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Diablo: Demonsbane

2009-03-03T05:00:21Z

DiMono: Grammar Hammer

[[Image:demonsbane.jpg|right|200px]][[Diablo: Demonsbane]] was the pioneer of the Diablo Series books, published in 2000 and written by author [[Robert B. Marks]] (of Garwulf's Corner fame). This was formerly published as an ebook when the market was still young, thus the sales on the ebook was only within hundreds.

Diablo: Demonsbane was reprinted on paper as one of four books within the [[Diablo Archive]] (July 2008) shortly after the official announcement of Diablo 3.

==Description==
Since the beginning of time, the angelic hosts of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in a struggle for the fate of all creation. That struggle has now come to the mortal realm...and neither Man nor Demon nor Angel will be left unscathed....

What was to have been a victorious last stand against the demonic invasion of Entsteig has instead become a massacre. Only Siggard remains, a warrior unable to remember the final hours of the battle, driven by the carnage he experienced and the void in his mind to avenge those slain by the army of darkness. As he hunts the demon lord who butchered everything dear to him, Siggard also pieces together the truth of that terrible battle...and finds that his nightmare is only just beginning.

An original tale of swords, sorcery, and timeless struggle based on the bestselling, award-winning M-rated electronic game from Blizzard Entertainment. Intended for mature readers.

==Scriptures==
The following scriptures are found throughout Diablo: Demonsbane at the beginning of each chapter.

===Holy Scriptures of Zakarum===
And the hosts of Hell looked upon man, and swore vengeance for their defeat by the
Vizjerei.

“No more will these creatures deny us,” swore the Prime Evils, “for we are greater than 
they.” And thus began the Sin War. 
—The Holy Scriptures of Zakarum

===Lamentations===
Alas, mourn for the open road! 
For where there was once wonder and mystery, 
Now there is mistrust and death. 
—Jiltarian of Khanduras, Lamentations

===Tenets of Zakarum===
Do not embrace hatred, for it can breed only destruction. 
Embrace love instead, for those who love can change the world itself. 
—Gesinius of Kehjistan,Tenets of Zakarum

===The Words of Horazon===
How can I possibly stay? I have seen my own brother die before the gates of my city,
possessed by darkness.

I have seen all that I know changed beyond recognition. I must leave, for my soul is
empty of all but sorrow. 
—Velinon the Archmage, The Words of Horazon

===The Lay of Arkaine===
Arkaine spoke, opened his word-hoard, 
“Fate will always aid when one’s bravery holds, 
and when one’s cause is great and just.” 
—The Lay of Arkaine

===Holy Scriptures of Zakarum 2===
Cherish all of Mankind, for Man has as much of the divine as the Archangels themselves. 
But unlike the Heavenly spirits, Man must overcome his failings, and chief amongst them 
is pride. 
—The Holy Scriptures of Zakarum

===Godfrey Questions===
What is bravery? Are those who fight in a hopeless cause brave, for they die for their 
beliefs? Are those who run from death brave, for it is easier to die than live? Or is 
bravery instead pushing aside one’s fear to do what is necessary, be it to live or die? 
—Godfrey of Westmarch, Questions

===Sayings of the Northmen===
It is possible to have freedom, and it is possible to have peace. 
It is rare to have both. 
— Dil’Gerran of Kehjistan, Sayings of the Northmen

===Godfrey Quotations===
To fight the battle is easy. 
To wait for it to begin is terrifying. 
—Godfrey of Westmarch, Quotations

===The Craft of War===
Always respect the purity of battle. For only in the heat of combat are all pretenses of 
nobility and quality stripped away, replaced by survival and death. 
—Leoric of Khanduras, The Craft of War

===Philosophies===
While an army can accomplish more than one man, there are times when an individual 
can achieve that which a legion cannot. 
—Tobarius of Kehjistan, Philosophies

===Tenets of Zakarum 2===
Who can see the plans of Heaven or Hell? 
Do not seek to know the unknowable, for fate will 
reveal all when the time is right. 
—Gesinius of Kehjistan, Tenets of Zakarum

==Excerpt==

Chapter One

The Night of Souls

And the hosts of Hell looked upon man, and swore
vengeance for their defeat by the Vizjerei.
"No more will these creatures deny us," swore the Prime Evils,
"for we are greater than they." And thus began the Sin War.
-- The Holy Scriptures of Zakarum

Siggard startled awake, the sounds of battle still ringing in his ears, as though he had just been in the midst of the bloodshed.

Exhausted, he lay on the bank of a road, the trees on both sides obscured by a light mist illuminated by moonlight. He tried to sit up, only to have his back explode in pain. For a moment he rubbed the sore muscles and kidneys, and then he struggled to his knees.

Blinking, he wondered where he was and how he had gotten there. The road did not look familiar at all, and there were no visible landmarks. He scratched his head, trying to think, and winced for a moment when his fingernails ran over a tender spot.

