If youre talking about graphics ive only seen a few vids where people actually had the graphics maxed out and it looks better than WoW, most of the stuff that looks like garbage/stiff animations etc are old old videos
Have anyone seen this video yet? It appears to be of the latest build and has all the yummy settings on, dunno if they're maxed. Regardless, it looks pretty damned good to me though...
Ehh... based on that video the graphics look about the same as WoW. The colors are less saturate (more earth tones), which gives it a slightly more 'realistic' feel, but the graphics aren't all that impressive. You can even spot similar textures in the environment if you pay attention (ie the bridge / stone texture is very similar to the stone floor textures you find in WoW).
Hate to say it, but there's nothing really impressive about this game's graphics. Technically it's not, and artistically it's quite similar to WoW (which isn't a slight, just a fact. WoW happens to have some very good art direction).
Hopefully the settings can be turned up, though. It's hard to see, but when they zoom in on the character's face it starts to look pretty bad.
Ehh... based on that video the graphics look about the same as WoW. The colors are less saturate (more earth tones), which gives it a slightly more 'realistic' feel, but the graphics aren't all that impressive. You can even spot similar textures in the environment if you pay attention (ie the bridge / stone texture is very similar to the stone floor textures you find in WoW).
Hate to say it, but there's nothing really impressive about this game's graphics. Technically it's not, and artistically it's quite similar to WoW (which isn't a slight, just a fact. WoW happens to have some very good art direction).
Hopefully the settings can be turned up, though. It's hard to see, but when they zoom in on the character's face it starts to look pretty bad.
Hate to say it, but there's nothing really impressive about this game's graphics. Technically it's not, and artistically it's quite similar to WoW (which isn't a slight, just a fact. WoW happens to have some very good art direction).
? I question your definition of fact, it's more of a subjective opinion based on one's personal taste, what it looks like to me.
Besides, I find vistas like these have little in common with WoW's style of graphical art design:
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
I don't know what game you're comparing to WoW here, but that first screenshot is definitely NOT from SWTOR. It doesn't look anything like any of the character models that have been released or any of the art that we've seen so far.
I think the only difference is IPs and mechanics. They already claimed their inspiration was WoW. Don't want to give George Lucas any money if him and Bioware can only come up with World of Star Wars. Let's just put some Jedi and Sith in WoW, it's a done deal! TBH, dunno why people even try to flame or defend this game. Majority ruling is that it's going to do what most mmogs do, lose subscriptions when people move on or get bored. Just let it age and see what the fans have to say then.
I struggle not with life, money, emotions, and world, but against old mindsets and selves to be proven obsolete in a age and time of rapid changes. Go create fun, so you can have fun.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
The only common thing is their stylised approach to graphical design, besides that it should be obvious that the differences in graphics and art design are plenty and large enough to see that they both have their distinctive look and feel, especially if you take a good look at the landscapes of the 17 worlds of SWTOR and WoW's sceneries.
But hey, I guess there's no point in discussing art as they say, everyone has their own taste and way of looking at it.
Originally posted by Lidane
I don't know what game you're comparing to WoW here, but that first screenshot is definitely NOT from SWTOR. It doesn't look anything like any of the character models that have been released or any of the art that we've seen so far.
Indeed, he pulled a picture of another SW game, so now it looks like as if he's claiming that all kinds of SW games look like WoW, which makes his stance a bit shaky at the least.
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Hate to say it, but there's nothing really impressive about this game's graphics. Technically it's not, and artistically it's quite similar to WoW (which isn't a slight, just a fact. WoW happens to have some very good art direction).
? I question your definition of fact, it's more of a subjective opinion based on one's personal taste, what it looks like to me.
Besides, I find vistas like these have little in common with WoW's style of graphical art design:
And I don't disagree (on the red part). They are very different IPs, and also sci-fi vs. high fantasy. As i've stated, WoW is much more heavily saturated, with more of an emphasis on the cartoony look. SWTOR has more earth-tones, and more of an emphasis on realism. They state this in the design videos.
