Blizzard hiring new Diablo III art chief

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Aug 7, 2008 1:53 pm PT

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.

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