I can't say I've watched a Barbie cartoon. But then, if we're talking about animations then cartoons are more realistic than the approach more realistic games take - with stiff stances and perfectly symmetrical features. What a bizarre paradox
Still waiting for your Holy Grail MMORPG? Interesting...
It has absolutly nothing to do with colors, but the way everything is designed.
It's the fact that everything is polarized. It can only be huge or small, not something in between. Taurens are absurdly large while gnomes are absurdly small. Even humans have grossly oversized muscles, weapons, and whatsoever, despite being somewhat normal in proportions.
In cartoons you see this all the time. Action Man with huge overarms and wielding big guns, or Barbie with the tinyest of wastes you can imagine. Hey, does Barbie remind you of something? Yes, she reminds us of WoW characters, especially elves.
But not only characters are extreme, buildings and objects are, too! A chair with huge armleans and back, but with small legs uncapable of sustaining a chair like that if it was in the real world.
Not only are thins polarized, they are drawn in a soft and gentle, almost childish way. That combined with the archetypes, the extremes of the extremes, is so similar to cartoons that the connection is obvious.
Sure, you're right about what you're saying, but you're missing out the important parts by only looking at the subject of "colors".
EDIT: Oh, and another thing -
Cartoons are not only flat, 2-d characters, but also 3-d etc. It's fairly common practice to make cartoons in 3-d. You need to expand your understanding of what cartoon means and go beyond your stereotypical conception of it. You are right about WoW etc are not 2-d, but that still means it can be cartoonish.
I don't see WoW here. (Jimmy Neutron)
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
I think the bloom WoW gives actually looks great for the small amount of hardward it requires. In fact, I'd rather have a bloomy brown area than a shiny plastic area with moving trees that drops my framerate to 3.
I don't find this too hard to believe in a world with dragons, giant elementals, huge demons, enormous ogres, etc.
I actually find it quite awesome that someone as short as a Gnome can go toe to toe with a Tauren of equal level. It makes the game seem more magical and FANTASY based.
I haven't played VG... I was referring to my opinion of the three models pictured side by side. I haven't played LoTR either... the "world tour" starts today for those of us who did not preorder.
I agree that animation is important. It's one of many componants of a game which assist in immersion. If the animations are bad, it can put a strain on the... *gasp* ...realism of movement. ( teasing about the realism thing ). While I understand some people want their fantasy games lack realism... the simple fact is... without some realism in a game it loses believability. When it loses that, it loses immersion. That is how I see it anyway.
I would much rather have a more realistic player model with realistic animations in a relatively realistic environment with all of the wonderful fixings such as specular lighting, dymamic weather, wildlife frollicing in the hills... etc etc... but I also understand that most people don't have the type of high end PC that one would need for all of that. Hell, I don't either. But I would much rather have a good comprimise.
While WoW runs like butter on low end systems due to the extremely reduced ( to the point of obvious chunkiness ) polygon count, I would rather lag a little bit in a nicer looking environment. WoW is great for what it is... a Warcraft game. WoW is not something for everyone to set their expectations on, the game is phenominal at making underachieving look good, and it does bother me that people set their expectations of other games based on WoW.
I guess I take my gaming more seriously than a lot of people. I am a casual gamer, though I game hardcore hours, and I am willing to spend the money to upgrade my video card if it means I don't have to play a game like WoW.
I haven't played VG... I was referring to my opinion of the three models pictured side by side. I haven't played LoTR either... the "world tour" starts today for those of us who did not preorder. I agree that animation is important. It's one of many componants of a game which assist in immersion. If the animations are bad, it can put a strain on the... *gasp* ...realism of movement. ( teasing about the realism thing ). While I understand some people want their fantasy games lack realism... the simple fact is... without some realism in a game it loses believability. When it loses that, it loses immersion. That is how I see it anyway. I would much rather have a more realistic player model with realistic animations in a relatively realistic environment with all of the wonderful fixings such as specular lighting, dymamic weather, wildlife frollicing in the hills... etc etc... but I also understand that most people don't have the type of high end PC that one would need for all of that. Hell, I don't either. But I would much rather have a good comprimise. While WoW runs like butter on low end systems due to the extremely reduced ( to the point of obvious chunkiness ) polygon count, I would rather lag a little bit in a nicer looking environment. WoW is great for what it is... a Warcraft game. WoW is not something for everyone to set their expectations on, the game is phenominal at making underachieving look good, and it does bother me that people set their expectations of other games based on WoW. I guess I take my gaming more seriously than a lot of people. I am a casual gamer, though I game hardcore hours, and I am willing to spend the money to upgrade my video card if it means I don't have to play a game like WoW.
