For many people, looks are important. It is the primary reason for selection of race. Only number crunchers choose a race for its stats alone. So it would follow that how a character looks in gear sets would be very important. So important that they'll raid day in and day out in order to have a mactching set as many people do not like the mix and match look. WoW strongly lacks in graphical variety, but I don't think DAoC is any better in that regard. If fact, I can't think of any loot based MMO that I've played where everyone didn't look pretty much the same from beginning to end. Sadly, system resources can limit the number of options. On top of that, it requires a lot of developing resources to come up with the designs and to code them into the game. Granted, these games make ridiculous amounts of money, so its hard to justify their laziness in developing a wider range in a character's look.
I do have to note one exception, but I don't lump it in with the other MMO's because its not a loot based game, so it doesn't depend on the same mechanics in order to personalize your character and that would be City of Heroes. They have a vast customization tool for a character's costume and physical appearance and you can even have up to 5 or 6 costume slots as you play the game, but you will never get loot while adventuring that will allow you to change your look.
With PvE raiding, it has never been a question of being "good enough". I play games to have fun, not to be a simpering toady sitting through hour after hour of mind numbing boredom and fawning over a guild master in the hopes that he will condescend to reward me with shiny bits of loot. But in games where those people get the highest progression, anyone who doesn't do that will just be a moving target for them and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay money for the privilege. - Neanderthal
After weeding through the "I'll claim its ugly cause I am on a crusade against WoW" , I would like to express my opinion.
I think WoW isn't the most detailed graphics. But they make low poly look damn good. They have very creative designs. It's very hit and miss some times, but they always keep the poly count down, and WoW can look really good, on really crappy computers.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
After weeding through the "I'll claim its ugly cause I am on a crusade against WoW" , I would like to express my opinion.
I think WoW isn't the most detailed graphics. But they make low poly look damn good. They have very creative designs. It's very hit and miss some times, but they always keep the poly count down, and WoW can look really good, on really crappy computers.
There you have it. When you have finally clocked in your 100+ hours of raiding, and have a full set of your new tier armor , and your character for some reason looks like a reigndeer or a Star Wars Rastafri Sand Person, at least you can tell yourself the polygon count is high, and the armor is creative
I do have to note one exception, but I don't lump it in with the other MMO's because its not a loot based game, so it doesn't depend on the same mechanics in order to personalize your character and that would be City of Heroes. They have a vast customization tool for a character's costume and physical appearance and you can even have up to 5 or 6 costume slots as you play the game, but you will never get loot while adventuring that will allow you to change your look.
I wouldn't say "never" here. According to what I've read on their forums, the new invention system will allow you to create costume options that are not available normally. So, I guess you will be able to get loot while adventuring that will allow you to change your look. The difference is that as far as I know, costumes have zero impact on gameplay in CoH (i.e., they don't change your characters stats at all).
After weeding through the "I'll claim its ugly cause I am on a crusade against WoW" , I would like to express my opinion.
I think WoW isn't the most detailed graphics. But they make low poly look damn good. They have very creative designs. It's very hit and miss some times, but they always keep the poly count down, and WoW can look really good, on really crappy computers.
Yes, that’s exactly why people don’t like WoW armor. In fact there is a massive CIA conspiracy to beam anti-WoW signals into their brains and you were the only one smart enough to put on a tinfoil hat.
Sarcasm aside, if you like WoW art good for you. Just because you like it doesn’t mean you can assume it it’s “good” and therefore anyone who doesn’t like it is really just lying in order to bash WoW. Some people, like you like WoW’s art style and a lot of others do not. There isn’t anything else going on here. My advice is that you stop looking for others to validate your opinions. If you like it you shouldn’t care if others do or not.
I have the word “Good” is in quotes because there really isn’t such a thing as good or bad art style in absolute terms. You may like a given apiece of art while someone else doesn’t, that’s just the way it goes. There is, however, anther less absolute use of “good” and “bad” in regards to art. That is, how does it stack up against current thinking and trends.
In this sense WoW is “bad” because the oversized shoulders and messed up proportions are like a 90’s flashback. The current trend in fantasy art is creative design with realistic or semi-realistic proportions. WoW’s art style is the equivalent of doing Disco in 1985, even if it’s good it’s an outdated style that a lot people don’t care for.
Art, however, is not the only reason to play a game. People can have a lot of reasons to play a game, so just because WoW uses an outdated art style doesn't mean it's bad. All it means is that most people play it for reasons other then the art.
