Warcry interviewed FATE creator and former Flagship Studios Mythos Project Director Travis Baldree to discuss the whereabouts of the new gaming studio after the sundering of Flagship Studios. Travis Baldree partnered with Max Schaefer (Condor / Blizzard North and Flagship Studios co-founder) to create a new Studios: Runic Games.
This may not have much to do about Diablo 3, thus far, except Warcry tossed a catchy question at Travis Baldree, asking his opinion on the Art Direction of Diablo 3. This was his response.
Warcry: Just for fun, what do you think about the discussion swirling around the "tone and color" of Diablo 3?
Travis: Personally, I think what they've done with Diablo 3 is fantastic. It seems pretty obvious that the mandate was to make the game look like a concept painting brought to life, and I think they've succeeded pretty wildly. The contrast and use of color really works well for an Action-RPG, where there are hordes of monsters and spells, and separation of individual entities is required for satisfying play. I can't wait to play it!
Blizzard is really second-to-none, and I have nothing but admiration for their work. I know a lot of people are lamenting what they see as a move away from the grim vibe of Diablo, but I think a lot of that gothic feel is really sold by a combination of sound, content and story, and the visceral nature of the game - and Blizzard certainly isn't skimping on the visceral if the videos are any indication. I also feel strongly that there's some pretty grim content they haven't bothered to show everyone just yet.
People need to play Diablo 1 and 2 again, they're quite cartoony it's just that with all the low quality graphics and the gore it leaves more places to imagination. Bringing it to 3d kind of breaks that and that's where some people get lost.
Watch the gameplay trailer in HD again, I agreed with Elfen when he says that it looks more like God of War than World of Warcraft.
Diablo is that kind of "cartoon" that you watch and then you suddenly have a heart attack because because suddenly everyone gets gruesomely killed by dark crazy demons or because you saw one of those badass angels. Those random pictures people used to make a darker D3 DONT MAKE TRUE JUSTICE TO DIABLO 3. Some areas in the dungeon felt quite dark like when you see the Siege Beast walking in the shadows after they rescued Cain... "There's something in here"... You would have never seen that in Wow.
As for those complaining about the shoulder pads, it's Blizzard style to exaggerate things. I think it's cool for a huge Barbarian to have them this big but not for classes like the Witch Doctor. They take away the gracefuleness, just look at Tyrael on the Blizzcon banner you'll know what I mean. Some guys are just meant to look more like a wolf rather than a bear.
I have been playing diablo for 9 years and im going to be 40 lol.I cant wait for diablo 3 to come out.Ilove the color.diablo brings the kid out in me.My 3 sons even play it.
Okay, so some guy said the art looked great in an interview. I guess I'm fine with it too then wooho. '
Or not?
Some guy who knows a bit about what he's talking about said the art looked great in an interview, and gave us a good reason for his opinion. I agree with him, wooho.
Humm I agree that taste shouldn't be taken in discussion BUT sometimes there is no taste here Why some people can't understand that it's contradiction in terms saying :
I loved Diablo and Diablo 2. Everything was marvelous. And then : i love diablo 3, it's fantastic.
Can you notice the point? Diablo 3 looks totally different than previous series. Gameplay looks great, but that's not only one thing in the game we pay attention on right?.
How can true fan (as declaring so) be satissfied with look of Diablo 3? It looks like every other game, is it nice for you? As i said, some people didn't like art direction in previous series. But i'm not talking about them. I don't mind when they are satissfied about D3 art. But for people who loved everything in previous Diablos, how can they claim that this one is wonderful as well, and they wouldn't change anything in it? heh
I know it's just a game and i can tell you that i don't play ANYTHING since 3 years ago. I'm not kido 12 years old. But when i remind myself beautiful old Diablo 2 times, and i see what they do with Diablo 3- sth is boiling in me. How can someone be satissfied with such graphics? I can't understand it. It looks as colorful as Titan Quest (which looks much better, even it's old). And Diablo series were characterized by dark places, tons of blood everywhere, atrocity everywhere you look. I don't see it now (i mean background). So it's obvious i'm not satissfied. They might change it of course, but the heck, i'm not gonna comment sth which isn't done yet right? Complaining of fans is sth natural. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Cheerio
PS: I will say more : I find it wrong, when true fun is not complaining but takes what they get. It's ridiculous to do so.
