The only reason I wouldn't order is if I personally got into beta and thought it wasn't ready to release.
Peoples opinions even if the NDA lifted really don't matter to me.
Why?
I disagree with 90%+ reviews I've seen for most MMO's.
People talk about games I loved as if they were crap and games I hated as if they were gold.
The only way I'll know if *I* like a game is to play it. I've never personally had an issue with Funcom and yes I pre-ordered AO.. then played it for many years.
So yes.. I pre-ordered AoC but it wasn't based on a video.
I just saw that video of the ranger and it raised a couple of questions:
Werent u supposed to aim in order to attack in AoC? and it seem grindish to any1 else? And no i wouldnt order the game without the NDA getting lifted and hearing people's opinions with or without that vid
from the looks of it he was killing low level mobs because he was like 1 hitting them :O
My guess is that the bow aims automatically but you can choose to aim yourself for a damage bonus, ie aim for the head
I won't be pre-ordering the game, I'll admit right now it isn't the most appealing mmo coming out this year for me. The ranger video specifically did two things for me however:
1. Reassured me on the graphics. The videos released by funcom looked inconsistent and in some cases bland, the ranger video shows off the graphics of the game more then anything funcom can do with editing.
2. Made me realize the combat system isn't all that impressive. To some degree (though I will say, this can change after open beta opens because I don't know how it feels to be actually playing) it looks like every other combat system with extra UI elements attached.
Ultimately, I do hope the game is successful as it would be good for the genre, but its not the gift from the gods for me other games could be. I'm also curious how far away from an enemy you have to be for the attack to miss, especially at the end of the video where he was moving around and still got hit..
im gonna preorder the regular edition with the mount and wait a couple days to see what the reviews are like and if there bad ill sell on ebay and if there good ill open it up
Pre-orders based purely on hype have a high probability to turn sour since no game can match people's imaginations or expectations. Personally I just hope that AoC, WAR and all the games that coming out this year will raise the bar by just a notch (no, not expecting revolutions or inovations).
I really dont know, I always say beta is beta but man the game is so close to coming out. If it was say 6 months out I would still consider. I was going to get it and play with a few friends until WAR came out but Im really on the fence. Maybe I just dont like the graphics style or something but it looks like a 4 year old game to me for some reason just my opinion not trying to flame or be mean. If the game play is good I would still try it. I think I will wait a few months and see what people are saying and watch some real videos before I get it.
I really dont know, I always say beta is beta but man the game is so close to coming out. If it was say 6 months out I would still consider. I was going to get it and play with a few friends until WAR came out but Im really on the fence. Maybe I just dont like the graphics style or something but it looks like a 4 year old game to me for some reason just my opinion not trying to flame or be mean. If the game play is good I would still try it. I think I will wait a few months and see what people are saying and watch some real videos before I get it.
I'm not trying to be mean either, really. I just want to understand how you can -possibly- think that? I mean...4 years...that's PRE WoW. How can you look at Screenshots and Video's of this game and compare them to 4 year old games? I mean....*shake head* I really don't understand it.
Could someone please clarify where you draw the similarities to this and a game from 4-5 years ago? It's just that I've read this a few times now and I just fail to see how one can compare it. That's like...comparing Crysis to Operation Flashpoint.
I really dont know, I always say beta is beta but man the game is so close to coming out. If it was say 6 months out I would still consider. I was going to get it and play with a few friends until WAR came out but Im really on the fence. Maybe I just dont like the graphics style or something but it looks like a 4 year old game to me for some reason just my opinion not trying to flame or be mean. If the game play is good I would still try it. I think I will wait a few months and see what people are saying and watch some real videos before I get it.
I'm not trying to be mean either, really. I just want to understand how you can -possibly- think that? I mean...4 years...that's PRE WoW. How can you look at Screenshots and Video's of this game and compare them to 4 year old games? I mean....*shake head* I really don't understand it.
Could someone please clarify where you draw the similarities to this and a game from 4-5 years ago? It's just that I've read this a few times now and I just fail to see how one can compare it. That's like...comparing Crysis to Operation Flashpoint.
