About Art

Thanks man! Yeah, we knew there'd be alot of controversy over the style, but we're going to be working our hardest to make the game something everyone can play and enjoy

It looks way too cartoonish imo....but it's not so important, since we can make new graphics, and gameplay is what matters.

I really like the fact that you try something new. And you'll surely have a lot of people that whine about it.

But I think that's the best choice to be original in a market plagued with clone-games. I also like the fact that we can handdrawn signs on the map (like the sign that -probably - indicates the place of a hidden treasure : the circle with a cross over it). Or the blue lines that -probably? - indicates the spread of culture. The fact that it isn't round or square is a good way to forget that damn computer we are playing with And if you choose the right musics and the right SFX (for ambiant sounds for instance) to add flavor, this game will surely be a new reference in the genre.

EDIt: and one question .. Is cell shading used?

No. The art is sylized with thick borders, however it is not cel-shaded.

I really enjoy the art - it reminds me of the old Milton bradley game, Dark Tower, with a grim, watercolor cartoon feel.  Some of the screenshots look a little sparse on color/detail but I assume that will change over time.

No, cel-shading is a form of non-photorealistic rendering where lighting values are calculated for 3D models but then, once calculated, are simplified to a very limited set of colors (for instance: black, grey, and light grey). This creates a really defined set of shading values that give in-game assets a very cartoony look.

What we're doing is more of a mix of traditional 3D engine effects, a thick edge outline, and a very unique art style.

I've got one thing to say : keep your unique art style.

'Nuff saif.

Agreed. The artstyle is somehow.... enchanting. I like it quite a bit. But I fear many others don't like it.

I love the art style. I'm sick of fantasy games using dark, sad overtones. It's about time we get a fantasy game in the vein of old-school Fairy Tale art style. It's refreshing and uplifting to me.

I love the artstyle.

I'm sick of all those other games which don't have an artstyle at all (being photorealistic isn't really an artstyle imho). If you look at the screenshots of newer games, they all look the same to me. So give my comic style, brillant color style or thick edges as used here.

And imho the screenshot of the battle between the dragon and the soldier looks awesome, so congrats to the arty gals and guys.

It wouldn't be good art if it didn't annoy some while it appealed to others. The drab stuff is just unremarkable design.

Even though I agree that the art is completely second place to game play, I like the look. (This site skin is also much easier on the eyes than dear old GC2, and I like not having all that wasted space on the left side of thread pages.)

The art style seems promising, promising indeed. I especially like the "cover art" which has a really good fantasy feel and also gives an impression of the type of game it is.

When it comes to graphics, like for the map, what we see today should only be the beginning. For example, the trees etc look very much like individual symbols, less like a view down into an enchanted, mystical forest. But this is only the first stage I guess.

I haven't seen a lot of the artwork, but I'm really looking forward to seeing it 'in motion' -- it looks really good, in a non-cluttered sort of way.

Now there's a tasty idea. BoogieBac, any chance of a vid-cap soon? Maybe just units in the breeze (if there is a breeze)?

Have you guys seen the comments about the graphics on the various forums? Many people are whining about the graphics style already.

I think that might be why vieuxchat started this thread.

Yep I want to be sure that devs have already chosen their art direction. Because it would be a shame if they change the way it looks. Yes it's a bit cartoonish. But how many games have the same look? I'm really fed up of thos clone-games that don't a some kind of "spirit". I really hope the dev will just ignore those that don't like the graphics.

Forumers whined in masses about Diablo III graphic style. So what?

It's all good and fine to whine, let them whine once the finish product is out there.

It was specified time and again that these are preliminary only. I think they look good now I can only imagine what it will be when it's done.

You make it sound like I'd care about what others are saying (well, except to argue with them when they're wrong, agree with 'em when they're right).

I'm sure Annatar or Eets (whichever is floating around in here) will be happy to correct you on that assumption.

"I don't give a dern what other people think
What do ya think about that"

What do ya think about that

-Montgomery Gentry

Ummm.... I'm starting to feel stupid. Everytime I post about the art in a thread a new one pops up and the comments about the art in the other threads vanish. Anyway, for the fourth time, my opinion on the visual style is thus:

I really like the artistic style so far. It has that 70's fantasy graphic art pen and ink visual quality to it. A very elegant touch if done right to be sure - at least for an old timer like myself. It puts me in mind of the images of Alan Lee, Darrell Sweet & John Howe.

Just another voice saying: The art looks good, keep it up!

Sorry I didn't see any other thread to thank the devs for such an awesome art direction. 

Spartan: That's weird if your posts are getting deleted, but I've definatly seen your approval of the style (and greatly appreciate it).  It's funny 'cause our style guide has both Howe and Lee as prominant inspiration (with Mucha inspiring the 'classy graphical pen with realistic shapes' feel).

But we'll save a journal to REALLY talk about artistic inspiration. 

Really like the funky art style. Would love to see more details on the ground and out and about thought. Also for characters and trees not to look so 2d'ish on the map, but im sure that would come along once the engine and game are developed more.Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good work!!!