Humm I agree that taste shouldn't be taken in discussion BUT sometimes there is no taste here Why some people can't understand that it's contradiction in terms saying :
I loved Diablo and Diablo 2. Everything was marvelous. And then : i love diablo 3, it's fantastic.
Can you notice the point? Diablo 3 looks totally different than previous series. Gameplay looks great, but that's not only one thing in the game we pay attention on right?.
How can true fan (as declaring so) be satissfied with look of Diablo 3? It looks like every other game, is it nice for you? As i said, some people didn't like art direction in previous series. But i'm not talking about them. I don't mind when they are satissfied about D3 art. But for people who loved everything in previous Diablos, how can they claim that this one is wonderful as well, and they wouldn't change anything in it? heh
I know it's just a game and i can tell you that i don't play ANYTHING since 3 years ago. I'm not kido 12 years old. But when i remind myself beautiful old Diablo 2 times, and i see what they do with Diablo 3- sth is boiling in me. How can someone be satissfied with such graphics? I can't understand it. It looks as colorful as Titan Quest (which looks much better, even it's old). And Diablo series were characterized by dark places, tons of blood everywhere, atrocity everywhere you look. I don't see it now (i mean background). So it's obvious i'm not satissfied. They might change it of course, but the heck, i'm not gonna comment sth which isn't done yet right? Complaining of fans is sth natural. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Cheerio
PS: I will say more : I find it wrong, when true fun is not complaining but takes what they get. It's ridiculous to do so.
i dont get you.. i really dont.. i mean.. i LOVED d2 and barely got to play D1.. but I simply loved them, but some of us can love both things, colorful things and dark things, and I love the way D3 looks atm.. i dont want it to change, that doesnt mean im not a "true" fan..
its been said 1000 times before.. and its probably going to be said 10000 times again..
this isnt going to change.. you dont like it? dont buy the game.
Humm I agree that taste shouldn't be taken in discussion BUT sometimes there is no taste here Why some people can't understand that it's contradiction in terms saying :
I loved Diablo and Diablo 2. Everything was marvelous. And then : i love diablo 3, it's fantastic.
Can you notice the point? Diablo 3 looks totally different than previous series. Gameplay looks great, but that's not only one thing in the game we pay attention on right?.
How can true fan (as declaring so) be satissfied with look of Diablo 3? It looks like every other game, is it nice for you? As i said, some people didn't like art direction in previous series. But i'm not talking about them. I don't mind when they are satissfied about D3 art. But for people who loved everything in previous Diablos, how can they claim that this one is wonderful as well, and they wouldn't change anything in it? heh
I know it's just a game and i can tell you that i don't play ANYTHING since 3 years ago. I'm not kido 12 years old. But when i remind myself beautiful old Diablo 2 times, and i see what they do with Diablo 3- sth is boiling in me. How can someone be satissfied with such graphics? I can't understand it. It looks as colorful as Titan Quest (which looks much better, even it's old). And Diablo series were characterized by dark places, tons of blood everywhere, atrocity everywhere you look. I don't see it now (i mean background). So it's obvious i'm not satissfied. They might change it of course, but the heck, i'm not gonna comment sth which isn't done yet right? Complaining of fans is sth natural. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Cheerio
PS: I will say more : I find it wrong, when true fun is not complaining but takes what they get. It's ridiculous to do so.
