Blizzard hiring new Diablo III art chief

Developer confirms current visual director of demonic dungeon crawler has resigned, but new hire will "maintain the art style moving forward."

At its Worldwide Invitational in June, Blizzard gave eager fans of its acclaimed infernal dungeon crawler franchise the news they'd waited eight years to hear, officially announcing Diablo III for the PC and Mac. While the news was greeted with unbridled enthusiasm by legions of Diablo fans, the sentiment was anything but universal, and more than 50,000 irate individuals took to the Internet to sign a petition bemoaning the current art direction and its apparent abundance of vibrant colors, verdant forests, and most egregious of all, rainbows.

As first revealed through a job listing posted to the developer's Web site, Blizzard has confirmed that it will be parting ways with current Diablo III art director Brian Morrisroe. However, though the Irvine, California-based developer is searching for a new art director for Diablo III, Blizzard has no intention of changing the current controversial visual aesthetic.

"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," a Blizzard representative told GameSpot. "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 on board will work with the other artists on the team to maintain the art style moving forward."

Speaking with MTV Multiplayer last week, Blizzard designer Jay Wilson addressed the unanticipated furor stemming from Diablo III's "cartoonish" art style, saying the entire team was happy with the appearance of the game and that, "There's no going back now." In a follow-up interview, Wilson critiqued the fan-altered screenshots, concluding that the darker color spectrum greatly hindered variety and replayability.

262 Comments

  • DrugSkill69

    Posted May 28, 2009 11:01 pm PT

    Warcraft - Awesome

    Warcraft II - Awesome

    Warcraft II Beyond the Dark Portal - Awesome

    Diablo - Awesome

    Starcraft - Awesome

    Starcraft Brood Wars - Awesome

    Diablo II - Awesome

    Diablo II Lord of Destruction - Awesome

    Warcraft III - PoS

    Warcraft III Frozen Throne - PoS

    World of Warcraft - PoS

    World of Warcraft Burning Crusade - PoS

    Fixed

  • MurderMode

    Posted Sep 12, 2008 8:34 am PT

    Everyone is over-reacting. Diablo and Diablo 2 were sprite based 2 dimensional games, to make it dark you had to limit your palette. You couldn't have an area of lush green forest with a sprite running around in it that was designed for a darker environment, it would have looked terrible.

    Diablo 3 is not cartoonish. First of all, take a good, close look at the player models and compare them with the D2 sprites. The follow similar proportions, colour and styling. The mobs are the same, if not toned down from the original diablo's 'glow in the dark' mobs. The major notable difference is the environment, which features a more vivid array of colours then the original. It still follows the same style, it's just now that the game has entered 3D that lighting effects take over and objects can't recede to pitch black crevices without looking stupid... and besides, there will be darker themed environments latter game, blizzard are just expanding the world and adding more changes of scenery. I'm sure it will all fit in with the continuation of the storyline.

    This is how Diablo is meant to look in 3D. If they brought out the original diablo in today's age, it would be shunned. If they never brought out diablo at all before this installment, you would all be raving about how sweet it actually looks.

    You're all starting to sound like the elderly over a goddamn game. 'In my age, games were so much grittier because we didn't have the 3D technology you youngsters have... we used our imagination to fill in the gaps.' .... get with the times

  • serphius

    Posted Sep 1, 2008 3:50 am PT

    u cant deny that diablo 3 had become more cartoonish, the realistic feeling of the world they create in previous game had change. of cos u can say a lot of good things about cartoonish feel-- vibrant, dynamic, outstanding...but then the mature feeling of the art direction is lost..is like comparing a cartoon to a movie with real ppl in it. cartoon certainly got more wow effect to play with but it will get u more involve into the world they created if it is realistic.

    and i get the feel the artist from blizzard get all defensive by all the criticism. i think mostly because it is impossible to change by now. of cos the problem cannot be solve by just toning down the colour. i can see they have gone through a lot to make the diablo 3 world that they think should be. but laughing at fan's comment is quite horrible also.

    i guess these r all what we need to endure for the game to play in 3D...hope we wont get oversize and fancy armors and weapon though...

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 18, 2008 4:39 am PT

    Well i should have used the spelling yes but we all understand right? Yes?... good.... But the spelling option could be improved a lot. Not everyone has english as it's mother language so why don't you just lighten up about that. Plus (yes another excuse) i can only write with 1 hand atm... wich is very anoying. And for the kid thing... i am afraid i am a wee bit older then you.

