I would say that there's not really any decent MMO in the art department yet, only because all too often the designs utilized are usually based on an attempt at realism without any sort of theme attached. EQ2 is a great example of this with its player models. Each race in EQ2 may be technically well designed with all the splines in the right places, the textures well compressed for maximum look with minimum space requirements, and the lighting of each model may be properly handled across the whole set of possibilites. Yet EQ2 does not have a dramatic feel to the models. Some zones are more original than others in EQ2, but on the whole those too have little to no theme that connects them together. By comparison, WoW has some theme, but only loosely so. After you leave your starter area in WoW, that's when it becomes rehash of texture #nnn after a while, even in Stormwind or the new BC starter zones. In the end, until MMO developers their duffs and allow real artists to show them how its done, they won't be able to present a world in games that qualifies as good looking or even artistic. Then again I am a art snob.
Each race in EQ2 may be technically well designed with all the splines in the right places, the textures well compressed for maximum look with minimum space requirements, and the lighting of each model may be properly handled across the whole set of possibilites. Yet EQ2 does not have a dramatic feel to the models. Some zones are more original than others in EQ2, but on the whole those too have little to no theme that connects them together. -- Bridget
What EQ2 have you been playing? As a texture and modeling snob. I can tell you that the character models are grossly over poly (8k in an mmo), also alot of the polies used don't even define detail. The thing about doing good models in games is how you can effeciently use polies, and get as little waste as possible. People may say what about polies around joints to make it deform right. The truth is any half descent rigger can perfectly rig an elbow with as little as 6 vertex.
The textures also suck. They lack noise. I mean with how undetailed and untransitionary they are, they might as well have used 2x2 texture fill maps. (Skin tan, lips red, eyes white, iris brown, and hair high saturation green; don't worry the engine and model detail will make it look good) The environment textures though are half descent in the diffuse map department. When it came to thier spec maps, they used grayscale(like most of the diffuse maps, gray scaled with a flat color overlayed on it); probably a spec level map which could work if the environment modeler didn't use plain white lights. Then the bump maps they used weren't really tested and in alot of areas there was over bumping, and in others you couldn't even notice it. Then ontop of all that, the textures themselves where a compression freaks nightmare. Hurray for 1024 texture maps on a cup. The textures simply lacked a digital artists finesse.
Then the animations were simply abysmal. The people would work great in river dance. They don't move thier spines or hips, but then again they are block footed and lack alot of flexibility in the legs and arms. However, when it comes to animations; western games simply cannot compare to eastern games.
From the games you can currently play, EVE can bring you pleasing visuals even on Pentium D (Dual Core), 1GB RAM and 7600GT.
It's 6 (yes 6) years old engine is still one of the best around. And it's getting a huge upgrade (free as always in EVE) around Spring where you will have to choose between two clients. Either DX9c or DX10*.
The fun is that soon they will put station interaction etc and it will send the experience high enough to forget most of it's other problems.
Try the 14days trial.
P
*For Vista users with 2GB Ram, C2D and 8800GTS/GTX or R600. I don't believe it will run fast enough at mid range DX10 cards.
Originally posted by CleffyII What EQ2 have you been playing? As a texture and modeling snob. I can tell you that the character models are grossly over poly (8k in an mmo), also alot of the polies used don't even define detail.
I'm playing the same game as you, unlike you I can divorce artistic ability from technical ability. You seem to be unable to do the same, I suggest you sit down and study aesthetics.
The textures also suck. They lack noise. I mean with how undetailed and untransitionary they are, they might as well have used 2x2 texture fill maps. (Skin tan, lips red, eyes white, iris brown, and hair high saturation green; don't worry the engine and model detail will make it look good) The environment textures though are half descent in the diffuse map department. When it came to thier spec maps, they used grayscale(like most of the diffuse maps, gray scaled with a flat color overlayed on it); probably a spec level map which could work if the environment modeler didn't use plain white lights. Then the bump maps they used weren't really tested and in alot of areas there was over bumping, and in others you couldn't even notice it. Then ontop of all that, the textures themselves where a compression freaks nightmare. Hurray for 1024 texture maps on a cup. The textures simply lacked a digital artists finesse.
