tudorfrateanu
New member
I really think that giving items icons and also a clearer description could make the shop experience better. Now everything kinda looks the same so I don't really know what I'm building.
Make Items memorable
- Thread starter tudorfrateanu
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javier.ddom
New member
Absolutely not. The only thing stopping people from chasing the "big shiny" in addition to "make numbers go up" vs winning the game currently is the fact that the icons focus on what they do, compared to what they look like.
The big difference between Valve and Blz usually. B wastes tons of money on useless art, while valve focuses on the player experience.
The big difference between Valve and Blz usually. B wastes tons of money on useless art, while valve focuses on the player experience.
The HUD elements are still mostly placeholder art that go for function over form so they won't be changing the icons anytime soon, I wouldn't be surprised if they give them actual art, names and flavour text/fluff to make them look like magical artifacts once the game is closer to release though, just like how it is in dota
javier.ddom
New member
Less is more when it comes to design
IceFrog is definitely not a "less is more" person when it comes to the design of their games, they're a "more is more" person, hundreds of items, lots of heroes, systems upon systems upon systems even at the expense of being friendlier to newcomers.
There's also the fact that the minimalist HUD/Shop aesthetic doesn't fit very well with the arcane-noir aesthetic direction they've moved in since neon prime.
Again though, this conversation doesn't really matter because any changes they'd make would be years down the line, why create finalised art for any of the items or abilities when there's no guarantee that they'll even be in the game when it releases?
Remember early Dota 2 ability icons?
There's also the fact that the minimalist HUD/Shop aesthetic doesn't fit very well with the arcane-noir aesthetic direction they've moved in since neon prime.
Again though, this conversation doesn't really matter because any changes they'd make would be years down the line, why create finalised art for any of the items or abilities when there's no guarantee that they'll even be in the game when it releases?
Remember early Dota 2 ability icons?
Noodlez.mp4
New member
I completley agree with OP on this!
As a big Dota2 fan I can tell you that having items be actual items with logos and themes tied to the game makes things more easy to memorize and choose in the rush of a game. ALSO it adds allot more life to the world and theme surrounding the action.
My suggestion, since Deadlock's art seems based in an alternate New York, the items could be themed on satirical capytalism.
Some brainstorm ideas I can come up with now would be:
Healing potions - Sodas / Energy drinks
DMG reistance can be bullet proof vests
and idk I guess it can mix themes with magic a bit since it's not a regular city of humans and maybe take inspiration from Greek mythology for some items like Dota2 does.
_____________________________ TLDR________________
I agree with OP, please make items pretty and have them be cool props and stuff that give more life to this world please?
I like pretty pictures more than minimalistic icons. The colors can still be around the items to keep them divided in category as they are now.
Noodlez.mp4
New member
Making all these items memorable will take away from the dev's time and maybe it should not be a priority in it's current pre-release state, but thinking there is some sort of tradeoff like --(Vibrant art OR engaging gameplay)-- this is something that is very unlikely in my eyes.
Feedback about artstyle and worldbuilding like this are worth considering, cause this sort of thing makes the difference between a souless game and another Valve banger.
Items are a great oportunity to share more information about the lore to it's players.
It's one of those things that are very appreciated by most players, even if they don't care about anything but the pure gameplay it just adds allot. It's a theme.
