Cool, I love games. Now it's my turn. Here's two screenshots, one from either game. They were both taken at max settings from actual in-game gameplay. AKA This is what you'll actually see when you play LOTRO and VG, not what screenshots a developer handed out to promote the game. Note also that both screenshots were taken from the beta versions. They are max settings, and as such are at 1920x1280 resolution.
Ready? Here we go:
Could you tell which was which?
I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine.
I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Cool, I love games. Now it's my turn. Here's two screenshots, one from either game. They were both taken at max settings from actual in-game gameplay. AKA This is what you'll actually see when you play LOTRO and VG, not what screenshots a developer handed out to promote the game. Note also that both screenshots were taken from the beta versions. They are max settings, and as such are at 1920x1280 resolution. Ready? Here we go:
Could you tell which was which? I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine. I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO.
Thanks for those excellent screenshots, I was planning to do the same thing (however in the vanguard forums) to show the difference but you did it for me. The actual ingame graphis is a little different then what the OP showed.
LotRO with the pre-order DvD installed, looks better than VG anyday in my opinion.
I am not sure what that screen of LotRO above is from, but it certainly is not the DvD. My game looks so much better than that. There is no way that's the DvD upgraded graphics at ultra high res.
I'm not saying Vanguard has bad graphics, and with time they'll probably get better... But I played VG to level 20 at release (Goblin Shaman, so most of my experience was in Kojan. (first 15 or so levels anyway). So maybe I just didn;t get out to "the good part" yet? Because apples to apples LotRO smokes Vanguard in the graphics dept.
I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine.
I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO."
That first screenshot , does not have the hi res textures ( the one of LOTRO ). Its easy to tell by looking at the lack of detail on the tiles. I also doubt that was taken at max settings lol.
Cool, I love games. Now it's my turn. Here's two screenshots, one from either game. They were both taken at max settings from actual in-game gameplay. AKA This is what you'll actually see when you play LOTRO and VG, not what screenshots a developer handed out to promote the game. Note also that both screenshots were taken from the beta versions. They are max settings, and as such are at 1920x1280 resolution. Ready? Here we go:
Could you tell which was which? I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine. I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO.
Why does the Vanguard avatar look like they are crapping their pants every second ?
O I fixed your top image which was set on Low setting . My image is at highest using the LOW RES client.
Here is a more fair comparison between Vanguard and LOTRO. The first was an older-stock shot because I didn't have it installed on the same computer I was using.
Above is Vanguard, below is LOTRO (same image I used before). Anyone can use two images that highlight the worst parts of the games like other comparisons, but I tried to use similar things in the shot with similar context. Both I took at MAX settings. Pretty much the same problems with Vanguard as before. LOTRO dominates
Actually Mars505, I find your high res screenshot not to be much different from the low res stuff I saw ingame. I still find my vg screenshot to be better.
How long did I spend finding that horrible screenshot of LOTR? That was the first area I saw, so really about 5 minutes.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Actually Mars505, I find your high res screenshot not to be much different from the low res stuff I saw ingame. I still find my vg screenshot to be better. How long did I spend finding that horrible screenshot of LOTR? That was the first area I saw, so really about 5 minutes.
Dude, can you read ? The screenshot mars took was with the LOW RES client LOL . Why do you insist on saying HI RES ? The screen resolution looks hit, but the actual TEXTURES are LOW RES .
Odd how my post got deleted and I wasnt told why. Perhaps there's a mod out there who likes lotro alot. What's really funny is I don't think I broke any rules, and they didn't bother to send me a message telling me why. I tell you the oddest things happen in the lotro forums.
I guess that would be why I found his screenshot to be the same quality as my LOTRO screenshot. They were both using MAX settings, and they both look incredibly poor next to the image of VG.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
Gee Filthred, thanks for the personal attack. I guess that would be why I found his screenshot to be the same quality as my LOTRO screenshot. They were both using MAX settings, and they both look incredibly poor next to the image of VG.
Think you are missing another part of the topic, performance . But yet you will go on and on about Hi Res , without acknowledging that the LotRO images Mars used are of the Low RES texture pack. And it is not an attack , it is your lack of understanding the difference that i'm trying to clear up.
Some more taken in town, once again I apologize for the poor quality of these jpgs, but a real screen capture is like 5 times the file size. By the way I cap my FPS at 30, it is a option that Turbine offers which you can use to prevent FPS flutter or hiccups as they are more commonly known as in Vanguard. This way I get a sloid 29 FPS no matter whether I am in town with 100 PC's running around or out in the boonies solo. These were taken on the wifes box, Athlon 3000 OC 'ed to 2.4 MHz on air, EVGA 7900GT 256 meg stock speeds, 2 Gig Corsair value Ram.
One big problem of the graphical "super-highpower-realistic" approach games like Vanguard or even NFS take more and more is that it doesn't look realistic at all.
The thing I don't get about these sorts of comments is that I find LOTRO's graphics to look much more realistic than Vanguard's. I think it's that realism that makes LOTRO's graphics look so much better.