Why are you repeating what I've said or are you unable to read what I've posted?
Then the animations were simply abysmal. The people would work great in river dance. They don't move thier spines or hips, but then again they are block footed and lack alot of flexibility in the legs and arms. However, when it comes to animations; western games simply cannot compare to eastern games.
Again, you are not even reading what I have posted, go back and read it. You are adding things that are not there.
-- Bridget is getting tired of reactionaries that cannot fully read a post in whole and digest it.
For me personally I like Lineage2 graphics.....it has been there for a while ( released since 2004) but the graphics is still stunning. The other thing is that with Lineage2 you don't need a very super computer system to run the game, with decent graphic cards you still can enjoy the visual quality, but of course with high end computer graphics card the quality will be even better. I also noticed that in each update ( each chronicle) they did improve the quality of the graphics. I know that there are many new games out there, but still L2 is the best for me especially their character models ( i.e. armors and weapons)
Agreed, Lineage 2 after a few years still has stunning graphics even on my mid range system.
What EQ2 have you been playing? As a texture and modeling snob. I can tell you that the character models are grossly over poly (8k in an mmo), also alot of the polies used don't even define detail.
I'm playing the same game as you, unlike you I can divorce artistic ability from technical ability. You seem to be unable to do the same, I suggest you sit down and study aesthetics.
The textures also suck. They lack noise. I mean with how undetailed and untransitionary they are, they might as well have used 2x2 texture fill maps. (Skin tan, lips red, eyes white, iris brown, and hair high saturation green; don't worry the engine and model detail will make it look good) The environment textures though are half descent in the diffuse map department. When it came to thier spec maps, they used grayscale(like most of the diffuse maps, gray scaled with a flat color overlayed on it); probably a spec level map which could work if the environment modeler didn't use plain white lights. Then the bump maps they used weren't really tested and in alot of areas there was over bumping, and in others you couldn't even notice it. Then ontop of all that, the textures themselves where a compression freaks nightmare. Hurray for 1024 texture maps on a cup. The textures simply lacked a digital artists finesse.
Why are you repeating what I've said or are you unable to read what I've posted?
Then the animations were simply abysmal. The people would work great in river dance. They don't move thier spines or hips, but then again they are block footed and lack alot of flexibility in the legs and arms. However, when it comes to animations; western games simply cannot compare to eastern games.
Again, you are not even reading what I have posted, go back and read it. You are adding things that are not there.
-- Bridget is getting tired of reactionaries that cannot fully read a post in whole and digest it.
Actually I whole heartedly agree that the art and aesthetic direction is bad. What I didn't agree with is that the models are technically well designed. My post was pointing out the technical badness of the game in addition to the bad aesthetic value.
Vanguard hands down the most visually stunning MMORPG to date. When you turn up the maximum settings allowable and your PC can hadle it - it is truly awesome.
Just wow...that is a very unique looking game, almost like looking at a well drawn anime. Very beautiful and stylistic. I'd say it is better then most, but clearly it isn't pushing the poly's VG is pushing at all.
Poly pushing doesn't mean the game has better visuals, infact it could mean thier art department is worse when they increase to insane poly counts for an MMO when they didn't take into account the system. Its all about how you see the work and if its appealing.
EQ2 on high. For what they have, it still looks amazing after 2+ years. Caveat: I have not played LotRO
Uh huh EQ2 ? ....
Dude open your eyes pls, all is grey in EQ2, tables, barrels, trees nearly everything that you call amazing ? Seriously now ?.... and the textures are really bad, wishy washy ^^ if you know what I mean they r not sharp even at maximum ..
the only thing which looks really amazing in this game are the spell effects everything else deserves at best a 4 in graphics ...
And Vanguard ? Hmm looks kinda same like EQ2 maybe a bit better, very weird art and to much grey, to less colors, I would give VG a 5 at best in graphics ...
Gothic3 graphics are amazing, runs also perfectly well at max. settings. Looks real but has colors like it should be.
LMAO this is true even 2d games state they are all that and a bag of chips. The prob is that its ALL only advertising to get peeps to buy or play there game. The actual truth is there games suck and how can they drawn attention from good game to them, answer is advertising all kinds of BS.
