Bill Roper, the ex-vice president of Blizzard North, recently gave an interview to VideoGamer about his thoughts on Diablo 3. Here's what he had to say:
"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.""
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.
So what are your thoughts on the interview with Roper?
Let's just see how much of a success the games he puts out lately are.
Then maybe I'll care what he has to say.
It just really sounds like he's eating sour grapes lately.
QFT totally agree here. Man, this is going to open up that can of worms again; I can just feel it. Well at least it will give everyone something to do till D3's release.
I think he's just jealous and bitter as Daemaro pointed out. I wish I coulda been there to play it, but I totally trust your opinion of the game Mockery.
I mean I don't wanna seem like I'm bashing him but I think everyone at first would have assumed that most of the D2 team would be working on D3, but it's just not possible. They're scattered all over now, and employed by other companies.
So should they have just abandoned the idea of D3? Or found a new capable team like they have tried to do.
The art, sure it's different, but I don't think that automatically means it's bad or is going to fail. It still looks so far to be a very solid game.
I just think he's a little jealous he won't be getting a slice of the pie this time.
Allthough i love Diablo 3, i can see what Roper means, being one of the creators of the diablo franchise i would assume he knows best;however, its been a long time since diablo 2- things change over time. With all this new graphical nonsense being introduced to us since the release of diablo2:lod i can easily see why blizzards new diablo design team would rather make the colors a bit brighter and less gothic. Also the fact that diablo has been dead for like 10 years. The world has to lighten up at that point, doesnt it?
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Well, yes I think he may be a bit spiteful to a minimal degree but at the same time what he said I somewhat agreed with when he referred to the lack of "Gothic fantasy" feel in the environment. They made the characters and architecture look diabloesc and gothic but some of the world looks more from the guys at blizzard rather than something from blizz north.
This image is what I think he was trying to express. This looks amazing, but it is clear that blizzard north had nothing to do with it. He was saying that Blizz north had a completely different direction in terms of art, which i feel was true. But this doesn't have a completely different art direction. Like he said, this looks like the interpretation of the Diablo universe from the perspective of the Ivine guys.
So that much I can see where he is coming from.
But a counterclaim of that would be that the Diablo universe is evolving and this is just the enxt step in it's evolution. I love the art direction. I feel that there has been a solid progression to this point. It's not like the first two games make the third stick out like a sore thumb. I think the third one compliments the history of the others just fine. Maybe it's a good thing he is gone so that we can have THIS D3 =)
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
If that doesn't "ring" like Diablo, I don't know what does.
Their concept artists have it down but I can see how the gameplay footage could be construed as a different interpretation of Diablo.
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
Remember that the environment will progressively become darker and more "hellish" as the player progresses through the game. Who knows, maybe the later environments will be much more gothic than the early outdoor screenshots we've seen so far.
From the early outdoor screens we've seen, the art direction isn't exactly the same as in D1, but we can still see influences throughout. As for the indoor dungeon-like screens we've seen, those screenshots feels exactly like D1 did: Gothic, dark, gloomy, and threatening.
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Remember that the environment will progressively become darker and more "hellish" as the player progresses through the game. Who knows, maybe the later environments will be much more gothic than the early outdoor screenshots we've seen so far.
From the early outdoor screens we've seen, the art direction isn't exactly the same as in D1, but we can still see influences throughout. As for the indoor dungeon-like screens we've seen, those screenshots feels exactly like D1 did: Gothic, dark, gloomy, and threatening.
Exactly. People often forget we've only seen a smidgen of the Diablo 3 world, and the developers have already described it as a far more dramatic style of gameplay. In essence, a descent from sunlight into darkness, rather than just starting off in darkness and really having nowhere darker to go from there.
Remember that the environment will progressively become darker and more "hellish" as the player progresses through the game. Who knows, maybe the later environments will be much more gothic than the early outdoor screenshots we've seen so far.
From the early outdoor screens we've seen, the art direction isn't exactly the same as in D1, but we can still see influences throughout. As for the indoor dungeon-like screens we've seen, those screenshots feels exactly like D1 did: Gothic, dark, gloomy, and threatening.
Yes, we have only seen the beginning of Diablo 3 in terms of gameplay art.
Exactly. People often forget we've only seen a smidgen of the Diablo 3 world, and the developers have already described it as a far more dramatic style of gameplay. In essence, a descent from sunlight into darkness, rather than just starting off in darkness and really having nowhere darker to go from there.
People also seem to forget that act 1 was pretty dark and very gothic and gritty. Act 1 was much darker and grittier(not the dungeons) than the current stuff we have seen from D3.
Besides, the darkness has really no correlation in the way Roper used the word "gritty" . The direction of art is much different.
I'm not downing how "dark" they are/are not making it. It is something much different. It can have an undefinable factor in terms of light or dark that makes it clearly different. Not that it is lighter but rather the environment in general doesn not seem to completely reflect the Gothic imagination of Roper and friends. If the concept is going over your head then I'm sorry, but Roper is not a complaining 5 year old going "D3 is gay polly pocket color unicorn gayness!!". He is simply suggesting that the direction of art is much different from that of the previous Diablo team.
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"I want to say something but I'll keep it to myself I guess and leave this useless post behind to make you aware that there WAS something... "
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
He is simply suggesting that the direction of art is much different from that of the previous Diablo team.
Yeah, this would seem much worse if he planned to announce his thoughts, rather than use an interview. But then again, I felt he was a little spiteful.