Siggard was a large man, well grown, with a full brown beard. But now his usually placid gray eyes were haggard and his beard was in a tangle. He shook his head; he knew he had been at the field of Blackmarch, a shield-man in the army of Earl Edgewulf. And they had been fighting someone, but who he could not say.

Groaning, Siggard gained his feet. He would first have to find his way to the battlefield and try to rejoin the army, but what he truly wished was to rejoin his family in Bear's Hill. That would have to wait until the fighting was done, though.

Taking stock of his gear, he noticed his sword was rather more notched than the last time he remembered, and his leather jerkin and trousers were ragged but intact. Where his coat of mail had gotten to, he had no idea. His wide shield was also missing.

Cloaked in a mist drawn eerie in the moonlight, Siggard tried to get his bearings, but no matter which way he turned, he couldn't tell where Blackmarch might lie. Finally, he picked a direction and began walking.

How long he walked before he reached the gallows, Siggard could not say, though it seemed hours. Regardless, he found himself facing a fork in the road. To one side of the road there was a three-way sign, but it was too dark to read it. On the other side stood a gibbet, a decaying corpse dangling from it by a worn hemp rope.

Unbidden, the words of one of his comrades in arms came back to him. "Hanged men have angry souls, you know," old Banagar had said. "That's why they hoist them at crossroads. That way they can't find their way back for vengeance." Banagar had always been rather morbid, he reflected.

Siggard shook his head, trying to ignore the stench of putrefying flesh. The road had to lead to a town somewhere, even if it was in the twice-damned underworld itself. So all he had to do was pick a direction and follow it.

He looked up at the corpse and smiled. "I don't suppose you'd know the way to Blackmarch, eh?"

The corpse's rotting head turned and glared at him.

Siggard leapt back in shock, drawing his sword and staring at the gibbet. The body dangled, lifeless, as it had before Siggard had spoken, and as it no doubt had long before the soldier had even arrived.

Siggard felt a chill go down his spine as he looked at the corpse. He prayed silently to the gods to let him see his family again, just one more time. He didn't want to die here, trapped among lost spirits.

His sword still drawn, Siggard backed down one of the paths, finally turning once the gibbet had vanished in the mist. The ethereal fog curled around him as he walked, Siggard mouthing a silent prayer with every step.

The path twisted and turned among the trees, and the dirt crunched under Siggard's boots. For a moment he wondered if he wasn't in some endless forest of the damned, forced to wander a haunted woodland for all eternity. He shook his head; if he was to find his way out, he would have to stop thinking like that.

Faint shapes appeared in the mist ahead of him, and for a moment Siggard could make out a horse and rider, standing under a large oak tree. He blinked hard, but the figure remained. He pursed his lips; whatever it was, it wasn't a figment of his imagination, though it did seem ghostly.

As he walked forward, he saw another figure appear in the mist. The newcomer drew a blade and, before Siggard had a chance to shout a warning, plunged it into the rider. Siggard rushed forward, his sword at the ready, praying he would not have to fight, yet as he ran the two figures faded into the swirling fog. Finally, he stood under the oak, but not even a footprint suggested that anybody else had been there that night.

"If this keeps up much longer, I'll go mad," Siggard muttered. "I might even start talking to myself."

He moved away until he had a respectful distance between himself and the oak, and then began to gather deadwood. After a bit of work, he reclined under an ancient elm, watching the flames dance on his small fire until he drifted to sleep.

Siggard stood in the shield wall at Blackmarch, watching the horizon. Earl Edgewulf walked from man to man, complimenting each on their standing and promising glory ahead. For his part, Siggard just wanted to see his family again. But he knew that the bloodshed was necessary; if they weren't stopped here, the enemy would be able to roam freely in Entsteig, spreading terror and destruction.

He closed his eyes for a moment, visualizing Emilye and his newborn child. His wife's golden hair had glittered in the sunlight when they had last spoken, and her crystal eyes had been unable to contain the tears she had been trying to hide. He had told her that it would be fine, that he would be back soon.

Thunderclouds scudded above, lightning arcing between them, followed by blasts of thunder. "It looks like it's going to rain," old Banagar muttered. Siggard grimaced at the elder man, running his eyes over the gray stubble surrounding a faint mustache on the wrinkled face. Siggard mouthed a silent prayer that the rain wouldn't turn the ground into a slick wasteland.

He stood on the bare hill, an army around him, like something out of a legend of the Mage Clan Wars, with every soldier clad in a shining coat of mail. They had taken the high ground, and had cleared some of the trees from the bottom of the hill. When the enemy charged, they would be completely exposed.

"Here they come!" one of the lookouts shouted. Siggard squinted and watched the treeline, looking for any sign of the enemy. Even after Earl Edgewulf had put them into formation, he still didn't know what enemies he would be facing. From the corner of his eye he thought he could see glowing eyes staring out from the shadowy woods, but when he looked directly at them, all he saw was darkness.

Then the woods began to boil, the trees themselves twisting and turning in torment. Siggard inhaled sharply as the enemy burst out from the tortured woodland with a shrill screaming, his gut churning in terror.

None of them were even remotely human.

