While I do agree that the players/npcs/humans could use some upgrades detail wise, I think the graphics are great.
When the Bounty Hunter steps out into Nal Hutta...It looks freaking amazing.
As was said, all the males look like they spend all the time in the gym, and the faces and hands just don't sit that well with me. They may not change the graphics, but they hopefully will change the looks of players.
Personally, I don't mind the graphics (the fact that they're "stylized" to an extent does help) and I've played MMOs such as AoC on its highest settings. (Although I never quite understood the hype surrounding that game's graphics, to be honest.)
I just want a game where my friends can actually play with me, so they don't give me the usual "I can't run it on my PC" excuse. AoC wasn't fun when everyone I knew was still playing another game. (Let's not get into the other reasons AoC wasn't fun, as that isn't the focus of this discussion.) The developers realize the need to appeal to a broad range of users right out of the box if they want to remain competitive. I'm certain that the game will feature settings that can only be utilized by those with high-end video cards, however.
graphics don't make a game... it's still 3D and looks good... what's the problem ?
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
That being said, I am looking forward to SW:ToR. It looks pretty good to me.
I too think the response is a WEE BIT simplified. I mean, its what you look at. The visual is the most dominating part in human senses, you can't tell me graphics don't matter. Sure, its not helpful to have good graphics and no gameplay, but it is illogical to conlcude backwards that good gameplay make graphics obsolete!
I too think the graphics are sub-par. Talking about planets and structures here. In chars it is too early, the are apparently all clones esp. the male ones. I don't share this enthusiasm into stylized graphics. I dunno... its just not what I connect to Star Wars nor to any Sci-Fi game. Sci-Fi is futuristic and thus as I feel it should be high tech and the best you can muster. Even tho the world of Star Wars is often dirty. But still... a Sci-Fi based game HAS to have top notch graphics the average machine can run. Its just way too much like a comic or that thrice damned Clone Wars. Gawd, how I HATED that.
I understand what you mean. For me it's the art style. I'm not a fan of the Star Wars Clone art style. However, I don't have a problem with the graphics condering the choosen art style.
Is it really fair to judge a games graphics when its still in very early beta? Just a thought.
Nah... the only real judgement is when we see the game itself playing it. But we all can say about what we see for now, when we are willing to change our judgement. Which I am.... hear me Bioware, you better hand me a beta key NOW! XD
i love the graphics style of the game, they also said in an earlier video on there website that they wanted to create there own art style and keep away from realistic graphics since almost every mmo now adays is going toward that so they wanted to keep away from making there game the smae as everyone else's i also agree that its too early to judge the game it most likely wont be out until next year so its tough to judge something you cant even play, i personally think the game will be inredibly awesome but thats my oopinion
Kaze is thy name, and flying high in the sky is where ill remain with the wind blowing though my wings i shall bring swift justice upon this world
I think people will always say "the graphics are sub par" no matter what....It's the trolls first and last dying words in MMO history...besides the old "It's a WoW clone!!"
Looks good to me....but whatta I know?
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
WoW graphics are sub par but by not being realistic they retain a future proof about them..basically stylised means you dont need to worry about improving them much in the future..they are crap but..tahts just your style..
likewise This gamehas stylised graphics in my opionion so it doesnt date rapiding...realisitic graphics improve every year on year...so by choosing a cartoony style you protect your need to keep revamping the graphics to be cutting edge...
that is why most games copy WoW in the sense they avoid realisim.
graphics don't make a game... it's still 3D and looks good... what's the problem ?
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
Graphics matter in that they need to fit the game's theme and direction. No game ever failed because it didn't have the latest bump map tech or shader models, which is usually the basis for most 'sub-par' complaints about game graphics.
-- Whammy - a 64x64 miniRPG - RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right? - FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
graphics don't make a game... it's still 3D and looks good... what's the problem ?
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
Graphics matter in that they need to fit the game's theme and direction. No game ever failed because it didn't have the latest bump map tech or shader models, which is usually the basis for most 'sub-par' complaints about game graphics.
If you think you can compete in this business with mediocre graphics, you are oh god so much up for learning a lesson very soon...
Cartoonish graphics dosnt meen bad graphics per default, but from what we have seen so far from SWTOR, we are not impressed at all. Mostly, i think, becaouse of badly done animations, wich i think everyone expect will get up to BioWare standard before the gam comes out. If that wouldnt happend, a whole world of BioWare fans would be kinda surpriced i think.
Cartoons will work with the kids though, and 11 mil kids are playing WOW, so why not...?
Hell, my kids will play SWTOR and they all play WOW today. They are looking forward to it a lot. Me and the wife will probably pass though, and try Earthrise when it ships instead.