    Then first of all i was asking if you joked and as you say you where, you could ignore the part that comes after. As it refers to all other people who just thinks it's a brightness thing. You perhaps are intellectual so maybe you should have understand that.

    I am taking this lightly, it's just the way i write and discus that people think i am hot headed and Sickmoron proves it . It's not like we have a discussion about my mother is it?

    I don't even care to mutch about this color style although i like the overpaints more, it just amazes me how little people know actually what this is about.

    I can make jokes, but my jokes hit the topic of discussions. And as i said, this topic has nothing to do with darknes as in brightnes. But again this is offtopic. PM me if you want to read funny stuff it has no use here unless it's on topic. I could tell you about my adventures with the care bears for instance.

    And for the last part... i am 100% right about most people here don't even have a clue whats this is all about. So could we please talk discus some more ON topic? And leave spelling, sense for humor and other offtopic crap behind?

  • SickM0R0N

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 8:34 pm PT

    if only it would allow me to fix that damned paragraph that gamespot messed up. It makes me look like simple jack

  • thor25br

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 7:25 pm PT

    Hey, there's a new check spelling button...people should use it.

  • SickM0R0N

    Posted Aug 15, 2008 5:52 pm PT

    Ah, in your attempt to negate my post you did one thing incorrect. You could (by making even a witty comment on my name even) spell a higher percentage of your words correctly or atleast a mild attempt a humor. Lighten up kiddo, I myself was making a joke. I will take a stab at your saturated/desaturated claim. Ah and within that instance of typing that very sentence I decided not to. "So do you have difficulti to see the first? (I'm not entirely sure what you are trying to say here) Now quit those (scratch those, replace with your) useless (meandering and thoughtless) post (s) and stop making a fool out of yourselfs (desist from making fools out of yourselves).... do a little homework/research befor you try to be intelectual....(before and intellectual)" cackle cackle

    I am Sir so very glad that you were able to boil this all down for me. Atleast for one moment I thought myself a fool and was not able to understand the plea "I r WaNt M0ar D4rk kthx" That is of course I realized that someone had to make a sad attempt to explain it to me. I'm so grateful to you friend, how would I have ever survived this without you. I r no wat darker meens now.

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 14, 2008 4:16 am PT

    Besides Diablo 2 L.o.d realy screwed the game up your right. And i must add, Rock 'n roll racing, lost vikings, blackthorne and battle chess. They where still called silicon & synapse back then.

    But you make a petition if you are not sattisfied with something, if it are the colors in diablo 3 or dogs are **** on your lawn doesn't matter. The people who petitioned (i didn't) realy don't like the look of the game (wich i can undertand as the style is completely different then diablo 2, the trailer and the concept art). So thats why they petitioned, we are all here to spread our opinions and petitioning is just a more drastic way of doing that.

  • Digital_DJ_00

    Posted Aug 13, 2008 10:52 pm PT

    Warcraft - Awesome

    Warcraft II - Awesome

    Warcraft II Beyond the Dark Portal - Awesome

    Diablo - Awesome

    Starcraft - Awesome

    Starcraft Brood Wars - Awesome

    Diablo II - Awesome

    Diablo II Lord of Destruction - Awesome

    Warcraft III - Awesome

    Warcraft III Frozen Throne - Awesome

    World of Warcraft - Awesome

    World of Warcraft Burning Crusade - Awesome

    So ask yourselves; petition signers. Why are you doubting Blizzard now of ALL times that you could start? If Blizzard honestly doesn't like the way a game is going, they SCRAP it. (Starcraft Ghost) Blizzard takes their games more seriously than any other company in my eyes. Don't knock it till you try it, and we all know you'll try it despite your negativity towards the graphics design... So stop bothering Blizzard with worthless matters such as your petition so they can stay on track with development for the people that actually LIKE the way it's turning out. Does anyone recall past petitions making a difference? I sure as hell don't...

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 13, 2008 4:27 am PT

    Are you joking as well? Becaus if you are not then your not that smart....(-edit- Sorry now i see your name and it actually makes sense now) it's not about black and dark as in i can't see anything.... it's like less saturated colors. Like cartoons are realy saturated, WoW and TF 2 are pretty mutch satturated but gears of war has desaturated colors.

    So next time you read, and when you understand the discussion you post your opinion. Becaus now your pretty mutch making a fool out of yourself like the rest.

    So for the 10th time heres an example for everyone that does not or just thinks he undertands the topic.

