Vanguards Craptastic Graphics

Rayx0r

Just look at this garbage   /sarcasm

UncleSanta

Stunning. Cant wait to play it alone for the graphics.

xersent

Yeah this looks real nice i wanted to try Beta but need to live in US to be able to get key from www.gamespy.com^^; oh well can wait.. isnt long now :

coffee

If your into plastic i guess you'll love em.

Jackdog

stunning graphics from another great game

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/21867

never buy a game because of pretty screen shots on a forum I always say

matraque

Originally posted by Jackdog


stunning graphics from another great game
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/21867
never buy a game because of pretty screen shots on a forum I always say

As i always say, comparing DnL to VGSoH is ridiculous.  Everyone know that VGSoH have the gameplay... while DnL does not.

LifePositive

The entire world looks like poorly textured plastic. Like the whole world is one big slab and everything is just dropped on top of it. There is no "earthy" feeling to soil, rock, grass, etc... The worst part is the transition between different textures. Nothing to show that trees, rocks, mountains, buildings, ruins, etc, aren't just dropped there.



Simply put, the whole world looks fake. The fact that they tried to make it look "realistic" just serves to highlight how bad it actually looks.



The character models are the worst though. They look like corpses or like they were molded from some kind of rubber. There is no feeling that they are living, breathing people and no feeling that they are part of the world itself. Maybe it's the Uncanny Valley but frankly, it's freakin' creepy!

Rayx0r

Originally posted by Manveru

The entire world looks like poorly textured plastic. Like the whole world is one big slab and everything is just dropped on top of it. There is no "earthy" feeling to soil, rock, grass, etc... The worst part is the transition between different textures. Nothing to show that trees, rocks, mountains, buildings, ruins, etc, aren't just dropped there.



Simply put, the whole world looks fake. The fact that they tried to make it look "realistic" just serves to highlight how bad it actually looks.



The character models are the worst though. They look like corpses or like they were molded from some kind of rubber. There is no feeling that they are living, breathing people and no feeling that they are part of the world itself. Maybe it's the Uncanny Valley but frankly, it's freakin' creepy!

actually, you're right.  the whole world is fake

crazy, huh?

gatheris

my biggest bugaboo graphics wise is my characters strange ability to walk through trees

no matter how big or solid "looking" the trunk is i pass right through

maybe this is on purpose?  i guess it would be really annoying to have to walk around solid objects

LifePositive

That's not the point. "Fake" is an impression, not a statement regarding its relationship to our present reality.



It doesn't look organic in any way. It tries too, it failed, and it looks worse because of it. It's like looking at one of those humanoid robots that is almost-but-not-quite like an actual "real" person. Every time I logged in Vanguard I got that same impression. Almost-but-not-quite.



Case in point, that flying mount's feathers look like they are painted on plastic. Look at the pillars it is flying through! Tell me that looks anything like stone! I could handle some artistic license. I could handle a sense of style. This is just wrong. Fake.

Rayx0r

Originally posted by Jackdog


stunning graphics from another great game
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/21867
never buy a game because of pretty screen shots on a forum I always say

I just looked through 15 pages of your post history.  All of your posts are all negative biased against vanguard.  I found a couple other threads you posted in the Dark and Light forum bashing that game too.  There were a couple discussions you joined in on the general forum regarding vanguard and you bashed it there also.

I was trying to find any positive post you may have made about any single MMO, but I couldnt. 

you're a true asset to the game community.

Kyleran

Originally posted by Manveru


That's not the point. "Fake" is an impression, not a statement regarding its relationship to our present reality.



It doesn't look organic in any way. It tries too, it failed, and it looks worse because of it. It's like looking at one of those humanoid robots that is almost-but-not-quite like an actual "real" person. Every time I logged in Vanguard I got that same impression. Almost-but-not-quite.



Case in point, that flying mount's feathers look like they are painted on plastic. Look at the pillars it is flying through! Tell me that looks anything like stone! I could handle some artistic license. I could handle a sense of style. This is just wrong. Fake.

Who freaking cares?  The gryphon looks fine, the pillars look fine... it isn't about the damn graphics..... they are "good enough"... what's more important is the gameplay....



Maybe you need a better video card or something?

Rayx0r

Originally posted by Manveru


That's not the point. "Fake" is an impression, not a statement regarding its relationship to our present reality.



It doesn't look organic in any way. It tries too, it failed, and it looks worse because of it. It's like looking at one of those humanoid robots that is almost-but-not-quite like an actual "real" person. Every time I logged in Vanguard I got that same impression. Almost-but-not-quite.