High the level of graphics the less people that can play, look at games like eq2, at full throttle it gives top end machines a run for there money, were as WoW you can run 2 instances maxed out with no problems on a mid/low end system, graphics are nice but if your system won't run it then so much for the game.
The faces and bodies all look too similar, the body proportions look silly and over the top, and I hate the almost pastel-like color details. Call me a graphics whore but I expected more from an advanced MMO with a huge franchise name.
I think the OP may be confusing graphics with animations. Animations like walking and such, now that is a whole nother story. Why do the avatars walk like they are wearing diapers and it needs changed?
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
The graphics are indeed sub-par compared to other games coming out in the next 24 months. This is just my opinion because someone else may like them just fine.
With that said, I like what I have seen so far, overall, and I will at least try it. If I enjoy myself then the graphics can be a little dated.
I definitely agree. I think the art style is terrible and not fitting of the Star Wars universe at all. The textures look like they are hand drawn in. I think SWG has a much better art style, even if the poly count is lower.
Honestly, the game is just falling in line with the rest of the current Star Wars art style that is oriented towards kids.
I don't like their decision to go this route or it's look, but hopefully they can make up for it with game play.
Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike Loved: Star Wars Galaxies Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.
You guys are confusing Art Style with Graphics. The game looks pretty graphically intense. It uses reflection, lighting and shadows perfectly. Ignore the art style and look through some of the screen shots and take notice of every little detail. The games graphics are far ahead from sub-par.
I definitely agree. I think the art style is terrible and not fitting of the Star Wars universe at all. The textures look like they are hand drawn in. I think SWG has a much better art style, even if the poly count is lower. Honestly, the game is just falling in line with the rest of the current Star Wars art style that is oriented towards kids. I don't like their decision to go this route or it's look, but hopefully they can make up for it with game play.
To be honest, let's look at it from a dev point of view. We could go the route AoC did with graphics that will blow your mind or we can go with something a lot less intensive and concentrate on gameplay. To be honest, I wish they'd get a lot better graphics and go pure console for both SW:TOR and STO. Saying that, it won't happen because both are slotted as PC games first. As such, that means a lot time, money, resources spent just working out the system kinks for all the different hardware out there. I hated that FFXI had console players with my PC. Now looking back, I can see why developers would want to go with console. If you put SWTOR on the consoles, all you have to worry about is 3 system specs. For a PC, you have literally 1000s of different hardward configurations to deal with.
So, imho... gameplay > graphics and I hope they focus on the gameplay.
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
Really, don't people know what stage of development the game's in?
Do you see any TOR beta sign-ups? What!?!?! It's not even in beta yet?
Maybe that's why the graphics "suck". You can say you don't like the art style at this point, but to judge the graphics on an early build is ridiculous.
To be honest I'd be expecting more for a 2010 MMO (at least most likely 2010). We're getting to the point where we need to start improving graphic quality. I don't mean to the extremes of Age of Conan, albeit very nice, but more of a middle ground or really just a quarter improvement towards that direction. The graphics are better than WoW's, definitely, but not by a really substantial or what I would expect from this point onward. I can perfectly understand having graphics that appeal to WoW players and are usable by as many potential customers as possible, but to be perfectly fair, I'm sure at this point more than at least 80% of people can play WoW on at least High settings and any mid-level computer on the market since last year could completely wipe the floor with it. It's time for MMOs to start amping things up a tad more.
But beyond the graphics, my real issue is the art style. Yes, as everyone else states, I really feel like it just doesn't feel appropriate to the Star Wars universe. It's about as bad as the animated 3D Star Wars movie, and my fear is that they are merely trying to appeal to the young demographic with this cartoony art style. At the same time I approve of this and dislike this. Realistically, if I was making an MMO, I would use the same business practice; kids around 13-21 are easily the largest demographic (I'd say at least 50% of all players). But at the same time, it really encourages that same childish community that comes along with the demographic (and I don't really say this with bias; I'm 17 myself, but I can agree that people in this age group are obviously the more inclined to be l33tspeak monsters). I would have preferred the same SWG style, just improved vastly in graphic quality.
I also don't like the art style. Background images and special effects seem to be alright though.
But this has been discussed over and over again since the very first screenshots were posted.
When the game comes out, I'll decide whether or not to play it based on many factors (graphics, gameplay, sound, friends to play with, pricing, server structure, immersion, my available time...).
Graphics is one on them, and what I've seen so far, the graphics will be a negative factor in the equation. But that might be outweighed by the other things. Or not.
Comments
While I do agree that the players/npcs/humans could use some upgrades detail wise, I think the graphics are great.
When the Bounty Hunter steps out into Nal Hutta...It looks freaking amazing.
As was said, all the males look like they spend all the time in the gym, and the faces and hands just don't sit that well with me. They may not change the graphics, but they hopefully will change the looks of players.
