As far as BG1vBG2 potraits, all returning characters except for Imoen's are better to me. Viconia's picture is WAY better, Jaheria is vastly improved, Minsc is slightly better, and Edwin is about a push (ok now that I think about it his BG1 potrait is slightly better). Imoen's BG2 looks kind of silly to me.
Trent Oster's Twitter: "Jason's portraits are for the player character. We won't mess with the originals. Mike did great work on BG"
So no, they will not be changed. The discussion in this thread is why.
You heard that guys! Trent is awesome! Mike is awesome! 'Nuff said! =D
I can't understand what's wrong with the BG1 portraits. They're state-of-the-art to me. They look realistic and fit the game perfectly, while most BG2 ones almost look cartoonish to me (Edwin's two portraits are the best example I can think of). Good thing I can always change them back with ShadowKeeper. =P
(BTW, what about an EnhancedKeeper or something?)
And yes, FYI, my favorite portrait is BG1 Imoen's. Here... now I said it. Dare not touching it, you mutton-mongerin' riff-raffs! She looks exactly what she is supposed to be: cute, carefree, smart and cunning. A perfect match for a loveable rogue. Her BG2 portrait is too different for me, and... OK, she does look tortured alright, like she's expected to be in SoA, but I can't see a clue of her thief/mage class. What's left of the girl my PC grew up with? Luckily, she resumes her earlier personality in ToB.
I can understand some people like it and some people don't, and that's normal I guess. But removing it? No way!
I agree with @g314 He/she took the words out of my mouth, so to speak. I think BG 2 Imoen looks hideous. Her whole head seems a bit 'off' to me. Too few curves and bad lighting so you can't see the details of her face. Also, what's with the pink hair? It always seemed odd to me. Nah, I prefer Imoen's BG 1 portrait.
@Drugar and @Keith_On_A_Cloud I will be highly disappointed if there is no "EnhancedKeeper" available shortly after or at launch time. I understand there are many Modders working with the Devs so it's not like no one will see the need for or demand for it.
As I mentioned today already, the BG1 avatars look realistic because they are modeled after real people, while the BG2 ones are completely drawn I believe. For instance, take these two pictures :
On the left we have our beloved Garrick. On the right it's his model - Cameron Tofer
Hope I didn't do anything illegal by uploading this picture. @TrentOster did it all on twitter really, didn't know before that, it's NOT MY FAUL!
As I mentioned today already, the BG1 avatars look realistic because they are modeled after real people, while the BG2 ones are completely drawn I believe.
Really? If this is true, this means...
Oh boy, this must be one of these moments when you suddenly realize that after FOURTEEN years you had a cru-- *AHEM*... I mean... ah... Never mind. Please... um... carry on...
Many of the BG1 team were in the portraits. When I play the game I always think of the people behind them. Mike started from well lit photos, painted in the fantasy and then did color. The portraits look good due to the strength of the photo showing through and the attention to detail Mike put in. Jason goes in an entirely different direction, his work is much looser and more atmospheric. I personally like Jason's work better as it fits well with my "Frazetta was a God" philosophy on Fantasy Art.
I prefer to keep the BG1 portraits as is. I like how the portraits change from BG1 to BG2, because It gives me the feeling the characters have travelled and changed over the course of the first game to the second game.
As I mentioned today already, the BG1 avatars look realistic because they are modeled after real people, while the BG2 ones are completely drawn I believe. For instance, take these two pictures :
On the left we have our beloved Garrick. On the right it's his model - Cameron Tofer
Hope I didn't do anything illegal by uploading this picture. @TrentOster did it all on twitter really, didn't know before that, it's NOT MY FAUL!
Sounds like the lady who posed for the portrait just got dissed big time by the original poster.
I don't understand why you don't like Imoen's BG2 portrait!? It's adorable. On BG1 portrait she looks much older and in my opinion it doesn't match her girly voice.
