Sound improvements for HotS

[Wankey]

Just a thought, I've been conversing with a SC2 developer over at Deviant art, and I'm talking about the various art improvements, especially for Protoss units such as carrier and the likes.

It seems to me what happened during SC2 was a lot of new ground for Blizzard. They worked a lot on the whole process of creating art and locking down the art style.

Nearing the end of the development, apparently the art got way better and the turn around was much faster, but they didn't have enough time to revisit a lot of the older art for instance, the Dark Templar models and most of the older Protoss models still use their old polygon limit that they made in nearly 2007 - 2008. Zeratul however, use their new polygon limit and looks vastly superior. If you look at closeups of buildings a lot of them have low poly counts which are covered up with texturing.

Another thing was that they wanted to do another pass on the Zerg buildings, especially the lair and hive to make them more menacing similar to SC1. Some other buildings like Hydralisk Den needed an up model as well but they ran out of time.

So the gist of it all is for the next expansion, I can imagine a HUGE load of better looking art since the style is locked down (it wasn't until the end of SC2 that they finally figured out how to make Terran look good, compare engineering bay to merc compound, one looks a bit tacky while the other looks very stern and well put together)

Furthermore, they have Mr Jack doing a lot of great Terran work and Zerg work. I wouldn't be surprised if they revisited a lot of the multiplayer models to make them look more proper or better.

Also, inquiring about the carrier, they are planning on creating a hero model of the original SC1 carrier for Legacy of the Void. So at least we carrier fans have some hope of that returning.

I can start to imagine what is going to come in terms of single / multiplayer content for HotS after talking awhile:

I'm sure there will be near weather patterns, namely snow / hail and such, including obviously a snow map. There will be a forested version of Char.
They'll probably be introducing some new and cool Terran / Zerg / Protoss units using the higher end poly count and better design philosophy. I'm hopeing they tweak around some of the current multiplayer units to make them stand out more or look better but apparently they're not planning on changing any of the current MP units.

Zerg buildings will most definitely get some kind of make over whether it's just texturewise or maybe an uprated model. Considering they'll be spending an entire year and a half on new Zerg art I'm quite sure something cool will happen to Zerg. Maybe they'll figure out some new effects just for zerg, can you imagine using some kind of new shader effect to simulate fluids and such.

What I'm really hoping for is some kind of sound improvements for Zerg. Blizzard has certainly learned a lot in their sound department, if you listen to the Chinese version of Starcraft 2, you'll understand what I mean. They've reintroduced a ton of humor and cultural references back into the game for the Chinese dub.

Since SC2 is the first Blizzard game that has 2 expansions, Legacy of the Void should be something spectacular. I think LotV will be the closest to art completion that gaming has ever come to.

I'm imagining that they'll be either doing a complete multiplayer remodel since by 2013 or 2014, graphics would be definitely worth the update. Since They're probably not working on any new units for multiplayer. They'll probably do a completely remodel of all the multiplayer assets from the first game and SC2. Maybe using updated shaders (2014 guys, can you imagine? Dx11 Sc2?) or some cool new tricks. Can you imagine them releasing a revamped protoss race?

BTW, I spoke to Mr. Gonzo and he said they wanted to revamp a lot of the protoss air, like do a completely updated model of the void ray, redo the phoenix and uprate the carrier but ran out of time and just shipped.

Also, the Zerg buildings, only the Infestor pit and the roach den are using incredibly high poly models (using z brush). The rest of either low poly models with plastic filter applied to introduce detail or added spikes. They're thinking of uprating those as well.

[Gradius]

A multiplayer redo by 2014 would be very solid.

Also, inquiring about the carrier, they are planning on creating a hero model of the original SC1 carrier for Legacy of the Void. So at least we carrier fans have some hope of that returning.

Yes! Thank god! The supercarrier is returning.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Sounds exciting.

I hope they add a male version of the Zerg advisor voice. The queen hissing just isn't right for me.

So if I read that right, they're upgrading their graphics engine for HoTS?

[RamiZ]

I just hope that it won't take that long to release the HotS, can't wait to see the new graphics/mechanics/units and new strategies for Multiplayer.

