Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
New Anarchy Online graphics engine demo
burmese
Member Posts: 546
AO is due to get a new graphics engine sometime this year, mainly updating the old video calls from DX7 to DX9. Funcom just finished a press junket in Oslo (mainly to promote Age of Conan) and included in the new material presented was a promo video of the new AO graphics engine as it is running on the alpha servers.
The video will be posted on the official AO site next week but is released and ok to be posted as verified by Game Director Silirrion in this thread:
http://forums.anarchy-online.com/showpost.php?p=5046151&postcount=12
==========
20 mb video trailer
[url="http://pub.goha.ru/games/conan/oslo_jan_2008/2008_Anarchy Online New Engine (Embargoed%20until%20Wednesday)/AOrendertrailer-480p.wmv"]480p trailer - 20 MB[/url]
40mb video trailer
[url="http://pub.goha.ru/games/conan/oslo_jan_2008/2008_Anarchy Online New Engine (Embargoed%20until%20Wednesday)/AOrendertrailer-720p.wmv"]720p trailer - 40MB[/url]
==========
Nice to see they have already reworked some effects, and not 'just' redone the graphics calls!
~\_/~\_O
Comments
Just to fix the links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRmk0hZam7A
20 mb video trailer
http://pub.goha.ru/games/conan/oslo_jan_2008/2008_Anarchy%20Online%20New%20Engine%20(Embargoed%20until%20Wednesday)/AOrendertrailer-480p.wmv 480p trailer - 20 MB
40mb video trailer
http://pub.goha.ru/games/conan/oslo_jan_2008/2008_Anarchy%20Online%20New%20Engine%20(Embargoed%20until%20Wednesday)/AOrendertrailer-720p.wmv 720p trailer - 40MB
Didn't this game go free to play a while back? I'm surprised they're putting in so much effort to revive an older game - but honestly if the game ends up looking nice I'll probably give it a shot simply because I need a good Sci-Fi MMORPG to distract me.
BOYCOTTING EA / ORIGIN going forward.
Really cool, AO for the win
I am surprised as well and very positively so.
I myself will not try out AO because of this, even though the new engine looks really sweet (I particularly loved the ending with the sign "Still Alive" ^^). However, the fact that FC is still putting so much effort and support into a game that is by now...years and years old gives me hope that it will be the same for AoC and it will also help me pull through any kinds of problems at the beginning (provided the problems don't cause my computer to explode). Seeing that FC is willing to put this much effort into making a game stay alive and well, even for the relatively small AO subscriber base is a very nice thing indeed.
That said, good for all you AO players! have fun with the new graphics! ^^
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
Wow awesome new engine this should breathe life back into this great game...
What's old can be new again.
The new engine looks awesome. If they put some work into this game as it seem they are doing I could see this game relaunching and being competitive, primarily because there is a sci fi vacuum right now, but also because it just looks so damn good.
I wonder what the avatars will look like after the revamp. Anyone have any screenshots?
They are not redoing avatars and such but obviously some textures, like water and shadows, are easy targets for enhancing right off. However, by having the DX9 engine in place, they will be able to add far more snazzy effects to new content added after the engine goes live.
~\_/~\_O
yes, following the lead of Eve. Congrats AO
Never got into AO actually, tried the trial but didn't like the outdated graphics. Definitely giving the game a new chance if it really gets redone.
Second, thank you for posting it
I think I just died................... AO FTW!!!!
Beh! Who moved this out of General? Something like this warrants better exposure, in General or news section. Anyway, I'm sure the news ppl from MMORPG will file reports next week and perhaps mention this also.
~\_/~\_O
I agree. This thread should be in the Pub area, to allow more people to see it. As this news is not for AO players only, but also for those who have never tried the game, or tried it but were put off by the graphics. Sending an e-mail to the mods now.
Perhaps someone can answer this for me or perhaps we'll have to wait and see but... the WORLD is getting a nice overhaul... what about the avatars? Characters/Weapons/Gear? Because the characters are really going to stick out if only the world were updated - but updating EVERYTHING would definitely be a lot of work, no? Especially for a game you can play for free.
BOYCOTTING EA / ORIGIN going forward.
The part you're missing is that there wasn't even supposed to be ANY graphics redone at all, just the engine code upgraded at first. This was stated by Sil when he first confirmed the new engine. So apparently, Sil is planning this out as a big surprise ( and it's definitely working ), so there will probably be more added/redone by the time it's launched. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see alot of new artwork/textures, and such . Also, Sil also stated before that they would be looking to upgrade art and avatars after the engine was in place and functioning as intended. so, it may be that he just sped up the timetable a little.
Some visual improvements may just come naturally - Imagine the reflection tech making the big Kyr'Ozch 2he blades reflective of both lighting and images...you see your reflection on the big keepers blade just before you die...
~\_/~\_O
I just wanna see the purty glow of a grid armored fixer streaking past.
Awesome! Simply Awesome! Redo the toons, clean up a few of the cities (so they are not so empty of life and things to do) and I'd resubscribe in a second. That's a promise.
That might be the problem, getting players to come back.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Thanks for posting this video , very intressting just hope its got its charm after this update and that the playability is still there.
Will be interesting to see if they do a big ad campaign later this year, after the engine is out.
~\_/~\_O
If they redo the character models I'll happily go back...I find myself missing AO all the time. It's been maybe about a year and a half since I last played the game.
That might be the problem, getting players to come back.
Not sure bout that...
A gfx upgrade would go a long ways for that, since the gameplay/systems in AO is no more old fashioned or "outdated" than the MMO's of today... In fact, AO is still rather "fresh" when it comes to systems, customability.. and has many features that todays "new" games lack even.
It's just that with the old gfx, new players couldnt stomach even trying.
Def a nice looking engine.....If they fix fist ma for pvp again I'll be sure to come back and kick some ommers around.....Rosh Dimach 4tw.
u read this FC, Fix fist mas :P
www.myspace.com/trancetestament
When is the engine going to be active?
Heh, I'm tempted to sign up again when it goes live... So I can get my dusty soldier back on his feet... He hasn't been inside since shadowlands the poor git.
Ofcourse, that is if they also do some character gfx updates... I want to see him "alive!"
The old avatars would stick out in the new world graphics. I think if they updated the avatars too they wouldn't so much have to worry about getting old players back because there would be an influx of new players.
On a side note, I wonder how much it would cost to revamp an old game versus build one from scratch. Looks like an interesting opportunity for AO if they have the resources to make it happen. I'd definitely subscribe. I'm so sick of fantasy.