Diablo 3 fans, photoshop, and you!

[wilsonscrazybed]

Earlier a Russian art student and I were chatting about a news article on MTV Multiplayer about fans trying to make Diablo 3 look better than the designers of the game. After I saw a few of the screen shots I realized some that my friend later confirmed; they were all done by using the sharpen filter on Photoshop. Most of the colour was also removed, making it look bleak and boring.

My Russian ally quickly pointed out that using filters that was was "noobish." Then he quickly added "people are programmed to the Diablo 256 colour pallete." Hey asked me "I wonder if people complained when Mario 64 came out?" I said that I was sure there was some." To which he replied "ITS NOT BLOCKY ENOUGH!" There are always detractors to new concepts, right? People who complain, just because they feel invested in game being a certain way?

I for one like the art direction, and when it is all animated and polished I am guessing that we're going to be looking at one amazing piece of work. I don't really like all the brown filter that seems to be injected into new games to give them that gritty 'realistic' look. I've never heard any of you complain about TF2 being too colourful.

I wonder, what does The Escapist community feels about amateurs telling game companies how their games should be made? Do you think there should be a level of fan contribution, and if so, where do you draw the line? At what point does the fan base need to be told to sit down and shut up?


EDIT: 'After' is generated by users, before is stock D3 screenshots.

Spoiler: A Journey into making things less fun.

Spoiler: Nice font.

 

[Jumplion]

I thought it was an absolute dumbass idea, and now DiabloIII looks like shit both literaly and figuratively.

It looked fine before, but now since the original fans of Diablo(II) think that the game is being made specifically for them that they should have every right to change something that doesn't need to be changed. BLAH!!

I say start another petition to make the art direction look more cartoony and fun!

I though the gaming community hated brown and gray? What the hell guys?

 

[Anton P. Nym]

As I have posted before in other contexts, racking up tons of frequent flier miles does not qualify you to fly a 747. You may have informed opinions on how the cabin service should be handled, but without hands-on experience with the engines and actual controls you ain't no pilot.

For the same reasons, fan suggestions for game designs are suspect because they're not always fully informed; many times their requests are unreasonable, or beyond the capabilities of the hardware/software, or would mung up the game. Game developers should certainly watch how test copies of their games are played... but I definitely hold with this article [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/72/14] and say that developers incorporate posted feedback from the hard-core at their own peril.

-- Steve

 

[sammyfreak]

I trust Blizzard to make a cool game and creative use of colors don't disturb me. But their fans complain about anything and everything, God bless 'em.

 

[goodman528]

As I have posted before in other contexts, racking up tons of frequent flier miles does not qualify you to fly a 747. You may have informed opinions on how the cabin service should be handled, but without hands-on experience with the engines and actual controls you ain't no pilot.

For the same reasons, fan suggestions for game designs are suspect because they're not always fully informed; many times their requests are unreasonable, or beyond the capabilities of the hardware/software, or would mung up the game. Game developers should certainly watch how test copies of their games are played... but I definitely hold with this article [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/72/14] and say that developers incorporate posted feedback from the hard-core at their own peril.

-- Steve

No, I disagree. Fans are the ones who should be leading the criticism, and the hard core should be listened to. Because they are often not bothered about amazing graphics or complicated software modeling. There is no reason why the things Yahzee so often complain about can't be fixed if games developers really wanted to. Better AI, more colourful graphics, some grounding in realism, no stupid cliches.... etc, it's really not that much to ask.

If games developers ignore the hard core fans who makes these suggestions, who should they listen to instead?

 

[gibboss28]

I'm thinking when these people who have done these photoshopped images actually create some 3D environments that they'd like to see in D3 i'll give them a listen.

 

[Anton P. Nym]

If games developers ignore the hard core fans who makes these suggestions, who should they listen to instead?

Did you read the article I linked to? Because my response would be to pretty much retype that, and I'm far too lazy to do so.

-- Steve

edited to add: Bungie actually gave the hard-core enough rope to hang themselves a chance to design a playlist in Halo 2. They opened a feedback forum for the hard-core asking for input on a second hard core playlist, this one free-for-all instead of team-oriented as that's what the hard core audience had been asking for. They incorporated as much of the advice as wasn't mutually-conflicting or outright busted... and the resulting Rumble Hard Core playlist limped on for a couple of months with <<1% usage (vastly the least-used list, just barely above "rounding error" level, if it was a Blood Alcohol count it'd have been below the legal limit) before it was taken out behind the barn and put out of its misery.

