Guest Post(s) on Mania's Arcania

[Phaul578]

Here's something:

I'd like to take a moment to discuss what the hell is wrong with Blizzard's graphics department. ESPECIALLY when it comes to Pets. Throughout the years, the World....of Warcraft has undergone significant art style changes. Each expansion bringing more detail into the fold but never straying too far from the cartoon-ish style that has made it timeless (take a hint Rift...in a year..you're going to be 'dated'). Now, back in the day, running around with pets such as Broken Tooth, a ZG bat and especially Humar would get you noticed. Now...they PALE in comparison to the gorgeous detail of today's Cataclysm models for Sambas, Terrorpene, Jadefang, Madexx and other rare skinned beauties. How the rest of the world didn't get a makeover is beyond me. I don't know about you, but looking at my Humar/Pitch sitting in my stable with CLEAR pixellated whiskers makes me want to vomit next to the Vidal Sasson Coif of the one and only Sambas. Sorry, but Sambas resembles what a lion looks like in the wild (if it were drawn by Warcraft artists). Why can't they just spend a few hours upping the polygon count on all of the beastiary of Warcraft. Hell, even the old races look like garbage compared to Worgens and Goblins. Cataclysm was supposed to make the old feel new again, and in some respects they did, in some...they really dropped the ball.

[Slapperfish]

The art team very much wants to update the older races. We feel like it’s something we owe the game and the players. We’re just looking for the right time to dive into that enormous task, without having to take too much time away from making new creatures or armor. We also have to be very careful to improve the graphics without fundamentally changing the way the models look. Players are quite attached to the look of their character, and they can be pretty sensitive to even small changes. We’re continually reminded of that fact.

Blatantly copypasta'd from MMo-Champion.

[Phaul578]

The art team very much wants to update the older races. We feel like it’s something we owe the game and the players. We’re just looking for the right time to dive into that enormous task, without having to take too much time away from making new creatures or armor. We also have to be very careful to improve the graphics without fundamentally changing the way the models look. Players are quite attached to the look of their character, and they can be pretty sensitive to even small changes. We’re continually reminded of that fact.

Blatantly copypasta'd from MMo-Champion.

Yeah I read that excuse into "Yeah we're still not going to do it". The last two sentences are their CYA excuse. I'm sorry but I know no one personally who likes the look of the old characters compared to the gorgeous detail of the Worgen or Goblins. But that's just me.

[cowmuflage]

I like the female cow look thank you very much.

[Sasrei]

When it comes to pets you really can not compare the look of sambas to that of.. the rake, yes Sambas may have a huge mane but the detail of him is incrediable, he doesnt have hairy whiskers either, and Madexx looks so real its scary.. sad that he shrinks down so much though.

But the Hyenas need an overhaul, wouldnt mind the wolves getting a little extra tlc... and the other cats.. it would just be nice to see them cleaned up a little bit

[Lisaara]

Hm....I could possibly. Maybe on how BM is viable for raiding since Blizzard's tweaks.

That would be a good one. I don't often cover that sort of thing.

And many dont seem to realize how viable we are now.

[Gimlion]

Aye, and I like my Dwarf far more than a green impostor or a big furry animal. As well as preferring many old-world models compared to Cata/LK... Wolves(HATE Starving Worgs), Raptors, Scorpids(HATE Maddexx), Lions (HATE Sambas), etc.

[Azunara]

Yeah, not a fan of Sambas either. He's floofy, but meh. Whatever. I also much rather prefered old worgen/goblin skin. So yeah, it's just a huge project, takes time, and they have to balance other stuff, set up new raids, this and that and that and this, so it's a lot of work.

Anyways, I'll write something up today, likely.

[Phaul578]

It's called detail people, they need to at least add more. I love Taurens too, but they need to at least give the option to add more intimate details to the models. Even with the graphics up to Ultra, they look like they were plucked out of a PS2 game. That's just horrid.

[Kalliope]

The guest series has begun!

[Redith]

If posible Id like to blog about how happy I am about getting th 2 new Riding Tiger type skins...Hell I plan on doing a feature vid on ALL the riding cats that have poped since CATA

[Yaone]

The art team very much wants to update the older races. We feel like it’s something we owe the game and the players. We’re just looking for the right time to dive into that enormous task, without having to take too much time away from making new creatures or armor. We also have to be very careful to improve the graphics without fundamentally changing the way the models look. Players are quite attached to the look of their character, and they can be pretty sensitive to even small changes. We’re continually reminded of that fact.

Blatantly copypasta'd from MMo-Champion.

Hi, I just want to toss in my two cents on this. I see complaints all the time about updates they do. Looking at some of the pet changes: Rak'shiri, Deathmaw, and Lupos, well Lupos didn't even make it to live before they changed it back. Then there is mount changes (waves to the white war talbuk) but, all in all I do not think that people would have been angry over any of these changes if they would have updated the model and colors BUT kept the original pet intact. Like fixing the waving hair on the side of Deathmaw's face and generally smoothing out the roughness. In the case of the talbuk, would people have been angry if they would have applied the new texture if the new texture was blue? I wouldn't have personally.

And yes, character models need updating, I cringe when I am on my night elf and on her chopper cause of how the arms look. But don't get me wrong, if I logged in tomorrow and my night elf was now green skinned and black haired and funky make up I would pitch a fit. Now if they left all coloring alone, and updated the model? Well, I would be very happy, and maybe others would be as well.

I think I over shot my two cents. Sorry.

[Nubhorns]

Not completely pet related, but I did write up a Guide on Camping Etiquette not too long ago. I dunno if that would fit, though, and it's been done before. :P

Edit: D'oh, right, 4.1 content. I can read! Honest!

[Lisaara]

Not completely pet related, but I did write up a Guide on Camping Etiquette not too long ago. I dunno if that would fit, though, and it's been done before.

Edit: D'oh, right, 4.1 content. I can read! Honest!

I still think it should be on the blog.

[Serendipity82]

Hm....I could possibly. Maybe on how BM is viable for raiding since Blizzard's tweaks.

That would be a good one. I don't often cover that sort of thing.

And many dont seem to realize how viable we are now.

This. I raid as BM because it's my favorite spec and I'm usually one of the top 2 or 3 for overall dps. *knocks on wood, because I'm sure I just jinxed myself*

[Lisaara]

I hope you'll like the article I wrote. I've sent it to Mania so it should be posted sometime soon.

[Saturo]

Still working on my horrid firemage post!