Case in point, that flying mount's feathers look like they are painted on plastic. Look at the pillars it is flying through! Tell me that looks anything like stone! I could handle some artistic license. I could handle a sense of style. This is just wrong. Fake.

well, ok i do see your point.  I just dont agree with it really.  To date, I havnt seen any other MMO on the market look so believable.  Look at that second screenshot overlooking the bay with the ships docked.  It looks very believable and organic.  The trees and grass sway and are alive in-game.  The screeny cant capture that.

the other complaints, I suppose you have a point but I havnt seen any games illustrate a world in 3d polygons much better.  If you have, please feel free to post a link and draw some comparisons for me.

xxgolddragon

I really like the game i just need a better PC which i wish i could afford but it is deffinitly a fun game imho

LifePositive

Originally posted by Kyleran

Who freaking cares?  The gryphon looks fine, the pillars look fine... it isn't about the damn graphics..... they are "good enough"... what's more important is the gameplay....



Maybe you need a better video card or something?

Who cares? Well, I do. Like I said, its impression - a feeling of sorts. You know how when you look at a piece of art it leaves an impression on you? Ideally, art should invoke some kind of emotion or impression upon the viewer or listener. It's the difference between elevator music and a symphony orchestra. The best art makes you feel something that you've never felt before, good art makes you feel something familiar, and the worst art makes you feel nothing at all.



In the case of gaming (a form of art, certainly, though many would argue the point), I have felt a feeling of awe many times from playing games. MMOs are usually good at this. Games like Eve, City of Heroes, WoW (in it's early days... It wore off), Guild Wars, and a few others (that I can't talk about) have all done this for me in their own ways. That feeling, ESPECIALLY when it's the first impression, can make or break the experience. It makes you want to see more of the world, to become a part of it... This is the heart of immersion in a game.



Vanguard does not do that for me. No, virtually everything about it nags at my senses in a way that borders on creepy. That is why it matters.

Maybe it's personal, but it seems pretty damn common around here...

LifePositive

Originally posted by Rayx0r


well, ok i do see your point.  I just dont agree with it really.  To date, I havnt seen any other MMO on the market look so believable.  Look at that second screenshot overlooking the bay with the ships docked.  It looks very believable and organic.  The trees and grass sway and are alive in-game.  The screeny cant capture that.
the other complaints, I suppose you have a point but I havnt seen any games illustrate a world in 3d polygons much better.  If you have, please feel free to post a link and draw some comparisons for me.

Sometimes disbelief or the suspension of believability is better then making something believable. A graphical style like WoW or WAR can still be immersive even though it makes no attempt at being realistic or believable. If it's so far removed from reality, almost-but-not-quite is never a problem. A vibrant art style like LotR or CoH can look close to "real" while still delivering a feeling of awe.



My complaint about Vanguard is basically that they sucked all the life, vibrancy, and style out of the world leaving behind a cold, dead husk that still moves. It's the undead of game worlds.

As for an alternative, well, that is purely up to the individual. What does it for me may not do it for you, and I can respect that.

random11

I'll try to put this in perspective:

Vanguard is to realistic graphics as Michael Jackson is to organic human...

Jackdog

Originally posted by Rayx0r

Originally posted by Jackdog


stunning graphics from another great game
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/21867
never buy a game because of pretty screen shots on a forum I always say

I just looked through 15 pages of your post history.  All of your posts are all negative biased against vanguard.  I found a couple other threads you posted in the Dark and Light forum bashing that game too.  There were a couple discussions you joined in on the general forum regarding vanguard and you bashed it there also.

I was trying to find any positive post you may have made about any single MMO, but I couldnt. 

you're a true asset to the game community.

[offrtopic]

you obviously did not look very hard. The only two games I have ever bashed are DnL and Vanguard, both for good reason. Both were half finished and over hyped.

I suppose true assets to the game community post things like, buy this game because I can make a pretty screenshot,  or attack other posters because their opinions of a game do not correspond with their own. Fan boys are the genres worst enemies, only the MMORPG community will embrace half finished over hyped products then make excuses for the devlopers and activly attack anyone who does not kiss the developer/producers butt.

[/offtopic]

I repeat my  original statement never buy a game because of pretty screenshots, it can be pretty and still be lousy gameplay design, That is not attacking the game nor am I atttacking another poster. Merely making a common sense statement.