I also think that the "uncanny valley" concept is flawed, that realism really only looks bad when computer artists aim for it in some ways, but miss terribly in others. It applied more when graphics tried to be more realistic than was possible, but as technology gets better, and skilled artists are used, especially animators, it's not really an issue.
Originally posted by KnThrak
It looks plastique. End of it. Reason is that as soon as the graphics get "too good", your brain starts to compare them to real life - they fail. If the game is instead clearly showing that it is not trying to imitate the real world (see WoW's style), then that process doesn't happen, and the graphics come out a lot superior in your brain.
I think Vanguard looks plastic because of thier unrealistic color choices and bad lighting - if grass is the wrong shade of green, you may not notice consciously, but you very much notice unconsciously. And because of the way the engine reflects basic light, but doesn't mirror images. That's the sort of shiny that you see most in plastic.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
One big problem of the graphical "super-highpower-realistic" approach games like Vanguard or even NFS take more and more is that it doesn't look realistic at all.
The thing I don't get about these sorts of comments is that I find LOTRO's graphics to look much more realistic than Vanguard's. I think it's that realism that makes LOTRO's graphics look so much better.
I also think that the "uncanny valley" concept is flawed, that realism really only looks bad when computer artists aim for it in some ways, but miss terribly in others. It applied more when graphics tried to be more realistic than was possible, but as technology gets better, and skilled artists are used, especially animators, it's not really an issue.
Originally posted by KnThrak
It looks plastique. End of it. Reason is that as soon as the graphics get "too good", your brain starts to compare them to real life - they fail. If the game is instead clearly showing that it is not trying to imitate the real world (see WoW's style), then that process doesn't happen, and the graphics come out a lot superior in your brain.
I think Vanguard looks plastic because of thier unrealistic color choices and bad lighting - if grass is the wrong shade of green, you may not notice consciously, but you very much notice unconsciously. And because of the way the engine reflects basic light, but doesn't mirror images. That's the sort of shiny that you see most in plastic.
I agree with most of what you said, though it is not the Unreal engine that is the problem.
Nice pics Jackdog, but I find the textures and faces a little bland. Are you running it with the low res and detailed lowered (polygons seem so low) I guess?
Those are not the highest settings for graphics in LOTRO. I believe from what he posted they can go two or three notches higher, not that it makes THAT much of a difference. The game is done beautifully and deserves such praise.
Those are not the highest settings for graphics in LOTRO. I believe from what he posted they can go two or three notches higher, not that it makes THAT much of a difference. The game is done beautifully and deserves such praise.
It's just two bad the gameplay isn't as good as the graphics, but it'll still make a profit off the name.
Nice pics Jackdog, but I find the textures and faces a little bland. Are you running it with the low res and detailed lowered (polygons seem so low) I guess?
I suppose that is one of those subjective areas, each to thier own and all that.
Did you notice which machine those were taken on? The wifes old Athlon 3000+ and a 200 dollar 7900 GT. You do not need to have a pair of 600 dollar video cards and a 700 dollar processor to be able to get decent graphics quality and 30 plus FPS unlike Vanguard. Those are not the highest quality, that was what the program chose when I clicked the "detect settings button". I suppose I could cheat and turn off FRAPS and set all sliders to the maximum, stand still and take screenshots but that would not be real world performance on a average machine now would it?
Comments
I like pie !
fully agree with the OP
I should add when I entered LOTRO beta, I was very suprised.
CONTRIBUTE INTO THE GAMING INDUSTRY! STOP PAYING FOR BORING COPYCATS, UNFINISHED BUGFESTS AND CRANKY JUNKWARE. BE A RESPONSIBLE GAMER!
Cool, I love games. Now it's my turn. Here's two screenshots, one from either game. They were both taken at max settings from actual in-game gameplay. AKA This is what you'll actually see when you play LOTRO and VG, not what screenshots a developer handed out to promote the game. Note also that both screenshots were taken from the beta versions. They are max settings, and as such are at 1920x1280 resolution.
Ready? Here we go:
Could you tell which was which?
I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine.
I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
I've played both at max settings.
LotRO with the pre-order DvD installed, looks better than VG anyday in my opinion.
I am not sure what that screen of LotRO above is from, but it certainly is not the DvD. My game looks so much better than that. There is no way that's the DvD upgraded graphics at ultra high res.
I'm not saying Vanguard has bad graphics, and with time they'll probably get better... But I played VG to level 20 at release (Goblin Shaman, so most of my experience was in Kojan. (first 15 or so levels anyway). So maybe I just didn;t get out to "the good part" yet? Because apples to apples LotRO smokes Vanguard in the graphics dept.
Originally posted by Blurr
"Could you tell which was which?
I know it's hard, but the first one is... Yup you guessed it, LOTRO. On a system where performance isn't an issue, the power of the VG engine just simply outstrips the LOTRO engine.