I think if you do upgrade you will be disappointed in the other games out right now. Although some perks come from the upgraded graphic capabilities the shear lack of other perks will leave you craving more. Don't fret though! Warhammer Online will be out soon, and I'm guessing it will fill both desires.
Personally, I do think WoW's graphics are 'cartoony'. The description only being used as a contrast in style to perhaps more serious kind of styles. That being said, WoW's graphics are quite nice in some areas.
It has absolutly nothing to do with colors, but the way everything is designed.
It's the fact that everything is polarized. It can only be huge or small, not something in between. Taurens are absurdly large while gnomes are absurdly small. Even humans have grossly oversized muscles, weapons, and whatsoever, despite being somewhat normal in proportions.
In cartoons you see this all the time. Action Man with huge overarms and wielding big guns, or Barbie with the tinyest of wastes you can imagine. Hey, does Barbie remind you of something? Yes, she reminds us of WoW characters, especially elves.
But not only characters are extreme, buildings and objects are, too! A chair with huge armleans and back, but with small legs uncapable of sustaining a chair like that if it was in the real world.
Not only are thins polarized, they are drawn in a soft and gentle, almost childish way. That combined with the archetypes, the extremes of the extremes, is so similar to cartoons that the connection is obvious.
Sure, you're right about what you're saying, but you're missing out the important parts by only looking at the subject of "colors".
EDIT: Oh, and another thing -
Cartoons are not only flat, 2-d characters, but also 3-d etc. It's fairly common practice to make cartoons in 3-d. You need to expand your understanding of what cartoon means and go beyond your stereotypical conception of it. You are right about WoW etc are not 2-d, but that still means it can be cartoonish.
I don't see WoW here. (Jimmy Neutron)
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
It's so easy to back up your point when you only select the material that suits your point.
Basicly what you're saying is that everything that isn't actually real, is in fact cartoons. Or at least that's what you're trying to say.
But perhaps it's wrong to speak of cartoonish graphics, but rather childish and soft graphics, which people usually link to cartoons. Cartoons just sums up the many impressions people get from such games. Hence cartoons are usually childish and soft in terms of graphics and feel.
There will always be odd ones out, and I don't think people think of the last 2 pictures you linked when they hear the word "cartoon". And this is where you go wrong.
I agee with the posts saying that the art style isn't important, as long as the world is immersive.
I do think that in terms of 3D art WoW is cartoonish, VG is probably a bad counter example, EQ2 would be more my idea of the other end of the spectrum. Don't think you can really compare it to 2D as 3D adds much more depth. EQ2 has more accurate proportions and smooth edges. WoW has less polygons.
There are games that I think are even more on the cartoonish side than WoW, Scions of Fate for example. I think most games are more of a blend than just one particular style as long as it all fits in, that's what is important.
I didn't care much for WoW's graphics. Would say that was the biggest reason why I played it on the side of EQ2, just trying to get to max. I HATED how I looked, and how it looked.. bleh. Nothing impressed me.
EQ2 wasn't much better. When you don't want to make a human cause they look so freaking bad, something is wrong. But they got some races right. And after SOGA came, those went on fast as hell. The setting and monsters were terrible, apart from a few raid targets, however more enjoyable to look at than WoW.
VG. I love the monsters and the whole setting. Sadly, they're almost on the same spot as EQ2 with the character faces but still liking VG's more. And this is playing on the worst of worst settings known to man, due to crappy computer.