Personally, I don't mind the graphics (the fact that they're "stylized" to an extent does help) and I've played MMOs such as AoC on its highest settings. (Although I never quite understood the hype surrounding that game's graphics, to be honest.)
I just want a game where my friends can actually play with me, so they don't give me the usual "I can't run it on my PC" excuse. AoC wasn't fun when everyone I knew was still playing another game. (Let's not get into the other reasons AoC wasn't fun, as that isn't the focus of this discussion.) The developers realize the need to appeal to a broad range of users right out of the box if they want to remain competitive. I'm certain that the game will feature settings that can only be utilized by those with high-end video cards, however.
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
That being said, I am looking forward to SW:ToR. It looks pretty good to me.
I too think the response is a WEE BIT simplified. I mean, its what you look at. The visual is the most dominating part in human senses, you can't tell me graphics don't matter. Sure, its not helpful to have good graphics and no gameplay, but it is illogical to conlcude backwards that good gameplay make graphics obsolete!
I too think the graphics are sub-par. Talking about planets and structures here. In chars it is too early, the are apparently all clones esp. the male ones. I don't share this enthusiasm into stylized graphics. I dunno... its just not what I connect to Star Wars nor to any Sci-Fi game. Sci-Fi is futuristic and thus as I feel it should be high tech and the best you can muster. Even tho the world of Star Wars is often dirty. But still... a Sci-Fi based game HAS to have top notch graphics the average machine can run. Its just way too much like a comic or that thrice damned Clone Wars. Gawd, how I HATED that.
I understand what you mean. For me it's the art style. I'm not a fan of the Star Wars Clone art style. However, I don't have a problem with the graphics condering the choosen art style.
Is it really fair to judge a games graphics when its still in very early beta? Just a thought.
Nah... the only real judgement is when we see the game itself playing it. But we all can say about what we see for now, when we are willing to change our judgement. Which I am.... hear me Bioware, you better hand me a beta key NOW! XD
i love the graphics style of the game, they also said in an earlier video on there website that they wanted to create there own art style and keep away from realistic graphics since almost every mmo now adays is going toward that so they wanted to keep away from making there game the smae as everyone else's i also agree that its too early to judge the game it most likely wont be out until next year so its tough to judge something you cant even play, i personally think the game will be inredibly awesome but thats my oopinion
Kaze is thy name, and flying high in the sky is where ill remain with the wind blowing though my wings i shall bring swift justice upon this world
I think people will always say "the graphics are sub par" no matter what....It's the trolls first and last dying words in MMO history...besides the old "It's a WoW clone!!"
Looks good to me....but whatta I know?
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to. Relax....."
WoW graphics are sub par but by not being realistic they retain a future proof about them..basically stylised means you dont need to worry about improving them much in the future..they are crap but..tahts just your style..
likewise This gamehas stylised graphics in my opionion so it doesnt date rapiding...realisitic graphics improve every year on year...so by choosing a cartoony style you protect your need to keep revamping the graphics to be cutting edge...
that is why most games copy WoW in the sense they avoid realisim.
The only reason i wont play SWTOR is the cartoonish graphics and a feeling that its going to be a themepark game made for very young kids.
Sorry, im 36, ill wait for Earthrise instead.
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
Graphics matter in that they need to fit the game's theme and direction. No game ever failed because it didn't have the latest bump map tech or shader models, which is usually the basis for most 'sub-par' complaints about game graphics.
- RPG Quiz - can you get all 25 right?
- FPS Quiz - how well do you know your shooters?
Doesn't matter what game it is, there will always be a fan-boi that says this. Fact of the matter is, graphics do matter. This quote is so cliche.
Graphics matter in that they need to fit the game's theme and direction. No game ever failed because it didn't have the latest bump map tech or shader models, which is usually the basis for most 'sub-par' complaints about game graphics.
If you think you can compete in this business with mediocre graphics, you are oh god so much up for learning a lesson very soon...
Cartoonish graphics dosnt meen bad graphics per default, but from what we have seen so far from SWTOR, we are not impressed at all. Mostly, i think, becaouse of badly done animations, wich i think everyone expect will get up to BioWare standard before the gam comes out. If that wouldnt happend, a whole world of BioWare fans would be kinda surpriced i think.
Cartoons will work with the kids though, and 11 mil kids are playing WOW, so why not...?
Hell, my kids will play SWTOR and they all play WOW today. They are looking forward to it a lot. Me and the wife will probably pass though, and try Earthrise when it ships instead.
lol Earthrise is an Indie game.
High the level of graphics the less people that can play, look at games like eq2, at full throttle it gives top end machines a run for there money, were as WoW you can run 2 instances maxed out with no problems on a mid/low end system, graphics are nice but if your system won't run it then so much for the game.
