Following the critical response to the recent card art changes (review our Patch 14.6 coverage here), Blizzard has spoken with a journalist from Kotaku in order to bring more clarity to the situation:
Quote from BlizzardThe recent changes were applied to make those cards more visually cohesive and consistent with the art style of Hearthstone today. When Hearthstone first launched, we brought in a lot of artwork from the physical World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. In the years since, Hearthstone has developed a look, feel, and personality of its own that distinguishes it from that of Warcraft — though we still love being a part of that universe. We’ll always be looking for ways to deliver on the game’s unique style, charm, and personality.
(Lead Mission Designer) Dave Kosak also spoke with PC Gamer to discuss his views on the reasons for the changes:
Quote from PC GamerBlizzard made changes to the artwork on eight Hearthstone cards yesterday (and changed the names of two of them), and the reaction was not entirely positive. Multiple posters in this Reddit thread, for instance, speculate that the sex and violence was dialed back in order to be in line with Chinese regulations. That would not be unprecedented: China's gaming market is heavily censored, and Blizzard has previously made changes to World of Warcraft visuals in order to comply with regulations.In this case, however, China had nothing to do with it. Lead mission designer Dave Kosak told us that after reviewing the full Hearthstone set, Blizzard decided that the art on some of the cards simply didn't meet its standards, and that Blizzard "wouldn't print those same cards today."
Quote fromWe went back and really just brought everything up to our standards. It wasn't because we were looking at ratings, or international [regulations], or anything like that. We really just wanted our artists to feel good about everything in the set.Succubus underwent the most complete transformation: The stats and effect are the same, but the sexy cruel demons who "slake their lust with coupling" are out, and pack-hunting "demonic beasts" are in. Mistress of Pain (now Queen of Pain), Secretkeeper, and Windfury Harpy have also had the sexy factor dialed back, while Bite, Eviscerate, and Deadly Shot are now less graphically violent.
Kosak confirmed that some of the changes were aimed at toning down the portrayals of sex and violence in the game (although designer Liv Breeden noted that one card, Headcrack, was updated because it was just too dark and hard to read) but emphasized:
Quote from[...The decision was driven not by external forces] but just kind of bringing it up to the standards we felt really good about today.
look at the little girl who looks like a little boy in the expansion video and you have all you need to know right there. barf,,,
The hearthstone is the worst community i have even oparticipate in.
Thanks to censorship and the thin skin of people, thei erased coments in whit i only tell the truth whitout offending anyone.
i feel very sorry for people like that.
A shame the world we live in today.
Jesus christ why do you guys care about the art so goddamned much
Are you actually kidding me?
Blizzard expects us to believe:
Absolutely pathetic. Just own to your motivations. You don't want cards with a suggestive or overly violent content depicted. Fine, I don't care. Replacing them was irrelevant, but it's your prerogative. But, PLEASE, don't think we're all idiots and throw the most transparent, insulting lies in our faces and expect we won't notice.
Sad.
Dude, we found something new to complain about. Please keep up. This is old news and beat it to death already.
Fucking bullshit.
I really thought the change was kind of foolish but no biggy here. I do think their response is complete BS and don't believe a bit of it. They changed for that market because that market is mega money, just admit it. Nothing wrong with catering to them, you are in business to make money.
Balance the game or censor classic cards? Tough decision, but at least now we know Blizz priority.
These changes were not made for the Chinese, Blizzard is toning down the violence and the sexuality of the game because they are going after the credit cards of the parents. They re-marketed the game to target the children two years ago when they introduced the Pixar-looking girl with her friends, the squirrel, etc. That's why the new players have always been the priority according to the developers, because the game is primarily designed to be attractive and easily playable by children. This is the usual predatory business tactics from Activision-Blizzard, and unfortunately things will only be getting worse.
Lies, lies, and more Lies
You have lowered your pants!
Lying and cheating the community since 2007
Fuck Bli$$ard!!! .
Yet still playing every blizz game ;)
Removing overly sexualized and gruesome artwork is fine, but why do they feel the need to lie about the real reason? Blizzard really thinks that their audience is dumb as a rock, don't they?
I worked my butt off back in the day to get my Golden Succubus and now it's gone. GIVE IT BACK BLIZZARD.
Actually, don't bother, I just bought the only physical succubus card I could find from the old wow tcg with matching art (Hesriana). So I'm good blizz, you can keep the game, I'll keep the boobs.
I do think that american media is over sexualized. But this response is just completely BS. And these changes are totally unnecessary.
This whole bull shit fiasco just reminds me of the diablo fiasco last year...
Blizzard: Why you guys so upset about the new Diablo game, don't you guys have cell phones?
That's what this feels like. And btw, diablo phones was done to appease china too.
Meanwhile King of Beasts still looks like a 12 year old traced a picture
Headcrack used to have my favourite in-game art (I played it only 'cause of the cool image). Now it's pure puke.
I didn't care for Deadly Shot, since I rarely play hunter, but it's art was, I don't want to use this word, kinda iconic. New art is bland as fuck.
Sucubus didn't deserve it.
---
Also, I like when the art is diverse and you can recognise the artist by the style. I LOVED early MTG art-direction with the vast image variations. You know. some people (I'm included) even collect the cards of the particular artists.
This is what happens when SJW's end up running a company.
Yeah, I'm constantly hearing SJWs complain about too much blood in video games. That's certainly not a niche minority complaint, and it's clearly only SJW's who would think to push a game to be more family friendly.
In fact, everything we disagree with is because of some stereotype of a number of tumbler communities. Let's never think about things critically, and dismiss absolutely everything and just blame our 3 letter scapegoat.
The Ice Block Babe isn't too bad either...