Also, why should they (or anyone else concerned about something about the game) not talk about the things they would like to see if speaking up now makes it more likely they will get implemented? Certainly, those who think otherwise are allowed to speak their minds, too. That, and there’s no telling what Blizzard will change (if anything) anyway. That some people will be overreacting and exaggerating no matter what is just something you have to take in stride if you take a look at opinions from fans at all.

And on the light radius: well, I liked it. I may like Diablo III just as much without, but hey, at least I know I liked that. ;) That, and it’s obvious there’ll be conflicting opinions on just about anything, so feel free to disagree.

In the end, as I said, the problem may be nonexistent.. but there’s no way to say for sure at this point. Maybe that’s an argument to postpone criticism, but given the circumstances there may be sufficient reasons to speak up now or to have your voice disregarded because it’s all decided anyway.

Talking about how the whole game is too bright right now, or even a wish to change the few bits that are bright is as stupid as saying the game’s now less dark because we don’t see any dead bodies laying around for us to loot even if they’re impaled, hanged, or whatever else we saw in previous games. I’m sure such sights will be apparent throughout the game even if none are visible in the tiny areas we’ve seen so, again, silly to act as if we know nothing like that exists in the game.

Claiming now is the time to speak will only make the stupid whiners think much of themsleves when the full game gets released and it includes a ton of gloomy, bloody, horrifying, nightmare areas and they start talking about how they’re the reason things got done right, when Blizzard had planned it all along. Petitions against rainbows my ass.

As for having a small light radious as in previous games, I’d be against that. I’d like to be able to see the whole screen area and appreciate the environment design more. The way the camera works you already don’t really know what’s expecting you a few metres ahead, there’s no reason to reduce it further by adding a pitch black ring around your character. I guess the effect could be replicated just by making the screen’s edges fade a bit for a smoother finish without really narrowing your field of vision much (or nowhere near as much as in D2 at least) but that’s not a big issue either way.

That’s especially so in the dungeon parts. Now, if Diablo III has ‘durance of hate’-like environs (a rather.. atmospheric and dark dungeon in Diablo II), I’ll be dang pleased. It doesn’t need to be all gloom. But if that dungeon they show is exemplary of all darker areas.. I’ll be a tad disappointed. A tad, because the game looks good, but it’ll be less than it could be.. for the use of colouration and art style does impact the atmosphere of a game.

And what could use a bit of ‘gloom-and-doom-ifying’ may very well include not being able to see the edges of the screen. For me, having that added to the horror-movie like aspect for the many dungeons. It’s a vicious, dark world. Things do crawl up on you out of the dark.

Now, if this actually is an issue (which I think it may well be) the changes necessary needn’t be too big to satisfy many of the dissatisfied fans. But the time to speak is -especially- now, I’d say. For the longer you wait the harder it’ll be for the developer to actually change anything. In fact, it may be too late already, given the fact that the product is out in the open with screenshots, movies and all.

Personally I expect nothing will be changed exactly because of that. I think they’ve decided on a course, an art-concept. And yes, it has some resemblance to the (much brighter and shinier still) other product they’re developing: Starcraft 2. Indeed, I think what we may be seeing in the artwork is the result of a somewhat different art-direction than they had in the days of Diablo II and Starcraft.

Also, given the gameplay of the Diablo franchise, players have little to fear for radical changes there (especially knowing Blizzard). And given the propensity for many hardcore players of Diablo II to keep on hacking for hours upon hours through the various difficulty levels all the way up to level 99, they’ll sure be seeing a lot of the game in the time it takes to get there.. if III follows II in that aspect, which I suspect it will. So I think it’s a rather valid point to target if one is doubting Blizzard’s current direction.

@Twizted Mettle: But it IS their game, too. Really, who other than great fans of the previous Diablo games would bother? It’s simply a case of players actually caring for a product turning out the way they hope it will. That doesn’t mean the petitioners represent the entirety of the fan population, but it doesn’t invalidate their opinions. And I rather doubt Blizzard would like to see any long-time customer of theirs leave. At the very least responding to concerns among the player-base makes for sound business practice.

But on a serious note, “What we ask Blizzard is to find a way of pleasing the fans of the Diablo universe” ….

Hold on a minute, *I’m* a fan, and i LIKE the new graphical direction, where’s my poll?!…regardless of the colours, or lack of, surely the most important factor is how the gameplay feels.

Like many have said, best to reserve judgement till the game is actually out. You never know, Blizzard might put in a Gothic contrast/brightness modifier option to keep everyone happy.

it looks awesome, and we should be happy they even choose to make another Diablo game, SHAME ON YOU idiots bashing the color. I think it looks AWESOME!!!