Geralt's look... always updated with new appearances

[nmemonic]

Geralt's look... always updated with new appearances

[moderator]Update pressrelease 8 July 2010:[/moderator]The recent CDPR press release says:

"After all, we’re producing the game for players, and more than anyone else, players need to be happy with what we make. I can promise that we will address many of the comments and concerns we heard expressed at E3, and we’ll do so very shortly, namely, at GamesCom. Among other things, we’ll provide a close look at the new version of Geralt’s face, proving that he is the same character as in the first installment” Adam Badowski, Project Lead on The Witcher 2 at CD Projekt RED

The GamesCom takes place in Cologne, Germany from 18-22 Aug.The entire pressrelease you can read here.2ND UPDATE 29/3/10 : FELLAS PLEASE REALISE BEFORE YOU VENT YOUR FRUSTRATION REGARDING THE TRAILER, THAT THIS ARTICLE HAS GROWN AND BEEN ADDRESSED VERY FAR, SINCE WE FIRST CHANCED UPON THE TRAILER. FOR THOSE ABOUT TO POST, THIS IS THE LATEST STATUS :GERALT FROM THE TRAILER, IS JUST A EARLY BUILD! THE DEVELOPERS HAVE ADDRESSED OUR CORCERNS AND FROM DISCUSSIONS, THE FOLLOWING PICTURE IS MORE TOWARD WHAT THEY ARE GEARING GERALT TO LOOK LIKESo for those about to post, while it is an incredible task to ask you to browse through all the pages in the thread to keep up-to-date with the discussions, at least take this update as a consideration of where to discussion has led to. This is to avoid any unnecessary continously repetitive comments on an outdated point of the discussion. Thank you fellas for reading this before posting.

ADDED : HERE IS SOMETHING MORE FURTHER AND CONCRETE OF THE CURRENT SITUATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN READING IN FULL DETAIL.THIS IS BLOODDRAGON's full explanation(Lead Animator of the Witcher) regarding the art style of the new/upcoming Geralt, that was translated by Daerdin. Most of us who participated in this discussion from the start, are already aware of most of these info. However there are many who arent, and thus here is the post by Blooddragon, which best surmises everything thus far and is comprehensive in one single post.

It’s understandable that no one likes things they got attached to being changed - that’s a fact, that’s why the new face woke up so many emotions. Let me give you a short clarification though In case of TW1 Geralt’s face was done, as I remember, 3 times totally from the scrap. It changed a bit every time, which you can see on various promotional materials. Since we started working on TW2, the face has changed another 2 times (the face from the first leaked material, believe it or not, was totally different than the one in TW1). We’re just constantly looking for and complaining Since the times of TW1 we got experienced and got more skills, we can make more realistic faces which have proper proportion and human features. We also have incredible concept artists whose creations are way better than the ones from TW1. That’s why we decided to redesign all main characters, and once again design their faces, just barely based on the originals (keeping only the most important features - Dandelion’s little beard, Zoltan’s haircut, etc)Once we had the full set of main characters put together side by side, Geralt started to look strange... his disproportionate face stood out making the impression of badly made model. It pushed us to iterate Geralt one last time, thanks to which the White Wolf got his human proportion, which bizarrely provoked many of your comments For you, the old Geralt had a face with intentionally highlighted ‘wolfish’ features, for us he was simply a badly made model Nevertheless, you rightly point out in your comments that Geralt looks too young, has too shallow scars, too few of them and too flat texture - WE’LL FIX THAT! The texture of the face definitely needs to be fixed and will definitely make Geralt look differently. We’ll probably mess with the eyes as well. However, the proportion of the face, its structure will probably stay the same - we won’t come back to the old proportion both for technical reasons (ready facial expression system is done based on this head) as well as for time limitations (each iteration of Geralt’s head takes a lot of time, which is always too short). Moreover, we’re simply happy with the face which you could see on the main page of GameTrailers:SEE ABOVE PICIn your comments you focus mainly on the last shot from the film, in which Geralt’s face is in strange grimace. Let me point out that those shots were not prepared especially for the film, they are part of the game, they were recorded and used in the film which you will have the chance to check on Thursday.Regarding the rest of the model:Geralt’s hair in the film and current gameplay has no physics applied (the hair is still), has no shader (which will diametrically change the look) and is taken from the first leaked material (June 2009) - we plan to make it from scratch. Additionally, there might be a possibility of changing the haircut by the player, I’m totally in favour of that.On the film Geralt is wearing a heavy armour - that’s why he’s looking powerful and heavy, in TW2 the character will have much more equipment elements and armours. There will be light armours - just like the first three in TW1 - and heavy ones like the one from the film. Scabbards are not fully done yet, that’s why they split while sword is being taken out - that will be fixed. We also have a sabre with curved scabbard, already done. Maybe it will be presented on Thursday as it looks super cool Well, it took me a while but I hope I dispelled a few of your worries. I’m sorry I won’t answer your specific questions but you created loads of them Keep tight and thanks for your support!

-----------------------------------------------------ORIGINAL POST:Now that the video is out, we notice that Geralt has a new look. I notice quite a few comments, so guys share your thoughts here about his new look, whether you like it or not, with some argument of course.Let me start, personally i find Geralts new look to "boyish" and "clean". He has lost his masculinity and 'bad-ass-ness" for lack of a better word.I really do prefer the old Geralt, and if anything, i actually thought he would look even more rugged, rough and weather-beaten. Instead now he passes of as more of a Hollywood leading Actor to me...Id really like if some touch up could be done to bring the GRIT and Years of Hardship and tough times shown in his face like he has been through a lot.---------------------------------------------------1ST EDIT/UPDATE : I POST THIS EDIT FOR THOSE THAT ARRIVE TO THIS THREAD LATE AND DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO READ THROUGH ALL THE PAGES TO FIND ALL THE UPDATES SINCE THE FIRST TRAILER WAS RELEASED.FOR THOSE IN DOUBT OF THE INITIAL TRAILER, A LOT HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THIS IS THE CLOSEST TO THE NEW GERALT THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.