Oh! And if helmets turns out right, a humanoid character may just turn out to look cool!
LOTR, didn't play it enough to judge. It seemed to look alright. Don't know what was up with the running (but you all heard that before) but looking forward to playing it soon.
Leaving other games out... just cause I can,
Shows how different we all are. Sure, WoW is using it's Warcraft 3 design wonderfully, keeping it all Warcrafty but it does nothing for me though, I think it's horrible. I've never called it cartoony or it being for kids. I see it for what it is.. crap. Simply cause I don't enjoy that kind of art style. No problem whatsoever with you all liking it.
I think the bloom WoW gives actually looks great for the small amount of hardward it requires. In fact, I'd rather have a bloomy brown area than a shiny plastic area with moving trees that drops my framerate to 3.
I was actually referring to Guild Wars...
With "realistic" graphics that make it look more real than the real world.
I didn't care much for WoW's graphics. Would say that was the biggest reason why I played it on the side of EQ2, just trying to get to max. I HATED how I looked, and how it looked.. bleh. Nothing impressed me.
EQ2 wasn't much better. When you don't want to make a human cause they look so freaking bad, something is wrong. But they got some races right. And after SOGA came, those went on fast as hell. The setting and monsters were terrible, apart from a few raid targets, however more enjoyable to look at than WoW.
VG. I love the monsters and the whole setting. Sadly, they're almost on the same spot as EQ2 with the character faces but still liking VG's more. And this is playing on the worst of worst settings known to man, due to crappy computer.
Oh! And if helmets turns out right, a humanoid character may just turn out to look cool!
LOTR, didn't play it enough to judge. It seemed to look alright. Don't know what was up with the running (but you all heard that before) but looking forward to playing it soon.
Leaving other games out... just cause I can,
Shows how different we all are. Sure, WoW is using it's Warcraft 3 design wonderfully, keeping it all Warcrafty but it does nothing for me though, I think it's horrible. I've never called it cartoony or it being for kids. I see it for what it is.. crap. Simply cause I don't enjoy that kind of art style. No problem whatsoever with you all liking it.
That's just silly, did anyone say that the grahpics in Zelda : Wind Waker were for kids? Or crap? No. Because it was DESIGNED to be like that..
No but people say WoW is for kids all the time... Which I don't, if you got that wrong or it didn't come out clear enough.
That's just what im saying. WoW was designed to be like Warcraft 3, which to me make it: crap (or insert any politically correct word here) cause it doesn't do it for me.
It has absolutly nothing to do with colors, but the way everything is designed.
It's the fact that everything is polarized. It can only be huge or small, not something in between. Taurens are absurdly large while gnomes are absurdly small. Even humans have grossly oversized muscles, weapons, and whatsoever, despite being somewhat normal in proportions.
In cartoons you see this all the time. Action Man with huge overarms and wielding big guns, or Barbie with the tinyest of wastes you can imagine. Hey, does Barbie remind you of something? Yes, she reminds us of WoW characters, especially elves.
But not only characters are extreme, buildings and objects are, too! A chair with huge armleans and back, but with small legs uncapable of sustaining a chair like that if it was in the real world.
Not only are thins polarized, they are drawn in a soft and gentle, almost childish way. That combined with the archetypes, the extremes of the extremes, is so similar to cartoons that the connection is obvious.
Sure, you're right about what you're saying, but you're missing out the important parts by only looking at the subject of "colors".
EDIT: Oh, and another thing -
Cartoons are not only flat, 2-d characters, but also 3-d etc. It's fairly common practice to make cartoons in 3-d. You need to expand your understanding of what cartoon means and go beyond your stereotypical conception of it. You are right about WoW etc are not 2-d, but that still means it can be cartoonish.
I don't see WoW here. (Jimmy Neutron)
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
It's so easy to back up your point when you only select the material that suits your point.
Basicly what you're saying is that everything that isn't actually real, is in fact cartoons. Or at least that's what you're trying to say.
