My take on the graphics, you are all right in the wrong way.

[scottasin]

Really, what I'm trying to say is this; the graphics for D3 are great IMHO. There have been those sets of pictures posted on every topic about the graphics (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7807/itshouldrh5.jpg). I feel that these pictures are getting closer to what we need, but are too drastic in some ways, and don't bring enough in others.

Some people have pointed out the 'cartoonishness' of the new graphics. I really don't see anything particularly cartoony about them. What I do see that I don't like is a very rounded feel to everything, all of the solid objects seem to round off rather than coming to sharp menacing points .

Other people have pointed out the color scheme, which is wrought with cool, natural hues, like greens and blues. I feel that the Blizz (the big B from now on) could back off a bit on this, but mainly need to bring back more greys, blacks and browns. The only reds and organges IMO should be ambient lighting and blood.

Really, the biggest things missing from what we've seen are the small details, like the flayed corpses in the catacombs, the bloody pentagrams scattered throughout the game, and a general look of disrepair in everything. The dungeon we saw seemed to well kept, where IMO it should seem old and crumbling, the sort of place you'd be afraid to go in, even if you knew there werent demons that wanteed to eat you alive in it, just because you thought it might collapse on you at any moment.

Really, the biggest change I would make is less light, in D1 and 2, items would have to give you more light radius so you could see whats coming, and I think this should be even more important in D3, there are many points in the video where there is an 'ambush' that you see coming from miles. Wouldn't it be neat if you had to have more LR so you can see them coming. In D3 currently, you see to much. All that the Big B has to do is lower the brightness setting and voila, perfect.

The image I posted at the top seemed to get the color scheme closer to what we need, and accentuated the cracks in the floor and broken look of things, but didn't really add anything.

In short, what I'd like to see is more broken, dead and decrepit stuff, a few more blood spatters here or there, and a darker color scheme.

In D2, IMO, the scariest place is the durance of hate, and I think that if D3 looked more like this, I'd be happy. The durance has all sorrts of great scary stuff in it, but most people dont see it because they're too busy teleporting to meph.

[Mihail]

Exactly! Give the game a durance overhaul! Not only that, but take note on how the cathedral looks in terms of disrepair. Excellent post.

[ziocs]

What really bothers me is the inconsistency of the gameplay trailer and the cinematic trailer/artwork. If they made the visual style of the gameplay consistent with the cinematics/artwork, I think it would be a big improvement.

[Sentarius]

Originally Posted by scottasin

Really, what I'm trying to say is this; the graphics for D3 are great IMHO. There have been those sets of pictures posted on every topic about the graphics (http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7807/itshouldrh5.jpg). I feel that these pictures are getting closer to what we need, but are too drastic in some ways, and don't bring enough in others.

Some people have pointed out the 'cartoonishness' of the new graphics. I really don't see anything particularly cartoony about them. What I do see that I don't like is a very rounded feel to everything, all of the solid objects seem to round off rather than coming to sharp menacing points .

Other people have pointed out the color scheme, which is wrought with cool, natural hues, like greens and blues. I feel that the Blizz (the big B from now on) could back off a bit on this, but mainly need to bring back more greys, blacks and browns. The only reds and organges IMO should be ambient lighting and blood.

Really, the biggest things missing from what we've seen are the small details, like the flayed corpses in the catacombs, the bloody pentagrams scattered throughout the game, and a general look of disrepair in everything. The dungeon we saw seemed to well kept, where IMO it should seem old and crumbling, the sort of place you'd be afraid to go in, even if you knew there werent demons that wanteed to eat you alive in it, just because you thought it might collapse on you at any moment.

Really, the biggest change I would make is less light, in D1 and 2, items would have to give you more light radius so you could see whats coming, and I think this should be even more important in D3, there are many points in the video where there is an 'ambush' that you see coming from miles. Wouldn't it be neat if you had to have more LR so you can see them coming. In D3 currently, you see to much. All that the Big B has to do is lower the brightness setting and voila, perfect.

