I hope they rehaul current D3 graphics closer to old ones

[Zagggon]

Those graphics are spiffy, but old D2 players want new shaggy, dark graphics, not this cartoonish joke stuff, this is D3, not a cartoon, the graphics shouldnt be that comical and gayish if you know what I mean, they should be what diablo stands for, that rugged perfection that we all came to love.

As an old Diablo2 fan I certainly hope blizzard is listening to the various D2 communities, especially this one, that have kept the glory of D2 and its legacy going for so many years, because those cartonny graphics are a 100% shift from what D3 graphics should be, they dont have to be like the old exactly, they just shouldnt be that cartoony, I mean I was thinking watching that teaser.. Are they trying to piss us off with these cartoon graphics or is this legit?

If these are the actual graphics, they need to do an overhaul and bring them closer to resemble the dark, rugged flawlessness of the old graphics, with a modern graphical update, but not in a gayish cartoony way.

[Mythor]

this is D3Really? With the way everyone keeps whining about wanting everything in the game to be just like D2 I thought they must have been talking about D2.

The new graphics look great. Yes, it's a marked change from D2, but if you want it to be just like D2 there's already a game out there like that. It's called D2. :P
Evolution is a good thing. Keeping things the same because "that's what the old one was like" isn't a good reason to do it.

[Lyrs]

There is another thread on this. Check below. As far as thoughts go, less bloom, less saturation, these too changes will draw D3 more inline with D2.

[kirborg]

To be honest, I think we're going to hear a lot of complaints from now on similar to these now that the game is announced. You have to understand that blizzard has to please the old faithful D2 players as well as try to make an original game that isn't a rehash of the previous parts in the series. It is probably inevitable to try and stop people from making comparisons since it is a sequel after all but at the same time I think it might be favorable if people step back a little and try to give Blizzard a chance to prove themselves. If people keep referring to D2 as an means to argue about what is right and wrong about different aspects of D3 then it's going to get tiresome really soon on this board.

[worlann]

I counted five references in the OP to D3 resembling a "cartoon". I can only assume you're kidding.

[raveharu]

D3 retains the "gothic" style Diablo is so famous for, in fact I think they did a good job with the graphics :thumbup:

[raveharu]

double post. oops.

[mountaindew]

agreed. it seems too much like warcraft 3 or wow . i dont like those cartoony deformed looking models and bright colousr.

[Hideo]

Don't compare D to WOW. WOW is a game for little kids with TONS of free time. It looks like Disney World. In WOW when you kill, there is NO BLOOD! Can you imagine that?!

So far Blizzard's art direction is going for more colorful, saturated style. This is the case with both Starcraft and Diablo.

It's easy to please everybody with colors simply by introducing "saturation" and "gamma" options in the game, so that u can tweak it as you wish.

[Arioch]

In this IGN interview with Rob Pardo (http://pc.ign.com/articles/885/885139p1.html), they talked specifically about the visual design:

Initially the game's visual design was closer to the older games than what we saw in the gameplay demonstration. "We probably did three rev[ision]s on the visual direction until we got to this and now we're really happy with it," said Pardo.

Personally, I rather like the new look. The old desaturated gray environments get pretty dull and monotonous after awhile.

[crutex]

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6340/lookxs8.jpg

[worlann]

Haha, nice one crutex.

[ThulRasha]

People who like the old style better are in luck! With modern graphics cards you can adjust the strength of each base color and you can also adjust the brightness. To get the more traditional gothic gloomy style, you simple decrease the strength of the blue and green tints, ramp up the red tint a bit and turn the brightness level way down.
This will of course not give you the D1 and D2 looks, because these actually were not gloomy at all, it is just what your nostalgic mind thinks it remembers. But it will give you what you desire!

[konfeta]

The sad part is, all the whiners will miss the entire point. Seriously, how the hell are those 2 screenshots anywhere close to being "dark and gritty and realistic"?

[JusticeInACan]

I never knew what Diablo 1 looked like until that. Oh god.

[johntorrio]

if I was a cranky 15 year old who decided how good a game was simply by the color palette I would want D3 to look more like D1.

