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Rodrigo-Vega — Heroes of Newerth

Published: 2011-01-29 04:28:12 +0000 UTC; Views: 16952; Favourites: 298; Downloads: 408
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Description 0.05 pencil, a black pen and a couple of markers. A scanner and a little bit of PS magic.

I got a little nostalgic after seeing the last title of a small independent franchise I once really liked, Savage.
I shouldn't be talking about this, it's like trolling, if you don't have anything good to say don't say anything they say, and I really hate the "They changed it now it sucks" kind of fanboys but seriously; They changed it, now it sucks. I needed to say it.
So I'll make a little summary "review" if you may, just because I need to take it out of my chest.

What I liked more about the first title, Savage: The Battle for Newerth, wasn't only the fact that it was a free online game with an innovative gameplay mechanics and a virtually infinite replay value.
The setting itself was very creative and unique. I loved the setting.
The original game had the look and feel of a rather primtive culture, along the lines of native americans that verged toward viking-arabic stylings and used randomly advanced tachnology, fighting evolved beasts with mystic powers.
Ok, it sounds kinda random and schizo tech ruled nonesensically, (it was set in a very distant future) but it looked rather cool.
Picture youself as a nomad going through a forest, grass up to your knees (all including your clothes, toned down between nice hues of realistic browns and greens) and then suddently you heard some steps and wow! it's a massive bear-creature! you draw your shotgun, and make a couple of shots, but it's mostly useless, you draw your hatchets as the beast leaps in your direction ZACH!
There you are dead, but it was pretty awesome!
Now I was very thrilled when I heard there was a second game coming but when I saw it.. something was wrong.. the setting looks all changed. Ok, this scenario is little bit more colorful.. but the humans are all medieval fantasy, just look at the chaplain, what are those colors? Hmn.. well it's probably cool anyway.
*reads further* the the what know? DEMONS? now there are demons. Now the plot of this franchise includes demons for some reason. Visually now most things in this game could perfectly fit inside the Diablo franchise. Why?
Should I really be this shocked? well I liked to think that in the original things just got that way naturally, humanity after a couple million years was bound to fall every now and then and the beast species just naturally evolved, then the plot kicks in.
Apparently it was demons all along!

Then the last game, I won't even make a heavy research on the subject, yes I'm judging a book by it's cover.. or not, I'm just judging the cover of a book really.
So anyway, the concept sounds fun, but man, it's Blizzard all again. Only instead of Diablo, this time is the Warcraft universe. I give up.
I swear I saw some characters that look exactly like elfs and orcs and goblins and dwarfs!
There are paladins and a pandaren monk (I'm not making this shit up) They have lost any reminisence to the original theme in favour of a generalized fantasy kitchen sink..
Fuck that S2 Games! I want to go back to crawl out of the jungle to terrorize a terracota village as a slightly anthropomorphic predator clad in bone armor and devour the villagers while I'm shot at with magnetic rifles ; _ ;

PS: Dear S2 Games, the behemoth according to the first game descends frome elephants so those things on the head are tusks, not horns, they should come out of the mouth, not the sides of the skull > _ <

But oh well...
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Comments: 35

RobotNinjaHero [2019-02-09 23:05:09 +0000 UTC]

This looks so bad@$$ !

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frankperrin [2018-05-04 10:30:27 +0000 UTC]

Very well rendered pieces! I love the stark contrast between foreground and background.

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Isqudor [2018-03-28 16:36:08 +0000 UTC]

Well said. I'm glad to hear others were also drawn to the feeling of exploring this alien yet familiar landscape, not just the competitive slaughter.

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manwith0name [2013-03-15 04:15:23 +0000 UTC]

Cool look... very mythic.

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Ragnarok6664 [2012-11-14 19:02:13 +0000 UTC]

Yes..Amazing..

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EmaCamU [2011-08-11 13:49:54 +0000 UTC]

quizas no sean demonios, quizas sean criaturas que alejandose de los humanos, desarrolaron nuevas formas de defensa, pudiendo asi inmolarse sin hacerse daño y convocando espadas de fue... para que me molesto...

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to EmaCamU [2011-08-11 17:42:01 +0000 UTC]

No lo hagas, los llaman demonios son .. zombies llameantes.. son demonios.

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EmaCamU In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-08-11 20:01:34 +0000 UTC]

como arruinaron un juegazo...

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to EmaCamU [2011-08-11 22:08:33 +0000 UTC]

Lloro todas las noches.
(not)

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EmaCamU In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-08-12 02:05:23 +0000 UTC]

estas en tu derecho

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Chardor [2011-07-23 13:54:38 +0000 UTC]

heh sticking to the company eh? same here!

you know the Savage and Savage 2 community has fought over the Setting ALOT we (well especialy me) have called out S2 on the new artstyle and setting ALOT and i made numerous remarks on how they should fire their art team wich would nearly got me banned from the game.
Ive stopped caring about the setting since the introduction of the "Goblin Shop" however lateley they do acknowledge the roots of the game a BIT with heroes like Emerald Warden. Also they brought back Revenant from Savage 2 (Wich still is a big departure from Savage 1 tho)
Also in the flavour texts of certain Items (Scarab for example) they hint that the "Magic" is actually ancient technology.