Some were small and doglike, carrying bloodstained axes and hatchets. Others stood tall, their muscular bodies capped with the head of a goat, what little skin showing painted with demonic symbols. And in the background there were shadowy THINGS, defying any description.

Something shook him, and a voice said, "Would you mind if I share your fire?"

Siggard sat up, finding himself back beside the forest path. A cloaked figure stood above him, and Siggard could make out a sharp, but strangely kind visage in the shadows of the cowl. The fire crackled beside the man, and in the flickering glow of the flames and the waning moonlight, Siggard noticed that the man seemed to be clad entirely in gray.

"Help yourself," Siggard said. "I'm afraid I have no food to offer."

"That is not an issue," the man said, sitting down by the fire. "I have already eaten. Perhaps I can offer you something?"

Siggard shook his head. "I'm not hungry."

"There are many restless spirits out tonight," the stranger said. "As I walked, I saw several ghosts."

"I noticed that too," Siggard stated, scratching his beard. "For a while, I wondered if I had gone to Hell."

The man chuckled. "I can assure you, this is neither Heaven nor Hell. However, it is the Night of Souls, when it is said that in some places the restless dead will return."

"And what do they come back for?" Siggard asked.

"Some come for vengeance. Some come to see their loved ones again. And for some, they just cannot rest. Sometimes it is the earth itself that brings them back, remembering the life force that once was."

Siggard shuddered. "It is unnatural."

The man laughed, his voice strangely musical. "On the contrary, it is entirely natural! Life does not simply give in to death, and the soul is more than some abstract idea. These spirits merely walk their own path, most unaware of any others around them. But there are some, particularly in the forces of Hell, who would raise the dead, animating them so that they do not hold a spirit, but are merely an automaton. I think that is what you speak of."

Siggard shook his head. "I do not know if I should be terrified or awed by what you say."

The stranger lowered his hood, revealing eyes sparkling with life and a long mane of blond hair. "I think both would be appropriate. There are more things in Heaven and Hell than any mortal man could dream."

"And how would you know all of this?" Siggard asked.

The man shrugged. "I am a wanderer; I have seen more than most would ever imagine. That is merely my nature."

"Will you give me your name?" Siggard said.

The stranger nodded. "My name is Tyrael. May I ask your name?"

"Siggard."

Tyrael smiled. "Your trust does you credit, but be careful with whom you place it. I am safe, a traveler sworn to the light. But there are others who are sworn to darkness, and they do not reveal themselves unless they are forced to."

Tyrael leaned forward. "Tell me, friend Siggard, what brings you onto this road on this of all nights?"

Siggard shrugged. "I wish I knew."

Tyrael raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand."

"The last thing I remember is the battle at Blackmarch. If this is the Night of Souls, then that would be two days ago. I can't remember anything between lining up in the shield wall and awakening earlier this evening on the ground."

Tyrael nodded sagely. "Sometimes one will see something so horrifying that the mind will block it out, as though the soul itself cannot bear to remember it."

Siggard suddenly recalled the strange shadows behind the treeline at Blackmarch, and found himself nodding in agreement. "I guess I just want to find out what happened at Blackmarch and see my wife and child again."

Tyrael pursed his lips. "I have heard fell things about Blackmarch. I would not go there if I were you."

"I have to know what happened."

Tyrael shook his head, and for a moment Siggard thought he could see a great sadness in the man's eyes. "If you must go, then you must go. You are ten leagues south of Blackmarch as the crow flies. You can reach it in a couple of days by following the road north." He pointed back in the direction that Siggard had originally come. "If I were you, however, I would go south for one more league, and then take the fork west. It will take you back into Entsteig."

Siggard nodded. "I will consider your advice."

Tyrael smiled kindly. "That is all one could ask."

Siggard watched as the waning moon finally slid down under the treeline and the eastern sky began to brighten. "It will be dawn soon."

"It seems that the Night of Souls has come to an end at last," Tyrael mused. "All of the restless dead now return to their graves in the hopes of peace."

Siggard turned and stretched, wincing for a moment as his back ached. "I should begin my journey; I have a long walk ahead of me."

"May your feet be swift and take you into places far from harm," Tyrael said, still sitting by the dancing flames.

Siggard turned and looked at the road. "You have the tongue of a poet, my friend. I thank you for your good wishes."

But when he turned, he stood alone by the fire.

The mist was gone by the morning, burnt away by the autumn sun. Siggard carefully smothered the fire, trying to ensure that no billowing smoke revealed where he was. He still remembered the sights of the previous night with fear and awe, and wanted to ensure that he did not run into any restless spirits who did not respect the dawn.

Thinking back on the evening, he still wondered at some of what he had seen. He had never been a superstitious man, but the memories of the hanging corpse and the ghosts in the mist seemed too real to have been a vivid dream. And then there was Tyrael.

Was the stranger a ghost, come back for a friendly chat? Or was he something else? A figment from a dream, perhaps?

Siggard shook his head; at this point in time, it was useless speculation. Aside from which, he still had to find out what had happened at Blackmarch.

