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.
I don't care about the succubus, I don't care about jaina getting covered up...BUT MY DEADLY SHOT! You replaced one of the best arts in the game with this SH**!
If you don't want to switch it back at least give US the CUSTOMER with the ability to change it back. Do a age rating check or something to make it work. Seeing this new art for deadly shot is just heartbreaking. (Don't give it to asia so they don't complain)
What you did was basically have a cook prepare the best steak you have ever seen in your life...AND THEN COVER IT IN TARTAR SAUCE! *cries* My deadly shot.
Just give us the dang option to change between the old and new art !!!! . Bravo everyone HAPPY !!! . Even for 9.99 usd .
Time to change rating from 5stars to 1star to make the app more visually cohesive and consistent with the art style of Hearthstone today.
I am with you bud
Judging by the community response before this announcement, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't just "accept the changes".
Yea most likely not but it would much better than these false and empty answers that were given to us
If they honestly announce - we need to censor tits and blood to stay in chinese market, most players will accept this changes. But saying bullshit isn't the way to work with community.
I honestly have no idea what they mean when they talk about visual consistency. If its art styles, well Murloc Warleader and Sinister Strike are the stand outs for being flatter, comic styled art compared to all the painterly illustrations. If they mean tonal consistency, well that's kinda contradictory, the game constantly flip-flops from spooky/dark expansions (Naxx,Whispers,Witchwood) to colorful/comedic (GvG,Karazhan,Boomsday)
Leeroy as well. Hardly consistent with the rest of the art style. It's nonsense, of course, just a really poor excuse.
lay offs should‘ve happened in the PR section, not the IT section...
alot of bad comments. i doubt anyone normal person is getting excited in a wrong way behind this amount of gore and feminity from the cards even in china. Rather then that i think they like to make sure they remain having a all age friendly game.
i guess if anything would be able to complain is parrent not be able to play or spend money on this game because of it. Which could influence morale age restriction in a small percentage. ( which can amount alot if ur quite big like blizzard)
No body of you knows what the age's are of people playing this game. but i think hearthstone became populair enough to be played by alot of different ages.
its a bit short sighted to see so many blame the first thing one person points out, when there are other valid possible reasons.
tough in the end we can only guess the reality. but i doubt it be that bad since i dont think blizzard or anyone would be that stupid to be careless after last year's accident to do stuff like these.
Also the change shouldn't been a to huge of a problem as time and cost consuming so it might have been simply worth in bottom line.
lol this is the biggest BS coverup. They were clearly doing it for China. "we changed them to fit today's style" oh yeah coincedentially it was all of the ones with blood, gore, and tits. Meanwhile there's cards like Kill Command which clearly have out there art styles that don't match any of the other cards...
Sadly Blizzard have no guts , no balls and no spine ... happy fail in China mofo
If that was free to play i wont care much even if that is BS to me to change cards art to please Chinese people i mean its an american company .... so you spit in our faces to beg China for there $$$ just move the god damn company there and go f... yourself. My point sry to say what i think. Still love the game a lot but hate the people who will do EVERYTHING for money.........
Art = bad
Manipulative microtransactions (aka gambling) = Good
Might want to rethink your priorities
Protect our children from horrible bewbs and butts but not mommy and daddies wallets am I right? This is why I miss physical card games, because BS like this doesn't happen, and if it did I would still have the original card which would now increase in value.
"make those cards more visually cohesive and consistent with the art style of Hearthstone today"
Eeeem.. smells of bullshit since cards like Deadly Arsenal exist..
idk but secret keeper looking fine as hell
The new artwork is junk, especially deadly shot. Deadly shot had some of the coolest and most visceral artwork in the game. Blizzard is copping out!! This is sad to be honest...changing excellent artwork in a VIDEO GAME that is barely violent to begin with just to baby things down.
Censorship and cowardly is right. Keep selling out to China and fear of any type of criticism
These types of opinions are incredibly short-sighted, not to mention pro censorship and weirdly anti your fellow dude.
Stop strawmanning Secretkeeper's ass. People aren't mad that some art changed, they're mad because we are being lied to and because these changes are cowardly, hypocritical and, along with all of the other consumer hostile changes Blizz has made to the game in the last year or so, symbolic of their greater opinion of us, and it's not a high one.
Yeah nice try but it's just stupid obvious why they did that. Cohesive artwork my ass