“One of the things that we considered when we were working on the visuals for ‘Diablo III’ is the fact that color is your friend. We feel that color actually helps to create a lot of highlights in the game so that there is contrast. A great analogy is like in ‘Lord of the Rings’ — not everything is dark. It allows you to see what a creepy dungeon can be like but if everything is dark it doesn’t allow you to have a lot of contrast.”

Lee also explains that they want players excited to enter and explore new areas, rather that simply provide the same dark environments over and over again.

Lee does admit that fan feedback is a major factor in how Blizzard develops titles. It'll be interesting to see what impact - if any - the petition has on the development of the game.

‘Diablo III’ Producer Justifies Controversial Art Direction: ‘Color Is Your Friend’ [MTV Multiplayer]

Outside scenarios with vivid colors, beautiful forests with colorful vegetation, shinny and beautiful waterfalls where even rainbows take place.

They hate rainbows! They can't draw gothic fan art with rainbows in it!

*sigh* It just goes to show you that no matter how hard you try there's just no pleasing some people.

Renewed artistic direction for Diablo 3 [PetetionOnline.com via WorthPlaying]

Bionic Commando on the Wii Petition [GoNintendo]

Then in December we were told by Xbox Japan that a localized version was in the works, for release sometime this year. Well thanks to a co-publishing agreement with Japanese publisher Spike, the game is now set to ship on July 26th.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Bethesda Softworks to bring this landmark role-playing game to Japan," said Mitsutoshi Sakurai, CEO of Spike. "We are sure that Oblivion will enjoy the same level of success and critical acclaim it has achieved in other parts of the world. "

SPIKE TO CO-PUBLISH THE ELDER SCROLLS IV: OBLIVION FOR XBOX 360 IN JAPAN

Tokyo, Japan - May 17, 2007 - Spike today announced that it has reached an agreement with Bethesda Softworks , a ZeniMax Media company, to co-publish the blockbuster role-playing game, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in Japan. Developed by Bethesda Games Studios, Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful Elder Scrolls series and utilizes next-generation video game hardware to fully immerse the player in an experience unlike any other. Oblivion is scheduled to ship in Japan on July 26, 2007. The retail price will be 7,800JPY.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion begins after the Emperor's mysterious and untimely death leaves the throne of Tamriel empty. With the Empire ready to crumble, the gates of Oblivion open and demons march upon the land, laying waste to everything in their path. To turn the tide of darkness, players must find the lost heir to the throne and unravel the sinister plot that threatens to destroy all of Tamriel.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Bethesda Softworks to bring this landmark role-playing game to Japan," said Mitsutoshi Sakurai, CEO of Spike. "We are sure that Oblivion will enjoy the same level of success and critical acclaim it has achieved in other parts of the world. "

The Elder ScrollsR IV: Oblivion sold over 3 million units worldwide in 2006 and has earned countless accolades from publications worldwide, including numerous 'Game of the Year' and 'RPG of the Year' awards. In addition, Gamerankings.com and MetaCritic.com list Oblivion as the highest rated game of all time on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.

The Madden Curse, if you're unfamiliar or too lazy to click to the rich Wikipedia entry on the subject, supposedly dooms that years Madden cover athlete with either poor performance or season ruining injuries. Last year's featured player Shaun Alexander suffered a fracture in his foot in the first game of the year, keeping him out for nearly half the season.

In an effort to keep Ladainian Tomlinson from suffering the same fate, fans have put together the web site SaveLTFromMadden.com with a petition to urge EA to keep their MVP from harm. Fortunately, petitions always work, so I'd say he's gonna be okay.

Anyone remember the Joe Montana Sportstalk Football curse? Players who appeared on the cover would be cursed with thinning hair and earned millions of dollars! Not as horrifying. Michael McWhertor

Chargers fans plead to keep LT off Madden cover [Gamespot]

2K's response? "Sure, we'll do it." If the petition scores 5000 signatures, the BioShock folks say they'll release a limited edition of the game. We're not sure right now if that means the Xbox 360 or PC version, or both, but it's good to read. Michael McWhertor

Collectors Edition Petition [2K Forums]

Destructoid reports that Spanish gaming blog Gamerah has apparently lost it. Faced with the glee of American gamers reveling in the launch of the Playstation 3 here in the U.S. and feeling persecuted by Sony's handling of the European launch, the site is sponsoring a mass plastic-shit-o-gram campaign.

