I have played it and let me just say you will not be disappointed when you actually get to play it! So don't count a game out if you haven't even played it.
POTBS username:yohorumrunner Guild:St George Squadron
It's been beat to death, but, Ship2Ship combat is the real jewel and main focus of the game. The avatar ( Wow-ish aspect of the game) combat was added last.
The game as a whole is still being polished and I would expect avatar combat to be included. At this point there isn't alot to worry about. The game's making great progress and it is fun, which says alot more to me than anything.
If the game nears its launch and somethings still not up to par, I'm sure you will hear about it from the countless people that love nothing more than to see <insert newest MMORPG here> fail.
Watched this game for a long time now... and I keep seeing uglyness everywhere. Just saw the latest screenshots and I dont know if its me or the characters and npc models look totally ugly like a game 6 years old... Sure the water looks nice the sky looks nice but I see some kind of choppiness and cubic unpolished bad models , textures and all that in every damn screenshot. Ugly cubic edges and ugly clothing options just scream of really old game graphics. What do you guys think?
It's you.
Or, it's me? Personally, I think the graphics look crisp and clean, which is what I want from online video games.
Star Wars Galaxies might be a good example; on my computer I had to run that game at the lowest graphic settings and even then there was a lot of slow down, especially in large battles. And that game was strange somehow; high quality character models but all-around crappy surface textures? (My computer at that time wasn't the best, so I don't really know).
In fps-critical FPS's it becomes a real problem since any sort of cpu/gpu lag will mean death (a la Planetside/Quake 3/etc.).
CoH/V, same thing, but in that game you could display it as 1024x768 for example for sharper text and whatnot, but render all the models as 640x480, and turn down the particle effects. Sure things looked blurry but the fps was a lot higher. My tendency at that point was to try to get the most out of my aging system.
You gotta remember that not everyone can afford the newest top-of-the-line system, especially when the technology keeps changing drastically every year or so (it's really slowed down since five years ago, though...).
As a side note, my old computer unfortunately overheated. Something caught fire and burned out the cpu or some stupid thing (all while it was idling, no less). Let that be a lesson to you all; buy a can of compressed air, open your computer and blow out all the dust every month or two.
Yet I fully intend on buying a new computer just so I can play PotBS when it's released. I'm that excited about it, and while some aspects of it worry me (focus on instances, for example...loading screens = bad), it's still going to be the best MMO since pre-NGE SWG.
And if my hopes are wrong? oh well, I have a shiny new computer to play the WoW-Alterac Valley-clone WAR or the twitch-fest AoC. I might even be looking forward to Darkfall if they decide to get rid of the FPS portion of it (anyone remember how ridiculous HeXeN was? Or was it Heretic? S.S.D.P.)
If it plays well and I enjoy it, I could care less about the graphics, These days sooo much is spent on looks that often the gameplay and core mechanics of the game are placed second. I can appreciate a scenic vista and impressive graphics, but I'm there to enjoy the GAME not what the game looks like. It maybe because I'm old old old school but I prefer depth over flash.
there's lots of depth and over 10 years worth of updates, and TONS of "stuff" that no other mmo has even come close to implementing in ultima online. why aren't you playing it? it's graphics are rather 2D'esque and subpar compared to many current games. but it's got great gameplay and tons of stuff to do.
just making a point.
could we please get correspondent writers and moderators, on the eve forum at mmorpg.com, who are well-versed on eve-online and aren't just passersby pushing buttons? pretty please?
Watched this game for a long time now... and I keep seeing uglyness everywhere. Just saw the latest screenshots and I dont know if its me or the characters and npc models look totally ugly like a game 6 years old... Sure the water looks nice the sky looks nice but I see some kind of choppiness and cubic unpolished bad models , textures and all that in every damn screenshot. Ugly cubic edges and ugly clothing options just scream of really old game graphics. What do you guys think?
Its in beta for goodness sakes. Most beta games are gonna look blocky and choppy. The game isn't even polished. Once the game is complete and is polished and is loaded with the correct graphics engine, then I am sure it will look a whole lot better. Besides I realy didnt think the screens didnt look all that bad. Personally I think its just you.
Models and textures do NOT change during a beta test. The game's appearance is going to be the same when it launches as it is now. They are not going to re-design their textures in higher resolutions or different designs prior to release.
Some people think the characters are ugly, some people don't. It's just a matter of opinion. There are many people who LOVE the look of high-res Asian games (L2, Archlord, etc.) and there are others who think it looks stupid... Art is "mostly" subjective.