He checked that his sword was securely fastened to his belt, and began the journey north.

Copyright © 2000 by Blizzard Entertainment

==External Links==
Diabloii.net [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/garwulf-interviewed-demonsbane/ interviewed Robert Marks] about Demonsbane, and also [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/demonsbane-review/ posted a review] of the novella.

* [http://books.simonandschuster.com/Diablo-Demonsbane/Robert-B-Marks/9780743418997 Simon & Schuster]
* [http://garwulf.livejournal.com/10573.html?mode=reply Robert B. Marks Blog]

Art controversy

2009-02-24T22:51:34Z

DiMono: /* Blizzard Art Department Departing */

The '''art controversy''' of [[Diablo III]] started with [[WWI 2008]], when a number of Diablo fans found the colour of the Diablo environment palette to be "too colourful". The actual art direction was done in the summer 2007. [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]

==Fan Reactions==
[[Image:Art_controversy_09.jpg|center|thumb|400px|One Diablo fan's artistic inspiration from the [[WWI 2008]] reveal.]]

This is what Blizzard said in regards to the Diablo III art direction in the [http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Lore & Environmental Art Panel:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''
 
 

===How it "Should" Look===
A lot of discussion started up about the colour of the environments in the [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 community forums], where some fans utterly hated the new colours, some didn't care as long as they got D3, and some liked it. Fan-made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation#Photoshopping photoshopped] images popped up with no colour, higher contrast, more "grit", or even the odd blood stain. More pictures hasve been posted in the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] since then. Naturally, effects such as rainbows were done away with as the point of all these images is to make the pictures more grey and "dark". Some variants just enhance a few aspects, while some go all-out. A very strong fear for just "re-making World of WarCraft" is prevalent.

'''Sample of arguments:'''
* The art should be nowhere near the art of [http://www.worldofwar.net/ World of Warcraft].
* Art should not look "cartoonish" at all. Less pastel with bold lines and defined contours. More realism.
* Darker environment with more realistic gothic creepy dark influences.
* Less colour in the environment.
* No rainbows!
* Add the 'light radius' of Diablo 1 and Diablo 2.
* Equipment should be more realistic, with smaller shoulder plates as a main focus point.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Art_controversy_01.jpg|Colour, brightness, details and "grit".
Image:Art_controversy_02.jpg|Darker, more red ambient light, "creepier" with more blood.
Image:Art_controversy_03.jpg|Light radius and line-of-sight light.
Image:Art_controversy_04.jpg|Rainbows? An upset fan exclaims disappointment.
Image:Art_controversy_05.jpg|One suggested colour change. Red.
Image:Art_controversy_06.jpg|Dungeon with more "gothic" colours and detail. Necromancer's choice.
Image:Art_controversy_07.jpg|Outdoor colour change, more contrast, less pastel.
Image:Art_controversy_08.jpg|Rainy weather, and darker.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

===The Petitions===
Together with the first few photoshopped images, petitions started to appear on the net with the demand that Blizzard should change the art design, similar to what they did with [http://www.starcraftwire.net/wiki/Terran Terrans in StarCraft II]. Petition signature count 2008-08-07:
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3color/petition.html Petition Against colour 1] - Closed
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/DIII/petition.html Petition Against colour 2] - 1,873
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3art/petition.html Petition Against colour 3] - 54,138
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3israd/petition.html Petition to support Blizzard] - 815
One of the petitions against the new art direction got quite popular, and Blizzard originally did not comment on it. There were also petitions starting to support Blizzard's decision. The number of signatures on the different petitions is probably not an accurate guideline for what fans think however, as the fans who do like the current direction would be less vocal than those who are unhappy.
 
 

===Responses to Complaints===
Among other fans, popular web comic site [http://www.penny-arcade.com/ Penny Arcade] didn't quite think the changes required such a violent response, and made a very satirical response to it. Very "Penny-Arcade-esque".

[[Image:Angst.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Penny Arcade responded with a comic named 'Angst.jpg'.]]
 
 

==Blizzard's Response==
Blizzard seemed to be prepared for some sort of onslaught against the colours well before the actual [[WWI 2008]] reveal, and started talking about the importance of colour in the [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel|D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]] before the petitions even started.

::[http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Video comment by Flux:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''

The reactions from fans might have been a bit stronger than they initially thought though, as they started out in the beginning of July to avoiding replying to the petition itself. It's unlikely Blizzard didn't know about it, as it was reported on from several websites like [http://www.slashgear.com/diablo-iii-producer-under-fire-for-adding-color-0312386.php Slashgear], [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.WBwgtgameblog030120080703084156/WBStory/WBwgtgameblog0301 The Globe and Mail] as well as the largest [http://www.diii.net/n/669078/too-colorful Diablo 3 fansite].