However i agree on anything you say and your artwork is, as always, outstanding and great. I hope S2 games will listen to us at some point. you should post this on the HoN forums S2 did listen to the community quite a few times, but only on realy stupid topics. Make some good ones.
Do it, for the game deserves better. With DotA 2 coming out the WC 3 inspired Arttheme will bring S2 down, and i feel they start realizing this. Now would be the time to help them overcome their incompetence!

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to Chardor [2011-07-23 19:29:41 +0000 UTC]

You know what we should do? get some people together and make a mod of HoN or Savage 2 with the original theme and feel.. that would teach them to.. ugh you get the point
I'm serious though.

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Chardor In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-07-24 12:17:09 +0000 UTC]

thats NOT what im talking about.
but actually a dude called dark strider is doing quite a few mods for HoN that make the game alot better and closer to savage

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to Chardor [2011-07-24 16:29:33 +0000 UTC]

Well thats sounds like what you were talking about
If I want to do anything about it other than rant, that would be it. Could you give me some contact information about this guy Dark Strider?

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Chardor In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-07-25 20:44:35 +0000 UTC]

hes on vacation for this week ill arrange it when hes back if hes good with it.

by the way hes that guy that made, among others, the awsome weather mod and the Voodoo raptor skin.

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to Chardor [2011-07-27 18:22:23 +0000 UTC]

Great thanks!

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Jerepasaurus [2011-07-01 02:51:42 +0000 UTC]

I don't even know the game, but I read this ALL, nice and slow, and found myself tearing up, saying "You poor thinnnnnng ;___; I know what its like..."

I'm sorry the company killed it.
You and the fans of the original version have my sympathies. ;3; ♥
It sounded amazing.

I have a sort of primitive peoples myself in a world I'm working on, and I plan to do it some justice, as I have all along, and not let it fall into being yet another Warcraft thing in the world.

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drunkmouseface [2011-02-07 19:27:15 +0000 UTC]

Sooo fun!

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AgentPendergast [2011-01-30 16:05:41 +0000 UTC]

True skilll, wonderful job with your line quality.

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Beltaguise [2011-01-30 03:39:24 +0000 UTC]

See, this looks like a game I would have loved to play. Shame they went with a more standard fantasy setting.

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Hejin0057 [2011-01-29 19:05:57 +0000 UTC]

I personally like the new game, but I will admit the changes were kind of dumb. It was really so they could replace DoTa honestly. The story is more or less important when there are competitive players and money to be made. It sucks.

Nevertheless, this piece is great! As always, your detail is excellent and your concepts unique. Nice work.

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to Hejin0057 [2011-01-29 19:18:06 +0000 UTC]

I don't have anything agains companies changing a theme to make more money, but it bugs me when they betray their own original vision, just call it otherwise and say it's a brand new franchise. Like.. Dino Crisis. But don't let me get started again XD

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Desmodeus [2011-01-29 18:38:03 +0000 UTC]

Ah... Same old, same old.
"We need a more badass enemy for our sequel. Ideas?"
"Demons"
"Demons! Excellent idea!"

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TheAlmightyPillock [2011-01-29 17:44:01 +0000 UTC]

I agree with your sentiments completly. Particuly about the behemoth, its always rahter bugged me that they couldnt get the evolution right.

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Chizek [2011-01-29 17:07:33 +0000 UTC]

Crafty Demons! It was them all along!

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applepie1989 [2011-01-29 07:35:48 +0000 UTC]

I truely adore your sketches, though i'm not a gamer

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to applepie1989 [2011-01-29 19:23:59 +0000 UTC]

I don't know if I can call myself a gamer
I just love games an art medium, I find developing ideas and art for them much more interesting that actually playing them.

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applepie1989 In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-02-02 08:22:18 +0000 UTC]

that is true :> They have really cool concept arts and artbooks published out. THough its really expensive

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-01-29 20:26:37 +0000 UTC]

*as an art medium

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WSLaFleur [2011-01-29 07:11:12 +0000 UTC]

this is quite the work, but i love HoN.

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Rodrigo-Vega In reply to WSLaFleur [2011-01-29 20:30:15 +0000 UTC]

I'm not saying it's a bad game at all, I'm just saying they raped a good original setting to fill in with a cliched mainstream niche.
Sounds mean and pedant as hell, I always support independent developers and I'm glad they succeded doing so, but it's rather sad for me that I loved the original bold spirit of the development group and the franchise.

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WSLaFleur In reply to Rodrigo-Vega [2011-01-29 23:55:18 +0000 UTC]

truth be told they're really butchering the original game Defense of the Ancients with their terrible marketing and game-design philosophies, but i'm an addict nonetheless.

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Sapiento [2011-01-29 05:50:45 +0000 UTC]

Wow, great picture!

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whalewithlegs [2011-01-29 05:26:12 +0000 UTC]

This is really nicely put together, compositionally. I really like the sabertooth cat with the knife and the tree-club.

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NathanDespain [2011-01-29 04:53:15 +0000 UTC]

I got all teary, reading this. I despise when developers take a perfectly good game, then fill it with water and Warcraft, and just 'rape' the whole idea. What you just described was my idea of a GAME! Native americans? Cool! No game has them! VIKING ARABIC NATIVE AMERICANS?!? You just blew my mind. Im in love. Twisted ending to this story? Its over. WHAT?! NO! Yes. AHH EFF THE FREE WORLD.
I love your artwork..I long for a game made by people who care, and kept by those same people. May you be hired for many things.

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