Diablo 3 producer talks art, says 'color is your friend'
by Jason Dobson 
{ Jul 2nd 2008 at 7:29PM }
Speaking to MTV Multiplayer, lead producer Keith Lee explained the game's artistic direction as emphasizing contrast, while comparing the game's visual style to Lord of the Rings. To quote Lee, "color is your friend." We guess that's true ... except if you happen to be colorblind (hey, the story might be good too!). Even so -- judging by the players who've begun to gather pitchforks in hand en masse outside the Blizzard gates -- if we were Lee, we'd be sneaking out through the back.
Gallery: Diablo III
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Will @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:40PM
As long as it's not WC3/WoW/SC2 style cartoon colors I'm fine with it. Diablo would look retarded like that.
Rick @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:43PM
So, is this a joke? These people really think this game has too much color? Seriously. Was this non-issue just begging to be invented?
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:45PM
If you read the petition, it's like a trainwreck of selective memory. I'm waiting for them to revise it any second now with "And fuck minimaps. We want the Tab map to be annoyingly obstructive and cover the full screen.
Jadis47 @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:58PM
Non-issues are the newest fad. Didn't you see the post about 1 in 5 male Canadians gaming in the nude?
What makes it funny is the fact that information was collected by Microsoft itself.
GoldenS1104 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:23PM
These idiots are afraid of a little change (whether it's better or not). If you look at some of the mock-up pictures they did for what Diablo III "should" look like, basically everything is darker (in terms of the amount of light, not in terms of art style). Seriously, why would they want the light radius back? It didn't add too much to the atmosphere, and it made it feel like you could walk into a wall at any moment (given the map wasn't active). I can maybe understand their complaints about it not being "gothic" enough, but the real world does have color... and if they want it to be "realistic" as they put it, they're going to have to accept some color. Cartoonish my ass... who are they kidding?
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:36PM
Well, the light radius works as a dungeon aspect so long as the dungeon doesn't have numerous sources of light. In Diablo 2, regardless of dungeon light sources, everything stayed dark outside the radius.
Basically these idiots are judging an entire game on two shown environments... and saying "art styles are set in stone before the game starts work" which is only partially true. If the art style isn't working when they get the alpha builds up, they make changes.
Majority of the people complaining probably haven't booted their copy in years because Diablo can be many things but realistic graphics sure as fuck isn't one of them.
Ihavepants @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:07PM
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii129/Frederickichardson/1214697732924.jpg
I am one of these people who would prefer it to be different to how it is now. I think that Diablo III looks great how it is now, sure... but that doesn't mean it can't look better with a few minor tweaks.
Also, anyone who can look at this next screenshot of Diablo3 and tell me that it doesn't look like a slightly more detailed version of WoW is ummm... wrong?
http://www.level7.nu/cache/img/LVL/2008/06/Atlas/Media/modules/articleimages/LVL/2008/06/28/14/FemaleBarbarianinarmor_1129735842.jpg
Rick @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:21PM
Wow, you people who are complaining about the art style of this silly game need to get over yourselves. You work yourselves into a froth in the lead-up to the game's announcement, then you keep the shrill din alive by blathering about whether or not there's too much color or the "superior" qualities of a smaller light radius. Guess what? The game is a giant yawn either way. Shut up and get a life.
Huey2k2 @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:19AM
People complaining that Diablo 3 should be more "dark" need to get into 2008. Making the world dark is just design choice lazy developers use to attempt to make a game scary. Not only that but the darkness everywhere in Diablo 2 is one of the few things I didn't like about the game and actually turned me off it a little.
Also did you ever consider that a lot of the reason why Diablo 1 and 2 had the dark mechanic is because computers back then quite simply weren't that powerful and the darkness around you created an area where nothing was being rendered causing less stress on your computer?
Games have evolved since Diablo 2, I'd rather the developers find other more unique ways to make the atmosphere in Diablo 3 scary and evil than to resort to making the game needlessly dark.
arrrgh @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:14AM
Man if they stick with the "slightly upped WoW look" I'll seriously have to pass. I didn't want to but man. That's bad. Makes me wanna cry
tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:46PM
I agree. The gameplay and look of Diablo 3 convinced me to buy it. I really hope a few bitchers don't convince Blizzard to make it darker.