If you look at the gameplay videos, though, there really isn't that much detail in them. If you take a step back, and try and look at them objectively (compare them to other games that are out there, not just the ones your super hyped about), you should see what I mean.
People always drift to the subjective when it comes to art, especially visuals, but there is still very real tech behind the graphics. Whether or not you like the style of this game has nothing to do with the point I'm making. What you can look at, is the level of detail of the textures, what types of effects are being used (does it have bloom, AA, complex shading, lense effects, etc?) I've seen more detail in some of the cutscenes / trailers for sure, but all the gameplay videos that I've seen (including the one posted in this thread), don't have a lot of detail, nor do they appear to have high-res textures.
This may change, but I'm not responding to maybes, just what we're seeing at this time.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
Can I argue that the first picture isnt SWTOR, so your whole argument looks ridiculously flawed right now?
Granted these are fan made, and biased, but Logun does some great video's, why not start there?
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
Classy. 2 year old scan of a magazine vs a photoshopped image.
<childish, provocative and highly speculative banner about your favorite game goes here>
You are probably a gamer with too high spectatives or a very big fan with "too many imagination and spectatives" descrive your ideal star wars game with the others please, because if not, i hardly can recognice you as a veteran.
Still i think i will never... anyways, do it dude.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
I don't know what game you're comparing to WoW here, but that first screenshot is definitely NOT from SWTOR. It doesn't look anything like any of the character models that have been released or any of the art that we've seen so far.
There's a different one for ya. Has a bit more detail, but it's still not a huge step up. Being that they're different IPs, it's tough finding pics that are similar enough, that people don't immediately focus on the differences in art direction, instead of the actual graphics.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
Classy. 2 year old scan of a magazine vs a photoshopped image.
Just going by what's available on the internet. I'm not doctoring anything, and I wouldn't waste my time photoshoping something for the sake of a forumn. I'd rather save that effort for a paying gig.
And I don't disagree (on the red part). They are very different IPs, and also sci-fi vs. high fantasy. As i've stated, WoW is much more heavily saturated, with more of an emphasis on the cartoony look. SWTOR has more earth-tones, and more of an emphasis on realism. (snips)
It's not just the color toning, it's also the world design, where WoW is rough and almost cartoon like in its design of buildings and objects, dating back to the art design from WC3 from which a lot of the art design got copied into WoW, where as SWTOR has a far higher degree in detail and complexity of its designs, away from the exaggerated cartoon-style look of a world that WoW has.
As for footage, videos and ingame screenshots, I think I've seen a lot more of it than you have and like I said before, you're entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion from what I've seen you're most certainly wrong. SWTOR has its own distinctive style and look in its graphics now, and it only becomes more obvious as the months progress with each newer build.
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Classy. 2 year old scan of a magazine vs a photoshopped image.
Just going by what's available on the internet. I'm not doctoring anything, and I wouldn't waste my time photoshoping something for the sake of a forumn. I'd rather save that effort for a paying gig.
You do realize then that you are trying to foist off something that isnt even SWTOR as being from TOR, and saying that's what's available on the internet? So either you know you did it, or you dont know enough about what you are talking about (regarding TOR) to have the first idea what it looks like? Pick one!
Doing you a favor here, because you already made a pretty big error that either undermines any point you may have had, but go educate yourself with a few of these video's, so you really know what you are talking about:
Incoming 5....4......3......2.....1.... that you dont have to do that, you already do (despite the evidence to the contrarty). Look, I'm not saying SWTOR has the greatest MMO graphics, but for an MMO the graphics and the animations are beyond what MOST MMO's are doing right now (subject to taste, because I know different people like different things.). What I know people dont care for is the Art Style, but those are two pretty different things.
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
Use a screenshot for TOR that is actually from now please. That one is from 2008 maybe 2009. They have improved ten fold. You can tell by the saber hilt and character model.