The image I posted at the top seemed to get the color scheme closer to what we need, and accentuated the cracks in the floor and broken look of things, but didn't really add anything.

In short, what I'd like to see is more broken, dead and decrepit stuff, a few more blood spatters here or there, and a darker color scheme.

In D2, IMO, the scariest place is the durance of hate, and I think that if D3 looked more like this, I'd be happy. The durance has all sorrts of great scary stuff in it, but most people dont see it because they're too busy teleporting to meph.

Actually, I disagree. Light radius also triggers monsters, so you want to have items that reduce it as much as possible.

This raises the question of how exactly monsters are triggered in Diablo III. In the gameplay video this morning they always seemed to be at a full charge from off screen.

[raveharu]

Originally Posted by ziocs

What really bothers me is the inconsistency of the gameplay trailer and the cinematic trailer/artwork. If they made the visual style of the gameplay consistent with the cinematics/artwork, I think it would be a big improvement.

I believed they don't want to reveal the storyline, like keep us in suspense.

Originally Posted by scottasin

Really, the biggest things missing from what we've seen are the small details, like the flayed corpses in the catacombs, the bloody pentagrams scattered throughout the game, and a general look of disrepair in everything. The dungeon we saw seemed to well kept, where IMO it should seem old and crumbling, the sort of place you'd be afraid to go in, even if you knew there werent demons that wanteed to eat you alive in it, just because you thought it might collapse on you at any moment.

The trailer is only one of the many places you can venture into D3, yes you noticed the crumbling structures, which IMO is the highlight of that particular area. Corpses, pentagrams etc etc might be the highlights of OTHER places , and adding too much stuff to one particular area might be OVERDOING things a little.

[stillman]

I didn't notice any sort of light radius affect on the chr's. Maybe I'm wrong, but did they remove the mod all together from D3? I sort of thought the glowing classes made them look more heroic and magical. Afterall, they are decked out head to toe in magic items. I'll be a bit sad to see the light radius mod disappear, but I guess they may have thought it to be too insignificant in the previous games.
On a happier note, they switched the measurement system from yards to feet. We all know what a foot is.

[Garisdacar]

i don't think the graphics are done yet, the details like corpses on the ground and stuff are prolly gonna be added later, i imagine.

[Zarniwoop]

It depends on the story.

I really think it's okay to have colorful areas that aren't a run down mess if it's early in the game areas. Before the evil has soaked itself in. But, anything down the road, should be well and truly evil.

I agree with the poster here. There's nothing wrong with colors. But, you have to maintain the feel of terror. Although when that gigantic thing walked by in the background of the in-door dungeon, I about flipped. It had to be HUUUUGE. the hand was the size of the bridge.

As long as it's diverse, and not so prevalently outside as D2, which I've learned to live with, but am not crazy about, and it follows up on the promise just shown, I'm happy.

MY concerns are class balance. The witch doctor did not appeal to me really at all.

[Arioch]

I really like the look of the new graphics. I like how the outdoor environments look almost like a painting. There are going to be plenty of creepy gray underground areas, so I think it's good that some areas have more color and light. No need for everything to be the same.

[Werzoth]

Originally Posted by Zarniwoop

It depends on the story.

I really think it's okay to have colorful areas that aren't a run down mess if it's early in the game areas. Before the evil has soaked itself in. But, anything down the road, should be well and truly evil.

I agree with the poster here. There's nothing wrong with colors. But, you have to maintain the feel of terror. Although when that gigantic thing walked by in the background of the in-door dungeon, I about flipped. It had to be HUUUUGE. the hand was the size of the bridge.

As long as it's diverse, and not so prevalently outside as D2, which I've learned to live with, but am not crazy about, and it follows up on the promise just shown, I'm happy.

MY concerns are class balance. The witch doctor did not appeal to me really at all.

Personally it's not much of a concern. I didnt like several classes in Diablo 2 (druid, assassin, necro) so I just didnt play them. I enjoyed the other classes though. Everyone has a different play style and like different things, hence the multiple classes