Real Pictures hidden in Skill Icons? - Guild Wars Forums

Killed u man · Jun 29, 2008, 07:15 PM // 19:15

It's not a secret Anet has put some "personal touch" into their game. Heck, I praise them for it. I've seen ALOT of special things, such as the rock in Pre-Searing. (SS+HH I think it says, not sure) -Referring to the 2 devs who got married I think?-

Anyways, I recently was looking into the "High definition" skill icons, and I've noticed some "real life" picture. Now, 2 things are either going on:

Or it actually is pictures of Anet crew they put in there

Or the graphical team once again showed their amazing abilities in creating real-life details within something as small as a skill icon.

Any ideas on this?

Judge yourselves from these few examples:

Same guy in these pictures?

Same girl in these ones?

Insanely real life details on this old man:

I am intrigued by GW art. No doubt GW is one of the best looking MMO's out there. (It's a bit outdated, but it most definatly set a new standard for MMO's) And the Art (Non quality related) is amazing, especially the Factions one...

Kerwyn Nasilan · Jun 29, 2008, 07:20 PM // 19:20

If I am not mistaken the guy in your first few pics is a developer.

dilan155 · Jun 29, 2008, 08:13 PM // 20:13

all developers have their own unique way of leaving a little of themselves in their games, this is the way GW has elected to do it. pretty nicely hidden too, unless you look at the high-def version some pics are hard to see, others like the pic in gaze can be seen clrearly

Killed u man · Jun 29, 2008, 09:36 PM // 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilan155

all developers have their own unique way of leaving a little of themselves in their games, this is the way GW has elected to do it. pretty nicely hidden too, unless you look at the high-def version some pics are hard to see, others like the pic in gaze can be seen clrearly

Ye, I like how the guy with the beard actually is doing well in living up to the skill names:

Look at Gaze of Contempt, and Oppressive Gaze...

Gotta love Anet for their graphical skills (Graphical team anyways) and the many "easter eggs", if you can call 'em that way.

aaje vhanli · Jun 30, 2008, 12:38 AM // 00:38

I have always noticed the real-life photo manipulation going on in the skill icons, but it's really great to see them at such a high quality.

How did you get them at such large resolution? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to examine all the skill icons at this size.

Killed u man · Jun 30, 2008, 01:28 AM // 01:28

Ye, I hear ya.

I always liked certain skill icons, but seeing them king-size is pretty much re-discovering the game.

Did you know [Bestial Mauling] is actually an animal (Prolly a Tiger) biting a person in the neck?

The tiger is in the left, and the guy is on the botton, he's using both his arms to pull the tiger off.
I spend 2 years asking on vent to people WHAT the icon really was, and no-one ever knew...

Amazing art...

Anyways, here is the link to the t hread. Props to the creator of him, and once again: Graphical team, you guys deserve an award, which you prolly already got somewhere. AMAZING job with GW1, and I hope GW2 will be just as amazing, graphical-wise...

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10295191

Sab · Jun 30, 2008, 02:03 AM // 02:03

Thanks for the link, I never realised these existed. It looks like Prophecies icons are all hand-painted, and icons from the later games tend to be photo-edits if the design allows for it. The two that come to mind are:

(from http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10298741)

buckscrib · Jun 30, 2008, 02:05 AM // 02:05

That is very impressive.

pamelf · Jun 30, 2008, 07:19 AM // 07:19

Wow, can you just take a person's photo and use it like that??

dilan155 · Jun 30, 2008, 07:58 PM // 19:58

with good skils and something like photoshop it is possible, but a bit complicated for ppl who havent done it before

Neo Nugget · Jun 30, 2008, 09:53 PM // 21:53

Pain is another i'd like to see up close.
I haven't noticed that many real life pictures in those skills :O

Aera · Jun 30, 2008, 10:03 PM // 22:03

The one of frustration fits Izzy perfectly

Here's some extra info on the skill icons btw:

Really nice thread in community works:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10295191

People trying to find out what what is:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10206095
( Might be redundant now )

pamelf · Jul 01, 2008, 03:10 AM // 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by dilan155

with good skils and something like photoshop it is possible, but a bit complicated for ppl who havent done it before

Oh I know it's POSSIBLE (that part's easy) I was just wondering at it's legality. I must assume that rights to the shot were bought from the hodlers...