[tuxor]

Okay, all you "whiner" bashers, have you actually played the first Diablo? That screenshot is "bright" because A. the ridiculous amount of fire and lightning on the screen, and B. its in a level which is naturally brighter than the Cathedral Basements and others.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Diabloscreen.jpg
Now that is closer to a "normal" screen I think of when I hear Diablo 1. Definitely gloomy, with blood and bones on the floor, the only real saturated color being the hero and the ghoul, and the characters looking anatomically correct. Experience is your friend, and when you don't have it, try a Google Image search.

[konfeta]

Yes, we have. At least as much as you, if not more. And I am not seeing the Earth shattering difference you people are starting online petitions over. I am not seeing how Diablo 3 is "disney-like". In fact, Diablo 3 screens look like what I imagined the Diablo universe would look in 3D, minus the proportions (which, if you have been stuck in nostalgia land and didn't notice, are now part of Blizzard's art style, and they are happy with it)

And no, I am not a "WoW fanboi". I dislike the game myself. I absolutely loved the first two games, so don't try to accuse me of being a WoW-kiddie. All I am seeing with the Diablo 3 screens and videos is the natural evolution of the game. I don't know if you care, you probably don't, but some of us like being able to see what is happening on the screen. Some of us really don't care about retaining a "dark and claustrophobic feel". The first game did it as it was set entirely in an evil infested Cathedral. The second game moved on and added more colours, varied environments, made everything brighter. The third game is going for visuals over making everything to dark to look without +50 Light Radius mods.

Blizzard moved on. Their art direction changed, they are happy with it. Many people are fine with the new look for Diablo. Why can't you do the same?

[ebolasupermonky]

I'm so sick of hearing diablo fans wanting D3 to look like the previous games, We have been waiting years for this and now that we know its real and its coming all some people can do is complain that its not the original diablo. I'm sure blizzard is trying their hardest to keep devoted fans happy while making another great game that can be played as long as D2 has.

It's simple: Stop complaining and criticizing the game before it's released and be happy that we are getting a Diablo III, accept the change

[tuxor]

@Konfeta: I never said anything in my post about WoW. Secondly, I'm seeing just as many people say they want the darker, grittier graphics than people defending Blizzard's art choice, if not more. It's our opinion that the game should look less saturated, darker, etc. OPINION. I don't really care what you want to think about the way Diablo III should go in terms of art and graphics. That's your business, and feel free to say it. I only have a problem with you and everyone else that thinks the graphics should stay making things up and bashing the people that want a darker feel. Also, it should be noted that the first two Diablo games actually had well-proportioned characters. Personally, I don't give a damn about WoW's graphics, sure they look a bit cartoony, but that's clearly not what that game is about. Diablo is a completely different story. Part of the thrill and excitement that comes from the game, FOR ME, is that you don't necessarily know what's coming around the corner, and when you're playing with the lights off and creeping through a dungeon, you have to be on your toes. That's just the way that I like to play.

@ebola: I don't quite understand why I have to shut up just because D3 is coming. Personally, I feel that if Blizzard is making a game, especially such a prestigious and long-awaited one as Diablo 3, they should put as much effort into it as possible, like you said, keeping devoted fans happy, while also bringing more stuff into it. Here I stand, a devoted fan, and I personally feel that the art should change a bit. Blizzard isn't going to say, "Oh, that tuxor wants different graphics. Just for that, we're not releasing Diablo III." It will come out, I personally just want what I think are better graphics when it does.

[Arkansaw]

Stop complaining and criticizing the game before it's released?
then why are we having all these D3 forums springing out of nowhere?

[Nightswipe]

There is another thread on this. Check below. As far as thoughts go, less bloom, less saturation, these too changes will draw D3 more inline with D2.

So they complain about that too..
I don't think every area in the game will be fully prosperous...

[Telzen]

I'm starting to think that "cartoony" is just what someone calls something when they don't like it. It definitly does not look like WoW or any cartoon I can think of. I think it could look a little darker, but then what are we saying? That it is "cartoony" because its a little bright?

[Sein Schatten]

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/6340/lookxs8.jpg

OMG!! I ROFLED! HAHAAA...
I hope D3 comes with an image->ASCII converter so I can play like that.
ROFL!