But perhaps it's wrong to speak of cartoonish graphics, but rather childish and soft graphics, which people usually link to cartoons. Cartoons just sums up the many impressions people get from such games. Hence cartoons are usually childish and soft in terms of graphics and feel.
There will always be odd ones out, and I don't think people think of the last 2 pictures you linked when they hear the word "cartoon". And this is where you go wrong.
I was pretty much joking. You can tell I googled a few cartoons and put them up. You use the label cartoon to mean something that isn't cartoons. "Soft" or "childish" graphics sounds like an unresearched, biased, and largely inaccurate depiction of any VIDEO GAMEs graphics. Considering no game is direct video from the real world all video games are cartoonish. WoW just gets bashed because it stuck with what worked in WC1 2 and 3.
Instead other games try to fake innovation by "updating" the graphics to look a lot more like the Roughnecks picture I posted. I am not the only person who has a hard time watching these plastic, lifeless, and mostly robotic cartoons. Now, when you go back and start using pencil drawings again you can get a much more involved feel without it costing 7 thousand man hours to animate.
I'm not sure about you, but the classics appeal to me more. New "3D" animation looks like fancy claymation with no realism. That's what I like puppeteers rather than Pixar animators. This "innovation" they are moving towards is nothing compared to the cartoons that led up to it.
This particular topic always makes me feel dejected because it reminds me of how far away we are from having virtual reality MMOGs.
I would replace "far away" with "progessed past".
Virtual reality was a grand concept that failed miserably. The games never felt any more real than putting on a bike helmet, closing your eyes, and pretending.
Once I took a "virtual reality" tour of the human digestive system. It looked a lot like Starfox for the SNES.
I think this is a very accurate observation too! I agree totally.
While working on Wish a few years ago we ran into this exact problem with the washed out colours. Many of us didn't even percieve it because we had been looking at it so long. The decree that came from the top was over saturate everything... which we did. Looking at the texture maps, it looked foolish, but looking at them together in context in the engine it all look so much better.
And no, I also wouldn't consider WoW cartoony but I think "stylized" would fit well. Cartoony is Windwaker and games of that nature where everything is "flat" appearing.
This is an MMORPG I would consider "cartoony". That's mainly because it is cell shaded and draws art/concept directly from a cartoon.
What game is that from?! Thats straight up DBZ! I would love to play a game like that! (I sound so lame right now) LOL
I might also point something out. When you start a franchise it is important to make characters and places which are iconic. Basically forging your own world for players to become immersed in.
When you create a giantic world with forest after forest, encampment after encampment, desert after desert you lose a sense of direction. When you try and create "realistic" character models you end up becoming streamlined with every other game currently striving for the next chunk of the pie.
Instead of following suit WoW stuck with the franchise it had forged. The character models and areas, although largely borrowed from the Warhammer world (another debate here I'm sure) are not only iconic, but all mesh together to form a world players are familiar with.
When Vanguard launched I was worried about the exact rants I read. Players didn't really become entranced by the "good graphics", but moreso bombarded with high system reqs, large empty areas, and confusing gameplay. The "Ooo and Ahh" died after a short while because it didn't feel like a "Vanguard world", but moreso an EQ3 or any other "updated" game.
WoW, although lacking in certain areas, has their iconic imagery down solid. There is no other game which has such an array of interesting looking races, voices, and cities. Everything else just tries to build the most "realistic" house and they all end up looking like the cardboard set pieces from a Western.
Give me one game besides World of Warcraft which has set itself up with a world that isn't just an "updated" copy of other game worlds which have no real guts.
I think if you do upgrade you will be disappointed in the other games out right now. Although some perks come from the upgraded graphic capabilities the shear lack of other perks will leave you craving more. Don't fret though! Warhammer Online will be out soon, and I'm guessing it will fill both desires.
I'm watching Pirates of the Burning Sea too... that looks like it has promise
I think this is a very accurate observation too! I agree totally.
While working on Wish a few years ago we ran into this exact problem with the washed out colours. Many of us didn't even percieve it because we had been looking at it so long. The decree that came from the top was over saturate everything... which we did. Looking at the texture maps, it looked foolish, but looking at them together in context in the engine it all look so much better.
