALL!"
So that it's 2010-2011 comment is dumb/pointless. Graphics is NOT the same as style, man!
I just don't get why people are shitting bricks just because not every part of the game is dark and gloomy. Yeah ok, rainbows and bunnies does push it but still. It would be a bigger problem if there were bunnies hopping around in the catacombs but they are not.
There's bunnies all over the place in Act V in LoD. It's called fauna. They add it in most good games for a feeling of atmosphere.
It's not the publisher, it's the devoleper creates games.
I'm especially pissed about PoP. I thought they really outdid themselves with Warrior Within. That radical style and atmosphere was perfect for the series.
Yeah i won't buy it at first because it's not an MMO If i think it deserves then i will buy it.
Past two Diablo games are over 9 in the ratings, right?
I will eventually buy it, but WHEN is going to be decided by what the reviews say is it 8-9 or less than 7?