Game News The Beauty of Black and Gold

[VentilatorOfDoom]

Tags: Deus Ex: Human Revolution; Eidos Montreal

<p>Learn why Deus Ex: Human Revolution looks <a href="http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=267446" target="_blank">black & gold</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Ever wondered why every single Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshot and video is clad in black and gold overtones? Of course you have. That's why when we got a chance to speak to art director, Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, we asked him just that...<br /><br />"Okay, so that was just one day... one picture. I think it was like a Sunday, and I saw this black and gold advert - I have no idea what it was. But it just struck me - this could be a great palette, it's never really been used in videogames. It was great for communication, packaging, bags so on," Jacques-Belletête explained.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Spotted at: <a href="http://www.rpgwatch.com/#15876">RPGWatch</a></p>

 

[Felix]

Look more like piss than gold.

 

[Nex]

Black and Gold eh, That's a really cheap generic brand here.

 

[praetor]

moar liek shit and piss, amirite?

 

[Konjad]

dark, gritty with shiny bloom and special effects.

 

[Malachi]

This provides a beautiful answer to an unasked question: "Why do video games cost tens of millions of dollars more to produce than they used to, yet somehow have inferior gameplay?"

The answer seems to be that money is spent on personnel who come up with color schemes. Obv. very important in a video game.

 

[Aikanaro]

This provides a beautiful answer to an unasked question: "Why do video games cost tens of millions of dollars more to produce than they used to, yet somehow have inferior gameplay?"

The answer seems to be that money is spent on personnel who come up with color schemes. Obv. very important in a video game.

I can understand why The Codex hates a huge focus on graphics ... but when did that extend to hating art direction? Colour scheme is kind of important.

 

[Freelance Henchman]

I doubt the game would have been much cheaper if they hadn't gone with the black-and-gold color scheme. Someone still has to model all the crap sitting around in the world, chairs and tables and general knick-knacks. Do they design that sort of stuff all new every time a new game is made? I'm guessing yes just so that the general art style is the same for all objects.

 

[Elzair]

Seriously, WTF?! What the hell was wrong with the blue and grey colors of the original two (at least those were the prominent colors on the two boxes)? Jesus, this game is going to suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

 

[Konjad]

when the codex will be playing human revolution ill replay deus ex

 

[Achilles]

It isn't a bad color scheme, I think it suits the game well. The color scheme is not my main concern, the main game is.

 

[mikaelis]

It isn't a bad color scheme, I think it suits the game well. The color scheme is not my main concern, the main game is.

This. Only whiners and retards will complain about the color scheme if the game is actually good. And along the same line - who the fuck will care if the core gameplay/story etc. is utter shit.

 

[deuxhero]

But when's the last last time a good game had only 2 colors?

 

[Rhalle]

If they were at all literary, they would have made the primary colors lead-- and gold. It would have fit the theme of transhumanism perfectly.

 

[Azrael the cat]

But when's the last last time a good game had only 2 colors?

You know that there's a difference between a colour scheme and how many colours you're using, don't you?

Most films have a 1-3 'colour scheme', and for games a 2-colour 'scheme' is pretty standard.

It isn't the sum total of the colours you're using, more the main colours that should stand out from the screen/page. So with a blue/green scheme, there'd be lots of blue sky shots, lots of foilage, lots of green shirts and blue jeans, etc. Often with both films and games, it will refer to the general 'filter'/tinge of the shot. For a really ultra-obvious example, look at Ang Lee's films, or any Chinese period film in the last 10 years. Gratuitous use of coloured filter effects.

Usually you won't notice unless you're looking for it, unless it's either done badly, or (as in some of Ang Lee's work - others he just fucks it up) to create a non-naturalistic / fantastical feel to the shots.

Then if you want something to look out of place, or just ultra-noticeable, you might throw in a really red filter over the shot, so that it clashes with the green/blue tinge you've had going for most of it.

As for an example of a really noticeable black/gold colour scheme that also worked really well: Bladerunner.

 

[Rohit_N]

Are we ready to move on from interviewing the same art director?

 

[Azrael the cat]

But when's the last last time a good game had only 2 colors?

You know that there's a difference between a colour scheme and how many colours you're using, don't you?