Originally posted by Jimmy562 Use a screenshot for TOR that is actually from now please. That one is from 2008 maybe 2009. They have improved ten fold. You can tell by the saber hilt and character model. Level of detail in SWTOR now is miles above WoW.
Actually I can. However, you still seem to be completely missing my point. Perhaps if we compared it both to WoW and a game with actually high graphics it would be more obvious?
I know the games have different art styles. I also know that SWTOR has improved graphics over WoW. I'm not saying (nor have I ever said) otherwise. Go back and watch some of the videos bioware made on how they went about designing this game. They quite clearly state a lot of this. They also state a deliberate decision to lower the graphics into a more 'stylized realism' look. Remember that?
Look at the detail on some of the textures (for both games). You really aren't getting that much more information in SWTOR. The armor / weapons are a little more intricate (more polygons), but the actual textures aren't a huge step up.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
- Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
Originally posted by aesperus - Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
Tell you what, having played both within the last 4 months, yes, The Old Republic looks significantly better and improved than a game like WoW. Do I see other gaps between genre's as being greater? Heck yes. Do I find a game like Age of Conan to have more detail? Absolutely, but in comparing these two? Yeah, I do see significant graphical improvement.
No offense intended, but I find it ironic that a person who would try to pass off something not TOR as being TOR (to make his argument) would close a post using the word "honestly". It just seems so incongrous.
Actually I can. However, you still seem to be completely missing my point. Perhaps if we compared it both to WoW and a game with actually high graphics it would be more obvious?
I know the games have different art styles. I also know that SWTOR has improved graphics over WoW. I'm not saying (nor have I ever said) otherwise. Go back and watch some of the videos bioware made on how they went about designing this game. They quite clearly state a lot of this. They also state a deliberate decision to lower the graphics into a more 'stylized realism' look. Remember that?
Look at the detail on some of the textures (for both games). You really aren't getting that much more information in SWTOR. The armor / weapons are a little more intricate (more polygons), but the actual textures aren't a huge step up.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
- Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
I have no idea why would you even make comparison with WOW in terms of graphics? it is quite obvious from screenshots that they look nothing alike. It makes much more sense if you compare SWTOR to KOTOR but people have to throw WOW in every damn topic no matter what.
Actually I can. However, you still seem to be completely missing my point. Perhaps if we compared it both to WoW and a game with actually high graphics it would be more obvious?
I know the games have different art styles. I also know that SWTOR has improved graphics over WoW. I'm not saying (nor have I ever said) otherwise. Go back and watch some of the videos bioware made on how they went about designing this game. They quite clearly state a lot of this. They also state a deliberate decision to lower the graphics into a more 'stylized realism' look. Remember that?
Look at the detail on some of the textures (for both games). You really aren't getting that much more information in SWTOR. The armor / weapons are a little more intricate (more polygons), but the actual textures aren't a huge step up.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
- Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
Your backtracking now. You originally stated "Ehh... based on that video the graphics look about the same as WoW"
SWTOR graphics are as good or better than any mmo on the market. If you don't like the artstyle fine. Just don't make outrageous statements and not expect to be called on it.
Actually I can. However, you still seem to be completely missing my point. Perhaps if we compared it both to WoW and a game with actually high graphics it would be more obvious?
I know the games have different art styles. I also know that SWTOR has improved graphics over WoW. I'm not saying (nor have I ever said) otherwise. Go back and watch some of the videos bioware made on how they went about designing this game. They quite clearly state a lot of this. They also state a deliberate decision to lower the graphics into a more 'stylized realism' look. Remember that?
Look at the detail on some of the textures (for both games). You really aren't getting that much more information in SWTOR. The armor / weapons are a little more intricate (more polygons), but the actual textures aren't a huge step up.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
- Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
I have no idea why would you even make comparison with WOW in terms of graphics? it is quite obvious from screenshots that they look nothing alike. It makes much more sense if you compare SWTOR to KOTOR but people have to throw WOW in every damn topic no matter what.
