I think whether a dev team goes with cartoonish or life like visuals really depends on what the game is... city of villains and heroes for instance, would of course and should be cartoonish, its history goes back to comics and really in that setting cov-coh doesnt look half bad.
Now If you go to something like Star Wars, hrmm then yes tough choice there but...Personlly I would go with life like as much as possible, seeing as how the recent movies used so much in terms of computer generated graphics you would think SWG could look alot better then it does.And thats not to say the graphics suck, only pointing out that even with the best video cards what you see is only what they make in the end.
So really imo graphics should fit the title and theme of the game, but should never EVER be shotty whether cartoonish or life like.
In MMIORPG's, I prefer slightly cartoon/ animated over life like graphics, because imo, life like graphics don't look life-like at all. when MMORPG developers create a game with real like graphics, the graphics usually look dull, not life-like, and lack detail.
For me, graphics have never been a critical issue. It reminds me when I was young and I bought my first NES. My cousins bought an Amiga PC and they just raved about how good the graphics were and thus how much better their system was. Truth be told, the Amiga's graphics were better than the 8-bit NES, but the games for the Amiga were horrible. I still own an original NES and still play the game, despite the 8-bit graphics. I don't know many people who still have an Amiga system. ^_^
Nonetheless, if I had to choose between the two styles, I slightly prefer the "Life Like" graphics to the cartoony graphics. However, gameplay is exponentially more important to me than graphics.
Personally i personally have differing views. In my mind it really depends on the game itself for example.
Matrix - Works with Realistic.
WoW - works with cartoony.
RF-Online - Works with cartoony
EvE - Works with realistic.
Everquest 2 - Has Realistic but in my opinion would work better with cartoony.
In the end as long as the art style fits the game its ok, Such as you get with a game like RF Online. But if the art style is all wrong it wont work, Such as you get with everquest.
For me, graphics have never been a critical issue. It reminds me when I was young and I bought my first NES. My cousins bought an Amiga PC and they just raved about how good the graphics were and thus how much better their system was. Truth be told, the Amiga's graphics were better than the 8-bit NES, but the games for the Amiga were horrible. I still own an original NES and still play the game, despite the 8-bit graphics. I don't know many people who still have an Amiga system. ^_^
Nonetheless, if I had to choose between the two styles, I slightly prefer the "Life Like" graphics to the cartoony graphics. However, gameplay is exponentially more important to me than graphics.
Why would realistic graphics require better artists? Imo cartoon graphics just give an artist a lot more freedom and, IMO, can give great effects.
Agreed, cartoon graphics always seems to work better in games IMO. When ever they try for ultra realism companies go too far and always seem to end up with somethign cartoon~ish anyway. Cartoon graphics can be based on the exact items "realistic" graphics are so it isn't limit, but if you see someone in historically accurate armor with sparkly special eeffects casting a spell...well it just never looks right to me.
Cartoonish always for more cinematics also and, like Aphex mentioned, gives the artisits and game makers more freedom to make what fits the storyline. Realistic graphics would all be very bland and mostly browns and greys, which just doesn't make for a good cinematic experience or a good goaming experience. Game companies could learn some things from the movie industry (one being sequels are almost always never as good as the original).
If lifelike meant lifelike, then that would beat anything. Crysis is a perfect example, that is lifelike. Games lik EQ II and especially Vanguard, its not even close to lifelike, its badly modelled GI Joe dolls. And if you are gonna do badly made "lifelike", then I much rather take wellmade cartoony, any day of the year.
Easy, when I can model things better in 3D Studio than someone that is paid thousand of dollas a months to do it, then I sure as hell wont pay his salary. I will pay the guy that can surprise me, and really show his talent.
Of course that does not mean everyone have to. If people like to pay for amateurish junk just because its new, then its up to them. Crap has sold well for a hundred years now, as long as it says "new" on the box.
"This is not a game to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force"
If lifelike meant lifelike, then that would beat anything. Crysis is a perfect example, that is lifelike. Games lik EQ II and especially Vanguard, its not even close to lifelike, its badly modelled GI Joe dolls. And if you are gonna do badly made "lifelike", then I much rather take wellmade cartoony, any day of the year.
I agree. The so called "lifelike" MMORPG's to date look really like some plastic toy. That's not lifelike. Crysis is indeed "lifelike" and that's good for it's genre. I prefer lifelike in FPS games, but the "lifelike" in MMORPG's can't bother me at all. Just a matter of opinion.
The cartoony look and fantasy go hand in hand in my opinion. "Lifelike" and fantasy just don't.