Suppose for arguements sake take a look at half-life 2 and farcry. Both games were very beautiful and to some degree still are.
That doesn't mean they compare to Crysis...to continue along this chain of argument. I do realize that to some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for pure quality reasons, I just can't see how that statement could hold true in any way. This is of course my opinion and anyone who continues to say that 4 year old games look better than AoC is free to believe that way. *shrug* I just can't see it.
That doesn't mean they compare to Crysis...to continue along this chain of argument. I do realize that to some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for pure quality reasons, I just can't see how that statement could hold true in any way. This is of course my opinion and anyone who continues to say that 4 year old games look better than AoC is free to believe that way. *shrug* I just can't see it.
Er.. I wasn't saying in comparison to crysis, i don't give a damn about crysis >_>. He said, in general, game, so I gave examples of 4 year old games that looked very impressive 4 years ago and argueably could be seen as similar to AoC. He also said style, not mentioning the technical aspects of it which clearly AoC would win in every fight against a game released 4 years ago.
He said that AoC looks like a 4 year old game to him. That was what was puzzling me. And he's not the first to say that. So i wanted clarification. Style and such things do not matter. They are personal perceptions. Some people like the look of WoW, which is less graphically advanced, but done so on purpose to keep the comic-style atmosphere.
But to say this game looks like a 4 year old game...well. Maybe I just read it wrong, but I was simply curious. As I said, others said that before him. *shrug*
He said that AoC looks like a 4 year old game to him. That was what was puzzling me. And he's not the first to say that. So i wanted clarification. Style and such things do not matter. They are personal perceptions. Some people like the look of WoW, which is less graphically advanced, but done so on purpose to keep the comic-style atmosphere.
But to say this game looks like a 4 year old game...well. Maybe I just read it wrong, but I was simply curious. As I said, others said that before him. *shrug*
Unless I missed something in English, his mention of it looking like a 4 year old game is still in the same sentence as his maybe having a problem with the style of it. That leads me to assume that the style and his problem with the look are where he makes the connection to 4 year old games. Then again, people on the internet these days don't follow traditional rules in English, so maybe I'm wrong.
I don't agree with him, just to clarify. After watching a few leaked videos I grew attached to the graphics and think funcom does themselves a disservice.
Err....wait. You like the graphics, but think FunCom did wrong? I am kind of confused by your last sentence there. ^_^
I've never been impressed by the funcom released videos. they never really looked consistently good, or to my liking. but A few days ago when leaked videos started appearing (seems to have happened all at once) I grew to like them. Clarify a bit?
Well when it comes to the more "real" type of graphics I think of Lineage 2 the character/mobs/armor. Now L2 has been out for around 5 years or even GW which has been out for a number of years? I just think that a new game running on X10/vista and all the new stuff should blow these graphics out of the water but really its the other way around games 5 years old have a much better look. For a next gen game as far as looks go it just isnt next gen.
Then agian like I said maybe I cant get use to the "real" looking type of style anymore because its so hard to make it look good to me (I know everyone is different). Agian Gx isnt everything and if the game play turns out to be a lot of fun I will try it but I guess I was thinking the graphics would be really next gen graphics.
Ahh...I think we're getting to the issue of "Uncanny Valley" as it's called. The point where graphics become so realistic that the mind starts to actually compare it to "reality" and suddenly, they look worse than what came before? Is that what you are referring to?
I watched the video and I really just dont see anything in it that makes me want to pre-order. The graphics look good and he seemed to be getting a decent frame rate but I really didnt see anything in that video that made it a pre-order for me. I am not bashing the game and Im not saying that at some point I wont buy it. That video however did nothing to sway my opinion in either direction. It did reinforce my hatred of Vent though.
Ahh...I think we're getting to the issue of "Uncanny Valley" as it's called. The point where graphics become so realistic that the mind starts to actually compare it to "reality" and suddenly, they look worse than what came before? Is that what you are referring to?
You know it could be I just cant put my finger on one thing. It could just be the style like I said it just doesnt appeal to me anymore. I can see how some people might like it and understand and respect that.