People always throw WoW in there because they think this is a WoW killer, just like everyone has thought about every other mmo that has come out. WoW is on top so its the cool thing to hate I guess.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
I'm going to disagree again. You only have to compare the best of SWTOR landscapes and vistas with the best of environment graphics from other current MMO's, and you'll find that SWTOR's are easily on par if not better than most of those MMO's, and I'm including newer MMO's like Aion and Rift.
The problem here is an easy one, where as you focus on the similarities between WoW (and LotrO) and SWTOR, others like me are focusing on the differences. But basically our viewpoints aren't that much different. We all know that SWTOR has stylised graphics just like WoW, that it'll have a lower poly count and texture detail than for example an AoC or The Secret World, but also that it'll have a more scifi/tech look and a lot more detail in graphics than WoW and more visual and graphical boosting effects added than WoW or most other MMO's.
Only you're saying that WoW and SWTOR have far more in common in graphical art style than that they differ in art style, where others like me are saying that the distinctions between WoW's and SWTOR's graphical style are larger than any similarities.
Basically the difference comes down to you're saying 'I've seen SWTOR's graphics, and they resemble WoW too much, I'm not impressed' while others are saying 'I've seen SWTOR's graphics, and they have become impressive and distinctive'.
Originally posted by Cromica
People always throw WoW in there because they think this is a WoW killer, just like everyone has thought about every other mmo that has come out. WoW is on top so its the cool thing to hate I guess.
This will not kill WoW, only Blizzard can do that
I think this is more a case of you entering a discussion with no clue what it was about, only seeing 'WoW' and 'SWTOR' mentioned, and then going off on your own tangent and conclusion that had nothing to do with the topic that was discussed
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums: Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
Comments
Have anyone seen this video yet? It appears to be of the latest build and has all the yummy settings on, dunno if they're maxed. Regardless, it looks pretty damned good to me though...
Ehh... based on that video the graphics look about the same as WoW. The colors are less saturate (more earth tones), which gives it a slightly more 'realistic' feel, but the graphics aren't all that impressive. You can even spot similar textures in the environment if you pay attention (ie the bridge / stone texture is very similar to the stone floor textures you find in WoW).
Hate to say it, but there's nothing really impressive about this game's graphics. Technically it's not, and artistically it's quite similar to WoW (which isn't a slight, just a fact. WoW happens to have some very good art direction).
Hopefully the settings can be turned up, though. It's hard to see, but when they zoom in on the character's face it starts to look pretty bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrcGLSCHemI&feature=related
That's Wow.
The detail level isn't even close.
? I question your definition of fact, it's more of a subjective opinion based on one's personal taste, what it looks like to me.
Besides, I find vistas like these have little in common with WoW's style of graphical art design:
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
vs
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
I don't know what game you're comparing to WoW here, but that first screenshot is definitely NOT from SWTOR. It doesn't look anything like any of the character models that have been released or any of the art that we've seen so far.
I think the only difference is IPs and mechanics. They already claimed their inspiration was WoW. Don't want to give George Lucas any money if him and Bioware can only come up with World of Star Wars. Let's just put some Jedi and Sith in WoW, it's a done deal! TBH, dunno why people even try to flame or defend this game. Majority ruling is that it's going to do what most mmogs do, lose subscriptions when people move on or get bored. Just let it age and see what the fans have to say then.
I struggle not with life, money, emotions, and world, but against old mindsets and selves to be proven obsolete in a age and time of rapid changes. Go create fun, so you can have fun.
The only common thing is their stylised approach to graphical design, besides that it should be obvious that the differences in graphics and art design are plenty and large enough to see that they both have their distinctive look and feel, especially if you take a good look at the landscapes of the 17 worlds of SWTOR and WoW's sceneries.
But hey, I guess there's no point in discussing art as they say, everyone has their own taste and way of looking at it.