Never trust into screenshots. They never do the real graphics justice, in both directions. VG looks much more sterile in real than the PR screenshots of Sigil before release and LOTOR or WOW look much better in real than if you know only screenshots. (And NO, I am REALLY ONLY referring to the graphics atm! Its ONLY about the relation between screenies and game here! Before any flame war erupts.)
Maybe for you Elikal , when and if you ever get a computer that can run vanguard with every setting maxed at 1920x1200 like mine you wouldnt be saying that .
so you mean i shouldnt trust all these screens you use to post of vanguard , you know the ones you took where you staged them and got all your view angles just right to make them look as bad as you could lol
Same thing i could do to any game on the market right now
Guys if you've been following the game, you'd know that FLS did what they could for now regarding the land avatar. Trust me, this game has come a long way since they first announced it. Even I was sceptical that FLS would stick with it considering the task they gave themselves. All I can say is give this game time and I bet it'll be one of the funnest niche' games on the market. ^_^
Guys if you've been following the game, you'd know that FLS did what they could for now regarding the land avatar. Trust me, this game has come a long way since they first announced it. Even I was sceptical that FLS would stick with it considering the task they gave themselves. All I can say is give this game time and I bet it'll be one of the funnest niche' games on the market. ^_^
PotBS is a niche game. It is not going to be the next big MMO. Once you understand that, and take the game for what it is, you might find you're actually having fun.
It is not a game for everyone. It is a game for people that like player run economies & naval combat.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
PotBS is a niche game. It is not going to be the next big MMO. Once you understand that, and take the game for what it is, you might find you're actually having fun. It is not a game for everyone. It is a game for people that like player run economies & naval combat.
Agree. It's nice to see someone who's not aiming for the mythical WoW sub numbers and who's willing to make a solid game they way they want to make it.
As far as the looks, I think it looks good, not spectacular, but good. Customization looks like it'll be well implemented as well and I imagine since the avatar combat was a later addition it'll improve over time.
I just watched a bunch of UTube videos of the game. Some parts look the same as every other MMO (mainly the characters, they all look clayish and typical of MMO characters), other parts look better (I was impressed with the ocean and boats and the ports.)
The biggest turn-off for me is that everything seems instanced, and there's no place that's ALL YOURS (like a house or even if you could live and play within your boat and invite your friends in, etc.) Also, melee combat looks really artificial.
But boat combat looks good. I will still try the game... until Darkfall is released.
- Phos
AAH! A troll fire! Quick, pour some Kool-Aid on it!!!
I don't see how anyone can think that the graphics are ugly...i can see that the animations aren't the greatest in the world, but to say that the game as a whole is ugly is just kinda...crazy to me.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
I don't see how anyone can think that the graphics are ugly...i can see that the animations aren't the greatest in the world, but to say that the game as a whole is ugly is just kinda...crazy to me.
I think that most people are referring only to the avatars & avatar combat. The boats, water, everything having to do with naval combat looks fantastic. Unfortunately everything having to do with the player characters look tacked on, a second thought, & poorly executed.
And to be honesty, it is all of those things. The original design for the game was not to have any type of player character at all. You would have your ship, and you were the captain of the ship, no getting off the ship or walking around the ports. When you docked you only got a UI popup of what you could do in that particular port but you stayed on your ship.
But the developers felt that they were missing a crucial part of the equation. So they added in player characters, much too late in the development cycle, and they look horrible.
This is just my opinion of course. Video game graphics are just as much a form of art as watercolor painting is & everyone will have different opinions as to what they consider "good" art.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
As many know, I was the BIGGEST anti-POTBS for a long time, so many things that were said in the heyday that just threw me off this title. Then after open stress test, I am converted. While I would have agreed with the OP a year ago, the changes and constant changes this dev team has done to the game has done nothing but improve it's worth in game play and looks. I will say it again, I am converted from a doubter to a "can't wait" even thou I was invited to play beta, I decided to pass on the idea, I want a fresh start in an MMO for once...
PS> thnx for the beta invite devs btw, I am sure many want into it, I just decided it is best to wait and enjoy an MMO for once as a complete noob sweet salu!
"The monster created isn't by the company that makes the game, it's by the fans that make it something it never was"
Its not revolutionary graphics, but they do look nice and polished, in other words, its just you, ofcourse the graphics are not as good of that of Cryis but its perfectly fine.