Just let us leave it there people till we see something new because this is becoming too ridicules object to discus it again :rolleyes:
......same.....old......talk....and the horrible headache
Just let us leave it there people till we see something new because this is becoming too ridicules object to discus it again :rolleyes:
......same.....old......talk....and the horrible headache
But it's always good to hear from someone like Bill Roper. Even though he is just mentioning what everyone else mentioned the first month.
People also seem to forget that act 1 was pretty dark and very gothic and gritty. Act 1 was much darker and grittier(not the dungeons) than the current stuff we have seen from D3.
Besides, the darkness has really no correlation in the way Roper used the word "gritty" . The direction of art is much different.
I'm not downing how "dark" they are/are not making it. It is something much different. It can have an undefinable factor in terms of light or dark that makes it clearly different. Not that it is lighter but rather the environment in general doesn not seem to completely reflect the Gothic imagination of Roper and friends. If the concept is going over your head then I'm sorry, but Roper is not a complaining 5 year old going "D3 is gay polly pocket color unicorn gayness!!". He is simply suggesting that the direction of art is much different from that of the previous Diablo team.
Well personally I somewhat agree with Roper. I know how blizz say it's going to get darker as it progresses etc which I think is great (res evil 5 anyone lol), however, still from what I have seen (although to be fair we havent seen much at all yet :P) so far it just isn't pushing the right buttons for me. Regardless it's going to have awesome gameplay and be one of the best games and i'm sure I will be spending many years playing it on bnet lol. I just hope that as the game progresses the actual design of the buildings and environments gets alot more twisted and actually scary lol
After saying all that tho this is only a minor issue and i'm much more interested in how pvp, loot, mfing, crafting & trading will turn out.
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.
So what are your thoughts on the interview with Roper?
Then maybe I'll care what he has to say.
It just really sounds like he's eating sour grapes lately.
QFT totally agree here. Man, this is going to open up that can of worms again; I can just feel it. Well at least it will give everyone something to do till D3's release.
I think he's just jealous and bitter as Daemaro pointed out. I wish I coulda been there to play it, but I totally trust your opinion of the game Mockery.
D3 will rock and Roper will eat chud
Boy, isn't everyone eating sour grapes it seems?
So should they have just abandoned the idea of D3? Or found a new capable team like they have tried to do.
The art, sure it's different, but I don't think that automatically means it's bad or is going to fail. It still looks so far to be a very solid game.
I just think he's a little jealous he won't be getting a slice of the pie this time.
This image is what I think he was trying to express. This looks amazing, but it is clear that blizzard north had nothing to do with it. He was saying that Blizz north had a completely different direction in terms of art, which i feel was true. But this doesn't have a completely different art direction. Like he said, this looks like the interpretation of the Diablo universe from the perspective of the Ivine guys.
So that much I can see where he is coming from.
But a counterclaim of that would be that the Diablo universe is evolving and this is just the enxt step in it's evolution. I love the art direction. I feel that there has been a solid progression to this point. It's not like the first two games make the third stick out like a sore thumb. I think the third one compliments the history of the others just fine. Maybe it's a good thing he is gone so that we can have THIS D3 =)
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/_images/artwork/ss12-hires.jpg
If that doesn't "ring" like Diablo, I don't know what does.
Their concept artists have it down but I can see how the gameplay footage could be construed as a different interpretation of Diablo.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
From the early outdoor screens we've seen, the art direction isn't exactly the same as in D1, but we can still see influences throughout. As for the indoor dungeon-like screens we've seen, those screenshots feels exactly like D1 did: Gothic, dark, gloomy, and threatening.
Yes, we have only seen the beginning of Diablo 3 in terms of gameplay art.
People also seem to forget that act 1 was pretty dark and very gothic and gritty. Act 1 was much darker and grittier(not the dungeons) than the current stuff we have seen from D3.
Besides, the darkness has really no correlation in the way Roper used the word "gritty" . The direction of art is much different.
I'm not downing how "dark" they are/are not making it. It is something much different. It can have an undefinable factor in terms of light or dark that makes it clearly different. Not that it is lighter but rather the environment in general doesn not seem to completely reflect the Gothic imagination of Roper and friends. If the concept is going over your head then I'm sorry, but Roper is not a complaining 5 year old going "D3 is gay polly pocket color unicorn gayness!!". He is simply suggesting that the direction of art is much different from that of the previous Diablo team.
-Equinox
"We're like the downtown of the Diablo related internet lol"
-Winged
......same.....old......talk....and the horrible headache
But it's always good to hear from someone like Bill Roper. Even though he is just mentioning what everyone else mentioned the first month.
Well personally I somewhat agree with Roper. I know how blizz say it's going to get darker as it progresses etc which I think is great (res evil 5 anyone lol), however, still from what I have seen (although to be fair we havent seen much at all yet :P) so far it just isn't pushing the right buttons for me. Regardless it's going to have awesome gameplay and be one of the best games and i'm sure I will be spending many years playing it on bnet lol. I just hope that as the game progresses the actual design of the buildings and environments gets alot more twisted and actually scary lol
After saying all that tho this is only a minor issue and i'm much more interested in how pvp, loot, mfing, crafting & trading will turn out.
I understand, and want to note that I am eager to see the other features it will hold.
Can't disagree to the fact that D1 and D2 were the best games I have ever played.
Not going to jump to conclusions about what D3 will be about until its released.
Plain and simple it will either suck or it won't.
That will say more than I can in a post.