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/02/diablo-iii-art-direction/ Keith Lee replies:]
::''A great analogy is like in 'Lord of the Rings' — not everything is dark. [...] We don't want everything to look the same and that’s really what we're trying to aim for. [...]What we also tried to do is create very clean textures so that you can really focus. It's a stylized feel and in that sense, it's very sort of a Blizzard philosophy. It's just really pushing the envelope in terms of the visuals so that everyone is excited about how everything looks. We think that 'Diablo III' is going to be better in so many different ways. We're just building and improving upon the the first and second 'Diablo' games.''

::''We're very involved, because everyone's very passionate about our games. Blizzard employees, we spend a lot of time actually iterating on [the game], and so in terms of the next phase, what we'll try to do is a proof on concept on lot of different gameplay aspects. And we really want to get as much feedback as possible so that we can improve on the game and ensure that we meet Blizzard quality for our fans and for ourselves as players.''

Later in July, a few mainstream sites got the opportunity to talk to Blizzard in NYC, where art direction, and direct replies to some petition pictures were made by Jay Wilson.

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables/ Jay Wilson judges fan pics:]
::''[[Jay Wilson]]: The key thing to remember here is that this has been Photoshopped. This isn’t created by the engine. Though it looks really cool, it's almost impossible to do in a 3D engine because you can’t have lighting that smart and run on systems that are reasonable. If we could do that, we probably would in a few of the dungeons.''

::''Now in terms of the actual texturing, this texturing, where they grayed out everything and it's very flat and the monsters are all kind of a similar tone — that does not play well. It's very boring to run through more than a couple of times, and it's very difficult to tell creatures apart and pop them out of the environment. So those things don't really work for us. A lot of the lighting stuff I think is very cool, but it's also not very doable for us.''
 
 

==Blizzard Art Department Departing==
In the beginning of August, [http://kotaku.com/5034244/blizzard-looking-for-new-diablo-iii-art-director Kotaku noted] that the Lead Art Director position of Diablo III had quit, since they were [http://www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/art-director.html looking for a new one]. Brian Morrisoe worked as Lead Art Director as recently as [[WWI 2008]], where he headed the [[WWI_2008:_D3_Lore_and_Environmental_Art_Panel|Environmental Art Panel]], and did some media, such as [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 this interview with CVG]. Some fans said it seemed odd that he quit in time for the fan protests, just like if there had been tensions in the team, which re-ignited with fan protests.

[[Image:Blizzard_job_ops.jpg|thumb|261px|right|Blizzard recruiting art people.]]What the Kotaku piece doesn't mention is that there are several other D3 art team jobs listed on Blizzard's jobs page. None of them are recent additions, but many fans speculated that Blizzard was having trouble finding/keeping art talent on Diablo 3. Some even went as far as to say that the team might have gotten split up because of internal disagreements on the art direction. Jay Wilson, Diablo 3's Lead Producer, handled the fan screenshot replies mentioned previously, and some fans ask why the Art Directors didn't handle that.

[http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Blizzard made a statement] saying that Brian quit to start his own company.
::''Regarding Brian, he recently resigned to form a startup technology company (outside the game industry), which is why we've posted about the open position. This change won't impact the game - we're really pleased with the look and feel that Brian helped create for Diablo III, and the new person we bring onboard will work with the other artists on the team to maintain the art style moving forward. Given this state of affairs, it's hard not to speculate (as several emailers have) that perhaps the controversy over the game's art direction wasn't just amongst the fans. Perhaps different factions within the Diablo 3 team had their own strong opinions on how the game's art should look, and when push came to shove, some of the crew left. Or were asked to leave? Happily, as Blizzard often points out, the production of a game as large as Diablo 3 is handled by a large team, and no one is indispensable. Let's hope they get talented job applicants and can plug them into the openings and carry on smoothly.''

This doesn't say anything in regards to if he quit because of disagreements, or other reasons.
----
[[Jay Wilson]] also commented further on Morrisoe: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
::'''''AG: I have a question that is slightly thorny: There was been a lot speculation around the departure of art director Brian Morrisroe from Diablo 3 - from when the art style was revealed; all that mixed reaction from different people. Why exactly did he leave and was it anything to do with that?'''''

::'''''Jay:''' It actually had nothing to do with the project. Brian really loves the project and his leaving was amicable - we actually still talk to him fairly frequently. He left to create a start-up outside of the games industry; he felt an opportunity that he just couldn't pass up - a once in a lifetime thing. I hate to see him go because he’s so good for the team, such a good art director and I really enjoyed working with him. But he felt like this was a fairly safe point for him to depart and pursue his other interest. Because the art style is established and because our art lead structure is strong. While I can't say it has helped the project to have him leave, I think it's done as minimal damage as possible to the project as it could have. It certainly has nothing to do with the art style controversy or anything like that, and our art style direction will not change.''
----
 
 

==Blizzard Changes Art Based on Feedback==
While most of the feedback from enthusiastic fans were discounted as not being a priority or even possible in terms of gameplay, [[Jay]] did come back and told the fans through [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview IncGamers] that they made certain changes from the feedback. Here is a summary from [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Diii.net]:
<blockquote>''In the interview Jay talks about his past jobs in the gaming industry, the D2 team guys working on D3, struggles they've had with game and art design, and art design, and art design, and art design. Have you heard that there was a controversy about the art design? No? Well, this interview will fill you right in. Jay does elaborate on two art changes they've made based on fan feedback; they're going back and making a lot of the dungeon environments grittier and bloodier, and they're not going to fade out all of the corpses after battles now; just some of them. Many will remain on the ground until the characters leave the area. Also he confirms that there will be cinematics for D3, at least as many as there were for D2, and that the teaser we saw from WWI was pieced together from several of the longer cinematics we'll see in the final game.''</blockquote>
* [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview Video Interview].
 