    Desaturated (darker color pallet)
    http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=121&t=654350

    Mid saturated (Wow may lie between this and high)
    http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=121&t=613377

    And fully saturated.
    http://manga-girls.myv.nl/UserFiles/manga-s04-20(2).jpg

    So do you have difficulti to see the first? Now quit those useless post and stop making a fool out of yourselfs.... do a little homework/research befor you try to be intelectual....

  • SickM0R0N

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 4:44 pm PT

    Actually I just came up with an idea. If you really want diablo style blacker than the blackest abyss in the universe. Darker than a Cure song, more fragile than the Jonas Brothers and what not. Play Alien Shooter Vengeance..good game, and you get to just revel in all its black. Oh wait he carries a flashlight....oh well.

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 2:09 pm PT

    Yeah i agree as well on the trailer. Our legion is growing.... finaly!

    ow... errr.... lol got carried away a bit...

  • JeroenVS

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 2:06 pm PT

    I have a feeling that this art direction controverse is going to be a huge inspiration on Blizzard's side for the April Fool's next year.

  • Lord_Sun_Ce

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    I have no problem with them having green fields and whatnot, but the dungeons look a tad bit kiddy for a man running around killing dozens of demons. Besides, Diablo IS a dark genre, just like Gears and other listed in previous posts. But, the second wasn't completely dark--plenty of levels had bright lighting where it would be deemed natural. Other places simply had bad luck with the weather, hehe.

    My biggest beef is that they show this trailer, but nothing shown in the demo actually conveyed that same message. The trailer looked and felt like Diablo. The demo seemed more like an action rpg version of Warcraft.

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 12:19 pm PT

    @thor25br
    Thats what i said! The art director is the guilty one... he get payed the most and fired as first. lol.... but hey.... he worked at blizzard on a premium title so he does not have to worry.

    Time might tell if they speak the truth, till now i could not find any company under his name. But one thing i know for sure, he won't get candy in hell as he might think .

  • thor25br

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 11:43 am PT

    One funny thing is that the art work concept drawings and the outcome is waaaay different...

    Is the out bound artist the guilty one?

    Will they revive the artwork?

    ...

  • cooldude03

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 10:38 am PT

    With all the anticipation surrounding Diablo III, I'm sure Blizzard will hire whoever they need to make this game live up to the hype.

  • VanGriffin

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 9:37 am PT

    I Think the art is awesome, whether some people like it or not, They are going to play it anyways. Changing artists, etc. happens all the time in the industry, and most often with sequels. This isn't really news.

  • Andrew0824

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 9:28 am PT

    nofxissucky0099 said:
    "Zythyl, do you actually think the petition and the art directors resignation coincide?"

    They obviously coincide. The question is whether one caused the other.

  • cru3

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 8:48 am PT

    "gayly-gay" stuff? What are you, 12? Grow up.

  • WarHasChanged

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 8:45 am PT

    It's not the colours as much as the art style that's cartoonish. I personally have no problems with rainbows and colourful forests, but colourful underground citadels lit by torches is... not so great. Another thing that bothers me is the armor design (or rather what we've seen so far). Oversized armor pieces makes it look like something out of WoW, whereas the first game had realistic looking armor.

  • Icky27

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 7:59 am PT

    You know what, I walked outside today and the trees were green, not brown. The sky was blue, not grey. People are retarded. "OH NO COLOR, IT'S A CARTOON!!!"

    Thank you so much for forcing another game that is going to look all brown and grey, bland and boring. Sorry RED is not the only color in existance.

  • shenoe

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 4:09 am PT

    Man wait until the game is out and then judge. We are probably looking at maybe two different levels of the game in the screen shots. A third of those are outside and brightly colored, the others look pretty gloomy in the old Diablo fashion.

  • lucebuce

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 1:11 am PT

    i kinda like the gloom and darkness , but only its like enjoyable gloom , and not like vampire and zombie and death and satan gloom and darkness or something

  • madmenno

    Posted Aug 12, 2008 12:58 am PT

    Well offcourse they tell us that he is starting his own company and it wasn't the flaming of 50K people. But then again, it could be the truth as well.

    The weird thing of the whole is that the concept sketches look totaly different then the final outcome. So this could very well be a cover up.

  • Proman84

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 10:31 pm PT

    If it's still not to late, why not just listen to the people and make the game like the original Diablo?

  • nofxissucky0099

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 9:27 pm PT

    Zythyl, do you actually think the petition and the art directors resignation coincide?