To participate you need to email the site with your nickname and complaint against Sony. They will send you a bank account number for you to send them 4 Euros. Once they've lined up all of the poos, they will fill up boxes, lots of boxes, with the fake feces and ship them off to Sony's Spanish HQ with a nice note asking that they be forwarded to Japan. Brian Crecente

Gamerah is selling shit-o-grams to Sony [Destructoid]

Shenmue fans now have the power of the BBC (Scotland... *cough*) behind them. While the rest of us may be ready to face the reality that the series is deader than Ryo's dad after appearing on two different consoles, both regional failures, the Beeb is ready to keep hope alive, in the form of the Shenmue III Appeal...

...the ultimate campaign to force the games industry into finishing the glorious story that was started by Yu Suzuki all those years ago. With the influence of videoGaiden, the power of the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the collective multimedia might of gamers everywhere, how can we possibly fail?

What do we want? We want closure. We want Ryo Hazuki's story to be told to its end. We want to see ambition rewarded. We want a straight "Yes." No other answer will do.

That's Rab Florence, voice of irrationality. His counterpart, Ryan Macleod, is obviously clued in to the overrater disaster that was Shenmue. Or maybe he just knows that today's Sega shouldn't be handling something this epic. I dunno, any Shenmue fans out there clamoring for more?

Keep your eyes on the BBC starting November 5th for more. Michael McWhertor

The BBC videoGaiden Shenmue III Appeal [via Press Start]

Whoever told you it was gay enough in here was lying. And by "here" I mean both Kotaku and the United States of America.

Luckily, GayGamer thinks they have recourse in the form of a petition to bring Tingle's Freshly-Picked Rose-Colored Rupee Land to our crass American shores. Now, I'm the first to titter behind my fan at the efficacy of online petitions, but "gay" is a synonym for "happy" for a reason.

I signed it. Eliza Gauger

GayGamer Petition for Tingling [The Petition Site]

I personally am not a big fan of Wii. I think that perhaps Wii could turn some people off. And those that Wii doesn't upset will likely not be buying Wii because of its name.

This name change is going to turn the Nintendo press conference into a Saturday night live skit. I mean, can you imagine being the guy who wins the right to be the first person to touch Nintendo's Wii?

"Congratulations Johnny, you get to play with Wii."

Expect a lot of giggling during the presser. Some folks have started a petition to kill off Wii, but I don't think there's a snowball chance in hell that will happen because it sorta sounds like Nintendo loves Wii.

Revolution is Officially Wii [Kotaku]

Thumb Bandits points out a petition for optional gender in Lionhead's sequel to Fable. The guy behind the petition estimates that Fable could presumably double its user base if it included the ability to select the fairer sex. Considering the amount of female Night Elf Rogues in World of Warcraft, he might not be too far off.

Petition for Optional Gender in Lionhead Studios' Fable 2 [The Petition]
Mr. Lake - May All Gamers Learn From Thee [Thumb Bandits]
Fable 2 Xbox 360 Details

Sure GTA s Hot Coffee has been hogging all of the negative press lately, but we can t forget about 25 to Life, lambasted a few weeks back by Sen. Chuck Schumer for teaching little Johnny how to kill cops.

Never mind that the game hasn t even come out yet and will likely be rated a very un-Little Johnny friendly Mature.

Despite any current direct attacks on the game, it already has a fan-base and its very own petition.

We the people are tired of the government's ignorance. We the people are tired of the government blaming video games for the actions of sick people. We the people want politicans (and everybody else) to remember we live in America, the home of free speech and free enterprise.

I think I m going to start my own petition:

We the editors of various video game publications are tired of covering controversy. We the editors would much rather write first person accounts of finding Katamari Damacy knitted caps or cakes in the shape of assorted consoles. We the editors are very tired and have a headache that won t go away. We the editors want a nice backrub and perhaps a cold beer.

Wanna sign up?

Petition Supports 25 to Life [1 Up]