 

==The End of the Art Controversy?==
In the second week of September, a Diablo fan called Sozou [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy posted] a completely modified gameplay video of Diablo III with desaturated and "gritted" moving art in high resolution, showing what the dev team could do. With all the possible screenshot modifications and the like, it seems unlikely any more thorough example of what some fans would like can be made. He also gave Diii.net a short interview.

* [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Stream video, summary and interview]
* [http://rapidshare.com/files/144363212/d3_cc-desktop.m4v.html Download link for high quality]
* [http://www.deriss.net/diablo3/HD_Stills.html Still images taken from the movie]

Blizzard have not responded to this new media yet, but as the hype slowly has diminished, it's not quite likely they will either.
 
 

==Links==
* '''Discuss the Issue'''
** [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 Join the Colour Fan Debate] - The big debate in the community about the colour palette.
* '''General Information'''
** [[WWI 2008]] - Art panels, video and screenshots of the new game.
** [[:Category:Art controversy|Art Controversy Category]] - All articles, pictures, panels and other material related in the wiki.
** [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] - Gallery of original screenshots and edited ones by fans trying to convey a more "dark" feeling. Including responses to the critics.
** [[Media Coverage]] - All Interview, Previews, Videos and Pictures released by mainstream gaming media.
* '''Articles'''
** [http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Art Direction Disarray] - Lead Art Director quit timely with the fan protests.
* '''Other Media'''
** [http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=2129 L4D Art Direction, Part 2: Stylized Darkness] - Randy Lundeen on Left 4 Dead explains why they could not use a too dark art direction in the game and make players happy.

[[Category:Controversies]]
[[Category:Art controversy]]

Art controversy

2009-02-24T22:50:43Z

DiMono: /* How it "Should" Look */

The '''art controversy''' of [[Diablo III]] started with [[WWI 2008]], when a number of Diablo fans found the colour of the Diablo environment palette to be "too colourful". The actual art direction was done in the summer 2007. [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]

==Fan Reactions==
[[Image:Art_controversy_09.jpg|center|thumb|400px|One Diablo fan's artistic inspiration from the [[WWI 2008]] reveal.]]

This is what Blizzard said in regards to the Diablo III art direction in the [http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Lore & Environmental Art Panel:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''
 
 

===How it "Should" Look===
A lot of discussion started up about the colour of the environments in the [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 community forums], where some fans utterly hated the new colours, some didn't care as long as they got D3, and some liked it. Fan-made [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation#Photoshopping photoshopped] images popped up with no colour, higher contrast, more "grit", or even the odd blood stain. More pictures hasve been posted in the [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] since then. Naturally, effects such as rainbows were done away with as the point of all these images is to make the pictures more grey and "dark". Some variants just enhance a few aspects, while some go all-out. A very strong fear for just "re-making World of WarCraft" is prevalent.

'''Sample of arguments:'''
* The art should be nowhere near the art of [http://www.worldofwar.net/ World of Warcraft].
* Art should not look "cartoonish" at all. Less pastel with bold lines and defined contours. More realism.
* Darker environment with more realistic gothic creepy dark influences.
* Less colour in the environment.
* No rainbows!
* Add the 'light radius' of Diablo 1 and Diablo 2.
* Equipment should be more realistic, with smaller shoulder plates as a main focus point.

<center>
<gallery>
Image:Art_controversy_01.jpg|Colour, brightness, details and "grit".
Image:Art_controversy_02.jpg|Darker, more red ambient light, "creepier" with more blood.
Image:Art_controversy_03.jpg|Light radius and line-of-sight light.
Image:Art_controversy_04.jpg|Rainbows? An upset fan exclaims disappointment.
Image:Art_controversy_05.jpg|One suggested colour change. Red.
Image:Art_controversy_06.jpg|Dungeon with more "gothic" colours and detail. Necromancer's choice.
Image:Art_controversy_07.jpg|Outdoor colour change, more contrast, less pastel.
Image:Art_controversy_08.jpg|Rainy weather, and darker.
</gallery>
</center>
 
 

===The Petitions===
Together with the first few photoshopped images, petitions started to appear on the net with the demand that Blizzard should change the art design, similar to what they did with [http://www.starcraftwire.net/wiki/Terran Terrans in StarCraft II]. Petition signature count 2008-08-07:
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3color/petition.html Petition Against colour 1] - Closed
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/DIII/petition.html Petition Against colour 2] - 1,873
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3art/petition.html Petition Against colour 3] - 54,138
*[http://www.petitiononline.com/d3israd/petition.html Petition to support Blizzard] - 815
One of the petitions against the new art direction got quite popular, and Blizzard originally did not comment on it. There were also petitions starting to support Blizzard's decision. The number of signatures on the different petitions is probably not an accurate guideline for what fans think however, as the fans who do like the current direction would be less vocal than those who are unhappy.
 