 

irish97

I think Art is a very week point in that game. Was never impressed with it. Still the game itself isn't all that bad. It doesn't offer anything new of any great importance but if you are satisfied with the standard of MMO's at the moment then you should be pretty happy with this.

bebopdrums

 ray thank you for posting those pics, i too think they are a great example of the beauty in game. i  dont understand what you people are complaining about.  i think the graphics are beautiful i love the trees swaying and seeing the mountain tops in the distance. what is everyone trying to compare it to? EQ? its the same thing there too...bland, hyper realitic graphics where everythign seems plopped down. in all fairness the only way they are going to be able to avoid that  in any way is to do what warcraft did...which is to take complete artistic liscence and go the opposite direction. and wow looks great for it. but these guys are attempting to mix a little of both and it looks great. its not like they are trying to make a realistic 3d world for a FPS or even an RTS...they are actually trying make a  true 3d world the size of which hasnt been seen before. what an amazing feat. obviously down the line graphics are going to get even more amazing, but you guys are just ripping into this because i think alot of people support it. i believe the game needs performance work sure, and maybe even when the game releases it wont be a few months, and im ok with that. Ive been playing mmos since ultima online and b4, not a single one was the same game 6months later, maybe with the exception of warcraft. anyways, im just here as a positive person saying that i enjoy the graphics alot in vanguard and maybe you all shouldnt be so negative, instead find things you like and spread the love...or just ignore the game altogether.

anarchyart

Originally posted by Manveru


That's not the point. "Fake" is an impression, not a statement regarding its relationship to our present reality.



It doesn't look organic in any way. It tries too, it failed, and it looks worse because of it. It's like looking at one of those humanoid robots that is almost-but-not-quite like an actual "real" person. Every time I logged in Vanguard I got that same impression. Almost-but-not-quite.



Case in point, that flying mount's feathers look like they are painted on plastic. Look at the pillars it is flying through! Tell me that looks anything like stone! I could handle some artistic license. I could handle a sense of style. This is just wrong. Fake.

Step away from the crackpipe.

anarchyart

To the O.P. those are some sweet screenshots thanks for posting them!

h3llknight

---

Originally posted by Manveru
The entire world looks like poorly textured plastic. Like the whole world is one big slab and everything is just dropped on top of it. There is no "earthy" feeling to soil, rock, grass, etc... The worst part is the transition between different textures. Nothing to show that trees, rocks, mountains, buildings, ruins, etc, aren't just dropped there.

---

I agree entirely with Manveru. The way they modeled the world is fine, also is the shadowing system or the effect of the water. Sublime, very nice.
But the problem is the textures, they're not "warm", "lifeless", "real", etc... Very similar to what they've done with Everquest 2.

Now to support my argument, I've chosen to compare several screenshots from different games (but similar in terms of graphics), 2 screenshot per game, 1 with landscape, the other with players:

Landscape screenshots:
Vanguard: http://www.vanguardsoh.com/e3-2006-ss/Horses-2.jpg
LOTR Online: http://lorimages.turbine.com/files/38/41/98/88/796.jpg
Age of Conan: http://community.ageofconan.com/conan/frontend/files/CONTENT/ConallsValley_6.jpg

Players screenshots:
Vanguard: http://images.mmorpg.com/images/screenshots/062006/7502.jpg
LOTR Online: http://lorimages.turbine.com/files/31/75/15/01/954.jpg
Age of Conan: http://community.ageofconan.com/conan/frontend/files/CONTENT/screen2.jpg

I hope the screenshots speaks for themselfs. From those 3, I prefer the Conan screenshots, and I'm a Middle-earth freak, believe me. I'm quite ashamed that LOTR isn't my favourite anymore.

melvis1500

Manveru, you do a better job of the models and textures yourself, and then your obsessive bitching can be justified..

Jackdog

Landscape screenshots:

Vanguard: http://www.vanguardsoh.com/e3-2006-ss/Horses-2.jpg

LOTR Online: http://lorimages.turbine.com/files/38/41/98/88/796.jpg

Age of Conan: http://community.ageofconan.com/conan/frontend/files/CONTENT/ConallsValley_6.jpg

Players screenshots:

Vanguard: http://images.mmorpg.com/images/screenshots/062006/7502.jpg

LOTR Online: http://lorimages.turbine.com/files/31/75/15/01/954.jpg

Age of Conan: http://community.ageofconan.com/conan/frontend/files/CONTENT/screen2.jpg

 

fixed links for you because I could not click on them in the original post. I honestly don't think any of them look bad. The LoTR ones look more artistic as in they look like a painting. I think I prefer that over the more plastic pseudo realism look, but that is just personal preference I suppose. I played EQII for years even though I was not crazy about it's graphics. DAoC characters were the ugliest in history and I played that for years also. I am much more interested in which game provides the most immersion and best game play is in "is it fun". If it ain't fun then all the graphics in the world will not matter.

By the way for the poster above me - just cause I cannot paint a master piece does not mean I cannoit tell a Van Gogh from a velvet Elvis painting.

LifePositive

Originally posted by Jackdog



By the way for the poster above me - just cause I cannot paint a master piece does not mean I cannoit tell a Van Gogh from a velvet Elvis painting.

QFT.

Originally posted by melvis1500

Manveru, you do a better job of the models and textures yourself, and then your obsessive bitching can be justified..

Honestly, I'd rather just play a better game.