Well, if the style isn't yours, there's nothing to be done. Thank you though for taking the time to answer my questions. I hope you eventually find a game that suits your tastes better.
I don't preorder mmorpgs unless i enjoy the beta which have been SWG, PS and EVE.
I agree with you about beta tests. I won't be pre-ordering AOC, but I have no problem wishing the game and all its players the best.
Quick edit regarding gaphics. ..
My tastes run more to cartoonish style than the so-called realism style. I think it might just be my age and amount of time playing games. I'm over 40 so anything better than wireframe still wows me LOL. Seriously though, I do find games that try for realism go too far. You cannot fool the eye to that degree and it just turns me off. When a game's style is obvious in it style like wow, then I can just sit back andappreciate its bright colours and blocky style for what it is, not what some people say its trying to be.
Strange reasoning in here. You're basing you opinions on what AoC looks like on leaked beta material. At the same time you're saying you don't trust Funcom released videos, because they might be "tampered" with. It's gets downright pathetic when at the same time you're saying that AoC is unplayable because the system reqs are too high. It's quite a mish-mash you're making here.
Basing what AoC will look like at it's best on leaked Beta footage is stupid. None of you are in a situation to determine what kind of a pc that leaked material is rendered in. As a matter of fact it could be a testament of the Dreamworld engine's excellence that a wide range of people can play it, on a wide range of machines. This has been stated by both Funcom and journalists. There's tons of optimization options for the engine. It's like saying Crysis looks and runs like crap because you saw someone with a shitty pc play it, on youtube.
The dev-rendered videos are what AoC will look like at it's best. Of course. Funcom isn't stupid and releases footage that makes a game that surpasses even Oblivion graphically look like say WAR. There's lots of material released from neutral sources that gives away it's graphical beauty. There's never been a more good looking MMO, simple as that. If you prefer WoW or WAR's cartoonish style, well that's your subjective opinion and you're entitled to that. Do not however say that AoC looks like crap because you like another more abstracted graphical style. Yeah I said abstracted style because that's what both WoW and WAR is compared to AoC.
This thread is about wheather you would pre-order if you hadn't seen the beta leak. It's a fair question many does not answer truthfully. You can say that "No the beta-leak had nothing to do with anything I just don't like AoC as a concept" or "No I'm holding out for WAR which I have more faith in". Instead you're attacking the best looking MMO in the short history of MMO's so far for not looking good enough? Are you crazy? You sound like raving lunatics. Really. Before yesterday there was a lot of unanswered questions - and there still is - but we got many questions answered after the Oslo-event. I guess you need something to focus your bile at. There's times you just know people are getting short on arguments. This is one of those times.
Edit to insert:
Cheetah 2
"The good news is Cheetah 2 looks great; we finally got to see it in action, rather than a preview video set up to show it off at trade shows. Cheetah 2 is receiving some new stuff, like water ripples to make the water more realistic, a day and night cycle with proper directional shadowing from light sources, and a new level of quality for textures. There are also rendering improvements being introduced, which will drastically increase framerates in polygon-dense areas like larger cities and forest areas where vast numbers of trees are present. The increase we were shown by one of Dreamworld's programmers, in a comparison by switching between Cheetah 1 and Cheetah 2, was close to 100% for one of the largest cities in Hyboria"
Ok then, let's talk about graphics... All that we could see for now - and especially leaked video - CLEARLY shows us ADVANCED, new-age MMO graphics that consists of:
- gorgeous scenery, near and far, with plants and flowers moving with the wind
-excellent models
-FLUID, REAL-LIFE LOOKING animations (without any of the jerking we can see in other MMORPGs)
-very detailed textures on models, armor and weapons
-amazing architecture, true to the world
I could go on, you know
Let us compare this with other popular MMORPGs on the market:
WoW - cartoonish models and graphics, with excellent animations. I have no objections to how professionally it is done, but hey, AoC is looking REAL-LIFE like, not like a cartoon, and it should, after all, it is for age 18+
EQ2 - lots of hype how good the graphics are. Let me tell you, it DOES look very plastic, animations are barely ok, textures are ok, but not great, lack imagination.
