Curse

zwitterion · Aug 20, 2008, 04:51 PM // 16:51

you've probably seen it, in all its embarrassing failure to present anything beyond ARPG tropes that were old 8 years ago, but if you haven't go look at the gameplay trailer for diablo 3. Ok we recognize that nothing is new under the sun and all that, but look at that skillbar (it's clearer in the vid than in this little capture) - I feel, if you're going to employ a UI device that is already a key part of the gameplay experience of a rival game, and configure it exactly the same way as said rival game has (an 8 slot click to activate skillbar positioned bottom middle might be a fairly common UI element you might argue but the similarities here I think go beyond just common design principles and land squarely in the realm of blatantly copied design [granted i haven't used it, so it might not be that mechanically simple]) - you at least then want to try and make up differentiated elements for it. Using GWs style coloring on your GWs style icons for your GWs style skillbar just seems like a bit much - especially if you then go and lift icon designs as well. Lining them up now I can see that they're at least not exact copies but still - isn't that windborn speed there?

and I'm pretty sure that's executioner's strike there on the end . At least the wary stance icon there has been mostly recomposed rather than just recolored.

So what's the deal? I don't get how it's "ok" for them to do this, on the preview build of their game. I know ANet and the diablo team have History together, but are they sharing an art director? Even if they're just appreciative of the useability of the look and feel of a GWs skillbar, the icon copying seems sloppy at best. At worst it seems makes the game seem bizarrely derivative for a shop like Blizzard.

netniwk · Aug 20, 2008, 05:27 PM // 17:27

Zahr Dalsk · Aug 20, 2008, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Blizzard has always been ripping things off from better companies, notably Games Workshop, but I'm surprised they'd start ripping things off from lesser companies, like ArenaNet. So eh, maybe they did, maybe they didn't.

Anarkii · Aug 20, 2008, 07:14 PM // 19:14

Internet conspiracies are srs business.

some guy · Aug 20, 2008, 07:19 PM // 19:19

the 1 left of the cross skill thing looks like iway

I can see blizzard rubbing it in, since diablo 3 will crush GW 2.

you guys know blizzard humor right?

MrGuildBoi · Aug 20, 2008, 07:37 PM // 19:37

The first one on the right side looks like [skill]"I Will Avenge You!"[/skill]

zwitterion · Aug 20, 2008, 08:42 PM // 20:42

I don't really get what the conspiracy would be here I just think it's bizarre that they'd recreate(/lift) another game's UI so faithfully (/blatantly). I figured game designers had more pride, and game marketing more need for differentiation than that.

pamelf · Aug 20, 2008, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Given that anet are ex blizzard employees is it at all possible that these icons were lying aroun the blizzard vaults free for all to use? Just a thought...

Snograt · Aug 20, 2008, 09:48 PM // 21:48

ArenaNet was formed by Mike O'Brien, Patrick Wyatt and Jeff Strain, former Blizzard Entertainment members.

Payback time?

Hehe.

[edit - rats, slow posting again]