A true fan would have some fucking faith, and shut the fuck up. A true fan would realize that they have only seen two areas in the fist act, and shut the fuck up. A true fan would appreciate the things that returned over slandering the things that changed, and shut the fuck up. You just jumped on the negative hype bandwagon and let someone shove words in your mouth and now you are afraid to jump off. A fan afraid of change is no fan at all, good day sir.
Humm I agree that taste shouldn't be taken in discussion BUT sometimes there is no taste here Why some people can't understand that it's contradiction in terms saying :
I loved Diablo and Diablo 2. Everything was marvelous. And then : i love diablo 3, it's fantastic.
Can you notice the point? Diablo 3 looks totally different than previous series. Gameplay looks great, but that's not only one thing in the game we pay attention on right?.
How can true fan (as declaring so) be satissfied with look of Diablo 3? It looks like every other game, is it nice for you? As i said, some people didn't like art direction in previous series. But i'm not talking about them. I don't mind when they are satissfied about D3 art. But for people who loved everything in previous Diablos, how can they claim that this one is wonderful as well, and they wouldn't change anything in it? heh
I know it's just a game and i can tell you that i don't play ANYTHING since 3 years ago. I'm not kido 12 years old. But when i remind myself beautiful old Diablo 2 times, and i see what they do with Diablo 3- sth is boiling in me. How can someone be satissfied with such graphics? I can't understand it. It looks as colorful as Titan Quest (which looks much better, even it's old). And Diablo series were characterized by dark places, tons of blood everywhere, atrocity everywhere you look. I don't see it now (i mean background). So it's obvious i'm not satissfied. They might change it of course, but the heck, i'm not gonna comment sth which isn't done yet right? Complaining of fans is sth natural. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Cheerio
PS: I will say more : I find it wrong, when true fun is not complaining but takes what they get. It's ridiculous to do so.
A true fan would have some fucking faith, and shut the fuck up. A true fan would realize that they have only seen two areas in the fist act, and shut the fuck up. A true fan would appreciate the things that returned over slandering the things that changed, and shut the fuck up. You just jumped on the negative hype bandwagon and let someone shove words in your mouth and now you are afraid to jump off. A fan afraid of change is no fan at all, good day sir.
I'm so sick of people claiming to be "fans" of Diablo and then complaining about D3 every chance they get. Crying about a game changing after 8 years doesn't make you more of a fan. It makes you a person who clings to the pixely 2-D past of a game.
The direction they took Diablo seems to be an evolution to the series that works. It looks like a fantasy painting come to life. It fits. No matter how you nitpick every aspect of it - it's still Diablo in the end.
Nobody is fighting with me when i write some longer post in some topic. It means everybody agree.
I guess I'll be the first then.
The reason no one ever fights back is because if they dopn't agree with your opinion they're suddenly not "a fan". They suddenly are "WoW scum". (Although I do share a deep hatred of it for stealing the spotlight for years.)
Color has always been in Diablo. It's what made the gore and the "atrocities" seem so diverse. Remember Kurast? Yes, greenery everywhere. Kettles of stewing body parts. Towering mortarless buildings embedded with rubies in their interior. Fruits and such left in deserted cities strewn with dead. Mephisto's Durance filled with bright blood pouring from shoots and stagnating in pools. Gold glistened on spikes and embroidery in murals and doorframes.
Act IV- the flames of Hell rising up all about you. The Damned occasionally breaching the surface of the River of Flame. In the CIty of the Damned there's actually colorful stained glass windows that you can smash.
Act II- The dry, bright arid desert, the Aranoch. Bodies left to dry and stagnate in the heat and sweltering sunlight. Skeletons lay across the sands, bleached white with age and sun exposure. The whole scene the definition of lifelessness. The Arcane Sanctuary, cast in blues and reds, filled with stars and strange archetecture.
Act V- White snow pouring down from the skies. Glowing ballistics beseiging the fortress city, Harrogath. There's actually bunny fauna if you look. The halls of Nihlathak's temple levels were covered in multicolored murals depicting ancient rights. The frozen caverns bright with the blue/white reflectiveness of light passing through aged ice crystal. The Worldstone Chamber and the Worldstone Keep levels, filled with bright red, glowing rocks, patterned, jigsaw like floors.