The hard core is not a representative sample of the players... and don't realise it.

 

[TheKbob]

For some reason, in the first set of Before/After with the Barbarian, I do like the After, but then again, the game is going to get progressively darker...

The other set, ew. Just ew.

 

[TomNook]

How is slaughtering hordes of demons/undead in a bright/full of color environment any different than slaughtering hordes of demons/undead in a bleak/devoid of color environment?

 

[L.B. Jeffries]

Didn't the Blizzard guy say that in order to make a dynamic lighting engine work in 3-D that looks like the 2-D engine in part 2 it would take more computer power than anyone could reasonably own right now? It also gets tricky to make it so you can see what the Hell is going on.

Reminds me of a joke a game programmer told me about when the art or writing department hands them something that's completely impossible in the game engine: "Sorry man, but that idea is...uh...too cool for this game."

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

Personally I don't think you should render harsh criticism at a game when it's in the alpha stages of development. Though I gotta admit the shopped pics have a gritty moodiness about them that I kinda like, but it is blizzards perogative to do what they like. As well I am very fond of WoW's art design.

 

[shadow skill]

I actually like the after shots more and I have never even seen what Diablo 2 looked like.

 

[Saevus]

Not gonna lie, I prefer the shoops.

One of the things that's really attracted me to Diablo is that, despite the entire game being focused on action, it had a killer atmosphere. When you went to the Harem levels under Lut Gholein, it felt like shit had gone seriously wrong down there. When you wandered through Act 1, it felt barren, devoid of any wholesome life. Hell felt like, well, Hell; even more hellish, in fact, in the upper levels where it was just this inhospitable wasteland of rock. The original Diablo took place entirely underground, so I'm not sure how much of a level comparison could be made.

Blizzard can do what they want with it, but I would be disappointed if the spirit of the franchise was diluted. Diablo's mood isn't exactly open to being altered - demons smacking down the world is depressing business no matter how you slice it.

 

[monodiabloloco]

I trust Blizzard to make a cool game and creative use of colors don't disturb me. But their fans complain about anything and everything, God bless 'em.

I totally agree with you there. The best part is how many of the most hardcore complainers will still fork over their money to buy this just so they can play it all the way through.. probably multiple times... then get back on and complain about it more.

 

[Daemon888]

I played both Diablo 1 and 2 for significant amounts of time and only have this to say-

This game will be a grinder that can't be saved by changing the colors around.

Point-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Point-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click-Click

FOREVER AND EVER!

But knowing me I'll get seduced, buy it, and play it for months anyway... Boo me. At least the monotony makes for a nice escape from shitty life though!

 

[countrysteaksauce]

Its not about the colors, sure make it colorful but dont turn it into warcraft!!! That's where its going and sadly will stay probably.

Diablo should be diablo
warcraft should be warcraft
starcraft should be starcraft

Just because warcraft is the cash cow doesn't mean every other game has to have trolls (or w/e) or things that look like trolls. Wouldnt be surprised if new zerglings were modified to fit into warcraft.

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

much like any profession, creating and enjoying are two totally seperate things. as the Diablo III article showed, it's easy for fans to give a myopic reaction but they are incapable of viewing the entire scope of a project and understanding how their suggestions will affect the overall impact of the entire game.

most of us know a good film when we see one, but can you plan and execute the logistics for a complex 60 second dolly shot that is supposed to aesthetically fit with a 2 hour film? probably not.

 

[meatloaf231]

I trust Blizzard to make a cool game and creative use of colors don't disturb me. But their fans complain about anything and everything, God bless 'em.

I trust them too. I mean, come on people, it is going to be a good game.

I mean, in all honesty, no matter how much people complain about Blizzard's games, they are wildly successful. I am pretty sure they know what they are doing. This reminds me of the Fallout 2 fanboys throwing fits over Fallout 3. I know, I know, this is a way smaller difference, but still. It is the same basic idea.

 

[AndyMacK]

Mmmph. I'm with Blizzard. The fan version(s) look... tired, at best.