The graphics are fine. It's just the circus freak propotions of the human characters that bother me,
I agree 100 percent with OP.
The faces and bodies all look too similar, the body proportions look silly and over the top, and I hate the almost pastel-like color details. Call me a graphics whore but I expected more from an advanced MMO with a huge franchise name.
The graphic quality is fine.
I think the OP may be confusing graphics with animations. Animations like walking and such, now that is a whole nother story. Why do the avatars walk like they are wearing diapers and it needs changed?
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
The graphics are indeed sub-par compared to other games coming out in the next 24 months. This is just my opinion because someone else may like them just fine.
With that said, I like what I have seen so far, overall, and I will at least try it. If I enjoy myself then the graphics can be a little dated.
I definitely agree. I think the art style is terrible and not fitting of the Star Wars universe at all. The textures look like they are hand drawn in. I think SWG has a much better art style, even if the poly count is lower.
Honestly, the game is just falling in line with the rest of the current Star Wars art style that is oriented towards kids.
I don't like their decision to go this route or it's look, but hopefully they can make up for it with game play.
Tried: LotR, CoH, AoC, WAR, Jumpgate Classic
Played: SWG, Guild Wars, WoW
Playing: Eve Online, Counter-strike
Loved: Star Wars Galaxies
Waiting for: Earthrise, Guild Wars 2, anything sandbox.
You guys are confusing Art Style with Graphics. The game looks pretty graphically intense. It uses reflection, lighting and shadows perfectly. Ignore the art style and look through some of the screen shots and take notice of every little detail. The games graphics are far ahead from sub-par.
To be honest, let's look at it from a dev point of view. We could go the route AoC did with graphics that will blow your mind or we can go with something a lot less intensive and concentrate on gameplay. To be honest, I wish they'd get a lot better graphics and go pure console for both SW:TOR and STO. Saying that, it won't happen because both are slotted as PC games first. As such, that means a lot time, money, resources spent just working out the system kinks for all the different hardware out there. I hated that FFXI had console players with my PC. Now looking back, I can see why developers would want to go with console. If you put SWTOR on the consoles, all you have to worry about is 3 system specs. For a PC, you have literally 1000s of different hardward configurations to deal with.
So, imho... gameplay > graphics and I hope they focus on the gameplay.
Fear not fanbois, we are not trolls, let's take off your tin foil hat and learn what VAPORWARE is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaporware
"Vaporware is a term used to describe a software or hardware product that is announced by a developer well in advance of release, but which then fails to emerge after having well exceeded the period of development time that was initially claimed or would normally be expected for the development cycle of a similar product."
Really, don't people know what stage of development the game's in?
Do you see any TOR beta sign-ups? What!?!?! It's not even in beta yet?
Maybe that's why the graphics "suck". You can say you don't like the art style at this point, but to judge the graphics on an early build is ridiculous.
Looks fine to me. QQ Moar?
Alltern8 Blog | Star Wars Space Combat and The Old Republic | Cryptic Studios - A Pre Post-Mortem | Klingon Preview, STO's Monster Play
To be honest I'd be expecting more for a 2010 MMO (at least most likely 2010). We're getting to the point where we need to start improving graphic quality. I don't mean to the extremes of Age of Conan, albeit very nice, but more of a middle ground or really just a quarter improvement towards that direction. The graphics are better than WoW's, definitely, but not by a really substantial or what I would expect from this point onward. I can perfectly understand having graphics that appeal to WoW players and are usable by as many potential customers as possible, but to be perfectly fair, I'm sure at this point more than at least 80% of people can play WoW on at least High settings and any mid-level computer on the market since last year could completely wipe the floor with it. It's time for MMOs to start amping things up a tad more.
But beyond the graphics, my real issue is the art style. Yes, as everyone else states, I really feel like it just doesn't feel appropriate to the Star Wars universe. It's about as bad as the animated 3D Star Wars movie, and my fear is that they are merely trying to appeal to the young demographic with this cartoony art style. At the same time I approve of this and dislike this. Realistically, if I was making an MMO, I would use the same business practice; kids around 13-21 are easily the largest demographic (I'd say at least 50% of all players). But at the same time, it really encourages that same childish community that comes along with the demographic (and I don't really say this with bias; I'm 17 myself, but I can agree that people in this age group are obviously the more inclined to be l33tspeak monsters). I would have preferred the same SWG style, just improved vastly in graphic quality.
I also don't like the art style. Background images and special effects seem to be alright though.
But this has been discussed over and over again since the very first screenshots were posted.
When the game comes out, I'll decide whether or not to play it based on many factors (graphics, gameplay, sound, friends to play with, pricing, server structure, immersion, my available time...).
Graphics is one on them, and what I've seen so far, the graphics will be a negative factor in the equation. But that might be outweighed by the other things. Or not.