Act I- Lush, green countryside as far as the eye can see.
What was bland and colorless so as to prove a point that you are in a desecrated, hopeless area? Caverns, tombs, and dungeons. Normally the last areas you visit are of this nature, like the Catacombs or the Durance.
Color makes the contrast. If you fail to see this, you are completely stupid.
The reason no one ever fights back is because if they dopn't agree with your opinion they're suddenly not "a fan". They suddenly are "WoW scum". (Although I do share a deep hatred of it for stealing the spotlight for years.)
Color has always been in Diablo. It's what made the gore and the "atrocities" seem so diverse. Remember Kurast? Yes, greenery everywhere. Kettles of stewing body parts. Towering mortarless buildings embedded with rubies in their interior. Fruits and such left in deserted cities strewn with dead. Mephisto's Durance filled with bright blood pouring from shoots and stagnating in pools. Gold glistened on spikes and embroidery in murals and doorframes.
Act IV- the flames of Hell rising up all about you. The Damned occasionally breaching the surface of the River of Flame. In the CIty of the Damned there's actually colorful stained glass windows that you can smash.
Act II- The dry, bright arid desert, the Aranoch. Bodies left to dry and stagnate in the heat and sweltering sunlight. Skeletons lay across the sands, bleached white with age and sun exposure. The whole scene the definition of lifelessness. The Arcane Sanctuary, cast in blues and reds, filled with stars and strange archetecture.
Act V- White snow pouring down from the skies. Glowing ballistics beseiging the fortress city, Harrogath. There's actually bunny fauna if you look. The halls of Nihlathak's temple levels were covered in multicolored murals depicting ancient rights. The frozen caverns bright with the blue/white reflectiveness of light passing through aged ice crystal. The Worldstone Chamber and the Worldstone Keep levels, filled with bright red, glowing rocks, patterned, jigsaw like floors.
Act I- Lush, green countryside as far as the eye can see.
What was bland and colorless so as to prove a point that you are in a desecrated, hopeless area? Caverns, tombs, and dungeons. Normally the last areas you visit are of this nature, like the Catacombs or the Durance.
Color makes the contrast. If you fail to see this, you are completely stupid.
You forgot to mention the tapestry in the harem and the murals in the tombs in act II and the icy blue caves and baal's red throne room in act V
You definately didn't read my other posts from other threads I'm not terribly disgusted about the colours. The worst thing are textures, lighting. I see engouh to say that it will not be better. I will be like this in whole game. Got it? And true fan and right thinking guy comments what he sees NOW, now what he seen like it could be in 2 years... It's obvious i comment sth now coz this is only thing i see. If there is sth different, i will comment is as well. Simple as fucking as sb's said before.
All I can say is... "you stupid stupid child"
Yeaa, i wrote about it before. You love everything what you get. I'm not such kind of guy, i'm sorry for disappointing you
Its not a matter of love, its a matter of respect and appretiation.
What do you mean m8? I'm not afraid of anything as far as i'm considered (i mean about Diablo discussion), so i don't get your point. And i'm not afraid of changes, i'm afraid of ruin the game. It's a difference.
Cheerio
There is no difference.
[EDIT] What the fuck is wrong with the textures and the lighting?
This may not have much to do about Diablo 3, thus far, except Warcry tossed a catchy question at Travis Baldree, asking his opinion on the Art Direction of Diablo 3. This was his response.
http://www.blizzplanet.com
Watch the gameplay trailer in HD again, I agreed with Elfen when he says that it looks more like God of War than World of Warcraft.