Indeed, he pulled a picture of another SW game, so now it looks like as if he's claiming that all kinds of SW games look like WoW, which makes his stance a bit shaky at the least.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
And I don't disagree (on the red part). They are very different IPs, and also sci-fi vs. high fantasy. As i've stated, WoW is much more heavily saturated, with more of an emphasis on the cartoony look. SWTOR has more earth-tones, and more of an emphasis on realism. They state this in the design videos.
If you look at the gameplay videos, though, there really isn't that much detail in them. If you take a step back, and try and look at them objectively (compare them to other games that are out there, not just the ones your super hyped about), you should see what I mean.
People always drift to the subjective when it comes to art, especially visuals, but there is still very real tech behind the graphics. Whether or not you like the style of this game has nothing to do with the point I'm making. What you can look at, is the level of detail of the textures, what types of effects are being used (does it have bloom, AA, complex shading, lense effects, etc?) I've seen more detail in some of the cutscenes / trailers for sure, but all the gameplay videos that I've seen (including the one posted in this thread), don't have a lot of detail, nor do they appear to have high-res textures.
This may change, but I'm not responding to maybes, just what we're seeing at this time.
vs
It's hard to compare the looks because they are very different environments, but in terms of detail, there really isn't that much difference. One (wow) is more heavily saturated, and takes on a more disney-esque cartoony look. The other (swtor) is more earth tones, and as such takes on a slightly more realistic look. You can argue this all you want, but the developers even state this in their design videos.
Can I argue that the first picture isnt SWTOR, so your whole argument looks ridiculously flawed right now?
Granted these are fan made, and biased, but Logun does some great video's, why not start there?
Graphics Evolution & Comparison
Compliation of Combat Animations
Putting the Entertainment Back in MMO's
Comparing MMO Quests & Combat
Classy. 2 year old scan of a magazine vs a photoshopped image.
<childish, provocative and highly speculative banner about your favorite game goes here>
You are probably a gamer with too high spectatives or a very big fan with "too many imagination and spectatives" descrive your ideal star wars game with the others please, because if not, i hardly can recognice you as a veteran.
Still i think i will never... anyways, do it dude.
There's a different one for ya. Has a bit more detail, but it's still not a huge step up. Being that they're different IPs, it's tough finding pics that are similar enough, that people don't immediately focus on the differences in art direction, instead of the actual graphics.
Still can't see the difference?
Just going by what's available on the internet. I'm not doctoring anything, and I wouldn't waste my time photoshoping something for the sake of a forumn. I'd rather save that effort for a paying gig.
It's not just the color toning, it's also the world design, where WoW is rough and almost cartoon like in its design of buildings and objects, dating back to the art design from WC3 from which a lot of the art design got copied into WoW, where as SWTOR has a far higher degree in detail and complexity of its designs, away from the exaggerated cartoon-style look of a world that WoW has.
As for footage, videos and ingame screenshots, I think I've seen a lot more of it than you have and like I said before, you're entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion from what I've seen you're most certainly wrong. SWTOR has its own distinctive style and look in its graphics now, and it only becomes more obvious as the months progress with each newer build.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."
You do realize then that you are trying to foist off something that isnt even SWTOR as being from TOR, and saying that's what's available on the internet? So either you know you did it, or you dont know enough about what you are talking about (regarding TOR) to have the first idea what it looks like? Pick one!
Doing you a favor here, because you already made a pretty big error that either undermines any point you may have had, but go educate yourself with a few of these video's, so you really know what you are talking about:
Graphics Evolution & Comparison
Compliation of Combat Animations
Putting the Entertainment Back in MMO's
Comparing MMO Quests & Combat
Incoming 5....4......3......2.....1.... that you dont have to do that, you already do (despite the evidence to the contrarty). Look, I'm not saying SWTOR has the greatest MMO graphics, but for an MMO the graphics and the animations are beyond what MOST MMO's are doing right now (subject to taste, because I know different people like different things.). What I know people dont care for is the Art Style, but those are two pretty different things.
Use a screenshot for TOR that is actually from now please. That one is from 2008 maybe 2009. They have improved ten fold. You can tell by the saber hilt and character model.
