Has Blizzard ever done something visually unique?

[Brotherofwill]

Rumours about a new Blizzard MMO floating about; potentially a new IP. I'm not worried they'll screw it up. If anything, Blizzard is the best candidate for creating a new MMO, with all the intricacies of gameplay, of social networks and of a new massive world.

But here's where it gets tricky: Has Blizzard enough visual talent to create a new IP and especially a new world lore?

I know they have great artists. I mean, they deliver on HD crisp character models and nicely done concept art. Their visual WoW style has gone on to be a staplehold of MMOs and games in general; but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about lore, about ideas and about creating an interesting, deep and refreshing world.

When I look at Blizzard's art I see a high polished style but no originality. They just repeat the normal fantasy lore of dragons, elfs and goblins. To get this style they copied copious amounts from Warhammer or Warhammer 40K and I don't blame them for that. It's a very effective mix that they've accumulated even if it's 'borrowed' on some accounts. Looking at their IPs, I don't see many groundbreaking visual ideas. Starcraft is Warhammer 40K with a slight overhaul, Warcraft is Warhammer. Diablo is a very interesting mix (and by far my favourite game by them) but even that doesn't strafe to far. You've got your demons, skeletons and mosters fighting in ruins, castles and tombs for the most part. You have barbarians and other standard heroes from various tribe-like cultures. I love Diablo's athmosphere and it's all an intriguing mix but there isn't too much visually new going on. I mean, even Diablo is basically the devil from Legend. The only character that really stood out for me was angel Tyrael.

So if they have the balls to abandon WoW (or atleast side-step it) I think they have to do something drastic. They can't just release another fantasy RPG with the same recycled designs, otherwise people might call bullshit. They might do a space, Starcraft-like universe but even then they'll need something fresh.

So can they do it? Can they create a new world with their own lore that people will be interested in? Have they made something in the past that stands out on a visual level? Does it even matter?

Remember, I'm only talking about visual design and not gameplay or anything else.

 

[The Amazing Tea Alligator]

To my knowledge (which is always wrong) Warcraft 3 was fairly original in the RPG+RTS aspect.
Oh. Nevermind.

 

[MagicMouse]

I don't know if they can, but I hope they do.

I REALLY hate the art style they use for WoW, and for Starcraft. The games are good but the style is ridiculous and childish in my eyes.

 

[Alandoril]

Blizzard does produce original work...it just doesn't feel like it.

 

[icyneesan]

I thought Warcraft 3 was unique and all when you brought in the other dimensional demons that wanted to take over their world

Anyways, it doesn't really matter does it? They only seem to be in it now for the money. If you wanna play something unique go play a Valve game

 

[Ralen-Sharr]

the Diablo series had quite a bit of backstory that I found to be one of the best parts of the series

 

[Plurralbles]

uh... they are a billion dollar company. Of course they have the talent.

Lord ofthe Rings was extensive and that reality was created by one man years and years ago.

I wouldn't worry about anything.

 

[MagicMouse]

I don't know if they can, but I hope they do.

I REALLY hate the art style they use for WoW, and for Starcraft. The games are good but the style is ridiculous and childish in my eyes.

The art style is what makes it last, imo.
Realism gets old fast. Dull brown and gray are boring. There's a warmth in Blizzard's art style that you simply don't find in games who push for a more realistic design.

That's one of the things that makes TF2 a lot more fun than other FPS's for me. The art style is unique and warm. The characters have character. They're not just testosterone filled blobs of varying shades of brown and gray.

It's not anti-realism that bothers me. Its the exaggeration. Huge spiky armor plates with fiery skulls, on top of grossly disproportionate characters just don't appeal to me.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

Its a fair question that is impossible to answer "yes." If anything in a game's aesthetic is identifiable in any way, shape, or form, you can't say its unique. The best anyone can ever hope for is, "a unique take on a preexisting concept." Which blizzards games usually are.

 

[thirdsonsaburo]

I've never found Blizzard's art style or design choices all that appealing. The lack of originality turns me off even more.

That said, WoW does have some batshit stuff that goes well beyond "unoriginal". It's just not necessarily visually consistent.

 

[Thedayrecker]

I just saw two anti-Starcraft 2 threads and now this. Is it rip on Blizzard day?

 

[SyphonX]

Well, whatever it is, I hope it's something original at least. I'd like to see them depart from their WoW model, both visually and in structure. A lot of people play WoW, sure, but there is equally a ton of people that can't stand it.

They should try something unique to the genre, have some balls and just do it. They're the only company that can afford it, both in finances and in 'prestige' as being the top dog in the MMO world. Something that we've never seen before, something appealing to more than the instant gratification crowd.