Dude open your eyes pls, all is grey in EQ2, tables, barrels, trees nearly everything that you call amazing ? Seriously now ?.... and the textures are really bad, wishy washy ^^ if you know what I mean they r not sharp even at maximum ..
I never liked all those games that made everything grey, just plain ugly I prefer to more colourful games such as WoW even though it's graphics isn't the best I love the colours.
In terms of graphics I vote either AoC or GW but I'll go with GW for now because AoC isn't out yet, GW's enviroment is stunning, unfortunately I cannot say the same for their spell/skill effects, they are very boring. So are the armours, they haven't got what Lineage II has, not enough of the pleasing armours seen in Lineage II.
EVE graphics are good but at the same time i feel like it shouldn't be considered just because of the lack of variety in the screens that you do see. Once they get the players walking into stations then they will kick butt.
Cryomatrix
Catch me streaming at twitch.tv/cryomatrix You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
Before doing the stress test I would have said EQ2 (of the games I've played) but now I have to put LOTR ahead, although I prefer the character creation in EQ2... By the way, for those who keep saying EQ2 is "gray".... I've never seen that and I have no idea what you're talking about.
Anyway, I also like the style and unique look of WoW. It's different, and I don't mind the "cartoony" look.
I thought SWG was stunning back in the day when it first came out and I was playing, but now it's looking pretty dated.
As for Vanguard.....
I am extremely disappointed. It looks dull and flat to me. It's just one of the reasons I decided to quit the game.
So, here are some of my best High res pictures. All of these are on the highest setting on my laptop.
Here are my two best from LOTRO...
Two of my best from EQ2...
Two of my best from Vanguard (Even thought I'm disappointed in the graphics in Vanguard, I personally think I have some of the better screenshots I've seen of the game...)
Comments
Next I'd have to say WoW, for its artistic appeal.
I haven't seen much of Conan or Warhammer though.
I would say that there's not really any decent MMO in the art department yet, only because all too often the designs utilized are usually based on an attempt at realism without any sort of theme attached. EQ2 is a great example of this with its player models. Each race in EQ2 may be technically well designed with all the splines in the right places, the textures well compressed for maximum look with minimum space requirements, and the lighting of each model may be properly handled across the whole set of possibilites. Yet EQ2 does not have a dramatic feel to the models. Some zones are more original than others in EQ2, but on the whole those too have little to no theme that connects them together. By comparison, WoW has some theme, but only loosely so. After you leave your starter area in WoW, that's when it becomes rehash of texture #nnn after a while, even in Stormwind or the new BC starter zones. In the end, until MMO developers their duffs and allow real artists to show them how its done, they won't be able to present a world in games that qualifies as good looking or even artistic. Then again I am a art snob.
-- Bridget
Although I haven't played LOTRO yet but from what I've seen so far it would probably be #1.
Vanguard on max, close behind as #2
WOW wouldn't even rate. It looked ugly, blocky, low polygon, hypercolour etc.. when it was released, let alone now, two years later.
What EQ2 have you been playing? As a texture and modeling snob. I can tell you that the character models are grossly over poly (8k in an mmo), also alot of the polies used don't even define detail. The thing about doing good models in games is how you can effeciently use polies, and get as little waste as possible. People may say what about polies around joints to make it deform right. The truth is any half descent rigger can perfectly rig an elbow with as little as 6 vertex.
The textures also suck. They lack noise. I mean with how undetailed and untransitionary they are, they might as well have used 2x2 texture fill maps. (Skin tan, lips red, eyes white, iris brown, and hair high saturation green; don't worry the engine and model detail will make it look good) The environment textures though are half descent in the diffuse map department. When it came to thier spec maps, they used grayscale(like most of the diffuse maps, gray scaled with a flat color overlayed on it); probably a spec level map which could work if the environment modeler didn't use plain white lights. Then the bump maps they used weren't really tested and in alot of areas there was over bumping, and in others you couldn't even notice it. Then ontop of all that, the textures themselves where a compression freaks nightmare. Hurray for 1024 texture maps on a cup. The textures simply lacked a digital artists finesse.
Then the animations were simply abysmal. The people would work great in river dance. They don't move thier spines or hips, but then again they are block footed and lack alot of flexibility in the legs and arms. However, when it comes to animations; western games simply cannot compare to eastern games.
