Art direction over the years

[craiglitw]

<p>I was wondering why the art direction of eq2 has changed so much over the years.  </p><p>I used to enjoy the semi-realistic look such as the rusted ebon armor most tanks wore during T5.  It seems once DoF hit the direction got all mixed up (eg. the cobalt armor set that lasted one day) and with KoS the clown armor sets appeared.  And then finally somewhere down the line and culminating with Shard of Hate the game has taken a cartoony/primary color/wow look instead of a classical D&D approach that it had started with.  It seems like instead of leading the crowd as it did at the beginning it has begun to follow the crowd without a clear art direction.</p><p>Has the art director been a different person for each expansion?  Was the addition of the SOGA studios being mixed with american artwork the reason?  Eq2 just doesn't seem to have a clear direction with regards to its art .. and the direction it is heading seems to remove some of the maturity/experience the game had to it.</p><p>Anyone elses view on this?</p>

[1000Words]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. I too feel it has changed and prefer the original release look, more realistic colors and design.

[Xehl]

<cite>craiglitw wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I was wondering why the art direction of eq2 has changed so much over the years.  </p><p>I used to enjoy the semi-realistic look such as the rusted ebon armor most tanks wore during T5.  It seems once DoF hit the direction got all mixed up (eg. the cobalt armor set that lasted one day) and with KoS the clown armor sets appeared.  And then finally somewhere down the line and culminating with Shard of Hate the game has taken a cartoony/primary color/wow look instead of a classical D&D approach that it had started with.  It seems like instead of leading the crowd as it did at the beginning it has begun to follow the crowd without a clear art direction.</p><p>Has the art director been a different person for each expansion?  Was the addition of the SOGA studios being mixed with american artwork the reason?  Eq2 just doesn't seem to have a clear direction with regards to its art .. and the direction it is heading seems to remove some of the maturity/experience the game had to it.</p><p>Anyone elses view on this?</p></blockquote>It's really interesting to see others comment on this. While I won't condemn any particular style of art, it is rather sad how much the style of eq2 has changed. When keeping to a single zone it isn't something I think about, but when I visit one of the old zones I always get somewhat surprised at how much more realistic it is than I'm used to.The original style was, like you said, semi-realistic. It was like a romanticized variant of the real world, with exaggerated lights and colors allowing the magic of the fantasy-world come alive. The current style, while perhaps not "cartoony", definitely tries to look more like a painting or drawing than a rendition of the real world. The colors are no more exaggerated than before, but the palette is much closer to what you'd use for obviously fictional work like cartoons than what you find in the real world.While both styles have their charm, the mix of them is harder to accept. The dominance of colorful textures over things like bump mapping and shaders to simulate real world materials also gives the impression that the game is losing graphical quality. Of course it is not true, since the details are still there, but the details get lost in the new art style.Personally I wish EQ2 would return to the original style, but I wonder how many agree with me?

[Armawk]

<p>I agree, but I think we are in a tiny minority frankly <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Neriak for example is regularly held up as how things should look over freeport, where I see the exact opposite. I see simplified overexaggerated modelling with garish colours and often little bump mapping (look at the new goblin model for RoK.. its not an eq2 look or technique at all its right out of another games stylebook) </p><p>There are still zones and models which shine, there really are. Jarsath wastes is very very nice for example.. and some of the weapons and shields and objects coming through are fantastic, and where an artist does do a full bump mapped 'real  world' model job they do it well, often better than they used to.. but the overall stlye direction is not to my tastes.</p>

[Valentina]

All you have to do is look at the epics to realize EQ2 is not about trying to present things in a realistic fashion* anymore. I mean... Yikes. *within the context of a fantasy world, of course.

[KefkaQ]

I'm of a mixed feeling about this. I'm a new player. I absolutely hated Freeport (It's ugly, it's grimy...but maybe that's the point!), but I liked how Qeynos looks. I really like how Kelethin and Faydar looks so far. I'm not too keen on Timorous Deep though. Something about the green on the ground there just bothers me. Like it's trying too hard to be colorful. I enjoy the quests and such there, but that green...it bugs me!I really like Darklight woods and Neriak as well. I've only been in a few of the old world zones thus far. I like Antonica, but Commonlands bothers me.

[Armawk]

Its always interesting how different people see things.. For me, the commonlands on decent settings, especially at certain times of day, is probably the best visual zone in the game.

[Erithe]

It's important to remember, as well, that they had more time to create the original zones than they have had with the newer ones.  At least, that's my understanding of things. Also, it's not the original design team creating the new expansion zones.  If you look at EQ1, you'll see differences between the quality and design of the zones.  Part of this is new technology, but part of it is that each expansion is supposed to be different, to evoke a different feeling.  So I think it's a mix of these things.  I have enjoyed the visuals in each new area when the new expansions come out ... though, not without finding things that I don't like, too.  It's the way of things.  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  So far, EQ2 hasn't done anything horrible at all.  As far as Artwork goes, I think they've got some really creative people.As to the green in Tim Deep ... I kinda liked it.  hee  ... sorry.