Level of detail in SWTOR now is miles above WoW.
That actually isnt TOR.....
Actually I can. However, you still seem to be completely missing my point. Perhaps if we compared it both to WoW and a game with actually high graphics it would be more obvious?
I know the games have different art styles. I also know that SWTOR has improved graphics over WoW. I'm not saying (nor have I ever said) otherwise. Go back and watch some of the videos bioware made on how they went about designing this game. They quite clearly state a lot of this. They also state a deliberate decision to lower the graphics into a more 'stylized realism' look. Remember that?
Look at the detail on some of the textures (for both games). You really aren't getting that much more information in SWTOR. The armor / weapons are a little more intricate (more polygons), but the actual textures aren't a huge step up.
Maybe they will boost the graphics, but they really aren't all that spectacular when you compare them to what else is out there. The art style works, though, so it hides a lot of these issues. Much the same way WoW's art direction distracted from the fact that it didn't have much detail either, but people still thought it had the best graphics out of the other MMOs at the time.
- Again, just to make this clear, I'm acknowledging they are different games, with different looks. However, look at the graphics required to run both games, and then also remember that WoW is a 7 year old game, going on 8. Does that really look like an 8, or even 5 year graphics improvement to you? Honestly?
Tell you what, having played both within the last 4 months, yes, The Old Republic looks significantly better and improved than a game like WoW. Do I see other gaps between genre's as being greater? Heck yes. Do I find a game like Age of Conan to have more detail? Absolutely, but in comparing these two? Yeah, I do see significant graphical improvement.
No offense intended, but I find it ironic that a person who would try to pass off something not TOR as being TOR (to make his argument) would close a post using the word "honestly". It just seems so incongrous.
I have no idea why would you even make comparison with WOW in terms of graphics? it is quite obvious from screenshots that they look nothing alike. It makes much more sense if you compare SWTOR to KOTOR but people have to throw WOW in every damn topic no matter what.
Your backtracking now. You originally stated "Ehh... based on that video the graphics look about the same as WoW"
SWTOR graphics are as good or better than any mmo on the market. If you don't like the artstyle fine. Just don't make outrageous statements and not expect to be called on it.
People always throw WoW in there because they think this is a WoW killer, just like everyone has thought about every other mmo that has come out. WoW is on top so its the cool thing to hate I guess.
This will not kill WoW, only Blizzard can do that
I'm going to disagree again. You only have to compare the best of SWTOR landscapes and vistas with the best of environment graphics from other current MMO's, and you'll find that SWTOR's are easily on par if not better than most of those MMO's, and I'm including newer MMO's like Aion and Rift.
The problem here is an easy one, where as you focus on the similarities between WoW (and LotrO) and SWTOR, others like me are focusing on the differences. But basically our viewpoints aren't that much different. We all know that SWTOR has stylised graphics just like WoW, that it'll have a lower poly count and texture detail than for example an AoC or The Secret World, but also that it'll have a more scifi/tech look and a lot more detail in graphics than WoW and more visual and graphical boosting effects added than WoW or most other MMO's.
Only you're saying that WoW and SWTOR have far more in common in graphical art style than that they differ in art style, where others like me are saying that the distinctions between WoW's and SWTOR's graphical style are larger than any similarities.
Basically the difference comes down to you're saying 'I've seen SWTOR's graphics, and they resemble WoW too much, I'm not impressed' while others are saying 'I've seen SWTOR's graphics, and they have become impressive and distinctive'.
I think this is more a case of you entering a discussion with no clue what it was about, only seeing 'WoW' and 'SWTOR' mentioned, and then going off on your own tangent and conclusion that had nothing to do with the topic that was discussed
Try to read up a thread before posting next time.
The ACTUAL size of MMORPG worlds: a comparison list between MMO's
The ease with which predictions are made on these forums:
Fratman: "I'm saying Spring 2012 at the earliest [for TOR release]. Anyone still clinging to 2011 is deluding themself at this point."