I suspect people looking forward to POTBS really want it to be "the next big thing". Understandibly, since I am so totally over fantasy themed MMOs, and was really looking forward to POTBS as well. Now, before I continue, I'd like to add that the stress test was flawed in one single vital aspect - just prior to launching the stress test the developers BROKE the GFX quality slider bar in the menu settings. The only setting available was medium graphics quality... I have a hard time beliving it was really a mistake as the devs later proclaimed. How do you make such a mistake and fail to correct it before one of the biggest happenings in the entire development of that game? Yes, it was THAT big, since the stress test really meant opening the game up for the world. They should rather have admitted that they didnt want that feature to be available for the public. Nevertheless, it made the game look like something from the late 90's. That aside, and letting it slide, I still feel let down. The landmass never really looked like anything other than DATA. The illusion of realness never appeared, except out on sea and zooming down to see my crew aboard my ship. The ship itself looked like a toy to put in your bath tub as it sailed close to land. The details on land were so lacking that big mountains really felt like pebbles - making my ship look even smaller... The ports themselves looked like ant hills slapped on an otherwise flat terrain as you came sailing in from the open sea. Prior to the stress test I once read a post of a newbie in the POTBS forums. The poster was a woman stating her fears for the game: How interesting will it really be to have the majority of the visuals center around the sea and sky? And oh boy was she right! It is not very interesting. Sea and sky have always been a "filler" with me. I love when they look great, but who gives a damn if the place you actually have to play through looks uninspired? Ok, so how will it look when you crank it all up to maximum graphics quality? That is yet to be seen, of course, and we can all hope - but I'm afraid it end up being a good-looking ant hill slapped on flat terrain... But perhaps, if the economic, trade and pvp aspect of the game are really great, and you are really into the aspect of fighting for your business and fatherland, maybe all of the above really doesnt matter. Just like EVE, which has a superb economic system, everything else takes the back seat. I have to mention, though - I left EVE for the very simple fact that I never felt I "bonded" with any of the chars in the EVE universe. The lack of real avatars, and the fact that the ship itself kinda became your "toon" crippled my game experience. So I left. I've since heard they plan on implement those things in the future, and the major difference compared with POTBS is then that EVE has polished their game for YEARS now and have time to focus on doing this in a well thought out way.
yes i agree the gfx were not very good overall. they were actually very bad in alot of cases. i have a feeling alot of people are going to be very turned off or let down by this game, unfortunatelly. i highly recomend sitting on the sidelines for this one for alot of you. its definately one i will pass on.
Comments
POTBS username:yohorumrunner
Guild:St George Squadron
gameplay >>>>>>>>>> than graphics
if the game is worrth playing, and fun...i really couldnt care about graphics
Graphics can always be updated later. Changing game mechanics midstream is the hard part.
There are some nice screenshots and movies to look at here :
http://piratesoftheburningsea.station.sony.com/
Yaaarrr ..
It's been beat to death, but, Ship2Ship combat is the real jewel and main focus of the game. The avatar ( Wow-ish aspect of the game) combat was added last.
The game as a whole is still being polished and I would expect avatar combat to be included. At this point there isn't alot to worry about. The game's making great progress and it is fun, which says alot more to me than anything.
If the game nears its launch and somethings still not up to par, I'm sure you will hear about it from the countless people that love nothing more than to see <insert newest MMORPG here> fail.
Or, it's me? Personally, I think the graphics look crisp and clean, which is what I want from online video games.
Star Wars Galaxies might be a good example; on my computer I had to run that game at the lowest graphic settings and even then there was a lot of slow down, especially in large battles. And that game was strange somehow; high quality character models but all-around crappy surface textures? (My computer at that time wasn't the best, so I don't really know).
In fps-critical FPS's it becomes a real problem since any sort of cpu/gpu lag will mean death (a la Planetside/Quake 3/etc.).
CoH/V, same thing, but in that game you could display it as 1024x768 for example for sharper text and whatnot, but render all the models as 640x480, and turn down the particle effects. Sure things looked blurry but the fps was a lot higher. My tendency at that point was to try to get the most out of my aging system.
You gotta remember that not everyone can afford the newest top-of-the-line system, especially when the technology keeps changing drastically every year or so (it's really slowed down since five years ago, though...).
As a side note, my old computer unfortunately overheated. Something caught fire and burned out the cpu or some stupid thing (all while it was idling, no less). Let that be a lesson to you all; buy a can of compressed air, open your computer and blow out all the dust every month or two.
Yet I fully intend on buying a new computer just so I can play PotBS when it's released. I'm that excited about it, and while some aspects of it worry me (focus on instances, for example...loading screens = bad), it's still going to be the best MMO since pre-NGE SWG.
And if my hopes are wrong? oh well, I have a shiny new computer to play the WoW-Alterac Valley-clone WAR or the twitch-fest AoC. I might even be looking forward to Darkfall if they decide to get rid of the FPS portion of it (anyone remember how ridiculous HeXeN was? Or was it Heretic? S.S.D.P.)
there's lots of depth and over 10 years worth of updates, and TONS of "stuff" that no other mmo has even come close to implementing in ultima online. why aren't you playing it? it's graphics are rather 2D'esque and subpar compared to many current games. but it's got great gameplay and tons of stuff to do.
just making a point.
could we please get correspondent writers and moderators, on the eve forum at mmorpg.com, who are well-versed on eve-online and aren't just passersby pushing buttons? pretty please?