 

===Responses to Complaints===
Among other fans, popular web comic site [http://www.penny-arcade.com/ Penny Arcade] didn't quite think the changes required such a violent response, and made a very satirical response to it. Very "Penny-Arcade-esque".

[[Image:Angst.jpg|thumb|center|400px|Penny Arcade responded with a comic named 'Angst.jpg'.]]
 
 

==Blizzard's Response==
Blizzard seemed to be prepared for some sort of onslaught against the colours well before the actual [[WWI 2008]] reveal, and started talking about the importance of colour in the [[WWI 2008: D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel|D3 Lore and Environmental Art Panel]] before the petitions even started.

::[http://www.diii.net/articles/668952/lore-amp-environmental-art-panel-video Video comment by Flux:]
::''Skip to about the 21:00 mark to hear it. To paraphrase, the designers talk about how their memories of D1 and D2 were that they were dark and gritty, but that when they actually looked back through the games they found much more color than they expected. They also say that they looked at horror movies and noticed how the color was used effectively to create mood, and that they're following that design path with Diablo III.''

The reactions from fans might have been a bit stronger than they initially thought though, as they started out in the beginning of July to avoiding replying to the petition itself. It's unlikely Blizzard didn't know about it, as it was reported on from several websites like [http://www.slashgear.com/diablo-iii-producer-under-fire-for-adding-color-0312386.php Slashgear], [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.WBwgtgameblog030120080703084156/WBStory/WBwgtgameblog0301 The Globe and Mail] as well as the largest [http://www.diii.net/n/669078/too-colorful Diablo 3 fansite].

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/07/02/diablo-iii-art-direction/ Keith Lee replies:]
::''A great analogy is like in 'Lord of the Rings' — not everything is dark. [...] We don't want everything to look the same and that’s really what we're trying to aim for. [...]What we also tried to do is create very clean textures so that you can really focus. It's a stylized feel and in that sense, it's very sort of a Blizzard philosophy. It's just really pushing the envelope in terms of the visuals so that everyone is excited about how everything looks. We think that 'Diablo III' is going to be better in so many different ways. We're just building and improving upon the the first and second 'Diablo' games.''

::''We're very involved, because everyone's very passionate about our games. Blizzard employees, we spend a lot of time actually iterating on [the game], and so in terms of the next phase, what we'll try to do is a proof on concept on lot of different gameplay aspects. And we really want to get as much feedback as possible so that we can improve on the game and ensure that we meet Blizzard quality for our fans and for ourselves as players.''

Later in July, a few mainstream sites got the opportunity to talk to Blizzard in NYC, where art direction, and direct replies to some petition pictures were made by Jay Wilson.

::[http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2008/08/04/diablo-iii-designer-turns-tables/ Jay Wilson judges fan pics:]
::''[[Jay Wilson]]: The key thing to remember here is that this has been Photoshopped. This isn’t created by the engine. Though it looks really cool, it's almost impossible to do in a 3D engine because you can’t have lighting that smart and run on systems that are reasonable. If we could do that, we probably would in a few of the dungeons.''

::''Now in terms of the actual texturing, this texturing, where they grayed out everything and it's very flat and the monsters are all kind of a similar tone — that does not play well. It's very boring to run through more than a couple of times, and it's very difficult to tell creatures apart and pop them out of the environment. So those things don't really work for us. A lot of the lighting stuff I think is very cool, but it's also not very doable for us.''
 
 

==Blizzard Art Department Departing==
In the beginning of August, [http://kotaku.com/5034244/blizzard-looking-for-new-diablo-iii-art-director Kotaku noted] that the Lead Art Director position of Diablo III had quit, since they were [http://www.blizzard.com/us/jobopp/art-director.html looking for a new one]. Brian Morrisoe worked as Lead Art Director as recently as [[WWI 2008]], where he headed the [[WWI_2008:_D3_Lore_and_Environmental_Art_Panel|Environmental Art Panel]], and did some media, such as [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=193852 this interview with CVG]. Some fans said it seemed odd that he quit in time for the fan protests, just like if there had been tensions in the team, which re-ignited with fan protests.

[[Image:Blizzard_job_ops.jpg|thumb|261px|right|Blizzard recruiting art people.]]What the Kotaku piece doesn't mention is that there are several other D3 art team jobs listed on Blizzard's jobs page. None of them are recent additions, but it many fans speculated that Blizzard was having trouble finding/keeping art talent on Diablo 3. Some even went as far as to say that the team might have gotten split up because of internal disagreements on the art direction. Jay Wilson, Diablo 3's Lead Producer, handled the fan screenshot replies mentioned previously, and some fans ask why the Art Directors didn't handle that.

