The lights are on
The Borderlands we've all come to know and love is a drastically different beast than the one that debuted in our magazine. In a recent panel hosted by Gearbox Software, key team members clued us into why they opted for a complete visual overhaul so late in the development process.
To give some context to the decision, they first provided an outline of the project pipeline.
The TimelineConcept: April 05 - October 05Prototype: November 05 - October 06 Development One: November 06 - August 07Development Two: September 07 - October 08Final Push: October 08 - October 09
Three-fourths of the way through production, Gearbox head Randy Pitchford approached publisher 2K with a proposal - a complete visual redesign of the game. Expecting the worst, Pitchford was surprised that 2K agreed that the change was needed, excited by the direction Gearbox proposed. Why did the developer and publisher agree that such drastic measures were needed?
(original Borderlands screenshot)
The Purple CowHow did the team justify the change? In a sea of "brown games," Gearbox worried that their title wouldn't stand out. Thinking about its reception, they began to wonder if it would simply look like "a poor man's Rage." They needed something to grab the attention of potential customers - a purple cow. Seth Goodin's book Purple Cow instilled the mantra "be remarkable, or be invisible," in the team.
The decision wasn't only influenced by aesthetics, however. Gearbox worried that the art style and gameplay contradicted itself in a way that couldn't be reconciled. Borderlands hosts player characters that can jump well beyond human limitations, and bad guys explode when shot. They decided that a more exaggerated art style would allow them to move forward without divorcing these entertaining gameplay elements. Lastly, Gearbox reasoned that the decision would improve the overall quality of the final product because when teams have varying levels of talent, it's hard to maintain a standard of quality in a photo-realism approach.
A New DirectionThe change wasn't an easy one. Gearbox confessed that the massive redesign demoralized the original art director to the point that she left Gearbox and now works in a different field entirely. Still, the move felt correct to the bulk of the team. The new design style was decided by committee, giving those invested in the project a chance to voice their opinion. Goals included a fresh approach that would be standout, fun, break plausibility, kick realism out the window, and, of course, be beautiful. A retro influence was chosen and color was noted as being of high importance early on. Words like "attractive, fun, colorful, stylish, animated, and unconventional," helped to funnel ideas into Borderland's final form.
The ProcessIn order to maximize efficiency, the all-encompassing "Art Director" position diversified into several more specific jobs - Art Director, Art Producer, Out-sourcing Art Director, Art Lead and Lead Environment Artist. Also, they implemented a "Merry-go-round" approach - making sure that all team members were pushing in the same direction.
The ResultsBorderlands has been a critical and commercial success and the team believes the redesign was imperative in this regard. Ultimately, changing the style afforded Gearbox more freedom. As a result they were able to exaggerate character design, flesh out weapon customization in fantastical ways and keep the game humorously visceral. While the effort was a major gamble, it paid off.
What do you think? Was the change well worth it? Or did you prefer the original style?
I think we waited so long for it to come out that it sold well. It got pushed back several times. I actually preferred the original screen shots to the current style. I like the game, but i would have enjoyed it more in the original style.
Did they happen to give a reason why they abandoned a story line all together?
I googled the original cover story because I didn't remember it at all and realized I actually still own that issue. I don't think I even read the article in the first issue because I figured it was just another run of the mill fps, and at the time I had no interest in them, really until I played borderlands I had no interest in them. If it wasn't for the title I wouldn't have even guessed they were the same game. And if it wasn't for the over the top art in the commercials/on the cover I truthfully probably would have never played the game, that was a big reason I looked it up more information about it in the first place.
dude after like an hour of playing this game i got annoyed it was so hard.which is good i guess bcuz games have gotten to easy
i think the change was well worth it, i loved the art style they went with
I would've much rather it have been the original art style, seeing as how from the second i found out they changed it, i lost all interest.
I think they definitely made the right call. The art style of Borderlands does stand out, and does accomplish what you described (making the over-the-top explosions and effects more connected to game world/theme).
"Gearbox worried that the art style and gameplay contradicted itself in a way that couldn't be reconciled."
That sentence sums it up in my view. With all of the OTT gameplay, the grisly humor when critical hits happen, the campy references to things like Mad Max and Diablo 2, the game just wouldn't be as cool with "normal" graphics.
If they didn't use cell shading I don't think I would've bought this game, it would've passed under my radar as just another boring FPS like all the CoDs, MoHs, UTs, Quakes, etc, etc, etc.
I would have loved to see more of the original artworks but I am happy with the way it turned out. Seeing the new visual style is one of the factors that attracted me to the game...that and all the guns lol
I like the cartoonish style the game presently has, but the original screens weren't necessarily "bad", just different. I appreciate their desire to be creative and unique though, it definitely shows
i love the new art style compared to the one in your magazine i think it was a great approach really because i remember at the time that i said to myself "there is no way i'm going to buy this game it looks stupid". Though i remember reading from the article that gas was a rarity and that you needed to steal it from other people. thats a mechanic i would have liked to have seen. Oh by the way i DID bye borderlands and I LOVE it.
I've always loved cel shaded games ever since i play sly cooper
I took two weeks off from playing MW2. I couldnt stop playing Borderlands I rented it three times before I went out and bought it. I think the change really payed off, any game that can pry a COD title out of my 360 is an accomplishment.
I looked forward to the original but lost interest when they resorted to that half-baked cell shaded crap....
Oh and the enemy AI absorbs like 50 rounds before dying. Lame
Gotta love those visuals! The game looks and plays amazingly.
I really like the new art because it's unique and gives it a sort of comic and non-serious look. However, I would've really liked to see the old concept with a more serious art style and story. Either way, I'm fine with how Borderlands turned out because it is a great game and I'm hoping they don't stop the DLC with the Secret Armory.
personally I cared more for the original art style, it seemed much more serious and interesting.
Original screens please.
The original game looked erm... bigger plus didn't it have a STORY!?!?!? I wasn't keeping up with Borderlands but I liked it on the OCt 07 issue so when it came out that was what I was expecting and I was a tad disappointed.
It was the concept of this game (Diablo with guns) that made me want to play it. It wouldn't have mattered how it looked.
@ rmeyer
Yeah, I'm sure that's all they did. (sarcasm)