[5zigen]

Now that is closer to a "normal" screen I think of when I hear Diablo 1. Definitely gloomy, with blood and bones on the floor, the only real saturated color being the hero and the ghoul, and the characters looking anatomically correct. Experience is your friend, and when you don't have it, try a Google Image search.

As someone who played D1 and D2 ad nauseum, sorry, but my experience tells me you are romanticizing your experience.

http://www.lauppert.ws/screen1/diablo.png
http://www-users.mat.uni.torun.pl/~rembol/eng/diablo1.jpg
http://texasrugby.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/diablo2_screen002.jpg
http://www.freewebs.com/wardevils_clan/Diablo%202.jpg

Diablo 3 looks way better and more realistic than any of these. Remember, this was the max resolution also.

[mince pies]

Those graphics are spiffy, but old D2 players want new shaggy, dark graphics, not this cartoonish joke stuff, this is D3, not a cartoon

You show me a cartoon that looks like DIII and I'll agree with you.

[NKlint]

You show me a cartoon that looks like DIII and I'll agree with you.
I did a little search for some "Evil Cartoons" don't know how some non-cartoons came up, that's Google for ya.
Click on the thumbnails if you want to see a larger version.
These are a few from the first 5 pages from each search
(I can't be bothered to go to page 6 and beyond).

But anyway, I did my best not to search for "Hello Kitty" and "Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi"
even though I think those are the most evil cartoons in history...

Google Image Search : Medieval Cartoon

http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_paranoid-bart.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/paranoid-bart.jpg)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_medieval-cartoon.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/medieval-cartoon.jpg)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_gummibearscartoon.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/gummibearscartoon.jpg)

Nothing here looks like Diablo 3 yet... Though the one in the middle could pass for Diablo 2 :)

Google Image Search : Dark Evil Cartoon


http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_darthvader001.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/darthvader001.jpg)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_crudvil001.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/crudvil001.jpg.jpg)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_cartoon_96.gif (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/cartoon_96.gif)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_bgrn661l.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/bgrn661l.jpg)
http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/th_20651.jpg (http://s92.photobucket.com/albums/l4/NKlint/20651.jpg)

In my opinion, none of those really look like Diablo III.
Would it just be so awesome if Cruella DeVille was the one causing the problems in D3!
She's invading heaven to get angle feathers for her new line of Boas!

[5zigen]

There's a lot of awesome "cartoons" (or anime) with great dark / horror ambiance.

Ergo Proxy
http://www.madman.com.au/wallpapers/ergo_proxy_268_1024.jpg

Animated Batman (pre dark night, though the original animates series deserves mention.)
http://img387.imageshack.us/img387/7823/ac7e792c2c9cb92c73e3850gu3.jpg

Death Note
http://murz.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/dn_ep1.jpg

Gankutsuou
http://wakaranai.animeblogger.net/gank.jpg

I fail to see how something that is animated (assume that's what is meant by "cartoony" resmbling a cartoon or in general terms, an animation) is a negative thing in terms of the ambiance of the game.

P.S. Yes I know the screencaps mostly have 1 color in them, the shows had lots of colors though and the mood was great.

[Pitboss_2000]

Now that is closer to a "normal" screen I think of when I hear Diablo 1. Definitely gloomy, with blood and bones on the floor, the only real saturated color being the hero and the ghoul, and the characters looking anatomically correct. Experience is your friend, and when you don't have it, try a Google Image search.

Gloomy? 70% of the screen is the same drab brown/grey colour, and when something isn't right in the light radius, it's hardly visible. If I want to squint at my monitor trying to find out what on earth is going on, I might as well tape a garbage bag over the damn thing.

[hankhenry]

Naw, I think the new graphics are much beter, plus im tired of the dark underground feel.
Its time to be outside with bright colors! I think they look amazing. Its just not spooky anymore.

[MooCQ]

Exactly mang let's all go back to the DARK AGES!!!

http://www.gb64.com/Screenshots/Q/Quest_of_Kings.png

YEEHAW! GLOOMY ISH GOOD!!