UPDATE:
Official Blizzard Quote:
I think it looks sweet.
I understand the scrutiny of these things, like, what else are you supposed to do? And we're showing them off like this so we totally expect it. I sort of wish we had also included shots of what they actually look like in-game though, because there's literally no time where you'll be looking at a character head-on like this at such a close distance. (although likely in a character selection screen which doesn't exist yet...)
All development is done for game-cam. We play to game-cam, because that's what you're going to see things from. We could have a ton of varying circlets with different jewel arrangements. We could do a head piece that's a sort of small cap, or a dozen different types of small caps. But it would most likely be be wasted effort as you'd never be able to tell what they were. So there tends to be fewer, but bolder colors. There tends to be more pronounced sections of the armor, and a bit less minute detail. The sets also tend to be very bold and have a unique look, but (and maybe most importantly) maintain a coherent silhouette and look throughout all the items. The wizard in particular tends to have larger headdresses.
I also saw that fan edit of the female witch doctor, and it was pretty cool. Kudos to that guy for some nice shop'in. In my personal opinion I think that it was a bit too busy, a lot of that's going to be lost and just make the character look messy from a distance. It's also a bit too much. Remember these are very early sets. You get too crazy early on and you're making the later items not look as awesome.
UPDATE (sort of): It was announced yesterday that these armor sets are going to be the armors used in the demo at this year's Blizzcon so we will get to see what these things look like in actual gameplay.
http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1625&title=amazon&cat=514
So is this:
http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1634&title=paladin-poses&cat=514
And this:
http://diablo.incgamers.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1637&title=barbarian&cat=514
And it's all been done over ten years ago...
Sorry guys, I just can't buy that cheap, flashy, childish design.
Imagine if you're a monster in a dungeon, and trip on a fighter dressed like that! I'd probably die, 'cause laughing my guts off I couldn't defend myself...
:wallbash:
[spoil][/spoil]
The armor of this Wizard, while admittedly kind of cool looking, just seems a bit impractical in its own right. Or maybe there is just something excessive about it that reminds me a bit of the over the top kinds of armor you'd see in WoW.
I agree with Siaynoq. I've been waiting 8-9 years for this game. I understand that blizzard north left, and that these are mostly different developers, but try to keep it more traditional/classic looking. I just don't get that Gothic feeling that existed in the first two games (less so in D2). I think I read an interview recently that stated the end of the game looks nothing like the beginning, and isn't as 'pretty'. My only response is that I hope so.. and I can't wait to see it.
Seriously, all helms in D2 looked different enough and the camre is basically the same. I also understand why the wiz will wear bigger helms. It's natural from the magic class archetype.
What i don't understand is why it is made of metal. Seriously, he looks like something from megaman... IF it was just a small circlet with a big cloth details i would understand...
Dude, nobody's angry about art direction whatsoever(at least not in this thread). Just that the wizard's armor does not appeal to the taste of some people(like me).
It happens. And it's not like they've shown us all armors in the game either.
Anyway we are talking about armors and you bring in the desert? Designing an environment and char armor require different skills.
A desert will remain a desert you know- I mean if you want to make it look like that. But a wizard now, you can do a lot of stuffs with his appearance. You can make him look like a jester or a clown or a demon slayer.
Maybe that's how blizz wants to do things. You start with low tier armor making you look like a hopeless clown and then you progress to some badass gear.