And no, I also wouldn't consider WoW cartoony but I think "stylized" would fit well. Cartoony is Windwaker and games of that nature where everything is "flat" appearing.
This is an MMORPG I would consider "cartoony". That's mainly because it is cell shaded and draws art/concept directly from a cartoon.
What game is that from?! Thats straight up DBZ! I would love to play a game like that! (I sound so lame right now) LOL Dragonball Online. There are many threads on the forum about it. You can google it, but there isn't much info out yet. A lot of sites aren't translated.
some people like cartoony graphics. others like me dont. i only like it if it fits the game. like wow doesnt really feel like it should have cartoony graphics. it seems like it lost alot of potential with its graphics. i already posted a topic about wow graphics so read it if you lke to hear more. now if you want to see what a game can do without cartoony graphics take a look at age of conan. that is what im talkin about.
I might also point something out. When you start a franchise it is important to make characters and places which are iconic. Basically forging your own world for players to become immersed in.
When you create a giantic world with forest after forest, encampment after encampment, desert after desert you lose a sense of direction. When you try and create "realistic" character models you end up becoming streamlined with every other game currently striving for the next chunk of the pie.
Instead of following suit WoW stuck with the franchise it had forged. The character models and areas, although largely borrowed from the Warhammer world (another debate here I'm sure) are not only iconic, but all mesh together to form a world players are familiar with.
When Vanguard launched I was worried about the exact rants I read. Players didn't really become entranced by the "good graphics", but moreso bombarded with high system reqs, large empty areas, and confusing gameplay. The "Ooo and Ahh" died after a short while because it didn't feel like a "Vanguard world", but moreso an EQ3 or any other "updated" game.
WoW, although lacking in certain areas, has their iconic imagery down solid. There is no other game which has such an array of interesting looking races, voices, and cities. Everything else just tries to build the most "realistic" house and they all end up looking like the cardboard set pieces from a Western.
Give me one game besides World of Warcraft which has set itself up with a world that isn't just an "updated" copy of other game worlds which have no real guts.
(Besides Warhammer, since it isn't out yet.)
I mean, come on!
(Conversation from a Vanguard Dev Meeting)
Dev 1: We need a new race!
Dev2: Well, we have a cat guy, a goblin guy, an orc guy
Dev1: Dude. FOX GUY!
Dev2: Score!
Dev1: Yeah, we can just pull the wolf model up, chop the head off, resize it, BAM FOX GUY!
some people like cartoony graphics. others like me dont. i only like it if it fits the game. like wow doesnt really feel like it should have cartoony graphics. it seems like it lost alot of potential with its graphics. i already posted a topic about wow graphics so read it if you lke to hear more. now if you want to see what a game can do without cartoony graphics take a look at age of conan. that is what im talkin about.
Do you like The Simpsons? Would you want The Simpsons movie to be totally CG and have laser missles and real humans sometimes? Doubt it. Why? Because The Simpson are icons. Hell, I bet 90% of Americans could pull Homer out of a group via just his shadow.
Personally, I acutally do enjoy the cartoonish look of MMO's. For example RO, some people say that its a bad game, but it is a really great game, because pretty much anyone can play it on a basic computer. I love 3D games, and WAR/AoC/WoW/GW, but sometimes, I just wanna kick back and play a game that reminds me of my childhood. I'm not that old, but I still love to sit down and watch cartoons from time to time. I think that in this time and era, our techonology lets us be able to create CG scences thats almost look "real" and still, the more real it gets.....the more reality gets duller and boring. I think the peak of CG hit when FF:AC came out. It still had that CG but blended with almost real to give it that "what if" feel. Look, yes cartoons take away from art and design, but it is its own art and design.
Comments
Still waiting for your Holy Grail MMORPG? Interesting...
I don't see WoW here. (Jimmy Neutron)
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
I don't find this too hard to believe in a world with dragons, giant elementals, huge demons, enormous ogres, etc.