I would support them in it. But if they want to basically reskin WoW.. they can shove it. Their current status gives them a ticket to do virtually whatever they want, with almost guaranteed success. If they just copy the same dog tired model of WoW, then it would be a huge cop-out, and embarrassing for the entire industry.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

Its a fair question that is impossible to answer "yes." If anything in a game's aesthetic is identifiable in any way, shape, or form, you can't say its unique. The best anyone can ever hope for is, "a unique take on a preexisting concept." Which blizzards games usually are.

And just because something is identifiable doesn't make it not unique.

 

[Erana]

If its not original, its bad?
No matter what Blizzard does with this new MMO project, what it needs to do is have a, I dunno, maybe $20 charge for subscription to both WoW and their new game paired with a shiny in-game mcguffin so that people aren't afraid to play it. I mean, if all you had to do was buy the game, have a $5 commitment each month, still be able to play WoW, and got a shiny, wouldn't you get the game?

At least, that's how I expect a lot of WoW people think. And blizzard could definitely do it.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

Its a fair question that is impossible to answer "yes." If anything in a game's aesthetic is identifiable in any way, shape, or form, you can't say its unique. The best anyone can ever hope for is, "a unique take on a preexisting concept." Which blizzards games usually are.

And just because something is identifiable doesn't make it not unique.

By definition of the word "unique" that is not true.

Also, johnny mneumonic and hundreds of other cyberpunk IPs predate rez. Including...

and

Shadowrun, neuromancer, respectively.

Not to mention, rez's story is utterly identical to neuromancer's.

 

[Brotherofwill]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

Its a fair question that is impossible to answer "yes." If anything in a game's aesthetic is identifiable in any way, shape, or form, you can't say its unique. The best anyone can ever hope for is, "a unique take on a preexisting concept." Which blizzards games usually are.

I completely disagree. There are tons of visually unique games. It's not so much that the idea is unique, but in terms of art syle there's tons out there.

I just saw two anti-Starcraft 2 threads and now this. Is it rip on Blizzard day?

How is this ripping?

uh... they are a billion dollar company. Of course they have the talent.

Lord ofthe Rings was extensive and that reality was created by one man years and years ago.

I wouldn't worry about anything.

Well with LotR...that's kind of the point, strange you'd mention it. It only takes one man's fantasy to create a world. That's it. It doesn't matter if you have billions of dollars or hundreds of trained artist. You need that vision and that spark and even if someone has it at Blizzard then maybe a team setting or the premise of a huge risky project would negate his ideas.

Again, I'm not worrying. I don't have a stake here and I'm not trying to bash Blizzard, hell I don't even play MMOs. I just wonder if they have the talent/balls/vision to create something visually out there, something we haven't seen before rather than a standard setting. They'll do a good job no matter what, I'm just curious.

 

[Cynical skeptic]

I completely disagree. There are tons of visually unique games. It's not so much that the idea is unique, but in terms of art syle there's tons out there.

Not to be a dick, but now you're using modifiers of "unique." Pollack had a unique art style, but when compared to, say, the average drop-cloth used in painting the interior of a house, it wasn't unique at all.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Are you really asking that question?

Its a fair question that is impossible to answer "yes." If anything in a game's aesthetic is identifiable in any way, shape, or form, you can't say its unique. The best anyone can ever hope for is, "a unique take on a preexisting concept." Which blizzards games usually are.

And just because something is identifiable doesn't make it not unique.

By definition of the word "unique" that is not true.

Also, johnny mneumonic and hundreds of other cyberpunk IPs predate rez. Including...

and

Shadowrun, neuromancer, respectively.

Not to mention, rez's story is utterly identical to neuromancer's.

For one thing, how similar do they really look? Compared to each other, yes, but there's little more than passing similarity to Rez. There's also no way I hadn't heard of those games, and I'm definitely not trying to avoid that comparison...

Anyway, the definitions of unique are as follows.

1.
existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript.
2.
having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.
3.
limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area: a species unique to Australia.
4.
limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: Certain types of problems have unique solutions.
5.
not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile.

Nothing in there there says anything about not identifiable. Because something that has no characteristics we can identify is impossible to envision with the human mind. What is something that you consider unique? Because there will be a color, an idea, a letter, or a concept in there that we can identify.

By your definition, uniquity exists solely on a different dimension or level as anything we can experience.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Has anyone ever created any video game that was visually unique?

Everything has a basis in something that already exists. They just make some changes and call it new.

Okami? Katamari Damaci?