I've always liked the BG1 Imoen portrait, although I would agree that she looks a bit older than how I envision the character. I was not a big fan of the BG2 portrait at first, but the character is indeed very changed in BG2, so I guess it's fitting. I've grown to like that one too.
I always hated her portrait from BG1... are they all getting redone?
Why would they redo the original portraits when people like you can just go online and grab whatever portraits they like from any of the hundreds of BG sites out there and replace the ones they dislike in the game?
The original portraits are just that -- the original portraits. And they should not be messed with.
I always hated her portrait from BG1... are they all getting redone?
Why would they redo the original portraits when people like you can just go online and grab whatever portraits they like from any of the hundreds of BG sites out there and replace the ones they dislike in the game?
The original portraits are just that -- the original portraits. And they should not be messed with.
True, you can replace NPC portraits by placing them (properly named) in the Override folder.* I've done that for Xzar for years. Ditto Coran's goofy portrait.
But anyway, I agree, leave the originals in place.
Many of the BG1 team were in the portraits. When I play the game I always think of the people behind them. Mike started from well lit photos, painted in the fantasy and then did color. The portraits look good due to the strength of the photo showing through and the attention to detail Mike put in. Jason goes in an entirely different direction, his work is much looser and more atmospheric. I personally like Jason's work better as it fits well with my "Frazetta was a God" philosophy on Fantasy Art.
-Trent
That's really cool! Now I wish we got to see more of the BG1 team, so we can compare.
I am madly in love with BG2 portrait art. Everyone from the original cast looks so much better in the sequel.
Most of all I love Jaheira. I don't understand where all that hate towards her portrait is coming from. Sure her BG1 portrait was good... looked nothing like a half-elf though... but seriously her BG2 portrait is perfect.
I like every single portrait in BG2 but not so much with BG1 ones. That is completely understandable since they chose to base them on team members and friends (my guess) and not on professional models. I like the overall artstyle, even though I consider it inferior to sequel's, so when I play the first game I always swap portraits I fancy the least with fan made ones.
Speaking of Imoen, I obviously prefer her BG2 portrait so when I found this one (combining her features from second game with her appearance from first game) I was overjoyed.
Comments
I will be highly disappointed if there is no "EnhancedKeeper" available shortly after or at launch time. I understand there are many Modders working with the Devs so it's not like no one will see the need for or demand for it.
On the left we have our beloved Garrick. On the right it's his model - Cameron Tofer
Hope I didn't do anything illegal by uploading this picture. @TrentOster did it all on twitter really, didn't know before that, it's NOT MY FAUL!
Oh boy, this must be one of these moments when you suddenly realize that after FOURTEEN years you had a cru-- *AHEM*... I mean... ah... Never mind. Please... um... carry on...
Jason goes in an entirely different direction, his work is much looser and more atmospheric. I personally like Jason's work better as it fits well with my "Frazetta was a God" philosophy on Fantasy Art.
-Trent
So who is BG1 Jaheira modeled after?
The original portraits are just that -- the original portraits. And they should not be messed with.
But anyway, I agree, leave the originals in place.
* http://portraits.chosenofmystra.net/npc_portrait_change.html
Also, I *love* BG1 portraits. I love them, I tell you!
Out of curiosity...why would you change Xzar's portrait?
BWA HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Reminds me of Hugh Laurie almost, minus the stubles and more feminine.
Made me rofl thank you
Most of all I love Jaheira. I don't understand where all that hate towards her portrait is coming from. Sure her BG1 portrait was good... looked nothing like a half-elf though... but seriously her BG2 portrait is perfect.
I like every single portrait in BG2 but not so much with BG1 ones. That is completely understandable since they chose to base them on team members and friends (my guess) and not on professional models. I like the overall artstyle, even though I consider it inferior to sequel's, so when I play the first game I always swap portraits I fancy the least with fan made ones.
Speaking of Imoen, I obviously prefer her BG2 portrait so when I found this one (combining her features from second game with her appearance from first game) I was overjoyed.