[Aurumn]

<p>I've only been playing for a little over a year, but I also noticed the way going from one zone to another can be shocking at times. One thing that sticks out was the first time I zoned into Bonemire... "acid trip" was the first thing that came to mind. The whole zone looks like an animated blacklight poster. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/97ada74b88049a6d50a6ed40898a03d7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> Of course after I got over the initial giggle fit I like the zone well enough. </p><p>Faydwer was what got me to cave in and buy the game because I couldn't resist the idea of a tree city. Everything was so lush and detailed. The hotsprings area in steam font, SS/PoF, FD and DLW/Neriak are all favorites of mine. Things have taken a progressively more cartoonish flavor, but in a way you can see it as a progression toward areas with more... magical roots. The more touched by magic the more fantastical the zone. Old world zones are a bit more mundane and therefore more realistic & gritty. Thinking of it that way it's easier to swallow, but I would hate to wake up one day to think I logged into the wrong game.  </p>

[AnnMarieR]

<p>I'll have to jump around the topics a little for this reply, but for good reason I assure you.</p><p>There is and was this love of the semi-realistic, of the armour and world. And there is the hate of it out there too, because if you go too far down that route, you get drab... mud against mud.</p><p> When EQ2 started, there as the landscape and the decor.... most people loved the landscape/decor... a lot of people hated the armour etc. The pre-release video's had show us spiked shoulders, stylish wear, even hinting at skimpy at times.... some people didn't approve but the majority reaction was Yes. Then it was released and all that flair had vanished, some think to get the age-rating it did. More importantly, people found the same-old same-old bland armours honestly boring. There was quite an outcry about it, and the usual demand from armour dyes. Sony have stated that they don't want to do dyes....so what can they do.... they can brighten up the drab, give us some oddercolour armour... ad... shock... Appearance, where we can hide the mismatch i we want.</p><p>As for the landscape, I admit, its become brighter in modern zones.... WoW-bright its not, but brighter all the same. But you have to remember also, that if a new zone looks like the old, they'll get complaints, looks brighter, they get complaints, but if it attracts new players... then new has to outweight old. End of the day, would you stagnate the EQ2 populous for the sakeof selling the same ground textures, diferent height-map, or find something new texture-wise to not only make it more vibrant, but also tease and tempt the WoW players over or a play?</p><p>Anyway, hopefully you get my points,</p><p>Yours,</p><p>Ann-Marie</p>

[Arbreth]

<p>I personally have no quarrels with any of the landscapes, be they Bonemire Blue, LavaStorm Orange, Solusek Red, Sinking Sands Yellow, Ferrott Green, or any of the dozen or so other zones dominated by a particular color or theme.  I like the variety and have no problem dealing with the fantasy - to a point.</p><p>I am, though, noticing the creeping WoWification and that does disturb me.  I do not want to play WoW.</p><p>Please, no more day-glo colored armor!  (I would like a choice whithout being blinded - I mean really, have you seen the flouresant green chainmail yet?  Yikes)</p><p>Stop importing the wildlife.  I understand that some things will look similar, but... *bah*  See the comment on realism below.</p><p>Please, let us not make things 'easier' - I like this game because it makes me think. (Yes, I am one of those idiots that misses shards~sigh)</p><p>I'm a Mystic, darn it all, I do not want to look or act like a scout, and while whackability is nice for soloing - I am a healer/warder/debuffer, in short stop trying to balance us all into one class.  Viva la difference!</p><p>Yes, make it more 'real', there is no reason that something fantastical has to look like a cartoon, not with the advances in digital art and increasingly sophisticated technology.</p><p>*stops, looks around and mutters something about posting on more than two cups of coffee and less than 3 hours sleep~wanders off past a house sized zucchinni and disppears from sight*</p>

[ke'la]

<cite>craiglitw wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I was wondering why the art direction of eq2 has changed so much over the years.  </p><p>I used to enjoy the semi-realistic look such as the rusted ebon armor most tanks wore during T5.  It seems once DoF hit the direction got all mixed up (eg. the cobalt armor set that lasted one day) and with KoS the clown armor sets appeared.  And then finally somewhere down the line and culminating with Shard of Hate the game has taken a cartoony/primary color/wow look instead of a classical D&D approach that it had started with.  It seems like instead of leading the crowd as it did at the beginning it has begun to follow the crowd without a clear art direction.</p><p>Has the art director been a different person for each expansion?  Was the addition of the SOGA studios being mixed with american artwork the reason?  Eq2 just doesn't seem to have a clear direction with regards to its art .. and the direction it is heading seems to remove some of the maturity/experience the game had to it.</p><p>Anyone elses view on this?</p></blockquote><p>You know if you have a toon in thier 50s or so you can still that style ebon armor off the armorsmith NPCs, for your Apearance Slot. I know its off topic I just wanted you to know it's available.</p><p>Back on topic, I agree the game armor is looking less realistic, and I think the problem is not them following WoW, as so much as it is the fact that they are trying to create Unque armor without the time to make new Armor Models, therefor they have to get more and more "creative"(read less realistic) with the textures in order to provide some semblance of Unqueness.</p>

[Xita]

you know when the armor drops off a dorag, i have a hard time worrying about realism. The game did need more eye candy, and the armor that came from the shattered lands and dof had the girtty feel of those places, KOS comes in all bets are off, which they probably should be, then you go to faydwer and a different look comes in, and finally the look of kunark is very stylized as well. you can tell where aremor came form by its appearance for the most part, just like you can tell people from europe apart from americans by the way they dress... (how many germans do you see wearing a yankees ball cap?)