Its in beta for goodness sakes. Most beta games are gonna look blocky and choppy. The game isn't even polished. Once the game is complete and is polished and is loaded with the correct graphics engine, then I am sure it will look a whole lot better. Besides I realy didnt think the screens didnt look all that bad. Personally I think its just you.
Models and textures do NOT change during a beta test. The game's appearance is going to be the same when it launches as it is now. They are not going to re-design their textures in higher resolutions or different designs prior to release.
Some people think the characters are ugly, some people don't. It's just a matter of opinion. There are many people who LOVE the look of high-res Asian games (L2, Archlord, etc.) and there are others who think it looks stupid... Art is "mostly" subjective.
Maybe for you Elikal , when and if you ever get a computer that can run vanguard with every setting maxed at 1920x1200 like mine you wouldnt be saying that .
so you mean i shouldnt trust all these screens you use to post of vanguard , you know the ones you took where you staged them and got all your view angles just right to make them look as bad as you could lol
Same thing i could do to any game on the market right now
Guys if you've been following the game, you'd know that FLS did what they could for now regarding the land avatar. Trust me, this game has come a long way since they first announced it. Even I was sceptical that FLS would stick with it considering the task they gave themselves. All I can say is give this game time and I bet it'll be one of the funnest niche' games on the market. ^_^
I agree 100% with that
Don't play.
PotBS is a niche game. It is not going to be the next big MMO. Once you understand that, and take the game for what it is, you might find you're actually having fun.
It is not a game for everyone. It is a game for people that like player run economies & naval combat.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
I watched the character creation video on the main website, and the models don't look bad to me really. though I would like to see it up close
if you want to see truly bad graphics/art, look up EQ2
I think the game looks nice myself
As far as the looks, I think it looks good, not spectacular, but good. Customization looks like it'll be well implemented as well and I imagine since the avatar combat was a later addition it'll improve over time.
I just watched a bunch of UTube videos of the game. Some parts look the same as every other MMO (mainly the characters, they all look clayish and typical of MMO characters), other parts look better (I was impressed with the ocean and boats and the ports.)
The biggest turn-off for me is that everything seems instanced, and there's no place that's ALL YOURS (like a house or even if you could live and play within your boat and invite your friends in, etc.) Also, melee combat looks really artificial.
But boat combat looks good. I will still try the game... until Darkfall is released.
- Phos
I don't see how anyone can think that the graphics are ugly...i can see that the animations aren't the greatest in the world, but to say that the game as a whole is ugly is just kinda...crazy to me.
Your argument is like a two legged dog with an eating disorder...weak and unbalanced.
I think that most people are referring only to the avatars & avatar combat. The boats, water, everything having to do with naval combat looks fantastic. Unfortunately everything having to do with the player characters look tacked on, a second thought, & poorly executed.
And to be honesty, it is all of those things. The original design for the game was not to have any type of player character at all. You would have your ship, and you were the captain of the ship, no getting off the ship or walking around the ports. When you docked you only got a UI popup of what you could do in that particular port but you stayed on your ship.
But the developers felt that they were missing a crucial part of the equation. So they added in player characters, much too late in the development cycle, and they look horrible.
This is just my opinion of course. Video game graphics are just as much a form of art as watercolor painting is & everyone will have different opinions as to what they consider "good" art.
"There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer."
As many know, I was the BIGGEST anti-POTBS for a long time, so many things that were said in the heyday that just threw me off this title. Then after open stress test, I am converted. While I would have agreed with the OP a year ago, the changes and constant changes this dev team has done to the game has done nothing but improve it's worth in game play and looks. I will say it again, I am converted from a doubter to a "can't wait" even thou I was invited to play beta, I decided to pass on the idea, I want a fresh start in an MMO for once...
PS> thnx for the beta invite devs btw, I am sure many want into it, I just decided it is best to wait and enjoy an MMO for once as a complete noob
sweet 
salu!
"The monster created isn't by the company that makes the game, it's by the fans that make it something it never was"
Its not revolutionary graphics, but they do look nice and polished, in other words, its just you, ofcourse the graphics are not as good of that of Cryis but its perfectly fine.
yes i agree the gfx were not very good overall. they were actually very bad in alot of cases. i have a feeling alot of people are going to be very turned off or let down by this game, unfortunatelly. i highly recomend sitting on the sidelines for this one for alot of you. its definately one i will pass on.