Giving Credit Where It's Due

For all the recent concerns I and others have had with League of Legends direction as of late, I have to say I really appreciate the Champion Icon updates currently on the PBE. This is a clear example of Riot listening to the community and sticking to their stated value of clarity.

Now I am the first to say that communication between the community and Riot could be better, but I think a lot of people do not realize how long it takes to implement ideas from the community, to the point that it often creates an illusion of indifference. When a Rioter does go out of their way to seek community interaction or answer a quick question, they are hounded by dozens of other people, who are quite often demanding and rude. Its no wonder they would tread these boards so lightly.

These new Icon changes also give me hope of them tweaking or reconsidering some of the updated splash arts. We all want, cooler, better, and shinier stuff, but we do not want established characters to lose their iconic look or theme. An artist can have great technical skill, but fail in capturing or preserving the subject due to their style. Its never been an issue of the quality of the work, but the essence of it.

Heimerdinger is one of the greatest examples in updating and changing a champion, but keeping their feel and theme. Too many of the more recent splash art updates lack that same dynamic, and caused waves throughout the community. Some of the more popular characters, like Ahri, receive attention from Riot, with changes made, but that only serve to confuse and divide the matter more. What was failed to be understood is perfectly summarized by a player on the forum(to paraphrase): The new Ahri splash art does not look bad, but it seems more like fanart. Unlike Rengar, who's new splash art made him look like how he was depicted in the New Dawn cinematic, Ahri's art update did not, and deviated even further from her design in New Dawn. Honestly, I think it would have been better received had her splash art fell more in line with the cinematic, if any changes where to be made.

Janna, who had fallen out of popularity until her prominence in the LCS, did not receive any attention though, despite many players taking issue with her new splash art. Again, I think the piece was decently made, but it seems more like a fan's alternative take on Janna then the actual character. Her face was one of the most talked about issues of her new art, but her recent icon update on the PBE looks significantly more like her and is a step in the right direction.

All in all, the Champion Icon changes give me hope in the continuing quality of art and the discussion between community and Riot. Good job guys, you really deserve it.