I'll just let this person from neogaf show everyone here how I feel about these bitchers.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11790219&postcount=108
Mal F4cti0n @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:11PM
Great link. Love the thread too. (Whiny Diablo fans don't like Diablo III's BAD ART, start whiny petition to cry)
If you don't like it, don't buy it, babies!
waynski1457 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:13PM
That post owns. I say it's about damn time we get some beautiful looking games that actually use the whole damn color pallet.
GoldenS1104 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:26PM
That neogaf post hits the nail on the head. Color is indeed our friend.
Arttemis @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:25PM
I love the color. I think they could add even more - like vibrant red or orange auras from ominous figures...
But I would like the return of the light radius as it embodied the dark atmosphere of Diablo. Those colors would look much more menacing when the creep up on you.
Besides, we've only seen two areas of a game that won't likely come out for at least ~18 months.
We don't know if they just haven't finished the shadows and light radius.
Or if they kept it out of the demo for the purpose of showcasing the technology.
Or if they intentionally left it out of these areas to make them seem especially "bright" in comparison to the rest of the game.
Lone Starr @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:48PM
The thing that's really cool about Diablo 3 is that the graphics look like concept art. I'm really impressed.
Someone will always be opposed to change, even if for the better.
Levi Nellen @ Jul 2nd 2008 7:56PM
No! This isn't WoW! As far as I can see this game won't offer the type of experience I got from playing D2. The atmosphere seems to have totally shifted.
And who is he to say what we should like and not like?
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:25PM
Totally shifted how, exactly? Because I'm playing back through Diablo 2 and I can tell you right now, the genre as a whole has evolved, why can't the tardcore follow suit?
Hey everyone, let's hate anything new. I mean, the green robe of my sorceress should totally only have two different green pixels. Fuck progress, we're the fans.
Of course, generally speaking, we, the hardcore gamers, are also the group more prone to piracy as a whole or somehow feeling we are entitled to anything we want for free in conjunction to our numbers being dwindled with each new 360 and PS3 sales while those who haven't max exodus'd either plays WoW or plays some unpopular MMO in some pretentious plea for help on how cool and nonconformists we are...
...frankly I don't see why Blizzard doesn't focus exclusively on the core select group who will always bitch when they receive exactly what they want.
dev @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:00PM
so... I'm not seeing how color changes the gameplay of diablo...
clicky to move...
clicky to kill...
clicky to pick up loot.
yup, color really ruins those things. mhm.
Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:45PM
Dev you never played Hellfire right?
The Hive and the cave were pretty damn dark and I liked that since you didn't know what happened next especially when you are fighting a large group of enemies you don't know if you will run against another large group of enemies trying to escape and believe it happened.I don't know if it supposed to work like that.
If you ask me the D2 Day and night system worked fine,there is no need to make outdoor levels darker.
giantenemycrab @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:01PM
me no likey color. color bad.
Neebs @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:04PM
you today's developer of vidya gaems
DarkNessBear @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:54PM
I don't get whats wrong with tinted games? Either it be brown or gray. I mean if a game is set in a futuristic war zone I don't think it would be all lilies and sunshine. It's going to be dark and gritty.
And stylize is not a bad look, look at the Matrix I enjoyed the tinted color. I guess it can be overused, but if it fits the games settings then who cares.
If all games had vibrant colors they'd all look like Halo and WoW. I'll take Gears of War and COD graphics over that any day.
chispito @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:02PM
I hated the outdoor portions of Diablo 2. There is nothing fun about a randomly generated field.
eldee @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:09AM
it's about as much fun as a randomly generated series of tunnels? What the fuck is the difference? You're still starting at A (the entrance) and randomly picking a direction as you look for B (the exit).
Case closed, find something else to bitch about.
LaughingTarget @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:05PM
I think I see the problem. The game has a little bit of green in it. Remember, kids, it isn't real if it isn't brown.
J.Goodwin @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:15PM
Any chance you guys could do something to the screenshots pages so that when you click through for the high resolution version, and you click the image for the next image, it doesn't jump back down to squintovision size?