Aera · Jul 01, 2008, 06:24 AM // 06:24

Obviously it's legal, there are staff members in there and professional models.

luminoire · Jul 01, 2008, 07:14 AM // 07:14

i wouldn't call most of these high-quality. no offense to anet.

they're great for how small of a visual field their utilization in game warrants, but the full-sized icons show a lot of laziness. most photomanips are rather poorly and sloppily done, although some painted skill icons and particularly those of intricate design like ether signet, etc are very well done even at full-size.

obsidian ectoplasm · Jul 01, 2008, 07:26 AM // 07:26

why arnt i in one of those?

I can just imagne some rich ass mofo paying off anet for there face in one of these lol

pamelf · Jul 01, 2008, 08:57 AM // 08:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aera

Obviously it's legal, there are staff members in there and professional models.

No, the one of Mila Kunis is a publicity shot for That 70's Show... Staff members, totally fine, model images taken especially for the skills, of course it's legal. My question is purely regarding the image of Mila Kunis.

deluxe · Jul 01, 2008, 01:45 PM // 13:45

["it's just a flesh wound!"]
I love this one, they removed the arm and all

It's just a flesh wound!

Sleeper Service · Jul 01, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15

undertakers gaze of contempt.

there are quite a few of the skill icons (all female) in the mesmer skill set (same person that did tease im guessing) that look copied.

some of them look awfully familiar but im terrible with names.

A Leprechaun · Jul 01, 2008, 02:43 PM // 14:43

Whoever is in the tease picture is gorgeous. Do you think she is in any way related to guild wars? Or just a model? Or maybe totally unrelated but they stole her picture from somewhere ^^.

~A Leprechaun~

Jun 29, 2008, 07:15 PM // 19:15	#1
Killed u man Forge Runner Join Date: Feb 2006	Real Pictures hidden in Skill Icons? It's not a secret Anet has put some "personal touch" into their game. Heck, I praise them for it. I've seen ALOT of special things, such as the rock in Pre-Searing. (SS+HH I think it says, not sure) -Referring to the 2 devs who got married I think?- Anyways, I recently was looking into the "High definition" skill icons, and I've noticed some "real life" picture. Now, 2 things are either going on: Or it actually is pictures of Anet crew they put in there Or the graphical team once again showed their amazing abilities in creating real-life details within something as small as a skill icon. Any ideas on this? Judge yourselves from these few examples: Same guy in these pictures? Same girl in these ones? Insanely real life details on this old man: I am intrigued by GW art. No doubt GW is one of the best looking MMO's out there. (It's a bit outdated, but it most definatly set a new standard for MMO's) And the Art (Non quality related) is amazing, especially the Factions one...

Jun 30, 2008, 02:05 AM // 02:05	#8
buckscrib Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Jan 2006 Guild: COL	That is very impressive. Last edited by buckscrib; Jun 30, 2008 at 03:01 AM // 03:01..

Jun 30, 2008, 09:53 PM // 21:53	#11
Neo Nugget Site Contributor Join Date: Jan 2006 Profession: R/	Pain is another i'd like to see up close. I haven't noticed that many real life pictures in those skills :O __________________ "Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return."

Jul 01, 2008, 01:45 PM // 13:45	#18
deluxe Desert Nomad Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Monkeyball Z Guild: S.K.A.T. [Ban] Profession: Mo/	["it's just a flesh wound!"] I love this one, they removed the arm and all It's just a flesh wound! Last edited by deluxe; Jul 01, 2008 at 01:47 PM // 13:47..

Jun 29, 2008, 07:20 PM // 19:20	#2
Kerwyn Nasilan Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WHERE DO YOU THINK Profession: W/	If I am not mistaken the guy in your first few pics is a developer.

