Why is skin production so slow?

RookPusher·Feb 16, 2018·1 votes·496 views

Skins, which I'm guessing to be a substantial revenue generator, and which don't screw up game play in any capacity, seems to be a no-brainer for effort, time, and money to be sunk into it. Yet I see so few skins come out for champs in need, and some obvious skin designs left on the table.

What can we do as the general public to help?

6 Comments

DeadUnbornFeb 16, 20185 votes

Many factors:

First, the team needs to analize which skin makes sense production wise (whcih skin will make payers the happiest while selling the most).

Then there is a lot of ideation for the concept. What looks cool while not hampering gameplay (ie: changing size of the champion, bugs and such)

Then they have to play test the skin to make sure it is readable, and design sound and special effects for habilities

Finally splash art and localization

Although it might seem simple, making skins that players will want to buy is not simple. If a skin isn't good, not only will Riot waste money and time making it, but players will also be unhappy

I recommend you read the dev blogs for Illaoi's new skin release, it explain everyhting I just said in far greater detail

Valaran NaraFeb 16, 20183 votes

So, I want to start off by saying that while your call to action isn't destructive or anything of the likes, I think you might be lacking in understanding for the process and what's been going on.

I won't bore you with too much heavy detail in how it all works, but TLDR; they have a schedule for skin releases. They want quality over quantity, so them boosting up cadence is dependent on them finding faster ways to make it. It's most likely not an actual lack of ideas (which is where the community could easily help).

Not only that, but I will give you a small list of champs people been saying haven't gotten a skin in ages (as well as those that don't really get talked about but just now getting their skin)

JarvanIV Gragas Graves Yorick Swain Illaoi Nasus Warwick Singed These champs recently got skins (Jarvan is going to get his soon). These were champs that went a very long time without skins. Are there others still waiting for skins? Why yes, yes there are. Of course; however, Riot is working on that. They even said so sometime last year that they are trying. That's why you have this big talk and constant update on Resistance Illaoi's skin progress. They are actually trying to get to each champion one after the other. It'll take time, though, and I rather them hopefully getting the skin right instead of just pushing it out with 10 others and all of them are lack luster.

RookPusherFeb 16, 20181 votes

[{quoted}](name=Valaran Nara,realm=NA,application-id=6kFXY1kR,discussion-id=gfOE3r9s,comment-id=0001,timestamp=2018-02-16T18:22:20.044+0000)

So, I want to start off by saying that while your call to action isn't destructive or anything of the likes, I think you might be lacking in understanding for the process and what's been going on.

I won't bore you with too much heavy detail in how it all works, but TLDR; they have a schedule for skin releases. They want quality over quantity, so them boosting up cadence is dependent on them finding faster ways to make it. It's most likely not an actual lack of ideas (which is where the community could easily help).

Not only that, but I will give you a small list of champs people been saying haven't gotten a skin in ages (as well as those that don't really get talked about but just now getting their skin)

These champs recently got skins (Jarvan is going to get his soon). These were champs that went a very long time without skins. Are there others still waiting for skins? Why yes, yes there are. Of course; however, Riot is working on that. They even said so sometime last year that they are trying. That's why you have this big talk and constant update on Resistance Illaoi's skin progress. They are actually trying to get to each champion one after the other. It'll take time, though, and I rather them hopefully getting the skin right instead of just pushing it out with 10 others and all of them are lack luster.

To clarify, how do we help enhance the staff so that production is increased without compromising quality. E.g. Spotify said once they have X premium members they'd pay artists more. I don't personally believe them, but since the model exists, I want to see what we can do.

Valaran NaraFeb 17, 20181 votes

{quoted}

To clarify, how do we help enhance the staff so that production is increased without compromising quality. E.g. Spotify said once they have X premium members they'd pay artists more. I don't personally believe them, but since the model exists, I want to see what we can do.

Well, I believe, for Riot, more money would mean they can pay more people to work on things. The problem with that lies in the fact that Riot has no intention on suddenly increasing their volume of workers just to fire them x-months later when the project is done. You can fine that in one of their Nexus posts when it comes to clarity.

With that being said, I think Riot actually has enough money to make quality skins. I think, as of right now, their main problem is executing. As in, it's not the resources. It's legit just what they actually come up with vs what people would expect of a skin of that type. Like, Yorick's Arclight skin isn't "bad" but people expected GREATER, so the skin appears lower quality than it actually is. At which point, they just didn't put as much time as people wanted.

Like, throwing money at Riot wouldn't help at all unless they decide to increase employee count and actually keep them.