LOTRO - I can't stand this. Graphics are similar to EQ2, but faces and models are horrible. Animations are funny. Just look at the wolves at the starting area, they move like they have only 3 legs. I was appaled. Scenery looks solid, but not life-like. Looks like someones drawing, not real.
There you have it, you can agree or not, BUT to me AoC has breakthrough graphics and that's only from looking at DX9 videos and screens. Bash at whatever else about AoC you THINK you can, but if you bash at graphics (AND animations) you really look like a Troll.
I will play Age of Conan. Yes, this is mostly due to that ranger video. That is the exact style of play I was hoping AoC would have. Keep in mind, that player was getting those high fps WHILE recording with Fraps. Fraps will usually drain your fps by about 20 when recording. Also, YouTube videos are always compressed twice, thus, really killing the true quality. The avg 5 minute Fraps video is around 2-3 gigs in size. He had to have compressed down to under 100 megs for a YouTube upload. And not only that, but YouTube also compresses it down even further, which greatly kills even more of the quality.
the whole reason why the ranger in aoc is exciting is because hes not meant to auto attack! that beta ranger is unfinished since hes auto attacking.
maybe this video encourages auto attack (ie wow/war) fans to pre-order but it should discourage aoc fans who are following the game for the new features and ridding of autoattacking.
Comments
The only reason I wouldn't order is if I personally got into beta and thought it wasn't ready to release.
Peoples opinions even if the NDA lifted really don't matter to me.
Why?
I disagree with 90%+ reviews I've seen for most MMO's.
People talk about games I loved as if they were crap and games I hated as if they were gold.
The only way I'll know if *I* like a game is to play it. I've never personally had an issue with Funcom and yes I pre-ordered AO.. then played it for many years.
So yes.. I pre-ordered AoC but it wasn't based on a video.
from the looks of it he was killing low level mobs because he was like 1 hitting them :O
My guess is that the bow aims automatically but you can choose to aim yourself for a damage bonus, ie aim for the head
Will be pre-ordering next week and seeing the ranger-vid only made my choice more clear. Too bad they removed the high quality video.
I won't be pre-ordering the game, I'll admit right now it isn't the most appealing mmo coming out this year for me. The ranger video specifically did two things for me however:
1. Reassured me on the graphics. The videos released by funcom looked inconsistent and in some cases bland, the ranger video shows off the graphics of the game more then anything funcom can do with editing.
2. Made me realize the combat system isn't all that impressive. To some degree (though I will say, this can change after open beta opens because I don't know how it feels to be actually playing) it looks like every other combat system with extra UI elements attached.
Ultimately, I do hope the game is successful as it would be good for the genre, but its not the gift from the gods for me other games could be. I'm also curious how far away from an enemy you have to be for the attack to miss, especially at the end of the video where he was moving around and still got hit..
im gonna preorder the regular edition with the mount and wait a couple days to see what the reviews are like and if there bad ill sell on ebay and if there good ill open it up
I really dont know, I always say beta is beta but man the game is so close to coming out. If it was say 6 months out I would still consider. I was going to get it and play with a few friends until WAR came out but Im really on the fence. Maybe I just dont like the graphics style or something but it looks like a 4 year old game to me for some reason just my opinion not trying to flame or be mean. If the game play is good I would still try it. I think I will wait a few months and see what people are saying and watch some real videos before I get it.
Sig by WhiskeyJack1
Could someone please clarify where you draw the similarities to this and a game from 4-5 years ago? It's just that I've read this a few times now and I just fail to see how one can compare it. That's like...comparing Crysis to Operation Flashpoint.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
Could someone please clarify where you draw the similarities to this and a game from 4-5 years ago? It's just that I've read this a few times now and I just fail to see how one can compare it. That's like...comparing Crysis to Operation Flashpoint.
Suppose for arguements sake take a look at half-life 2 and farcry. Both games were very beautiful and to some degree still are.