  • Zythyl

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 5:23 pm PT

    Ironic the art-director has resigned in couple with the online petitions...

  • RockySquirrel

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 9:31 am PT

    "Gloom and darkness" goth addicts are just as full of sh*t as any church lady... so loosen up and enjoy.

  • ShotGunBunny

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 9:06 am PT

    Well, too bad I say.
    Besides, why should I even trust in D3 to be good if they can't even decently maintain their D2 servers like they have lately?

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 7:58 am PT

    Seriously, this issue should go six feet under, and be forgotten like... well I forgot. Check my earlier comment on why we should not be surprised at having rainbows and other gayly-gay stuff in a Blizzard game.

  • saidlatr

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 3:46 am PT

    lol k well if the coloring is all that we can find wrong then id say this could be bigger than the first diablo's . I mean look at starcraft when it was introduced it was practically neglected and dubbed orcs in space. I'm pretty sure that blizzard can take the criticism by now. annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnddddd D3 late 09 * Crosss fingers, pray , whatever floats your boat *

  • macmert

    Posted Aug 11, 2008 2:16 am PT

    Well regardless the colors, rainbows and stuff, every Diablo fan on earth will buy it and give it a try... So why bother, we all will play anyway...

  • PieCrusher

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    I don't get why people are complaining. I mean it doesn't take away from the gameplay it enhances it. Though it may lose 50,000 fans because of the new design it will probably gain back those numbers and more. I'm just saying they should stop whining and be excited because its actually finally coming.

  • iggygeneva

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 8:09 pm PT

    I thought the art looks terrific

  • SickM0R0N

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 6:58 pm PT

    The people complaining about the art style are just rediculous as well as tremendously jaded morons. These people are making the game they wish to make, I'm not entirely sure they have to cater to your every wim and fancy. I myself think the game looks great, and I've played through the original two many times over. What should I expect to come from a generation of people getting everything given to them? Exactly what I'm witnessing now, it's purely idiotic. You people are ruining the industry. It's not the rampant pirates, but the children that are masquerading as adults. If you want darker graphics just turn down your gamma kiddos.

  • thaghostgr

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 5:42 pm PT

    i wonder if any1 of those "50" petitioners wouldnt buy a copy of d3 even if little lulu would be in the place of deckard cain

  • Vezra

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    The art director quit ON HIS OWN to start HIS OWN COMPANY. Read the article kids. It had nothing to do with that stupid spam petition that had a max real signatures of no more than 10,000 people. The rest of the sigs was people signing it over and over, some people even admitted to signing it over 100 times.

    Fact is, MORE people like the new art direction. You emo's that want D3 to be so dark you can't see the game are in the minorty. That means, there are less of you. Sorry but you fail.

    Blizzard has already said the art WILL NOT CHANGE. Meaning, just because the current art director left don't mean the game will change it's looks. Not going to happen so get over it.

  • Erebus

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 4:51 pm PT

    If you're a cutter like me, I recommend splashing some blood onto your screen from time to time to help capture the essence of Diablo. This effect works best with a CRT monitor, though still acceptable on an LCD.

  • tomivav

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 1:51 pm PT

    Maybe there is some connection between the petition and this guy leaving. Bigger part of me wishes the old art direction.

  • shade1978x

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 1:26 pm PT

    Why would Blizzard listen to the fans? They have fans because they make successful design decisions, not the other way around. Every idiot on the internet has an opinion. What are they supposed to do? They can't please everyone. All that one petition means is that a few tens of thousands of irate, aimless "Fans" didn't have anything better to do and decided to get all angry about something that they're wasting their energy on.

    In a successful business, you have to just pull the trigger on certain ideas. If they'd gone with the "dirt and rocks" color palette, you'd hear from thousands of other fans complaining that the color is too bland. I'd say Blizzard knows what they're doing, based on the success of their company, and I'm not even a fan of theirs.

  • TENTHROW2

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 10:40 am PT

    read the article children - blizzard didnt fire anyone for the art, the dude resigned to start his own company.

    IMO the game looks fantastic and even better than any of the previous diablo's. The only problem i have with the game is you can see the influence of WOW throughout it.

    As long as they give it some kind of unique feel like i'm sure they will, it'll be a blockbuster.

  • frog154

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 10:01 am PT

    Does anyone remember Doom 3? "Great game but it over-used the dark" people would say exactly the same thing about Diablo 3, this is one of the reasons that the developers did what they did

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 9:40 am PT

    I know that I have written this comment for an earlier news item, but here it is again.

