Art controversy

2009-01-16T23:19:01Z

MCMXCIX: /* 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 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]]

Waypoint

2009-01-16T22:40:04Z

MCMXCIX: /* Background */

'''Waypoints''' will return in [[Diablo 3]], and will work in a similar way. [[Checkpoint]]s are a related topic, but will not replace waypoints.

An addition to waypoints in Diablo III is that you will have the option to teleport to any other player. There will probably also be scrolls of player teleport as well.

==Background==
Waypoints are part of a network of teleportation nodes created by the [[Horadrim]] during the [[Sin War]] to provide instant travel from one place to another. The reason why this was so crucially necessary was that they did not know where the [[demon]]s could appear next and it was essential that they could swiftly combat the forces of Darkness, even when the attack was located in an outlying region with a considerable distance from a [[town]] or settlement harbouring Horadrim mages. The network is built up from runed stones infused with magical power of enough strength to teleport a user to another similar stone. The traveller need to be physically standing on the stone to use it's power.

The knowledge to create new waypoints has since been lost, but some of these magical rocks can still be accessed and used, if you happen to find one. They remain as a legacy to the Horadrim's once-great power and the value of these devices cannot be denied.

These waypoints seems to be closely associated with the [[Town Portal]] and [[Teleport]] spells.

==Known Waypoint Locations==
* [[Rogue Encampment]] - Unknown status
* [[Lut Gholein]] - Unknown status
* [[Kurast]] Docks - Unknown status
* [[Pandemonium Fortress]] - Unknown status
* [[Harrogath]] - Unknown status, possibly destroyed when [[Mount Arreat]] exploded.

==Speculated Waypoint Locations==
* [[Tristram Cathedral]] - Has [[Town Portal]] gateway.
* [[Caldeum]] - Has always been a major city. Waypoint likely.

{{stub|it needs more waypoint locations and speculated locations, as well as pics}}

==References==
* [http://www.diii.net/blog/comments/diiinet-jay-wilson-video-interview/ Jay Wilson Interview]
* [[Diablo II Manual]]
* [[Diablo I Manual]]

[[Category:Basics]]
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Game terms]]

Diablo Wiki - User contributions [en]

Art controversy

Waypoint