[GRUNT]

Ironically, even though this is 2nd-hand info from a Blizzard employee, it still counts as legit HotS news .

At this point, I'll take even a teases like this .

[imdrunkontea]

I believe they did some similar things (though on a much smaller scale) for War3 and War3:FT, such as the steam engine/tank remodel. I hope a lot of the lower-poly units get revamped, and I would love a return to a more faithful looking carrier.

We'll have to wait and see

[Arkalis]

Heh...I was hoping to see something audio-related but this will do xD

[SpikeVorador]

Heh...I was hoping to see something audio-related but this will do xD

jajajajaja, me too! xD
i tough that this would be a post about VA and attack sounds of the units xD

[Wankey]

I seriously hope they revamp a TON of effects for the game and sound effects. That's a big problem with SC2. In a big fight, the sound just becomes noise.

The problem is that the sound designer isn't really that great. If you look at Hawken, some of the best sound design ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udEAEARD-Fo

I have a really good pair of sennheisers, and just watching the above trailer I have an ear orgasm. The bass effects are AMAZING and the range of sound effects, including the last bit is heart wrenching.

There are sound effects in COMPLETELY different spectrums. In a good fight, it isn't just noise. There is really no sound design at all in Starcraft 2 to be honest. It's just sound "effect", not sound design.

I dispise the sound for Starcraft so much that I've even turned down the effects and just turned up the warning messages. They're just so poorly put together. Large armies fighting against each other is just mass amounts of NOISE. Marauders all become noise, with nothing unique against them.

There is no low or high range sounds in SC2, they're all around the mid range, and therefore once you get in a heated battle, it just gets ridiculously noisy. The Blizzard sound department seems to keep doing this, even in Diablo 3, all the sounds are slowly conversing towards a mid - high range sound effect. There is not a lot of variation in unique sound design, just "as long as it works" kind of thing. If it looks like a sword, it'll sound like a swrod, nothing different, creative or interesting.

What they really need to do is redo a lot of the noises in Starcraft 2, give them incredibly unique sounds.

Marauders for example need to be soft, akin to the Vulture attack sound, not the loud noise they make. Their launch sounds needs to be near silent, while their hit sounds need to be loud. Siege tank really could use some texture in their sound. If you play Bad Company 2, you can hear when tanks fire, there is a distinct metallic texture, metal clapping metal, they need that for siege tanks.

Zerg seriously need better sounds. Hydra shot needs to sound like arrows whistling. Right now it sounds REALLY bad,there is no variation with the hydra sound. It's just a thud thud thud.

Hydralisks really should be making this noise if they're sticking to the missile effect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD_tv...ailpage#t=330s

Hell they even make that sound in the CGI! Just random high pitched whine, just to make them something different than a thud thud...

Roaches need more of an explosive type sound, there isn't much sound indication of them firing. Their melee attack however is a great sound.

Ultralisks on the other hand, what atrocious failure. These massive monstrosities actually soudn like Hydralisks firing.

Jesus just LISTEN to this ear orgasm of the original Starcraft, listen to the original Ultralisk. Jesus it scares me how good they sounded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVO8I...ailpage#t=439s

Man the game sounds soo good, I don't even need to look at the game and listen to what's happening. I can hear mutas, hydras, zerglings. Even in a battle, I can head clearly marines vs mutas. Just close your eyes. Do the same with SC2 and it's so completely different.

You can so easily understand how piss poor Starcraft 2 sound effects were. Imagine if this great design was upped in quality and effect rather than dumbed down and rounded out.

Also the explosions in Starcraft 2 are stupidly poor. They somehow have a high pitched noise mixed in. They need to be very bass-like instead of what they have now. Just listen to the sounds, they sound really artificial and unrealistic. It doesn't sound alien nor does it sound.

Sigh they seriously need to fire their entire sound department and hire some more competent people. Obviously most of the great sound designers left or are working on their actual MMO and Starcraft was given some shafted green guy.

Actually not far from the truth. SC2 sound designer was an assistant sound designer from WoW.

[GnaReffotsirk]

Is there any chance we could get info on the tools and if they're planning on releasing them soon?

I know these stuff are probably handled by someone else on some entirely distant department, but I'm really interested.