    Come now, you people who are against and for the new "colorful" looks, haven't it come across your minds that the colorful landscapes are just part of the storyline, about a world that had recently been healing after the three Prime Evil's handiwork has been undone? Sure, a rainbow and a meadow there will show you how peaceful and complacent the people of the lands have become, but knowing Blizzard and the tragically bitter stories that they have woven for the Warcraft and Starcraft sagas, these all's-well-and-dandy landscapes would probably go to hell and heck and turn all twisted and dark as you play the game and the "we-are-losing-all-hope" plot element is weaved. Besides, it would sure beat going to Hell again for the THIRD time to whack Diablo's cousins, uncles/aunts, in-laws or other relatives, when you can have Hell ITSELF COME to YOU. That's what the giggly manic landscapes are probably for! They are probably there so they can f**ked up in order to show that bad s**t's coming down and make the story all the more dramatic! Remember, Lordaeron was a nice place, until the Scourge screwed it! And Aiur was a beautiful planet until the Zerg smothered it with creep like an icky XXX-rated buk**ke & naka**si video!

    P.S. If this prediction of mine does actually come true or somewhat accurate, please don't hate me for spoiling your sense of anticipation.

    P.P.S. Please pardon the somewhat ugly second half of the paragraph. I needed some exaggeration to get my point across that Blizzard would not design a beautiful world for a game if it does not intend to desecrate it halfway through the game's dark, bitter plot.

    P.P.P.S. Sad that Blizzard has to let go of some its staff. Hiring a new one would probably set back its development a bit. I hope that it's not kow-towing to those scats who signed the petition.

    P.P.P.P.S. I blame the anime Gintama for my infatuation with post-script (P.S.) addenda.

  • carmig

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 9:35 am PT

    If you need it darker with less color, hit your monitor button and adjust the brightness/contrast and color adjust! Doh! Of all the things to complain about. Be glad there is another Diablo coming out! The new colorization kicks!

  • BLaZe462

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 9:21 am PT

    If fans are morons then why did Blizzard hire EQ2 fans to develop WoW? Seems liked it payed off to me.

  • Gelugon_baat

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 9:14 am PT

    The "cartoonish" looks are okay by me. It would be awesome to cut up some undead and demons under a rainbow. Keep the dank dark atmosphere to games that are INTENDED to have them, like Gears of War. Besides, Diablo III is set in a world that has just recently healed somewhat from the three Prime Evils' handiwork, so I won't find it weird to have rainbows and picturesque waterfalls. Besides, knowing Blizzard, all these Heidi-&-Tom-Sawyer-like landscapes would probably go to hell and back as one plays the game, with the shocking change intended as a surprise development in the story.

    P.S. Altering official screenshots is nothing more than a grave insult to the developers. Remember, games by Blizzard are games by Blizzard, not games by whiners-who-don't-like-rainbows-in-violent-games.

  • DragonElement

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 8:43 am PT

    It's good that Blizzard kept to a straightforward mindset. It seems to me that there is an illusion to many that Blizzard is unconcerned with the masses in retrospect of its design. I haven't read the petition until now and a great abundance of clarity has finally come to my eyes now. I've always believed Blizzard to be very generous when focusing on its fan-base so, although I fully support the artistic design, I couldn't quite pinpoint why they wouldn't even take into account such a wide scale petition with some sort of second thought. As I said before, after reading this supposed "petition" I have a special note to its author, Andre Jota Simoes. If you're going to appeal to a game creater, do so on a formal, friendly level you complete moron. Pardon my sudden change in tone, but after reading this complete piece of garbage, it's no wonder why it didn't even have a prayer at reaching Blizzard's eyesight. This petition is on par of a whinny 3rd grader who attacks Blizzard rather than addressing a possible means of middle ground between the petitioners and the game developer. Aware that I've gone off topic from the current article, I couldn't help but speak a few words about the lack of maturity that went into what could of been a very resourceful and even insightful petition for the development team at Blizzard. The game looks fantastic and hopefully it will appeal to those who even signed the petition.

  • graavigala

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 8:39 am PT

    if the game is too bright for you whiners then adjust the screen colors ffs

  • norabbitnofun

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 3:04 am PT

    The game looks great. Thanks Blizzard for keeping a straight line.
    (As far as I am concerned, as the game became more realistic-looking, it already got dark enough. If I was to wish for anything - not that it matter - it would be for it to look even a little more cartoonish.)

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