[moderator]Edit: stanpapusa's poll added[/moderator]

 

[Arkray_gog]

I also prefer the old look. New one is too generic, younger and lacks the personality the old one had. Or lack the bad-ass part, new geralt looks like a 'hero', that is.

 

[paulthu]

It's pretty good as it is, but I agree it could use some work. A minor issue.

 

[nmemonic]

It's pretty good as it is, but I agree it could use some work. A minor issue.

Its a minor issue if he looked the same in Witcher 1. But now it kinda looks like a "downgrade". Of course this is just nitpicking and the Witcher is still 100% AWESOME. The face would make it 101%, but who cares! Awesome is awesome! Just opened this thread so those who feel like wanting to talk about it can have a place to do so.Anything like 1 would be good enough, but i kinda was actually hoping for something even more RAW DIRTY ROUGH AND TOUGH. Hehe...Something like mickey rourke...haha! well not to THAT extent though...

 

[paulthu]

haha yeah. But i also meant that it's a minor issue in the sense that if the developers start to feel it should be changed, it's a pretty easy thing to fix as opposed to a situation where there'd be a fundamental gameplay problem or something like that.

 

[MrG721]

I've noticed position of Geralt's upper lip at the end of the trailer, it looks to me like Geralt want to say "come on bitc*** I'm waiting for you" :teeth:

 

[56236]

The new Geralt looks younger (maybe Benjamin Button style?) and his eyes look hidden from what I saw. Don't capture me that much.Also noticed that he doesn't cross swords on this back anymore... I thought that was his personal style, but then I see someone else withswords on the back too and it just confuses me.Well, I'll see if I can dig up anything more, but this should suffice for now.Amazingly, I had just gotten up from sleep when I switched on the trailer and was hyper when it ended ;D Surely that means something :

 

[onkl.627]

Don't like the new one. The face proportions are unnatural, eyes seem to big etc. Never was a fan of the pony-tail either.Witcher 1 was just the perfect Geralt. So I don't realy get why they bothered changing him at all.

 

[L0YD]

Old one is better just look

Spoiler

Old one has pale skin and eyes(witcher suppose to have those) which made difference between him and other people.New one

Spoiler

 

[nmemonic]

The pony tail is synonymous with the story, so its ok if they include that. But the new geralt especially in your picture, looks like hes starting lifelessly into the abyss....I think its something they will surely touch up during post-processing since its only exterior textures. One thing is for sure, they seem to have remodelled his face to have more movement and expressions. Just a little touch-up is needed, which i think they will do. Nothing to worry. I hope.

 

[dan107]

I think that this is an issue of "if it's not broken, don't fix it". Nothing in particular wrong with the new look, and if that's the look that we were presented with in The Witcher 1, I'd have no problem with it. But why change it now though? Geralt already has a certain look that everyone is used to. I don't think that anyone really had a problem with the way that he looked in The Witcher 1, so why mess with that? What's the point other than doing something different for the sake of doing something different?

 

[Guest 2005166]

Uhm, uhm... didn´t that look different in that first leak? Any way - I liked OLD ONE better! (maybe with ponytail)

 

[56236]

Critically analyzing, the story continues *immediately* after the ending cut-scene, so changes to the main character should be minimal,unless in-game we are guided through his change and why. You know, like a wardrobe make-over and its reasons.No comments on the voice yet,... so I'll just say that's a good sign and let it roll eace:

 

[Braag]

I'm pretty sure his voice hasn't changed. But let's complain about it anyway. I DON'T LIEK!

 

[nmemonic]

He sounded to me like a different voice actor, but its ok. Its the face that i think most folks notice. If it was the same in Witcher 1 its ok. But its kinda like a step backward. But my feeling is the devs will touch it up, bcoz its just aesthetics and not key structure. I do notice much more expression now though.

 

[MichiGen]

Very nice trailer, i can't wait to see more must buy for me.But as someone mention before I like to have an ingame option to change Geralt's face to the Witcher 1 look.Now he looks more like hollywood hero, and he looks kinda younger, I think old Geralt was more charismatic and bad ass.My advice for Geralt's appearance :- Smaller eyes- Brighter older skin- Hair are OKFor me he looks here absolutely awesome

http://www.centerzone.it/images/stories/geralt.pngCompare it with thishttp://pics.livejournal.com/arkray/pic/0057yxy5.jpgSry for my english guys, I am from Slovakia .

 

[username_2061180]

It's the same voice actor or it's another guy, but who gives a damn if you can't make the difference, didin't really like Geralts voice in TW anyway.The looks... why the hell did they change it? He looks stupid

 

[skimos]

No reaction form CDPR on this one. The new look could be some kind of plot twist. That guy might be an impostor of Geralt or maybe Trish convinced Geralt to change the style - ponny tale, face surgery, lips enlargement. Who said that witchers don't care about their looks? :

 

[username_2080247]

I liked his arrogant look in the 1. game, this one looks too good-aligned. But, hey, now he looks less like a killer, more like a noble witcher killer that claims he isn't killer, suiting.

 

[username_2061180]

The serious, cold look of his is gone. My favorite Geralt concept was this really, because he looked more like a human

But The Witcher version is by far better than that freak in the trailer.