I actually find it quite awesome that someone as short as a Gnome can go toe to toe with a Tauren of equal level. It makes the game seem more magical and FANTASY based.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
I haven't played VG... I was referring to my opinion of the three models pictured side by side. I haven't played LoTR either... the "world tour" starts today for those of us who did not preorder.
I agree that animation is important. It's one of many componants of a game which assist in immersion. If the animations are bad, it can put a strain on the... *gasp* ...realism of movement. ( teasing about the realism thing ). While I understand some people want their fantasy games lack realism... the simple fact is... without some realism in a game it loses believability. When it loses that, it loses immersion. That is how I see it anyway.
I would much rather have a more realistic player model with realistic animations in a relatively realistic environment with all of the wonderful fixings such as specular lighting, dymamic weather, wildlife frollicing in the hills... etc etc... but I also understand that most people don't have the type of high end PC that one would need for all of that. Hell, I don't either. But I would much rather have a good comprimise.
While WoW runs like butter on low end systems due to the extremely reduced ( to the point of obvious chunkiness ) polygon count, I would rather lag a little bit in a nicer looking environment. WoW is great for what it is... a Warcraft game. WoW is not something for everyone to set their expectations on, the game is phenominal at making underachieving look good, and it does bother me that people set their expectations of other games based on WoW.
I guess I take my gaming more seriously than a lot of people. I am a casual gamer, though I game hardcore hours, and I am willing to spend the money to upgrade my video card if it means I don't have to play a game like WoW.
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Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Personally, I do think WoW's graphics are 'cartoony'. The description only being used as a contrast in style to perhaps more serious kind of styles. That being said, WoW's graphics are quite nice in some areas.
I don't see WoW here. (Jimmy Neutron)
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
It's so easy to back up your point when you only select the material that suits your point.
Basicly what you're saying is that everything that isn't actually real, is in fact cartoons. Or at least that's what you're trying to say.
But perhaps it's wrong to speak of cartoonish graphics, but rather childish and soft graphics, which people usually link to cartoons. Cartoons just sums up the many impressions people get from such games. Hence cartoons are usually childish and soft in terms of graphics and feel.
There will always be odd ones out, and I don't think people think of the last 2 pictures you linked when they hear the word "cartoon". And this is where you go wrong.
I agee with the posts saying that the art style isn't important, as long as the world is immersive.
I do think that in terms of 3D art WoW is cartoonish, VG is probably a bad counter example, EQ2 would be more my idea of the other end of the spectrum. Don't think you can really compare it to 2D as 3D adds much more depth. EQ2 has more accurate proportions and smooth edges. WoW has less polygons.
There are games that I think are even more on the cartoonish side than WoW, Scions of Fate for example. I think most games are more of a blend than just one particular style as long as it all fits in, that's what is important.
------------------------------------
EQ2 wasn't much better. When you don't want to make a human cause they look so freaking bad, something is wrong. But they got some races right. And after SOGA came, those went on fast as hell. The setting and monsters were terrible, apart from a few raid targets, however more enjoyable to look at than WoW.
VG. I love the monsters and the whole setting. Sadly, they're almost on the same spot as EQ2 with the character faces but still liking VG's more. And this is playing on the worst of worst settings known to man, due to crappy computer.
Oh! And if helmets turns out right, a humanoid character may just turn out to look cool!
LOTR, didn't play it enough to judge. It seemed to look alright. Don't know what was up with the running (but you all heard that before) but looking forward to playing it soon.
Leaving other games out... just cause I can,
Shows how different we all are. Sure, WoW is using it's Warcraft 3 design wonderfully, keeping it all Warcrafty but it does nothing for me though, I think it's horrible. I've never called it cartoony or it being for kids. I see it for what it is.. crap. Simply cause I don't enjoy that kind of art style. No problem whatsoever with you all liking it.
I was actually referring to Guild Wars...
With "realistic" graphics that make it look more real than the real world.
That's just silly, did anyone say that the grahpics in Zelda : Wind Waker were for kids? Or crap? No. Because it was DESIGNED to be like that..
