Comments on: Conceptual: Borderlands’ New Style Revealed

By: Solario

Solario — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:44:15 +0000

If people want photorealism, look at a photo, go outside or watch a movie. Realism is boring.

And I can’t really answer on Gillen behalf, but it’s my understanding that 2000AD’s economic and ownership policies leave some to be desired. Which is why there’s a good couple of British comic artists and writers that refrain from being involved with them, especially after somewhat establishing themselves in the industry. I could very well be wrong, but that’s my current understanding.

By: Baris

Baris — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:46:33 +0000

I’m fine with the whole not cel-shaded but is kinda maybe deal, but is there some law that says game + cel-shading= thin characters?

By: Muzman

Muzman — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 12:01:20 +0000

For the record, I agree. I’m for this sort of thing in principle, got nothing against the design style either. I just don’t like this shot very much (and am slightly perturbed by the gushing it’s getting. It looks like someone took a normal screenshot and ran it through Photoshop’s watercolour filter)

By: apnea

apnea — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:24:47 +0000

@Muzman

It’s a start, at least. Compared with the slurry of Military Grittiness and Cartoony Impertinence, it’s getting there.

I concede that it could be better, of course. But then, 2008 – Year of the EA – crushed any innocence this gamer had left.

By: Psychopomp

Psychopomp — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:04:19 +0000

In contrast, my anticipation went from 0% to 100%

By: Kanakotka

Kanakotka — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:16:24 +0000

My anticipation went from 90% to 10%. It looks terrible in comparison to what they were going to have (see first trailer, see E3 footage)

By: TheFanciestofPants

TheFanciestofPants — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:44:33 +0000

FUCK YEAH BORDERLANDS.

Cool new art style, would have bought it anyway, but blimey! Bonus!

By: Stompbox

Stompbox — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:43:54 +0000

I don’t know maybe it’s because my background is in the fine arts rather than illustration, (although I can’t imagine illustrators think this is that innovative either) but I’m not sure I see the big deal here. I mean give those 2 a sandwich and it wouldn’t look terribly different from other games.
Incidentally while we’re appropriating aesthetic styles why not steal from someone interesting like Giacometti? Or a horror game based on Francis Bacon could be brilliant.

By: Muzman

Muzman — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 22:56:25 +0000

apnea: it was more that it doesn’t resemble either of them nearly enough

By: El Stevo

El Stevo — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:54:29 +0000

@John

You can’t just split sentences in half when writing haikus.

By: apnea

apnea — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 19:32:04 +0000

@Muzman

Actually, the style makes me think of Sparth, not Mullins.

By: Duoae

Duoae — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:56:03 +0000

Meh, it’s still ‘Cel shading’… coming up with fancy new names for something that’s already established as “a type of non-photorealistic rendering designed to make computer graphics appear to be hand-drawn” is just a marketing ploy – unless of course everyone is claiming that “*cinemaction” (TM) is a valid term now as well?

That being said, the game is gorgeous. I just hate people who feel like they need to change a term because they’re afraid to stand behind their decisions…. aka Valve/Stardock/Windows “It’s not DRM, this is better!” syndrome.

*See the Space Marine action game videos