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MMOG graphics "Cartoon" -vs- "Life like"
franksalbe
Member Posts: 228
Well I think the title pretty much says it all.
I personally prefer "cartoon" like graphics but more in the style of Dragon Quest VIII (8) to the limit of FF style graphics
sometimes it seems that designers are boxed into making the special affects used in the games to mimic "life like" conditions as well. Using "life like" graphics in my eyes sometimes takes out the fantasy from fantasy games. I would prefer to experience visual representations that push both the designer and us the gamers mind to new heights.
what do you prefer and for that matter does it even matter?
Please comment
Thank you
Faranthil Tanathalos
EverQuest 1 - Ranger
Star Wars Galaxies - Master Ranger
Everquest2 - Ranger WarhammerOnline - Shadow Warrior
WOW - Hunter
That's right I like bows and arrows.
Comments
I would have to say I prefer anime, cartoon, computer generated anime/cartoon, or at least fantasy graphics. By fantasy graphics, I just mean that, even if it's on the realistic side, I don't want to see something that looks exactly like a real world on the other side of my computer screen. WoW and Phantasy Star Online, and even Ragnarok Online, are probobly my favorite games, and a big part of that at least for me was graphics. Graphics that try to get to realistic like EQ2 for some reason detract from the game for me. Not really sure why, honestly, but they definately do.
I'm going to go with realistic over cartoony. For any game, and not just MMO's, I feel that I get a more immersive effect if the environment is as "real" looking as possible. The cartoony-inspired graphics in games tends to be a distraction for me.
SWG, for its time, had great graphics that pulled me in. Same with Everquest I and II (for their times, at least). And after playing Half Life 2 and Oblivion my focus on graphics for immersion has been even more reliant. For me, I want to be pulled in to another world for those hours I actually get to play (when my kids, wife and life let me). The cartoonish art of certain games tend to distract me from the feeling that I am in another world, and I feel more like I am watching something on the Cartoon Network.
Overall, for most games I choose to play, I want to feel like it is as real as possible, but with the element of fantasy thrown in to keep it fresh.
Like with everything though, everyones tastes differ.
(My first post here - feels great)
K. Rex
i'd perfer the halfway point. since i don't like cartoony, or the ultra dark backrounds that devs are convinced are more realistic
I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.
So if given a choice which style would you prefer:
WoW cartoon
Seed cartoon
Rose cartoon
?
<blockquote><hr><i>Originally posted by poopypants</i>
<b>Well, you two must be in gamers heaven then, 'cause that's all MMOG developers can acheive...cartoon graphics! I like realistic graphics myself but realism cost alot more money and requires artists with much more talent than cartoon graphics. Realistic graphics are a big part of NextGen consoles, but you guys don't have to worry 'cause they'll always have cartoon graphics for some games.
So if given a choice which style would you prefer:
WoW cartoon
Seed cartoon
Rose cartoon
?
</b><hr></blockquote>
Why would realistic graphics require better artists? Imo cartoon graphics just give an artist a lot more freedom and, IMO, can give great effects.
And I would prefer tcos style:
<img>http://images.mmorpg.com/images/screenshots/042006/6558.jpg</img>;
<img>http://images.mmorpg.com/images/screenshots/072005/4187.jpg</img>;
Why would realistic graphics require better artists? Imo cartoon graphics just give an artist a lot more freedom and, IMO, can give great effects.
And I would prefer tcos style:
I don't mind either way as long as the art is well themed and well executed.
"Stylised" is perhaps the word I am looking for.
On Matrix online the art is directed towards photo realism. Non of the art is individually exciting but taken altogether the theme works. The street styles of gang members and clothing and the gritty dirty town look work well.
In WoW the cartoony world is a joy to explore all the more so for being recogniseable as the same world I have been exploring in previous Warcraft titles.
DragonQuest on PS2 this easter was good humored and it's simple "family orientated" looks were enjoyable, although it never quite gave me that visual wow, where I took a second aside to appreciate a view or mentally compliment the art department.
Whatever fits the feel of the game. If you have a serious game and put cartony graphics in, it wont work well and visa versa.
Sent me an email if you want me to mail you some pizza rolls.
WoW is a great example of annoyance, while Guild Wars is a good example of how good something with a life-like feel can be. It takes tallent to make somethign that represents life; but to make a cartoony thing, with oversized body parts or dissproportionate things is something anybody can do...
WoW is just lucky that they have a legion of fanboys who, like me, grew up loving warcraft and starcraft, and the good graphics of that game..... ever find it funny how WoW looks like a graphical step back from Warcraft the RTS?
*~~ One winged Angel
Realistic. I don't care for the cartoony look in the first place, but then to see some of the really goofy stuff, like oversized body parts, really ruins the feel for me.
Once upon a time....
on that note...i love gravity's work so far. RO pwns, ROSE pwns, RO2 will pwn even harder. and gravity's pvp systems are fun in every game they made so far, go grav. go!
"we gon' win, they gon' lose" - Miri Ben Ari
But Ragnarok Online is DEFINETLY Cartoony. Infact too cartoony for 3d; thats why they had to redo most of the character models in RO2 since they based them on RO sprites too much.
back ontopic, i like the cartoon sprites in the 3d environment...just adds a little twist. on a real note, i admit RO doesnt have the scenery most MMOs have, this is the only thing that makes up for it to me atleast. but atleast on rose they made the environment more cartoony along with the sprites.
"we gon' win, they gon' lose" - Miri Ben Ari
Nothing against "Life Like" models but they tend to go a bit silly....
If I want true life like models, hell I will just go outdoors or look out the window.
I always had a soft spot for cartoon grafics... but then again does not realy matter what I think eh?
"Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys.
Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!"
- Sun Tzu, the Art of War
realistic graphics but have to say cartoon style seems to run smoother on computers then realistic ones.
Games with good realistic graphics were hard on my system on launch-SWG and EQ2.And it took next gen of the graphics cards after release of the game to make me fully enjoy the game.
Games with good cartoon style i can get into it lag free from start.
I prefer more realistic graphics. If a game looks like it should be on Saturday Morning TV I really just can't get into it.
GuildWars, for example, I actually like. They're just 'realistic' enough to keep me immersed in the game but not so real that the world is dim and dark.
Stylized realistic graphics are the best imo. Not so real that you're looking at your own face but not so cartoony that you can relate them to an anime or cartoon show you've seen.
WoW just made me feel like I was watching the old Animated "Hobbit" movie from back in the 70's
Seriously... go rent the animated version of "The Hobbit" and tell me that the dwarves in WoW don't remind you of the dwarves in that movie 
Sorry it just rips me right out of the immersion.
EQ2's graphics are too plastic for me. The environment and such look great but the characters look like plastic dolls to me.
DAOC's graphics are very realistic and I really like them. They're not so realistic that they dim the world out and they're not anime' at all.
Lineage II is an odd one for me. I don't mind the graphics in that one, they're pretty good. And the characters look ok. But the animation is so.... Anime' that it just turned me off.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
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Still in: A couple Betas
I tend to lean towards the more stylized "cartoony" graphics myself. World of Warcraft and even Warhammer Online seem to have the right of it in my eyes ( I love the art from the WH tabletop books!). Spellborne looks really good to.
When I first saw the EQ 2 models I found them to be...creepy. There is something about lifelike graphics and dead eyes syndrome I just don't like.
Witty saying to amuse you goes here.