Are the original environment concept artists no longer at Arenanet?

[eobet.4320]

I bought all the collector's edition expansions for the original Guild Wars expansions solely for the wonderful art books (never actually played the game, I must admit) and I was happy to see that the loading screens in GW2 contained more of that wonderfully, photo-bashed-yet-almost-abstract art (so funny to see a lion from the chain bridge in Budapest when you are loading Lion's Arch for example).

 

But now I noticed in the latest expansion that all the loading screens are really plain and boring. Did those wonderful original artist's leave the company? I'm afraid that my books are stored away in the garage and I don't remember their names. Does anyone know?

 

If they left, I guess the 3D artists are relieved, because my god what a nightmare it must have been to try to actually re-create that art in the game, and I never saw anything close to the epic scale of the art in either games or expansions, but still. Very sad to see it go.

[Inculpatus cedo.9234]

Here you go:

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/ArenaNet#Artists

https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Game_credits#Artists

 

Good luck.

[WhatLiesBeneath.9018]

I’m way more into the current concept art loading screens to be honest.

[ProtoGunner.4953]

The company is quite different now, but the dedication and art style is something that's still top notch imo.

[eobet.4320]

> @"ProtoGunner.4953" said:

> The company is quite different now, but the dedication and art style is something that's still top notch imo.

 

Yes, well the in-game 3D art is a lot better than the concept art now, which I guess is a pretty decent silver lining. :)

[Turin.6921]

The concept art lead left about a 1-2 years ago and his son took over that has been with the company since the gw1 days. So there was a small change in leadership.

 

I really do not see the difference in quality personally. The loading screens for PoF are amazing and still keep the watercolour style from launch. Its literally the same style as you describe albeit a bit more abstract that in the past: https://imgur.com/a/KPC0c , https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

[Randulf.7614]

http://www.kekaiart.com/guild-wars-2.html Was with gw for 8 years. Think he left just before gw2 launch but many of his concepts still exist in the game

[eobet.4320]

> @"Turin.6921" said:

> The concept art lead left about a 1-2 years ago and his son took over that has been with the company since the gw1 days. So there was a small change in leadership.

>

> I really do not see the difference in quality personally. The loading screens for PoF are amazing and still keep the watercolour style from launch. Its literally the same style as you describe albeit a bit more abstract that in the past: https://imgur.com/a/KPC0c , https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

 

They use a lot less photo bashing now than before, but actually looking at that kekaiart side, maybe GW1 was even more photo bashing and abstract than GW2.

 

I guess what made me react was seeing this all the time, which especially stands out as an eye sore: https://i.imgur.com/BctM9CV.jpg

 

This one was amazing, though, and I haven't seen it in the game yet: https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

 

[Randulf.7614]

> @"eobet.4320" said:

> > @"Turin.6921" said:

> > The concept art lead left about a 1-2 years ago and his son took over that has been with the company since the gw1 days. So there was a small change in leadership.

> >

> > I really do not see the difference in quality personally. The loading screens for PoF are amazing and still keep the watercolour style from launch. Its literally the same style as you describe albeit a bit more abstract that in the past: https://imgur.com/a/KPC0c , https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

>

> They use a lot less photo bashing now than before, but actually looking at that kekaiart side, maybe GW1 was even more photo bashing and abstract than GW2.

>

> I guess what made me react was seeing this all the time, which especially stands out as an eye sore: https://i.imgur.com/BctM9CV.jpg

>

> This one was amazing, though, and I haven't seen it in the game yet: https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

>

 

Isn't that second one used as a loading screen during the first instance of LW4 Ep1? I'm sure I saw it in game recently

[Turin.6921]

> @"eobet.4320" said:

> > @"Turin.6921" said:

> > The concept art lead left about a 1-2 years ago and his son took over that has been with the company since the gw1 days. So there was a small change in leadership.

> >

> > I really do not see the difference in quality personally. The loading screens for PoF are amazing and still keep the watercolour style from launch. Its literally the same style as you describe albeit a bit more abstract that in the past: https://imgur.com/a/KPC0c , https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

>

> They use a lot less photo bashing now than before, but actually looking at that kekaiart side, maybe GW1 was even more photo bashing and abstract than GW2.

>

> I guess what made me react was seeing this all the time, which especially stands out as an eye sore: https://i.imgur.com/BctM9CV.jpg

>

> This one was amazing, though, and I haven't seen it in the game yet: https://d3b4yo2b5lbfy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/wallpapers/2017-11_LWS4-EP1_Wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

>

It is actually the loading screen for beginning of episode 1 of this season.

[Danikat.8537]

I like the concept art too. I have a whole folder of screenshots of loading screens, although it's quite a bit out of date because I haven't gotten around to sorting my screenshots in a while (there's about 1,500 in my 'to be sorted' folder). I wouldn't say I've noticed any difference in quality over time though. Different styles certainly (presumably different artists, although it could also be the same people trying different things) but there's a lot of PoF and Season 4 art I like as much as the base game stuff. (Unfortunately I'm not at home right now to post any examples.)

 

Recently I've really come to appreciate Anet keeping the art department, both concept art and finished assets, in-house instead of outsourcing it like a lot of studios are doing now. I never thought about it before but a friend of mine linked some articles on the pros and cons of outsourcing on Twitter and it got me thinking about it. It can seriously limit the creative freedom of the artists because they're given a spec and have to produce exactly what's been ordered by the client rather than having the freedom to work with the designers on inventing stuff.