Hi all! Present to your attention new article from the series “The Art of Model Making”! Chris Robinson, art director of World of Warcraft, is with you again, and today's conversation will be devoted to a very important element of the game for players - character customization.
When we first started working on the new models, it was already clear that this was a very large-scale undertaking, and we were not sure that we would be able to achieve absolutely all of our goals before the expansion was released. Initially, we intended to update only a few races, and add other models in subsequent updates. Although the presence of new models in the game along with old-style models is not the most the best option, at that moment it seemed to us the only possible one. But over time, we decided to outdo ourselves and prepare new models for all characters for the release of the expansion. It was a truly monumental task for us, and now that the expansion is just around the corner, we know for sure that it was worth it.
Now we are focusing on thoroughly working out all the options for customizing the characters' faces. Due to the simplified geometry and low resolution textures, the facial expressions of older models could often only be changed by directly applying a new design using new textures. But now we have high-poly models with defined lips, teeth and facial muscles (not to mention higher resolution textures), so creating new facial expressions will require more than just painting a character's face. Previously, a smile could simply be drawn on a character's face. Now, to create a believable and cool facial expression, you need to create a special texture, customize the animation and tie it to an existing facial expression.
By the way, initially we were going to introduce new features into the game that are available when customizing the face, also as updates are released. It was assumed that only basic facial expression options would initially be available for the new models, and additional features will appear in updates after the expansion is released. As in the previous case, in our forecasts we relied on the fact that our work actually involves the creation of completely new races (in terms of visual style and design), and this is not counting the huge amounts of content for the add-on itself. However, we've thought about it and decided that it wouldn't be right to force players to use the same character faces with slight differences in textures. Before the release of the corresponding update, you would have to play without any idea of what the hero should really look like. As a result, we decided that it was necessary to expand the ability to customize faces for all races and introduce them into the game along with the release of the add-on. At the moment, you only know one set of facial geometry settings, but as updates for the beta version are released, more and more new options will open up!
To imitate the grin of the original dwarf model (left), the teeth had to be drawn directly on the upper lip. In the new models, the teeth are a separate element on which the corresponding textures are applied, so it is impossible to simply “draw” a new facial expression (it would look simply monstrous). The center model shows what a dwarf's grin looks like in the current beta version of the game, and the model on the right shows what it will look like after the update.
On the left are old models of orc faces. The second vertical row shows what the orc models look like in the beta at the moment. Although different textures are used for these facial expressions, the geometry of the faces remains the same. The third row presents a skeleton model, allowing us to customize the hero's facial expression. And on the right you can see the final result.
We are working hard to ensure that new character models meet both the requirements of the players themselves and our own. Creating new hero models is colossal project, which is very important to us. We are sure that you care about him too! We're excited to see Azeroth transformed with these amazing new high quality models. We hope you enjoy the new looks of your favorite characters!
Thank you all for your attention. See you!
In Blizzard's live chat, answering a question about new models for characters in WoW, . But to me this joke looks like an attempt to hide the impending bomb announcement. And I would like to talk a little about models, express my point of view on this issue.
First and most importantly, I am 100% convinced that the models will be ready for the next addon and that is why there will be no official new races in the next addon.
In fact, it seems to me that we have long been led to what the new models might look like. They check what players like and don’t like. For example, we already have two types of new orcs: the brutally muscular Garrosh and the lime-green, medium-built Thrall. Which one is the “real orc”?
We have the hunchbacked and crooked Voljin and the upright Zandalari. Both of them have 3 fingers - and they are all trolls.
It’s significant, by the way, that WoWHead, when viewing a 3D model of the Zandalari, gives just such a stuffed animal in armor from head to toe, and not the naked model that we see in the game...
Lyrical digression: banter with banter, - jokes, and saurok is also an option =)
Further more
Perhaps this topic is no longer new. Perhaps it has already been raised. And it is very possible that she looks far-fetched and naive. But in my opinion, it is quite obvious that since we are starting to rework the models, it would be stupid not to expand the list of visual images, perhaps even introduce several sub-races.
Moreover, it is not necessary to justify what you read below from a role-playing point of view. In support of this, I will give you 2 screenshots (they are very bad - from the first beta of Pandaria, but they reflect the essence):
1. The canonical phrase that the Pandaren somehow know about the vrykul:
2. The presence in Pandaria, for a moment, of a troll merchant with the ZulAman model. Let me remind you that at that time the expansion of the Zandalari and their unprecedented power, which we see in 5.2, were unheard of.
So you can justify anything and everything: even .
The advantages of this approach are obvious:
- There is no need to introduce a new race and create a starting location for it;
- For new sub-races, there is also no need to introduce new starting locations, everything is justified by the “books”;
- Increased interest in paid race change. Nobody will miss out on money, especially Blizzard;
- You can abandon boring and painful racial abilities both under the pretext of role-playing and under the pretext of balance. Greg Street has been dreaming about this for a long time. And now there will be a reason;
- Open new sub-races for completing achievements, “knock out” character skins in raids, etc.
And now specifically about this proposal. Each race has a bunch of “brothers” whom we are used to killing or improving our reputation with. It’s much more interesting to make skins with these races. After all, sometimes they differ only in skin color and face!
1. Orcs
You've already seen the Garrosh-like and Thrall-like orcs above. But there are still a lot of them left! Toothy fel orcs, mock-natals a la Rexxar, and even a cross between orcs and draenei like half-blood Garona (on Garona, however, you can’t see the difference, but in the comic it looks different.).
2. Trolls
Well, these are the luckiest ones: sand, ice, forest trolls. There are all sorts of them, and some of them already have models ready =) Dress the entire Council of Elders in armor right now and give it to the players.
And Marley... Well, just sweetie, if you understand what the old trollophile is talking about...
3. People
It’s difficult with people, although we also have a couple of examples of high-quality human models: Jaina, Varian, Anduin - everything looks good. People can be given a sub-race of vrykul or allowed to change their body composition a la The Sims 3 =) Well, what if someone likes to run around with a beer belly?
4. Tauren
Well, everything is obvious here. Their closest brothers are the taunka and the yaungol. It would be stupid not to take advantage of this opportunity. Change the face and you're done.
5. Goblins
I see grummels as having very similar personalities and approaches between both races. But I understand that this is a big assumption. There is no trace of any face on the grummels. Although since the models are made from scratch, why not?
6. Dwarves
These comrades also have plenty of brothers: leper gnomes, sand gnomes and even mechanical gnomes from Northrend.
7. Night elves
Malfurion and Tyrande look good, although they are clearly based on old models. Plus, I see it possible to add to this race the skins of the High Elves, to which Vereesa belongs. Theoretically, High Elves could be a separate race, but firstly, the elves are already out of stock, and secondly, they actually have nowhere to make a starting location.
8. Forsaken
Silvana. But everything else will have to be done from scratch. By the way, when repainted, Sylvanas’ model can be used by other elves and vice versa. In general, those who have renounced do not have to show off their bones =) Again, there is less hassle with censorship.
I’m already tired of thinking about the other races, although the similarity of mogu/draenei models can also be used in their work.
These are the thoughts. What do you think? What races/sub-races would you like to see after the update? And in general, are you ready to exchange your square-pixel heroes for the new glamorously polished ones of the WoW v.6.0 standard?