I guess that's what happens when you use a rehashed engine from a mediocre game that came out a couple years ago. *cough*DDO*Cough* Sadly I find DDO's graphics more impressive than I do LOTRO."
That first screenshot , does not have the hi res textures ( the one of LOTRO ). Its easy to tell by looking at the lack of detail on the tiles. I also doubt that was taken at max settings lol.
Nice try. Ohh and enjoy Vanguard hahaha.
Got AA ?
-Allegria
O I fixed your top image which was set on Low setting . My image is at highest using the LOW RES client.
who me ?
Here is a more fair comparison between Vanguard and LOTRO. The first was an older-stock shot because I didn't have it installed on the same computer I was using.
Above is Vanguard, below is LOTRO (same image I used before). Anyone can use two images that highlight the worst parts of the games like other comparisons, but I tried to use similar things in the shot with similar context. Both I took at MAX settings. Pretty much the same problems with Vanguard as before. LOTRO dominates
Actually Mars505, I find your high res screenshot not to be much different from the low res stuff I saw ingame. I still find my vg screenshot to be better.
How long did I spend finding that horrible screenshot of LOTR? That was the first area I saw, so really about 5 minutes.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
found this online ....
I like pie !
Odd how my post got deleted and I wasnt told why. Perhaps there's a mod out there who likes lotro alot. What's really funny is I don't think I broke any rules, and they didn't bother to send me a message telling me why. I tell you the oddest things happen in the lotro forums.
Gee Filthred, thanks for the personal attack.
I guess that would be why I found his screenshot to be the same quality as my LOTRO screenshot. They were both using MAX settings, and they both look incredibly poor next to the image of VG.
"Because it's easier to nitpick something than to be constructive." -roach5000
I like pie !
I miss DAoC
Some more taken in town, once again I apologize for the poor quality of these jpgs, but a real screen capture is like 5 times the file size. By the way I cap my FPS at 30, it is a option that Turbine offers which you can use to prevent FPS flutter or hiccups as they are more commonly known as in Vanguard. This way I get a sloid 29 FPS no matter whether I am in town with 100 PC's running around or out in the boonies solo. These were taken on the wifes box, Athlon 3000 OC 'ed to 2.4 MHz on air, EVGA 7900GT 256 meg stock speeds, 2 Gig Corsair value Ram.
bare foot horse rider
I miss DAoC
one of the new cloaks
I miss DAoC
nice hat dude
I miss DAoC
heres how i describe both games.
Lotro looks natural..
Vanguard looks un-natural..almost like "too much makeup" if that makes sense..
neither look bad, but i give lotro the edge because it looks better with less and has a better feel to it.
The thing I don't get about these sorts of comments is that I find LOTRO's graphics to look much more realistic than Vanguard's. I think it's that realism that makes LOTRO's graphics look so much better.
I also think that the "uncanny valley" concept is flawed, that realism really only looks bad when computer artists aim for it in some ways, but miss terribly in others. It applied more when graphics tried to be more realistic than was possible, but as technology gets better, and skilled artists are used, especially animators, it's not really an issue.
I think Vanguard looks plastic because of thier unrealistic color choices and bad lighting - if grass is the wrong shade of green, you may not notice consciously, but you very much notice unconsciously. And because of the way the engine reflects basic light, but doesn't mirror images. That's the sort of shiny that you see most in plastic.
When I want a single-player story, I'll play a single-player game. When I play an MMO, I want a massively multiplayer world.
The thing I don't get about these sorts of comments is that I find LOTRO's graphics to look much more realistic than Vanguard's. I think it's that realism that makes LOTRO's graphics look so much better.
I also think that the "uncanny valley" concept is flawed, that realism really only looks bad when computer artists aim for it in some ways, but miss terribly in others. It applied more when graphics tried to be more realistic than was possible, but as technology gets better, and skilled artists are used, especially animators, it's not really an issue.
I think Vanguard looks plastic because of thier unrealistic color choices and bad lighting - if grass is the wrong shade of green, you may not notice consciously, but you very much notice unconsciously. And because of the way the engine reflects basic light, but doesn't mirror images. That's the sort of shiny that you see most in plastic.
I agree with most of what you said, though it is not the Unreal engine that is the problem.I like pie !
You have to be blind not to see the difference
it is way too obvious! Even w/o the performance question. Lotro is well done, VG is not.
DB
Denial makes one look a lot dumber than he/she actually is.
I suppose that is one of those subjective areas, each to thier own and all that.
Did you notice which machine those were taken on? The wifes old Athlon 3000+ and a 200 dollar 7900 GT. You do not need to have a pair of 600 dollar video cards and a 700 dollar processor to be able to get decent graphics quality and 30 plus FPS unlike Vanguard. Those are not the highest quality, that was what the program chose when I clicked the "detect settings button". I suppose I could cheat and turn off FRAPS and set all sliders to the maximum, stand still and take screenshots but that would not be real world performance on a average machine now would it?
I miss DAoC