That doesn't mean they compare to Crysis...to continue along this chain of argument. I do realize that to some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but for pure quality reasons, I just can't see how that statement could hold true in any way. This is of course my opinion and anyone who continues to say that 4 year old games look better than AoC is free to believe that way. *shrug* I just can't see it.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
Er.. I wasn't saying in comparison to crysis, i don't give a damn about crysis >_>. He said, in general, game, so I gave examples of 4 year old games that looked very impressive 4 years ago and argueably could be seen as similar to AoC. He also said style, not mentioning the technical aspects of it which clearly AoC would win in every fight against a game released 4 years ago.
He said that AoC looks like a 4 year old game to him. That was what was puzzling me. And he's not the first to say that. So i wanted clarification. Style and such things do not matter. They are personal perceptions. Some people like the look of WoW, which is less graphically advanced, but done so on purpose to keep the comic-style atmosphere.
But to say this game looks like a 4 year old game...well. Maybe I just read it wrong, but I was simply curious. As I said, others said that before him. *shrug*
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
I don't agree with him, just to clarify. After watching a few leaked videos I grew attached to the graphics and think funcom does themselves a disservice.
Err....wait. You like the graphics, but think FunCom did wrong? I am kind of confused by your last sentence there. ^_^
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
I've never been impressed by the funcom released videos. they never really looked consistently good, or to my liking. but A few days ago when leaked videos started appearing (seems to have happened all at once) I grew to like them. Clarify a bit?
Well when it comes to the more "real" type of graphics I think of Lineage 2 the character/mobs/armor. Now L2 has been out for around 5 years or even GW which has been out for a number of years? I just think that a new game running on X10/vista and all the new stuff should blow these graphics out of the water but really its the other way around games 5 years old have a much better look. For a next gen game as far as looks go it just isnt next gen.
Then agian like I said maybe I cant get use to the "real" looking type of style anymore because its so hard to make it look good to me (I know everyone is different). Agian Gx isnt everything and if the game play turns out to be a lot of fun I will try it but I guess I was thinking the graphics would be really next gen graphics.
Sig by WhiskeyJack1
Ahh...I think we're getting to the issue of "Uncanny Valley" as it's called. The point where graphics become so realistic that the mind starts to actually compare it to "reality" and suddenly, they look worse than what came before? Is that what you are referring to?
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
I watched the video and I really just dont see anything in it that makes me want to pre-order. The graphics look good and he seemed to be getting a decent frame rate but I really didnt see anything in that video that made it a pre-order for me. I am not bashing the game and Im not saying that at some point I wont buy it. That video however did nothing to sway my opinion in either direction. It did reinforce my hatred of Vent though.
You know it could be I just cant put my finger on one thing. It could just be the style like I said it just doesnt appeal to me anymore. I can see how some people might like it and understand and respect that.
Sig by WhiskeyJack1
Well, if the style isn't yours, there's nothing to be done. Thank you though for taking the time to answer my questions.
I hope you eventually find a game that suits your tastes better.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
I agree with you about beta tests. I won't be pre-ordering AOC, but I have no problem wishing the game and all its players the best.
Quick edit regarding gaphics. ..
My tastes run more to cartoonish style than the so-called realism style. I think it might just be my age and amount of time playing games. I'm over 40 so anything better than wireframe still wows me LOL. Seriously though, I do find games that try for realism go too far. You cannot fool the eye to that degree and it just turns me off. When a game's style is obvious in it style like wow, then I can just sit back andappreciate its bright colours and blocky style for what it is, not what some people say its trying to be.
______________
Mark E. Cooper
AKA Tohrment
Proud member of Damned Souls since 2007.
http://www.damnedsouls.eu
Strange reasoning in here. You're basing you opinions on what AoC looks like on leaked beta material. At the same time you're saying you don't trust Funcom released videos, because they might be "tampered" with. It's gets downright pathetic when at the same time you're saying that AoC is unplayable because the system reqs are too high. It's quite a mish-mash you're making here.
Basing what AoC will look like at it's best on leaked Beta footage is stupid. None of you are in a situation to determine what kind of a pc that leaked material is rendered in. As a matter of fact it could be a testament of the Dreamworld engine's excellence that a wide range of people can play it, on a wide range of machines. This has been stated by both Funcom and journalists. There's tons of optimization options for the engine. It's like saying Crysis looks and runs like crap because you saw someone with a shitty pc play it, on youtube.