God, some people are idiots.
That's just what im saying. WoW was designed to be like Warcraft 3, which to me make it: crap (or insert any politically correct word here) cause it doesn't do it for me.
And yes, you are.
Nor here. (TMNT Movie)
Wait, I see one here, but it looks more like Vanguard and EQ2!!!! (Roughnecks)
So, by my research I've concluded that Vanguard is more cartoony than WoW.
It's so easy to back up your point when you only select the material that suits your point.
Basicly what you're saying is that everything that isn't actually real, is in fact cartoons. Or at least that's what you're trying to say.
But perhaps it's wrong to speak of cartoonish graphics, but rather childish and soft graphics, which people usually link to cartoons. Cartoons just sums up the many impressions people get from such games. Hence cartoons are usually childish and soft in terms of graphics and feel.
There will always be odd ones out, and I don't think people think of the last 2 pictures you linked when they hear the word "cartoon". And this is where you go wrong.
I was pretty much joking. You can tell I googled a few cartoons and put them up. You use the label cartoon to mean something that isn't cartoons. "Soft" or "childish" graphics sounds like an unresearched, biased, and largely inaccurate depiction of any VIDEO GAMEs graphics. Considering no game is direct video from the real world all video games are cartoonish. WoW just gets bashed because it stuck with what worked in WC1 2 and 3.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
I'm not sure about you, but the classics appeal to me more. New "3D" animation looks like fancy claymation with no realism. That's what I like puppeteers rather than Pixar animators. This "innovation" they are moving towards is nothing compared to the cartoons that led up to it.
Maybe I'm just crazy.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Virtual reality was a grand concept that failed miserably. The games never felt any more real than putting on a bike helmet, closing your eyes, and pretending.
Once I took a "virtual reality" tour of the human digestive system. It looked a lot like Starfox for the SNES.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
This is an MMORPG I would consider "cartoony". That's mainly because it is cell shaded and draws art/concept directly from a cartoon.
What game is that from?! Thats straight up DBZ! I would love to play a game like that! (I sound so lame right now) LOL
When you create a giantic world with forest after forest, encampment after encampment, desert after desert you lose a sense of direction. When you try and create "realistic" character models you end up becoming streamlined with every other game currently striving for the next chunk of the pie.
Instead of following suit WoW stuck with the franchise it had forged. The character models and areas, although largely borrowed from the Warhammer world (another debate here I'm sure) are not only iconic, but all mesh together to form a world players are familiar with.
When Vanguard launched I was worried about the exact rants I read. Players didn't really become entranced by the "good graphics", but moreso bombarded with high system reqs, large empty areas, and confusing gameplay. The "Ooo and Ahh" died after a short while because it didn't feel like a "Vanguard world", but moreso an EQ3 or any other "updated" game.
WoW, although lacking in certain areas, has their iconic imagery down solid. There is no other game which has such an array of interesting looking races, voices, and cities. Everything else just tries to build the most "realistic" house and they all end up looking like the cardboard set pieces from a Western.
Give me one game besides World of Warcraft which has set itself up with a world that isn't just an "updated" copy of other game worlds which have no real guts.
(Besides Warhammer, since it isn't out yet.)
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
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This is an MMORPG I would consider "cartoony". That's mainly because it is cell shaded and draws art/concept directly from a cartoon.
What game is that from?! Thats straight up DBZ! I would love to play a game like that! (I sound so lame right now) LOL Dragonball Online. There are many threads on the forum about it. You can google it, but there isn't much info out yet. A lot of sites aren't translated.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
(Conversation from a Vanguard Dev Meeting)
Dev 1: We need a new race!
Dev2: Well, we have a cat guy, a goblin guy, an orc guy
Dev1: Dude. FOX GUY!
Dev2: Score!
Dev1: Yeah, we can just pull the wolf model up, chop the head off, resize it, BAM FOX GUY!
Dev2: I feel like doing a barrel roll already!
Dev1: Mission Accomplished!
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde
Seriously.
Doktar - 70 Troll Priest - Perenolde