Cutty @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:16PM
This game is clearly not next-gen.
Lurker28 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:54PM
LoL WTF, next-gen does not have to mean "Crysis" like graphics or Gears of War graphics.
Diablo III is pushing art style, creativity, and smooth animations. While also focusing on having hundreds of monsters on the screen at any given time.
Gamers can be so dumb, they want a game with uber graphics but they bitch when their computer can't handle it. Or they want a game that is realistic, but the complaint that bandaging yourself takes away the fun of the game...shut up, get off your high horse and wait for the game to be released, at the very least more information.
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:09PM
Exactly. It's art style is so kiddy and dumb. They should've made it for GameCube four years ago
Cutty @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:13PM
I think you missed the point of my post, guys. =P
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:14PM
my post didn't set off sarcasm detectors?
Huh
GenBanks @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:15AM
Confusion particles are sticking to your comment like ants on wet lolly.
Cutty @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:01AM
This game has colour, therefore is not next-gen. Witty post failed, eh?
GoldenS1104 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:31PM
These Diablo II "fans" and their silly petition are ridiculous. Diablo III is a different game than Diablo II. If they love Diablo II so much, why not just keep playing it instead of whining so Blizzard releases the same game all over again and the rest of us get cheated out of the next installment in a great series. Progress ftw, fanboys ftl.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:39PM
Aren't the gaming series Luddites fun to watch, though? As I said, I expect a minimap which doesn't completely block gameplay unlike the Diablo 2 one to be the next on the gripe list. Followed shortly by "what do you mean I don't have to awkwardly switch out my spells? That was the challenge of Diablo! Struggling with a limited interface was soooo totally the fun!"
GoldenS1104 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:43PM
It's very amusing but a little sad... people get so attacthed to a game that they expect the sequel to be the exact same game only better... I think the problem there is obvious... -_-
GenBanks @ Jul 3rd 2008 6:19AM
The other thing people are complaining about are the healing orbs... People can't deal with not having to use hundreds of health potions all the time.
I think it's good to have a discourse between a developer and the fans of the game (e.g. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/28/arts/television/28eve.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=arts) But I trust the minds at Blizzard enough that I want to see what they come up with. I want their capacity for originality and innovation to shine through in Diablo 3. And you don't need things to be dark for the game to feel 'gothic' and scary.
Ben Hourigan @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:49PM
Kudos to Lee and his creative staff for taking this route with Diablo 3. There are far too many games out there aiming for a "dark" or "gritty" look by limiting their palette to greys and browns, and it's impoverishing the visual appeal of the medium. Color is a weapon in the artist's arsenal, and they should be encouraged to make judicious use of it.
Kudos, too, to Blizzard for World of Warcraft. Its "cartoon" visual style, which you'll see derided above, is one of the major features that differentiates WoW from the numerous competitors it is leaving in the dust.
theCardinal @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:53PM
If it was more muted colours, the people at the other end of the "I like colours" scale would be posting clever comments about how it's such.... BRRROOOOWWWWNNNN!
Lurker28 @ Jul 2nd 2008 8:57PM
Personally I enjoy Diablo III's art direction, it has an almost "painted" look to it. This art direction stands out to me much more then any other game.
Again, please is able to add their staple of blizzard art styles while refining it to reflect a newer approach.
This is far from WoW children, blood everywhere, gibs, darker world, etc. People complaining are there to do just that troll and bitch.
Keep up the excellent work blizzard I know I will appreciate at the amazing art work you guys do over there.
P7 @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:01PM
Oh boy, it's the NMA/Fallout 3 crap all over again.
BlackFreefall @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:05PM
This is only a fraction of what Diablo III has to offer. The development of this game is still in the planning process. And from what I seen so far, I like the new aesthetic look. If everything is all dull and gray, I would need a flashlight to play Diablo III.
Wasn't there a scene in the demo where the sky changes from sunny to a dark cloudy day?
Mr.ESC @ Jul 2nd 2008 11:15PM
Yes and that was also included in Diablo 2.
