21 replies to this topic

[Cascal]

What has happened Alex's artwork? It used to be posted on the forum with a nice short story starring the mech to be released, they should start doing that again, it always got me hyped for new mechs....

On the NGNG video for the banshee hero you can see the artwork as the thumbnail, but I can't seem to find it anywhere else, does anyone know if you can view it somewhere?

It doesn't feel right that Alex's art is getting a smaller role when he is obviously still doing them, and he is a really talented artist too

[FupDup]

Speaking of which, the recent models are starting to look more and more homogenized. The Banshee for example basically takes a Battlemaster torso/legs, Kintaro head, and Shadow Hawk arms. Too much copy-pasting.

[Hans Von Lohman]

Well, PGI has let go a few people recently, not the least of which was Garth Erlam, their community manager, as well as another guy less well known called Niko Snow.

I have also noticed that this patch the website "patch notes" section was not updated until today, a full day AFTER the patch came out. It is updated now, but it was weird that happened.

[DONTOR]

People said at first the Banshee head is a kintaro head and Im not seeing that at all. Id like to see a side by side showing this. (without the weapon in its mouth)
It does look like a Shawk when your in 3rd person though, its a bit too boxy for my taste but I like the way it operates.

[Cascal]

I personally have no issue with the design, it still got that "teethed" mouth at the bottom, so the skull asthetic is there, to an extent. I just wish there where someplace to view the artwork

[Jin Ma]

FupDup, on 05 March 2014 - 01:57 PM, said:

Speaking of which, the recent models are starting to look more and more homogenized. The Banshee for example basically takes a Battlemaster torso/legs, Kintaro head, and Shadow Hawk arms. Too much copy-pasting.

Not a lot of creative room to work with in humanoids. Alex's nonhumanoid designs are amazing though, and where he really shines.

which is a shame, since we've almost exhausted all of the non humanoid IS designs in this timeline. (iconic ones anyway)

ones still to do just off the top of my head maybe hoplite, and champion, oh and the crabs cant forget about crabs.

Edited by Jin Ma, 06 March 2014 - 04:48 AM.

[Karl Streiger]

The Game section wasn't updated for months eighter:

http://mwomercs.com/game/battlemechs

(the phoenix mechs are missing, the latest heros and champions)

Edited by Karl Streiger, 06 March 2014 - 04:50 AM.

[Jin Ma]

believe it not i am glad the concept art isn't being released. Without the concept art if the mech comes out and it doesn't look like what i've been expecting for months i'm not dissapointed.

[Bishop Steiner]

FupDup, on 05 March 2014 - 01:57 PM, said:

Speaking of which, the recent models are starting to look more and more homogenized. The Banshee for example basically takes a Battlemaster torso/legs, Kintaro head, and Shadow Hawk arms. Too much copy-pasting.

is homogenized new webspeak for "looks like crap"?

Here is a WIP of more how I was HOPING the thing would resemble....


*sigh*

[SgtMagor]

the ray bans , and its menacing grin really changes the whole look of the mech BS. thx for sharing.

[MeiSooHaityu]

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that the art team is pouring most of it's effort into the Clan mechs at this time so they can meet the upcoming launch deadlines.

I wouldn't be suprised if we get a few cut-and-paste jobs for the next few months.

Still, that being said, I think the Banshee came out pretty good (despite sharing a lot of design components from other mechs). I wouldn't feel to upset if I was a Banshee fan.

[Cascal]

MeiSooHaityu, on 06 March 2014 - 08:50 AM, said:

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that the art team is pouring most of it's effort into the Clan mechs at this time so they can meet the upcoming launch deadlines.

Well Alex has still done artwork for the Banshee, you can see it in the NGNG video tumbnail, all I'm wondering is why they haven't posted it on the forum or anywhere else

[FupDup]

Bishop Steiner, on 06 March 2014 - 05:01 AM, said:

is homogenized new webspeak for "looks like crap"?

Sort of. I mostly meant that it's just "more of the same" although the fact that it does copy/paste indeed makes it look kinda crappy.

Nice sketch BTW.

[Utilyan]

I think the banshee looks perfect. My understanding is its the oldest assault in game, if not the oldest mech period. The problem if any is that it wasn't the first assault released in this game.

I would clarify its that other mechs took the looks from Banshee.

I bet when the stocks come out with colors and camo's it will be more appreciated.

If theres complaint on looks it OUGHT to be that it should be the most generic and plain looking of all.


The Mackie(oldest mech in bt?)....is only 6 years older.

Edited by Utilyan, 06 March 2014 - 11:27 AM.

[Artgathan]

FupDup, on 05 March 2014 - 01:57 PM, said:

Speaking of which, the recent models are starting to look more and more homogenized. The Banshee for example basically takes a Battlemaster torso/legs, Kintaro head, and Shadow Hawk arms. Too much copy-pasting.

I recall someone stating that PGI was in fact reusing old art assets to make the new mechs (as much as possible - some part of them may be unique). Unfortunately I can't remember where I read this. You may notice that the newer mechs look less like their concept art than older mechs - I think part of this is using "stock" parts to reduce build time on the new models.

[General Taskeen]

Bishop Steiner, on 06 March 2014 - 05:01 AM, said:

is homogenized new webspeak for "looks like crap"?

Here is a WIP of more how I was HOPING the thing would resemble....


*sigh*

Your drawring looks more like the original Banshee with a unique look (which is good), compared to MWO's Banshee Lego's Edition™.

Edited by General Taskeen, 06 March 2014 - 11:32 AM.

[Turist0AT]

This is a great thread and i 100% agree.

[SirLANsalot]

Artgathan, on 06 March 2014 - 11:29 AM, said:

I recall someone stating that PGI was in fact reusing old art assets to make the new mechs (as much as possible - some part of them may be unique). Unfortunately I can't remember where I read this. You may notice that the newer mechs look less like their concept art than older mechs - I think part of this is using "stock" parts to reduce build time on the new models.

quite right.

Why take time to remake something you already have somewhere else in the data base? You can pull it out and modify it in less time then it would take to make it all new again.

The banshee dose have its cool looking mask, the early pics of it doesn't do it justice at all. Also the weapon in the head, its emitter is in the mouth, so its all there, just the heros camo pattern and having a weapon in the mouth covers it all up.

[AlexEss]

Yes they reuse assets in order to keep up the promised 1 mech a month. If each mech was hand crafted we would get a new mech every 4-6 month.

Now as for the head of the banshee it is a easy fix once they get all the major stuff out of the way. After all what to sell in a F2P title if not customization options... A new head here, a new pair of legs there. Some extra frills for the shoulders...

[CycKath]

I'm actually wondering if its more the fact that they are releasing 'Mechs faster, at least to the fans given we got little advance word on the Firestarter and Banshee for example, so less time to tweak/polish/refine.