Personally I prefer realistic graphics, maybe bordering on detailed "artistic" graphics. For some games cartoony styles work brilliantly, for example Akami, but when you want to become immersed in a world, play a role, or go into the depths of a game's spirit, I feel realism gives greater leverage than cartoonism.
cartoon for sure. Lineage 2, RF online, WoW, I like their models much better than D&D, EQ2
actually it's probably just the fact that the chicks are so much hotter in those first 3 then they are in D&D, and EQ2, not only that I took my Fae's cloths off and she had more cloths underneath wtf!!! like a freaking ballroom costume or something.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You? if I were to kill a titan tomorrow and no CCP employees showed up to say grats I would petition it. Waiting for: the next MMO that lets me make this macro if hp < 30 then CastSpell("heal") SpellTargetUnit("player") else CastSpell("smite") end
I used to just flat-out say that I hated cartoon style graphics, ala WOW, or worse, those bobble-headed anime MMOs. but looking at WAR, and accusations of it also being too cartoonish, I realized that what I hate is more specific. I hate when graphics are too light and satirical, too childish. If cartoons can be dark and gritty, like some Warhammer graphics are, I have no problem with it at all.
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.
Comments
I think whether a dev team goes with cartoonish or life like visuals really depends on what the game is... city of villains and heroes for instance, would of course and should be cartoonish, its history goes back to comics and really in that setting cov-coh doesnt look half bad.
Now If you go to something like Star Wars, hrmm then yes tough choice there but...Personlly I would go with life like as much as possible, seeing as how the recent movies used so much in terms of computer generated graphics you would think SWG could look alot better then it does.And thats not to say the graphics suck, only pointing out that even with the best video cards what you see is only what they make in the end.
So really imo graphics should fit the title and theme of the game, but should never EVER be shotty whether cartoonish or life like.
I like Anime graphics so i like the cartoon graphics
you could probably guess by my pic lol
As it's been already stated, IMO the cartoonish vs realistic debate is more a matter of suiting into the background and lore of the game.
The point about cartoonish style is that it can be used as an excuse to make a cheap engine.
- Looks polygonal? No, its cartoonish!!
But other than that, I have no real prefence.
Nonetheless, if I had to choose between the two styles, I slightly prefer the "Life Like" graphics to the cartoony graphics. However, gameplay is exponentially more important to me than graphics.
~Synexis
Personally i personally have differing views. In my mind it really depends on the game itself for example.
Matrix - Works with Realistic.
WoW - works with cartoony.
RF-Online - Works with cartoony
EvE - Works with realistic.
Everquest 2 - Has Realistic but in my opinion would work better with cartoony.
In the end as long as the art style fits the game its ok, Such as you get with a game like RF Online. But if the art style is all wrong it wont work, Such as you get with everquest.
I agree wholeheartidly.
Oh i owned an Atari ST btw.
Agreed, cartoon graphics always seems to work better in games IMO. When ever they try for ultra realism companies go too far and always seem to end up with somethign cartoon~ish anyway. Cartoon graphics can be based on the exact items "realistic" graphics are so it isn't limit, but if you see someone in historically accurate armor with sparkly special eeffects casting a spell...well it just never looks right to me.
Cartoonish always for more cinematics also and, like Aphex mentioned, gives the artisits and game makers more freedom to make what fits the storyline. Realistic graphics would all be very bland and mostly browns and greys, which just doesn't make for a good cinematic experience or a good goaming experience. Game companies could learn some things from the movie industry (one being sequels are almost always never as good as the original).
Cartoony because I want to know I'm playing a video game.
Mustache is a cat
That has to go to the vet
Do your taxes now
Guild Wars is still an MMO.
Life like all the way, for example:
Guild Wars is still an MMO.
I agree.
If lifelike meant lifelike, then that would beat anything. Crysis is a perfect example, that is lifelike. Games lik EQ II and especially Vanguard, its not even close to lifelike, its badly modelled GI Joe dolls. And if you are gonna do badly made "lifelike", then I much rather take wellmade cartoony, any day of the year.
Easy, when I can model things better in 3D Studio than someone that is paid thousand of dollas a months to do it, then I sure as hell wont pay his salary. I will pay the guy that can surprise me, and really show his talent.
Of course that does not mean everyone have to. If people like to pay for amateurish junk just because its new, then its up to them. Crap has sold well for a hundred years now, as long as it says "new" on the box.
"This is not a game to be tossed aside lightly.
It should be thrown with great force"
I agree. The so called "lifelike" MMORPG's to date look really like some plastic toy. That's not lifelike. Crysis is indeed "lifelike" and that's good for it's genre. I prefer lifelike in FPS games, but the "lifelike" in MMORPG's can't bother me at all. Just a matter of opinion.
The cartoony look and fantasy go hand in hand in my opinion. "Lifelike" and fantasy just don't.
current game:
world of warcraft.
how original
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Hail DnDOnlinegames!
actually it's probably just the fact that the chicks are so much hotter in those first 3 then they are in D&D, and EQ2, not only that I took my Fae's cloths off and she had more cloths underneath wtf!!! like a freaking ballroom costume or something.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
if I were to kill a titan tomorrow and no CCP employees showed up to say grats I would petition it.
Waiting for: the next MMO that lets me make this macro
if hp < 30 then CastSpell("heal") SpellTargetUnit("player") else CastSpell("smite") end
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.