It's 6 (yes 6) years old engine is still one of the best around. And it's getting a huge upgrade (free as always in EVE) around Spring where you will have to choose between two clients. Either DX9c or DX10*.
The fun is that soon they will put station interaction etc and it will send the experience high enough to forget most of it's other problems.
Try the 14days trial.
P
*For Vista users with 2GB Ram, C2D and 8800GTS/GTX or R600. I don't believe it will run fast enough at mid range DX10 cards.
Again, you are not even reading what I have posted, go back and read it. You are adding things that are not there.
-- Bridget is getting tired of reactionaries that cannot fully read a post in whole and digest it.
Waiting on Guild Wars 2
Why are you repeating what I've said or are you unable to read what I've posted?Again, you are not even reading what I have posted, go back and read it. You are adding things that are not there.
-- Bridget is getting tired of reactionaries that cannot fully read a post in whole and digest it.
Actually I whole heartedly agree that the art and aesthetic direction is bad. What I didn't agree with is that the models are technically well designed. My post was pointing out the technical badness of the game in addition to the bad aesthetic value.
Vanguard hands down the most visually stunning MMORPG to date. When you turn up the maximum settings allowable and your PC can hadle it - it is truly awesome.
Just wow...that is a very unique looking game, almost like looking at a well drawn anime. Very beautiful and stylistic. I'd say it is better then most, but clearly it isn't pushing the poly's VG is pushing at all.
EQ2 on high.
For what they have, it still looks amazing after 2+ years.
Caveat: I have not played LotRO
-Raenz-
If you mean in terms of ONLY graphics,well.....Vanguard,I guess.
Dude open your eyes pls, all is grey in EQ2, tables, barrels, trees nearly everything that you call amazing ? Seriously now ?.... and the textures are really bad, wishy washy ^^ if you know what I mean they r not sharp even at maximum ..
the only thing which looks really amazing in this game are the spell effects everything else deserves at best a 4 in graphics ...
And Vanguard ? Hmm looks kinda same like EQ2 maybe a bit better, very weird art and to much grey, to less colors, I would give VG a 5 at best in graphics ...
Gothic3 graphics are amazing, runs also perfectly well at max. settings. Looks real but has colors like it should be.
LMAO this is true even 2d games state they are all that and a bag of chips. The prob is that its ALL only advertising to get peeps to buy or play there game. The actual truth is there games suck and how can they drawn attention from good game to them, answer is advertising all kinds of BS.
In terms of graphics I vote either AoC or GW but I'll go with GW for now because AoC isn't out yet, GW's enviroment is stunning, unfortunately I cannot say the same for their spell/skill effects, they are very boring. So are the armours, they haven't got what Lineage II has, not enough of the pleasing armours seen in Lineage II.
WoW graphics weren't bad, they did the job.
EVE graphics are good but at the same time i feel like it shouldn't be considered just because of the lack of variety in the screens that you do see. Once they get the players walking into stations then they will kick butt.
Cryomatrix
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
Before doing the stress test I would have said EQ2 (of the games I've played) but now I have to put LOTR ahead, although I prefer the character creation in EQ2... By the way, for those who keep saying EQ2 is "gray".... I've never seen that and I have no idea what you're talking about.
Anyway, I also like the style and unique look of WoW. It's different, and I don't mind the "cartoony" look.
I thought SWG was stunning back in the day when it first came out and I was playing, but now it's looking pretty dated.
As for Vanguard.....
I am extremely disappointed. It looks dull and flat to me. It's just one of the reasons I decided to quit the game.
So, here are some of my best High res pictures. All of these are on the highest setting on my laptop.
Here are my two best from LOTRO...
Two of my best from EQ2...
Two of my best from Vanguard (Even thought I'm disappointed in the graphics in Vanguard, I personally think I have some of the better screenshots I've seen of the game...)
And one from WoW....
Vanguard for its wonderful enviroments
WoW for its creative cartoon-ish feel
EQ2 for its dungeon enviroment leetness
CoX for their city skyscrape and borderlines
DAoC for their night time enviroment
All canceled. Waiting on Warhammer Online : Age of Reckoning.