Diablo is that kind of "cartoon" that you watch and then you suddenly have a heart attack because because suddenly everyone gets gruesomely killed by dark crazy demons or because you saw one of those badass angels. Those random pictures people used to make a darker D3 DONT MAKE TRUE JUSTICE TO DIABLO 3. Some areas in the dungeon felt quite dark like when you see the Siege Beast walking in the shadows after they rescued Cain... "There's something in here"... You would have never seen that in Wow.
As for those complaining about the shoulder pads, it's Blizzard style to exaggerate things. I think it's cool for a huge Barbarian to have them this big but not for classes like the Witch Doctor. They take away the gracefuleness, just look at Tyrael on the Blizzcon banner you'll know what I mean. Some guys are just meant to look more like a wolf rather than a bear.
Some guy who knows a bit about what he's talking about said the art looked great in an interview, and gave us a good reason for his opinion. I agree with him, wooho.
Making Controversial points one post at a time!
P.S. He has credibility because he's D1/D2 developer? That's what I understood.
well said!
i dont get you.. i really dont.. i mean.. i LOVED d2 and barely got to play D1.. but I simply loved them, but some of us can love both things, colorful things and dark things, and I love the way D3 looks atm.. i dont want it to change, that doesnt mean im not a "true" fan..
its been said 1000 times before.. and its probably going to be said 10000 times again..
this isnt going to change.. you dont like it? dont buy the game.
Fuck you, I'm a dragon.
Fuck you, I'm a dragon.
The direction they took Diablo seems to be an evolution to the series that works. It looks like a fantasy painting come to life. It fits. No matter how you nitpick every aspect of it - it's still Diablo in the end.
I guess I'll be the first then.
The reason no one ever fights back is because if they dopn't agree with your opinion they're suddenly not "a fan". They suddenly are "WoW scum". (Although I do share a deep hatred of it for stealing the spotlight for years.)
Color has always been in Diablo. It's what made the gore and the "atrocities" seem so diverse. Remember Kurast? Yes, greenery everywhere. Kettles of stewing body parts. Towering mortarless buildings embedded with rubies in their interior. Fruits and such left in deserted cities strewn with dead. Mephisto's Durance filled with bright blood pouring from shoots and stagnating in pools. Gold glistened on spikes and embroidery in murals and doorframes.
Act IV- the flames of Hell rising up all about you. The Damned occasionally breaching the surface of the River of Flame. In the CIty of the Damned there's actually colorful stained glass windows that you can smash.
Act II- The dry, bright arid desert, the Aranoch. Bodies left to dry and stagnate in the heat and sweltering sunlight. Skeletons lay across the sands, bleached white with age and sun exposure. The whole scene the definition of lifelessness. The Arcane Sanctuary, cast in blues and reds, filled with stars and strange archetecture.
Act V- White snow pouring down from the skies. Glowing ballistics beseiging the fortress city, Harrogath. There's actually bunny fauna if you look. The halls of Nihlathak's temple levels were covered in multicolored murals depicting ancient rights. The frozen caverns bright with the blue/white reflectiveness of light passing through aged ice crystal. The Worldstone Chamber and the Worldstone Keep levels, filled with bright red, glowing rocks, patterned, jigsaw like floors.
Act I- Lush, green countryside as far as the eye can see.
What was bland and colorless so as to prove a point that you are in a desecrated, hopeless area? Caverns, tombs, and dungeons. Normally the last areas you visit are of this nature, like the Catacombs or the Durance.
Color makes the contrast. If you fail to see this, you are completely stupid.
Fuck you, I'm a dragon.
All I can say is... "you stupid stupid child"
Its not a matter of love, its a matter of respect and appretiation.
There is no difference.
[EDIT] What the fuck is wrong with the textures and the lighting?
Fuck you, I'm a dragon.
I am almost certain there will be environments released in the future that will be more grim and dark, even with the new art style.
This game is going to rock and I can't wait to play it.
I guess you could say I'm an optimist...maybe so.
Blizzard hasn't let me down yet.
News Reporter
PlanetDiablo
IGN Entertainment Inc.
http://www.planetdiablo.com
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]