WarCraft III Megathread

[AOL Instant Messenger]

I mean...
https://www.reddit.com/r/warcraft3/c..._ai_generated/

Yeah...

That one's not really relevant. It's just 2d art that might be AI-generated, which isn't really a legal problem. The reason the picture I posted is relevant is because it shows what looks like gameplay but isn't, thus giving a false impression about the quality of the improved classic graphics.

[BaumanKing]

For a company that was once home to so many amazing artists, using AI to upscale textures is disgusting. Meanwhile, a bunch of fans are painstakingly redrawing every WC2 icon for their fan-made remake just for free.

I really don't understand why so many of you are okay with Blizzard being this lazy and indifferent to its classic games.

[Xilurm]

Those promotional images don't look like AI at all to me. The stuff in the background is just strokes from the artist. The left arm of the troll doesn't come out of nowhere as he says, it's just awkwardly positioned. The afterimage is weird but at the same time I've never seen AI do an afterimage like that either. The only issue I see is the 5 fingered troll but that's probably a mistake from the artist.

The only thing that's bad about that art is that it was probably rushed.

[Easo]

That one's not really relevant. It's just 2d art that might be AI-generated, which isn't really a legal problem. The reason the picture I posted is relevant is because it shows what looks like gameplay but isn't, thus giving a false impression about the quality of the improved classic graphics.

My point is that if they use AI art in the first place (if this is AI and the errors visible looks like it, not artists lazyness) then they more than well could have done it for ingame stuff too.

[AOL Instant Messenger]

Those promotional images don't look like AI at all to me. The stuff in the background is just strokes from the artist. The left arm of the troll doesn't come out of nowhere as he says, it's just awkwardly positioned. The afterimage is weird but at the same time I've never seen AI do an afterimage like that either. The only issue I see is the 5 fingered troll but that's probably a mistake from the artist.

The only thing that's bad about that art is that it was probably rushed.

For posterity, what he posted and what I'm talking about are different. What I'm talking about is using AI upscaling specifically on this image, which is seemingly meant to be taken as gameplay. It looks nothing like what the HD Classic textures and models look like in-game and I'm pretty sure AI was used to make it look this way.



I consider the ethical concerns over AI art overstated. It's inferior to real, human-made art and should typically only be used as a substitute good IMO, but I don't oppose it on principle. Using AI upscaling to creating a misleading image of what the updated classic models would look like, conversely, seems like a case of false advertising.

My point is that if they use AI art in the first place (if this is AI and the errors visible looks like it, not artists lazyness) then they more than well could have done it for ingame stuff too.

I'm really not concerned about the use of AI in itself. If they want to use AI despite its errors and texture size inefficiency relative to the actual improvement AI upscaling of textures usually creates, it's their choice to make a poor decision and continue to sink their reputation right as it's recovering. It's very specifically this case of potential false advertising that concerns me, not because AI was used but because AI was used to create a potentially deceptive image of what the game looks like with the new HD Classic models and textures.

[Ardenaso]

The CSW Team and Re-Reforged developers aren't happy at all

- - - Updated - - -

BTW, the Quenching Team also released a new update shortly just before the 2.0

2.4 is avaibable! This is a comperhensive update so we suggest to update
And looking forward to warcraft III 2.0 Reforged!

Download Client at:
https://tianxiazhengyi.net/

Get fullpackage at:
https://github.com/UIZorrot/Quenching-Assets

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update Log
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Fixed tree errors in the Felwood terrain
Resolved issues with missing models due to anti-censorship
Removed some unnecessary files
Attempted to resolve the issue with the Rifleman’s missing sound
Added Spanish language support

Added multi-terrain tab
Added multi-decor tab
Added lighting tab
Added background video and background video display in the client
Added melee mode lighting, removing shadows as much as possible and enhancing brightness
Optimized some model texture resources

Disabled English voice feature
Due to server issues, download fetching is temporarily disabled; the full package must be downloaded

Refactored code for stability and open-sourced the client:
https://github.com/UIZorrot/Quenching-Client
Optimized and integrated multiple version resources, and open-sourced related content:
https://github.com/UIZorrot/Quenching-Assets

- - - Updated - - -

Turalyon in the CSW

[George Lucas]

This 2.0 update and the way they talked about it in their gay little video is a slap in the face of anyone who really cares about Warcraft 3.

But is well deserved for anyone who bought Reforged and didn't refund it.

[KrayZ33]

Those promotional images don't look like AI at all to me. The stuff in the background is just strokes from the artist. The left arm of the troll doesn't come out of nowhere as he says, it's just awkwardly positioned. The afterimage is weird but at the same time I've never seen AI do an afterimage like that either. The only issue I see is the 5 fingered troll but that's probably a mistake from the artist.

The only thing that's bad about that art is that it was probably rushed.

5 finger Trolls existed in their art since forever and then some. Take WC2 for example.

I don't understand how the the gryphon rider thing came to be though. Other than that it feels more or less "unfinished" in certain parts, but not really like AI.


Warcraft 1 + 2 "remastered", especially 2 has horrible looking knights btw.
They are all "Shovelknights", the originals didn't look like that at all to me, most likely due to the low quality sprite but god damn.
I'm actually quite pissed at how bad the knights look in warcraft 2 remaster. Holy moly....

The buildings in Warcraft 1 look quite bad and don't fit either. It feels like they are floating... probably because of missing shadows or something?


edit: Found a video from a guy who talks about the same thing. His judgement about WC1 sprites is not something I agree with though but funnily enough, he is also remembered by "shovelknight" in terms of looks.
https://imgur.com/a/fJG1La6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16-1-7r8gNU




As for WC3, I'm honestly still disappointed. The only thing that's giving me hope is that perhaps Microsoft made them do this so they can use the franchise again.
After all, Age of Empires 2 had such a great revival, new factions, new units etc.
I always thought it's such a waste to not do the same with WC3... perhaps they will now push for it.

[Orby]

The whole AI upscaling has ruined a lot of the great art that made the original. Its absolutely abysmal that this even passed release, did someone not check this? Thankfully I brought the OG games on GOG. So at least I can play them again there. But Warcraft 3 just seems like they can never get right again.

You can tell the old guard have left blizzard when the new guard cannot remaster and admit that their artists suck so bad they have to resort to AI. As an artist myself I would never work for Blizzard if they think this shit quality upscaling passes for art over actual artists work. I would be insulted.

I was excited for this when it was announced, but having dug deeper into the AI upscaling its clear Blizzard once again do not care about their IP, hate artists, and clearly used upscaling AI when it was no way ready to be used.

Not mad, just very sad.

[Ardenaso]

The whole AI upscaling has ruined a lot of the great art that made the original. Its absolutely abysmal that this even passed release, did someone not check this? Thankfully I brought the OG games on GOG. So at least I can play them again there. But Warcraft 3 just seems like they can never get right again.

You can tell the old guard have left blizzard when the new guard cannot remaster and admit that their artists suck so bad they have to resort to AI. As an artist myself I would never work for Blizzard if they think this shit quality upscaling passes for art over actual artists work. I would be insulted.

I was excited for this when it was announced, but having dug deeper into the AI upscaling its clear Blizzard once again do not care about their IP, hate artists, and clearly used upscaling AI when it was no way ready to be used.

Not mad, just very sad.