Jun 29, 2008, 08:13 PM // 20:13	#3
dilan155 Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2007 Location: living room Profession: N/	all developers have their own unique way of leaving a little of themselves in their games, this is the way GW has elected to do it. pretty nicely hidden too, unless you look at the high-def version some pics are hard to see, others like the pic in gaze can be seen clrearly

Jun 30, 2008, 12:38 AM // 00:38	#5
aaje vhanli Krytan Explorer Join Date: Dec 2006	I have always noticed the real-life photo manipulation going on in the skill icons, but it's really great to see them at such a high quality. How did you get them at such large resolution? I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to examine all the skill icons at this size.

Jun 30, 2008, 01:28 AM // 01:28	#6
Killed u man Forge Runner Join Date: Feb 2006	Ye, I hear ya. I always liked certain skill icons, but seeing them king-size is pretty much re-discovering the game. Did you know [Bestial Mauling] is actually an animal (Prolly a Tiger) biting a person in the neck? The tiger is in the left, and the guy is on the botton, he's using both his arms to pull the tiger off. I spend 2 years asking on vent to people WHAT the icon really was, and no-one ever knew... Amazing art... Anyways, here is the link to the t hread. Props to the creator of him, and once again: Graphical team, you guys deserve an award, which you prolly already got somewhere. AMAZING job with GW1, and I hope GW2 will be just as amazing, graphical-wise... http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10295191

Jun 30, 2008, 02:03 AM // 02:03	#7
Sab Desert Nomad Join Date: Dec 2005	Thanks for the link, I never realised these existed. It looks like Prophecies icons are all hand-painted, and icons from the later games tend to be photo-edits if the design allows for it. The two that come to mind are: (from http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10298741)

Jun 30, 2008, 07:19 AM // 07:19	#9
pamelf Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Australia Guild: Lost Templars [LoTe] Profession: Me/Mo	Wow, can you just take a person's photo and use it like that??

Jun 30, 2008, 07:58 PM // 19:58	#10
dilan155 Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2007 Location: living room Profession: N/	with good skils and something like photoshop it is possible, but a bit complicated for ppl who havent done it before

Jun 30, 2008, 10:03 PM // 22:03	#12
Aera Forge Runner Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm] Profession: E/	The one of frustration fits Izzy perfectly Here's some extra info on the skill icons btw: Really nice thread in community works: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10295191 People trying to find out what what is: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10206095 ( Might be redundant now )

Jul 01, 2008, 06:24 AM // 06:24	#14
Aera Forge Runner Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: Galactic President Superstar Mc [awsm] Profession: E/	Obviously it's legal, there are staff members in there and professional models.

Jul 01, 2008, 07:14 AM // 07:14	#15
luminoire Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2005	i wouldn't call most of these high-quality. no offense to anet. they're great for how small of a visual field their utilization in game warrants, but the full-sized icons show a lot of laziness. most photomanips are rather poorly and sloppily done, although some painted skill icons and particularly those of intricate design like ether signet, etc are very well done even at full-size.

Jul 01, 2008, 07:26 AM // 07:26	#16
obsidian ectoplasm Desert Nomad Join Date: Jan 2008	why arnt i in one of those? I can just imagne some rich ass mofo paying off anet for there face in one of these lol

Jul 01, 2008, 02:15 PM // 14:15	#19
Sleeper Service Jungle Guide Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: CULT	undertakers gaze of contempt. there are quite a few of the skill icons (all female) in the mesmer skill set (same person that did tease im guessing) that look copied. some of them look awfully familiar but im terrible with names.

Jul 01, 2008, 02:43 PM // 14:43	#20
A Leprechaun Desert Nomad Join Date: Feb 2006 Profession: W/	Whoever is in the tease picture is gorgeous. Do you think she is in any way related to guild wars? Or just a model? Or maybe totally unrelated but they stole her picture from somewhere ^^. ~A Leprechaun~