Samwise Didier
Encyclopedia
Sam "Samwise" Didier is the art director at Blizzard Entertainment
. He is responsible for creating much of the artwork for computer games in the Warcraft
, StarCraft
, and the Diablo series. He is the senior art director on StarCraft II. Amongst the veteran Blizzard employees, Didier has been a consistent artist for many years, his unique style greatly influencing the game art.
Didier was responsible for the Pandaren, a race regarded by fans - and used by Blizzard - as a "joke race" but still with legitimacy within the lore. Among other things, panda icons also appeared accompanying much of Didier's art, and could be seen in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
as the emblem on the Night Elf demon hunter's warblades, a picture in the Paladin's book, and the ashes that form after the usage of the Blood Mage's Flame Strike ability has a pattern of a panda's face.
Also in Starcraft II, there is a multiplayer portrait, containing a "Panda Marine".
album covers. He has done the following covers:
He has also done the cover art for Joacim Cans
' (Hammerfall singer) solo album, Beyond the Gates (2004).
Blizzard Entertainment
Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher founded on February 8, 1991 under the name Silicon & Synapse by three graduates of UCLA, Michael Morhaime, Allen Adham and Frank Pearce and currently owned by French company Activision Blizzard...
. He is responsible for creating much of the artwork for computer games in the Warcraft
Warcraft Universe
Warcraft is a franchise of video games, novels, and other media originally created by Blizzard Entertainment. The series is made up of Four core games: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and World of Warcraft...
, StarCraft
StarCraft
StarCraft is a military science fiction real-time strategy video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first game of the StarCraft series was released for Microsoft Windows on 31 March 1998. With more than 11 million copies sold worldwide as of February 2009, it is one of the best-selling...
, and the Diablo series. He is the senior art director on StarCraft II. Amongst the veteran Blizzard employees, Didier has been a consistent artist for many years, his unique style greatly influencing the game art.
Didier was responsible for the Pandaren, a race regarded by fans - and used by Blizzard - as a "joke race" but still with legitimacy within the lore. Among other things, panda icons also appeared accompanying much of Didier's art, and could be seen in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos is a real time strategy computer game released by Blizzard Entertainment on July 3, 2002 . It is the second sequel to Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, and it is the third game set in the Warcraft Universe...
as the emblem on the Night Elf demon hunter's warblades, a picture in the Paladin's book, and the ashes that form after the usage of the Blood Mage's Flame Strike ability has a pattern of a panda's face.
Also in Starcraft II, there is a multiplayer portrait, containing a "Panda Marine".
Cover art
Samwise does the art for HammerFallHammerFall
HammerFall is a power metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was formed in 1993 by ex-Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak.- Early days :...
album covers. He has done the following covers:
- 2002 - Hearts on Fire (EP)
- 2002 - Crimson ThunderCrimson Thunder-Personnel:* Joacim Cans - Lead & backing vocals* Oscar Dronjak - Lead & Rhythm guitars, Backing vocals* Stefan Elmgren - Lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars, Backing vocals...
- 2003 - One Crimson NightOne Crimson NightOne Crimson Night is a two-disc live album and DVD by Swedish power metal band HammerFall. The album was recorded during band's concert at Lisebergshallen, Sweden...
(Live album & DVD) - 2005 - Blood Bound (EP)
- 2005 - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, UnbrokenChapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken- Personnel :* Joacim Cans - Lead & backing vocals* Oscar Dronjak - Guitars & backing vocals* Stefan Elmgren - Guitars* Magnus Rosén - Bass Guitar* Anders Johansson - Drums...
- 2006 - Natural High (EP)
- 2006 - ThresholdThreshold (HammerFall album)*European Digipack and Brazilian releases come with "Natural High" videoclip as bonus.*Bonus tracks for Japan: The Fire Burns Forever , Raise the Hammer .*Limited edition bonus 3" DVD: Natural High, The Fire Burns Forever, Making of 'Natural High'....
- 2009 - No Sacrifice, No VictoryNo Sacrifice, No Victory- Reception :- Personnel :* Joacim Cans - Lead and backing vocals* Oscar Dronjak - Rhythm, lead guitars and backing vocals* Pontus Norgren - Rhythm, lead guitars and backing vocals* Fredrik Larsson - Bass and backing vocals* Anders Johansson - Drums...
He has also done the cover art for Joacim Cans
Joacim Cans
Joacim Cans is the lead singer of HammerFall, a Swedish power metal band. He is the only member aside from founder and guitarist Oscar Dronjak to appear on all of the band's albums....
' (Hammerfall singer) solo album, Beyond the Gates (2004).
Art books
Samwise has contributed to the following art books:- 2002 - The Art of Warcraft
- 2005 - The Art of World of Warcraft
- 2006 - The Art of World of WarCraft: The Burning Crusade
- 2007 - World Of Warcraft: The Art Of The Trading Card Game Vol. 1
- 2008 - The Art of World of Warcraft Wrath of the Lich King
- 2009 - The Cinematic Art of World of Warcraft: The Wrath of the Lich King
- 2010 - The Art of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
External links
- Profile at Sons of the Storm
- Art Gallery