Most films have a 1-3 'colour scheme', and for games a 2-colour 'scheme' is pretty standard.

It isn't the sum total of the colours you're using, more the main colours that should stand out from the screen/page. So with a blue/green scheme, there'd be lots of blue sky shots, lots of foilage, lots of green shirts and blue jeans, etc. Often with both films and games, it will refer to the general 'filter'/tinge of the shot. For a really ultra-obvious example, look at Ang Lee's films, or any Chinese period film in the last 10 years. Gratuitous use of coloured filter effects.

Usually you won't notice unless you're looking for it, unless it's either done badly, or (as in some of Ang Lee's work - others he just fucks it up) to create a non-naturalistic / fantastical feel to the shots.

Then if you want something to look out of place, or just ultra-noticeable, you might throw in a really red filter over the shot, so that it clashes with the green/blue tinge you've had going for most of it.

As for an example of a really noticeable black/gold colour scheme that also worked really well: Bladerunner.

Edit: personally, I'm a bit skeptical about it working well in a game. You're playing a game for many more hours than you watch a film, and I think that black/gold might simply get too...dreary.

 

[commie]

Edit: personally, I'm a bit skeptical about it working well in a game. You're playing a game for many more hours than you watch a film, and I think that black/gold might simply get too...dreary.

Why? Deus Ex was mostly grey and blue. Fallout 1 and 2 had brown and grey. Thief was grey and brown. It didn't really hurt those games.

 

[Destroid]

Over 9000 hours!

 

[Crispy]

The guy's probably just a New Orleans Saints fan. I mean, he is French...

 

[DefJam101]

Lol steampunk

 

[fizzelopeguss]

But when's the last last time a good game had only 2 colors?

You know that there's a difference between a colour scheme and how many colours you're using, don't you?

Most films have a 1-3 'colour scheme', and for games a 2-colour 'scheme' is pretty standard.

It isn't the sum total of the colours you're using, more the main colours that should stand out from the screen/page. So with a blue/green scheme, there'd be lots of blue sky shots, lots of foilage, lots of green shirts and blue jeans, etc. Often with both films and games, it will refer to the general 'filter'/tinge of the shot. For a really ultra-obvious example, look at Ang Lee's films, or any Chinese period film in the last 10 years. Gratuitous use of coloured filter effects.

Usually you won't notice unless you're looking for it, unless it's either done badly, or (as in some of Ang Lee's work - others he just fucks it up) to create a non-naturalistic / fantastical feel to the shots.

Then if you want something to look out of place, or just ultra-noticeable, you might throw in a really red filter over the shot, so that it clashes with the green/blue tinge you've had going for most of it.

As for an example of a really noticeable black/gold colour scheme that also worked really well: Bladerunner.

codex hasn't heard of the colour wheel apparently.

 

[deuxhero]

Edit: personally, I'm a bit skeptical about it working well in a game. You're playing a game for many more hours than you watch a film, and I think that black/gold might simply get too...dreary.

Why? Deus Ex was mostly grey and blue. Fallout 1 and 2 had brown and grey. Thief was grey and brown. It didn't really hurt those games.

Deus Ex only used blue for super tech stuff (Nanoaugs, power, parts of the mech augs, Morpheus and Deadalus ect) and grey for things made of concrete or look like they were purchased in bulk (where you would see the tone in real life), not every fucking light and texture.

 

[Zeus]

My, what a distinctive color palette. Now where have I seen something like that before?

Ah yes, now I remember.

 

[thesheeep]

It is not rare in the world, but I can't remember having played a game with that scheme.

 

[Topher]

It is not rare in the world, but I can't remember having played a game with that scheme.

The blade runner game but I don't remember the colors very well. I know that one of the levels in Phantom Dust had a similar color scheme.

 

[made]

It is not rare in the world, but I can't remember having played a game with that scheme.

I do.

 

[Topher]

It is not rare in the world, but I can't remember having played a game with that scheme.

I do.

Nice.

* I still want to see what the hell these were supposed to be dammit.

** Odd. They show up now but only when I copy the image URL to a new tab and come back?!? I guess I was the only one who couldn't see them?