Some other things to remember. First there are a lot of people out there who are somewhat behind current trends. Second many trends differ by region and culture. For example even though Disco music was despised in North America through the 80’s it was remained reasonably popular and acceptable in Europe. So, just because Big Shoulders and oversized Guns/Swords are generally out of favor in North America doesn't mean other regions are not more accepting of them.
After weeding through the "I'll claim its ugly cause I am on a crusade against WoW" , I would like to express my opinion.
I think WoW isn't the most detailed graphics. But they make low poly look damn good. They have very creative designs. It's very hit and miss some times, but they always keep the poly count down, and WoW can look really good, on really crappy computers.
While WOW's armor and graphics don't fit my taste I wouldn't say they're ugly, just not my cup of tea.
However trying to compare WOW's armor to games like L2 is just plain silly and looses you any credibility.
The WOW ownz all posts are just a silly as the WOW sux posts. WOW is a fine starter MMO but let's keep it in perspective please.
WoW armor looking good? what a joke, horrible character design, horrible textures, and horrible equipment design. It was dated and lacking in artistic appeal from the day it was released.
Tried: Vanguard, UO, Rappelz, Archlord, RF Online, SWG, WAR, Ryzom, Anarchy Online, AC, APB, STO, Perfect World, Black Prophecy...
Played: EQ,EQII, Lineage, Lineage 2, GW, EVE Online, AoC, DoAC, iRO, AC2, WoW, SWTOR, Runes of Magic, Allods, Rift.. Currently Playing: Tera
I like WoW's graphics.. imo they are beautifull.. but come on.. it's armors are faaaar from perfect and you cant compare it with L2's or GW's armors... besides GW already reached perfection in this departmant.. : http://www.guildwars.com/gallery/screenshots/factions/gw116-lrg.php Dye it black and you have the best looking armor I have ever seen XPP
Comments
For many people, looks are important. It is the primary reason for selection of race. Only number crunchers choose a race for its stats alone. So it would follow that how a character looks in gear sets would be very important. So important that they'll raid day in and day out in order to have a mactching set as many people do not like the mix and match look. WoW strongly lacks in graphical variety, but I don't think DAoC is any better in that regard. If fact, I can't think of any loot based MMO that I've played where everyone didn't look pretty much the same from beginning to end. Sadly, system resources can limit the number of options. On top of that, it requires a lot of developing resources to come up with the designs and to code them into the game. Granted, these games make ridiculous amounts of money, so its hard to justify their laziness in developing a wider range in a character's look.
I do have to note one exception, but I don't lump it in with the other MMO's because its not a loot based game, so it doesn't depend on the same mechanics in order to personalize your character and that would be City of Heroes. They have a vast customization tool for a character's costume and physical appearance and you can even have up to 5 or 6 costume slots as you play the game, but you will never get loot while adventuring that will allow you to change your look.
With PvE raiding, it has never been a question of being "good enough". I play games to have fun, not to be a simpering toady sitting through hour after hour of mind numbing boredom and fawning over a guild master in the hopes that he will condescend to reward me with shiny bits of loot. But in games where those people get the highest progression, anyone who doesn't do that will just be a moving target for them and I'll be damned if I'm going to pay money for the privilege. - Neanderthal
I think WoW isn't the most detailed graphics. But they make low poly look damn good. They have very creative designs. It's very hit and miss some times, but they always keep the poly count down, and WoW can look really good, on really crappy computers.
after 6 or so years, I had to change it a little...
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WoW :
9 classes
close to 9 million players
4 tier sets, 2 pvp sets
roughly 120k player groups dressed in the same end-game armor that you cannot dye
concluzion : burp!
While WOW's armor and graphics don't fit my taste I wouldn't say they're ugly, just not my cup of tea.
However trying to compare WOW's armor to games like L2 is just plain silly and looses you any credibility.
The WOW ownz all posts are just a silly as the WOW sux posts. WOW is a fine starter MMO but let's keep it in perspective please.
Dutchess Zarraa Voltayre
Reborn/Zero Sum/Ancient Legacy/Jagged Legion/Feared/Nuke & Pave.
Tried: Vanguard, UO, Rappelz, Archlord, RF Online, SWG, WAR, Ryzom, Anarchy Online, AC, APB, STO, Perfect World, Black Prophecy...
Played: EQ,EQII, Lineage, Lineage 2, GW, EVE Online, AoC, DoAC, iRO, AC2, WoW, SWTOR, Runes of Magic, Allods, Rift..
Currently Playing: Tera
WoW maybe a popular game, but it's graphics is nowhere near good. When it compare to L2, GW, or Aion, it's graphic engine just seems out of date.
I think WoW has the best graphics in armor of all MMORPG games ^_^
There are so many games with better looking armor than WOW...
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