Difference between revisions of "Leonard Boyarsky"

Latest revision as of 23:42, 12 April 2016

Leonard Boyarsky in person.

Leonard Boyarsky is the Lead World Designer for Diablo III, and is the head of lore, dialogues and quests in the game. He is a game designer and graphical artist, and affectionately known as "LeBo" amongst the Diablo community.

LeBo is a frequent interview subject during Diablo III promotion, and has taken a key speaking role during numerous Blizzcon panel presentations.

News links to all of Leonard's interviews and media appearances.

Leonard's Approach to Diablo III[edit | edit source]

In 2011 Leonard spoke to Gamespot about his approach to better presenting the story in Diablo III.[1]

GameSpot: You joined Blizzard in 2006, but you're no stranger to the role-playing genre, having worked at Interplay and helping form Troika. What does experience with other development teams and a fresh set of eyes bring when you begin working on a game like Diablo III?
I can't speak to how other people have approached the franchise in the past, because I didn't work with any of the previous designers, but when I approached it, I came in looking at it from a deeper story standpoint than I think it had in the past. Shockingly, I found out there was a deeper story there; it just really wasn't presented in the best possible format. There was huge dialogue, paragraphs and paragraphs of dialogue when you talk to an NPC, and it didn't grab me the way it could have in previous iterations. I came in, and [vice president of creative development] Chris Metzen and I had a lot of conversations about bringing the emotional resonance to the series. It was all there in the background, and we just wanted to bring it to the forefront.

Career History[edit | edit source]

Leonard is known for his time with Interplay Entertainment and his work with Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 as well as the time at Troika Games. In 2005 he took a year off, returning to the industry when Blizzard offered him a position on the Diablo III project.

Game Credits/Experience[edit | edit source]

2004 - Vampire, The Masquerade: Bloodlines, Troika Games; Project Lead, Animator, Design/Dialogue/Story, Additional Support
2001 - Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, Troika Games; Staff, Voice Directing and Casting
1998 - Fallout 2, Interplay Productions; Original Game Artwork, Original Game Design
1997 - Fallout, Interplay Productions; Art Director, Lead Artist, Original Game Design
1995 - Stonekeep, Interplay Productions; 2D Graphic Artist, 3D Rendering Artist, Video Processor, 3D Animation and Special Effects
1992 - Freelance Artist, works include: Castles – PC Game, End Screens; Unnatural Selection – PC Game, Assistant Artist; Demons – Book Cover; Aversion – CD Cover
2006 - 2016 DIablo 3 Lead World Designer
2016 - Join Obsidians. Departs Blizzard

Links[edit | edit source]

Leonard has a webpage with a gallery of his illustrative work and other information:

LeonardBoyarsky.com

He has also been interviewed/profiled at the Fallout fan site, "No Mutants Allowed"

Leonard Boyarsky Interview/Profile

Gallery[edit | edit source]

Leonard focused on the job.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:Leonard Boyarsky.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Leonard Boyarsky in person.]][[Image:Leonard Boyarsky self portrait.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Self portrait by Leonard.]]Leonard Boyarsky is the Lead World Designer for Diablo III, and is the head of lore, dialogues and quests in the game. He is a game designer and graphical artist.
+[[Image:Leonard Boyarsky.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Leonard Boyarsky in person.]]
+'''Leonard Boyarsky''' is the Lead World Designer for [[Diablo III]], and is the head of [[lore]], [[dialogue]]s and [[quest]]s in the game. He is a game designer and graphical artist, and affectionately known as "LeBo" amongst the Diablo community.
+LeBo is a frequent interview subject during Diablo III promotion, and has taken a key speaking role during numerous Blizzcon panel presentations.
+* [http://diablo.incgamers.com/categories/category/blizzard-people/leonard-boyarsky/blizzard-people/leonard-boyarsky News links to all of Leonard's interviews] and media appearances.
-=Background=
-Boyarsky is known for his time with [http://www.interplay.com/ Interplay Entertainment] and his work with Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 as well as the time at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troika_Games Troika Games]. In 2005 he took a year off, returning to the industry when Blizzard offered him a position on the Diablo III project.
+==Leonard's Approach to Diablo III==
-=Links=
+In 2011 Leonard spoke to Gamespot about his approach to better presenting the story in Diablo III.[http://uk.gamespot.com/diablo-iii/previews/diablo-iii-qanda-the-diablo-mouse-and-exploring-lore-6348168/]
+<blue><font color="#FFFFFF">GameSpot: You joined Blizzard in 2006, but you're no stranger to the role-playing genre, having worked at Interplay and helping form Troika. What does experience with other development teams and a fresh set of eyes bring when you begin working on a game like Diablo III?</font>
+<br>I can't speak to how other people have approached the franchise in the past, because I didn't work with any of the previous designers, but when I approached it, I came in looking at it from a deeper story standpoint than I think it had in the past. Shockingly, I found out there was a deeper story there; it just really wasn't presented in the best possible format. There was huge dialogue, paragraphs and paragraphs of dialogue when you talk to an NPC, and it didn't grab me the way it could have in previous iterations. I came in, and [vice president of creative development] Chris Metzen and I had a lot of conversations about bringing the emotional resonance to the series. It was all there in the background, and we just wanted to bring it to the forefront. </blue>
+==Career History==
+Leonard is known for his time with [http://www.interplay.com/ Interplay Entertainment] and his work with Fallout 1 and Fallout 2 as well as the time at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troika_Games Troika Games]. In 2005 he took a year off, returning to the industry when Blizzard offered him a position on the [[Diablo III]] project.
+==Game Credits/Experience==
+*2004 - ''Vampire, The Masquerade: Bloodlines'', Troika Games; '''Project Lead, Animator, Design/Dialogue/Story, Additional Support'''
+*2001 - ''Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura'', Troika Games; '''Staff, Voice Directing and Casting'''
+*1998 - ''Fallout 2'', Interplay Productions; '''Original Game Artwork, Original Game Design'''
+*1997 - ''Fallout'', Interplay Productions; '''Art Director, Lead Artist, Original Game Design'''
+*1995 - ''Stonekeep'', Interplay Productions; '''2D Graphic Artist, 3D Rendering Artist, Video Processor, 3D Animation and Special Effects'''
+*1992 - Freelance Artist, works include: Castles – PC Game, End Screens; Unnatural Selection – PC Game, Assistant Artist; Demons – Book Cover; Aversion – CD Cover
+*2006 - 2016 DIablo 3 Lead World Designer
+*2016 - Join Obsidians. [http://www.diabloii.net/blog/comments/leonard-boyarsky-leaves-blizzard-joins-obsidian Departs Blizzard]
+==Links==
 Leonard has a webpage with a gallery of his illustrative work and other information:
 :* [http://www.leonardboyarsky.com/ LeonardBoyarsky.com]
+He has also been interviewed/profiled at the Fallout fan site, "No Mutants Allowed"
+:*[http://www.nma-fallout.com/article.php?id=7623 Leonard Boyarsky Interview/Profile]
+==Gallery==
+<gallery>
+File:Leonard-boyarsky-intense.jpg|Leonard focused on the job.
+</gallery>
+{{Game navbox|d3}}