The dev-rendered videos are what AoC will look like at it's best. Of course. Funcom isn't stupid and releases footage that makes a game that surpasses even Oblivion graphically look like say WAR. There's lots of material released from neutral sources that gives away it's graphical beauty. There's never been a more good looking MMO, simple as that. If you prefer WoW or WAR's cartoonish style, well that's your subjective opinion and you're entitled to that. Do not however say that AoC looks like crap because you like another more abstracted graphical style. Yeah I said abstracted style because that's what both WoW and WAR is compared to AoC.
This thread is about wheather you would pre-order if you hadn't seen the beta leak. It's a fair question many does not answer truthfully. You can say that "No the beta-leak had nothing to do with anything I just don't like AoC as a concept" or "No I'm holding out for WAR which I have more faith in". Instead you're attacking the best looking MMO in the short history of MMO's so far for not looking good enough? Are you crazy? You sound like raving lunatics. Really. Before yesterday there was a lot of unanswered questions - and there still is - but we got many questions answered after the Oslo-event. I guess you need something to focus your bile at. There's times you just know people are getting short on arguments. This is one of those times.
Edit to insert:
Cheetah 2
"The good news is Cheetah 2 looks great; we finally got to see it in action, rather than a preview video set up to show it off at trade shows. Cheetah 2 is receiving some new stuff, like water ripples to make the water more realistic, a day and night cycle with proper directional shadowing from light sources, and a new level of quality for textures. There are also rendering improvements being introduced, which will drastically increase framerates in polygon-dense areas like larger cities and forest areas where vast numbers of trees are present. The increase we were shown by one of Dreamworld's programmers, in a comparison by switching between Cheetah 1 and Cheetah 2, was close to 100% for one of the largest cities in Hyboria"
Source: http://news.curse.com/details/5570/.
Ok then, let's talk about graphics... All that we could see for now - and especially leaked video - CLEARLY shows us ADVANCED, new-age MMO graphics that consists of:
- gorgeous scenery, near and far, with plants and flowers moving with the wind
-excellent models
-FLUID, REAL-LIFE LOOKING animations (without any of the jerking we can see in other MMORPGs)
-very detailed textures on models, armor and weapons
-amazing architecture, true to the world
I could go on, you know
Let us compare this with other popular MMORPGs on the market:
WoW - cartoonish models and graphics, with excellent animations. I have no objections to how professionally it is done, but hey, AoC is looking REAL-LIFE like, not like a cartoon, and it should, after all, it is for age 18+
EQ2 - lots of hype how good the graphics are. Let me tell you, it DOES look very plastic, animations are barely ok, textures are ok, but not great, lack imagination.
LOTRO - I can't stand this. Graphics are similar to EQ2, but faces and models are horrible. Animations are funny. Just look at the wolves at the starting area, they move like they have only 3 legs. I was appaled. Scenery looks solid, but not life-like. Looks like someones drawing, not real.
There you have it, you can agree or not, BUT to me AoC has breakthrough graphics and that's only from looking at DX9 videos and screens. Bash at whatever else about AoC you THINK you can, but if you bash at graphics (AND animations) you really look like a Troll.
NEW IDEAS that can refresh the STALE state of MMORPGs
I will play Age of Conan. Yes, this is mostly due to that ranger video. That is the exact style of play I was hoping AoC would have. Keep in mind, that player was getting those high fps WHILE recording with Fraps. Fraps will usually drain your fps by about 20 when recording. Also, YouTube videos are always compressed twice, thus, really killing the true quality. The avg 5 minute Fraps video is around 2-3 gigs in size. He had to have compressed down to under 100 megs for a YouTube upload. And not only that, but YouTube also compresses it down even further, which greatly kills even more of the quality.
I dont get why people like thaat video!
the whole reason why the ranger in aoc is exciting is because hes not meant to auto attack! that beta ranger is unfinished since hes auto attacking.
maybe this video encourages auto attack (ie wow/war) fans to pre-order but it should discourage aoc fans who are following the game for the new features and ridding of autoattacking.
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