[http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Blizzard made a statement] saying that Brian quit to start his own company.
::''Regarding Brian, he recently resigned to form a startup technology company (outside the game industry), which is why we've posted about the open position. This change won't impact the game - we're really pleased with the look and feel that Brian helped create for Diablo III, and the new person we bring onboard will work with the other artists on the team to maintain the art style moving forward. Given this state of affairs, it's hard not to speculate (as several emailers have) that perhaps the controversy over the game's art direction wasn't just amongst the fans. Perhaps different factions within the Diablo 3 team had their own strong opinions on how the game's art should look, and when push came to shove, some of the crew left. Or were asked to leave? Happily, as Blizzard often points out, the production of a game as large as Diablo 3 is handled by a large team, and no one is indispensable. Let's hope they get talented job applicants and can plug them into the openings and carry on smoothly.''

This doesn't say anything in regards to if he quit because of disagreements, or other reasons.
----
[[Jay Wilson]] also commented further on Morrisoe: [http://www.ausgamers.com/features/read/2662371]
::'''''AG: I have a question that is slightly thorny: There was been a lot speculation around the departure of art director Brian Morrisroe from Diablo 3 - from when the art style was revealed; all that mixed reaction from different people. Why exactly did he leave and was it anything to do with that?'''''

::'''''Jay:''' It actually had nothing to do with the project. Brian really loves the project and his leaving was amicable - we actually still talk to him fairly frequently. He left to create a start-up outside of the games industry; he felt an opportunity that he just couldn't pass up - a once in a lifetime thing. I hate to see him go because he’s so good for the team, such a good art director and I really enjoyed working with him. But he felt like this was a fairly safe point for him to depart and pursue his other interest. Because the art style is established and because our art lead structure is strong. While I can't say it has helped the project to have him leave, I think it's done as minimal damage as possible to the project as it could have. It certainly has nothing to do with the art style controversy or anything like that, and our art style direction will not change.''
----
 
 

==Blizzard Changes Art Based on Feedback==
While most of the feedback from enthusiastic fans were discounted as not being a priority or even possible in terms of gameplay, [[Jay]] did come back and told the fans through [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview IncGamers] that they made certain changes from the feedback. Here is a summary from [http://www.diii.net/n/686928/jay-wilson-video-interview Diii.net]:
<blockquote>''In the interview Jay talks about his past jobs in the gaming industry, the D2 team guys working on D3, struggles they've had with game and art design, and art design, and art design, and art design. Have you heard that there was a controversy about the art design? No? Well, this interview will fill you right in. Jay does elaborate on two art changes they've made based on fan feedback; they're going back and making a lot of the dungeon environments grittier and bloodier, and they're not going to fade out all of the corpses after battles now; just some of them. Many will remain on the ground until the characters leave the area. Also he confirms that there will be cinematics for D3, at least as many as there were for D2, and that the teaser we saw from WWI was pieced together from several of the longer cinematics we'll see in the final game.''</blockquote>
* [http://www.incgamers.com/Videos/190/Diablo-3-Jay-Wilson-GC-Interview Video Interview].
 
 

==The End of the Art Controversy?==
In the second week of September, a Diablo fan called Sozou [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy posted] a completely modified gameplay video of Diablo III with desaturated and "gritted" moving art in high resolution, showing what the dev team could do. With all the possible screenshot modifications and the like, it seems unlikely any more thorough example of what some fans would like can be made. He also gave Diii.net a short interview.

* [http://www.diii.net/n/692572/the-end-of-the-art-controversy Stream video, summary and interview]
* [http://rapidshare.com/files/144363212/d3_cc-desktop.m4v.html Download link for high quality]
* [http://www.deriss.net/diablo3/HD_Stills.html Still images taken from the movie]

Blizzard have not responded to this new media yet, but as the hype slowly has diminished, it's not quite likely they will either.
 
 

==Links==
* '''Discuss the Issue'''
** [http://forums.diii.net/showthread.php?t=669266 Join the Colour Fan Debate] - The big debate in the community about the colour palette.
* '''General Information'''
** [[WWI 2008]] - Art panels, video and screenshots of the new game.
** [[:Category:Art controversy|Art Controversy Category]] - All articles, pictures, panels and other material related in the wiki.
** [http://www.diii.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=553 Controversy Gallery] - Gallery of original screenshots and edited ones by fans trying to convey a more "dark" feeling. Including responses to the critics.
** [[Media Coverage]] - All Interview, Previews, Videos and Pictures released by mainstream gaming media.
* '''Articles'''
** [http://www.diii.net/n/682181/d3-art-direction-disarray Art Direction Disarray] - Lead Art Director quit timely with the fan protests.
* '''Other Media'''
** [http://www.l4d.com/blog/post.php?id=2129 L4D Art Direction, Part 2: Stylized Darkness] - Randy Lundeen on Left 4 Dead explains why they could not use a too dark art direction in the game and make players happy.

[[Category:Controversies]]
[[Category:Art controversy]]