I think many people don't know why Diablo series are so popular, maybe because kids listen to rap music which gives them the brain damage with the hippin and the hoppin and they don’t know what good games are all about you see…
Okay enough Bill Cosby.
Diablo series are so popular because they contained a lot of original material that later turned into staples (IMO). Basically at some point every Rpg out there took something from Diablo (Again IMO).
At this point every Rpg learned from Diablo and improved the formula their own way. Everyone was looking forward to Diablo III to see what was future or RPGs, basically Diablo is an example of how a good game must be done and Diablo games take always a step further.
D3 looks quite well I wouldn’t say generic but more like a delicious Vanilla Ice cream, is great, is delicious but is still vanilla. A great vanilla ice cream like the one from HD but since there are a lot of flavors now it doesn’t look quite exciting but I’m still hope this is just the peak of the iceberg.
Now what I really hate are these God damn kids that never played Diablo games and already judge it like if they were experts just because they played Through the Fire and the flames in expert mode in GH or have a good rank in Halo, those kids wouldn’t recognize quality games even if those games banged their mothers.
eldee @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:15AM
If a shred of what you said was true, people wouldn't be complaining about a handful of the things D3 is actually innovating on.
"Bring back X from D2" is not exactly a cry for 'the next big thing'.
Steve @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:09PM
Honestly I think D3 looks to be in line with the style of series. The wife has been playing through D2 and I've had a chance to take good look at it again. I think if Blizz had todays tech then, they would have made D2 looking similar to D3 (pretty much just upping the resolution and color depth).
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:10PM
Now somebody needs to take this interview, and mass copy it and mail it to every developer everywhere
Everyone needs to be reminded of this, whether they be repeat offenders or no
Tom @ Jul 2nd 2008 9:17PM
To be honest, I didn't even notice a color change, I was more interested in the gameplay and that gameplay looks awesome!
trotskylite @ Jul 2nd 2008 10:50PM
wow, it's pretty scary how many of you just goosestep behind whatever blizz regurgitates. d3 DOES look like world of warcraft, colors not even withstanding, the character models and geometry and texturing of the environments is remarkably similar. the 'only two areas of the game' point is just wrong, the game is going to have a consistent art design throughout, just like every other blizz game. we don't need to see any more to make our judgments on the direction blizz is going in. and after reading that interview, we really don't need to wait around and see what else is coming down the pipe, it's obvious.
as for people making the 'hurr hurr gaem is not next gen cuz no brown and grey', you're completely glossing over the fact that diablo goes back to uh .. 1997. so the blizzbots rush to the defense of poor little blizzard when ashley cheng says one barely negative thing regarding d3's design being too conservative(in a blog post full of hyperbolic praise), all clamoring to praise blizz the most in keeping the click, click, click intact; but then, when a criticism from the decidedly opposite end of the spectrum arises, that blizz got lazy in updating the art for the next iteration of diablo and opted to mostly just copy-and-paste from wow instead of keep the historic atmosphere of the game intact, we get a chorus of 'hurr, chaeng iz good!'. i don't know if this is too complex for most of you guys to process but what i'm saying is you're eagerly swallowing whatever blizz shoves down your throat, which is fine if that's your thing, but don't try to convince the rest of us that it's a good time.
as for the color argument, as i said, this game goes back more than a decade and previous iterations have been decidedly dark and gritty. blizz has always been a company that largely seems to ignore the goings-on of the rest of the industry and they have mostly been pretty good about doing their own thing (except for, you know, polishing up everquest and then convincing 10 million people to play it all over again). to say that the newly found splashes of color all over diablo's corpse is good in light of the greyz and brownz of the current console generation is to conflate blizzard with a part of the industry in which they aren't really an active participant and member. therefore, their decision to rainbowize diablo should be viewed in the context of the insular design environment of blizz. the gameplay mechanics look to be, for all intents and purposes, the same as d2 with obligatory additions and alterations for a new number at the end of the title. the art direction is easily the most radical change they've made, so if you're one to defend blizz for being 'too conservative' in keeping the mechanics intact, you're treading into hypocrite zone when you deride those who'd like a very important aspect of diablo to remain diablo.
eldee @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:16AM
TLDR. Get off your high horse.