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.
Every post I see complaining about hypersexualization is from a guy. Then I go to twitch, enter any MMORPG or MOBA category, and see girls playing the most sexy and skimpy clothed female characters they can.
I recommend you go outside and tell me how cleavages is something women feel bad about.
That's not quite true. Unattractive women complain too!
I'm not sure it should be a simple game to change its rules or a whole country to break the chains of the oppression of a retrograde and caste mentality.
Tl,dr: China's gaming market is heavily censored
So they are admiting this "rework" is indeed censure in disguise to prevent retaliation.
Blizzard's Rise of Shadows evil plan: "Lets force censure on the rest of the world because its not allowed in China and blame them for it. Mmmmmwwwwahahahahahaha!!!"
I read Kotaku and completly knew the rest of the text would be filled with BS.
Turns out I was right.
So they officially want it to be "Childrens cardgame"....I can't say I'm happy with that, but fine.
It's always been a kids game. Where did you ever think they were appealing to adults with it?
Ah yes, because hearthstone is the game all the kids talk about.
I was trying to be generous to those who think so ;)
It's not that they think we're stupid specifically, it's that they can say whatever stupid PR nonsense and not get called out in any meaningful way. Long as people keep buying preorder's their reasons are irrelevant to whatever the truth is.
Ok, change the artworks, you can explain it however you want (although Deadly Shot had one of the best artworks from Classic), but what's the reason behind changing the name from Mistress to Queen of Pain? Does the word 'mistress' have any negative connotations? I don't believe that it's a feminist "women are not servants" (or something like that) shit like some people say. I just don't get it, how can a card with 'queen' in its name be 1/4.
Whenever people say this, it's code for "They didn't ask me for my specific opinion."
This is just an educated guess, but I think if we did a scientific survey, we'd find that the vast majority of Hearthstone players are neutral on this subject, and the minorities of positive and negative opinion are about equal.
No, they did not. It is pandering to China and political correctness. Few months back several of Blizzard game were on watch list, of Chinese government, for showing things they should not, so this is probably precaution to prevent that. Also must protect women at all cost!
I really liked Secretkeeper change. That card sucked. What the hell was that, a rubber robe?
But I will never get over the Headcrack one.
"Muh personality and look of it's own" come on, it's just to make it more family friendly (
or chinese, maybe?).And I can't even understand what's in the art.
Yeah, it's a goblin slingshot-ing someone in the head. But I had to look really close to get it.
"it was just too dark and hard to read" FOR FUCC SAKE, A ROGUE CRACKING SOMEONE'S HEAD, HOW HARD TO READ IS THAT?
Thank you! Headcrack, in my opinion is the worst offender here with Deadly Shot a close second. I honestly can't fathom anyone looking at the new art and saying with a straight face that it is better in any way. Ugh.
Lol... personally I don't care at all that they changed the cards.
I do care that they are blatantly lying about why they did, even after being called out on it...
Do they think we are stupid? Does a single person believe this reply is truthful? xD
They would have been better off not commenting
All they had to do was to admit this was a move to increase profit to China consumers based on their regulations.
They're seriously trying to fool the whole community that its all a big coincidence when all the artworks being altered are scantily-clad
<snip>
I also thought head crack was kind of difficult to see
"We really just wanted our artists to feel good about everything in the set."
Who did the artwork for Succubus? Are you sure the artist is feeling better now?
"[...The decision was driven not by external forces] but just kind of bringing it up to the standards we felt really good about today."
Power of the Wild King of Beasts