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The character graphics don't suit Everquest and disturb storytelling.
Sengi
Member CommonPosts: 350
We already had a thread about many people not really getting the point of the whole character graphics debate. I came to late to it and towards the end it got very chaotic. So I think I just start a new one.
Its always good to start with some pictures:
Originally posted by BearknightNo one is asking for "Realistic Graphics". What people are asking for is simply an atompshere that fits within the Everquest franchise as a whole.
Almost anything would be better than Cartoon based graphics, and I say cartoon because the character models they presented at the reveal look EXACTLY like those animated shorts that StarWars was putting out for awhile.
Also, before anyone starts posting screenshots of EQ1 at a small attempt at jabbing humor, Everquest's original artstyle was mature and in no water "Cartoony", however the technology of the time wasn't up to snuff with how the original developers wanted to portray Everquest (this was said SEVERAL times by developers at SOE conventions in the past).
Personally, gameplay and mechanics DO trump "Graphics" or "ArtStyle", but they play an important role nevertheless in setting the overall atmosphere and tone of the game. I just hope people can understand that aren't used to the EQ franchise is that what they'd shown so far is literally as if the developers of WoW had gone and made WoW: Next with Arma 3 based graphics.
To reiterate, stop repeating that people are mad the graphics aren't super-realistic, it isn't what we're talking about.
-Thank You /bow
I completely agree, I'm not asking for more polygons or "realistic" graphics. I simply think that the style of the character models does no suit Everquest. I thought all the time that I had seen that exact character somewhere else. BearKnight is right Jalena looks almost exactly like Princess Padme from the "The Clone Wars" cartoon-series.
One can not deny that this series is targeted towards kids, it takes the already shallow storytelling of the SW-prequels and dumbs it down even more.
Of course this kind of art style is not unique to one specific tv-series, but I believe that everywhere you see a similar style it is linked to one-dimensional characters and shallow storytelling that is targeted towards kids.
In the discussion it often seems like there where only two possible graphic styles, cartoony and realistic. And that cartoony is the same thing as low poly. Although both is somewhat rights, it misses the point. You always have to consider that "cartoony" and "realistic" are just the ends of a wide spectrum. There in no such thing as 100% realistic graphics. There are always some artistic decisions to be made. Metal Gear Solid for example has rather realistic graphics but they still have a distinct style.
"Cartoony" is a very vague concept, since everyone has a different definition what counts as cartoon and what not. Is Watchmen a cartoon, and what about animes.
At the same time there is the difference between "gritty" and "whimsical" that is equally important.
Everyone immediately notices the difference between a Disney cartoon and a superhero comic book. While the drawings in comic book tend to be more complex and more realistic, neither of the two features nowhere near realistic drawings.
The main difference between Cinderella and Batman is that while none of them is more mature, comic books tend to be darker and grittier in tone and feature a lot more fighting, violence and more heroic characters.
In this regard mmos and comic books have a lot in common. They both evolve around the same themes.
And this is why "The clone wars" only really works for kids. It shows a lot of fighting, but more in a Power Rangers kind of way, where violence never has consequences. If it would touch on more serious topics, the art style would look out of place.
Some Pixar films tell more serious storys, like Up or WallE, but they always about affection and relationship. There are no extended violent fight scenes in Up.
My point is that the character graphics can be stylized and serious and dark in tone at the same time.
I think the look of the characters does really get in the way of serious storytelling. Just imagine Game of Thrones was an animated series and it had the art style of The Clone Wars. It just would not work. I hope EQN will have serious storytelling but this character art simply is a milestone around the neck.
I can somehow understand what SOE thought when choosing this art style. They want EQN to be more about feelings and relationships then conventional mmos, and they wanted expressiv faces for SOEmote. But I think they are completely overshooting it and fall into the other extreme. I believe the game will still be 99,9% about heroes fighting all day and violence and only 0,1% about romance and comedy. If they where doing "The Clone Wars online" (Ok, that is what SW-TOR already is.) or "Disney online" this would be a suiting style, but not for Everquest.
Comments
FFFIII DS
drastically different look from anything else FF
kind of a shock when you first see it
a few hours in it feels like classic FF
This argument is ridiculous, just stop making these threads.
We get it, some don't like the character art.
Well, I guess it's good that they are using the graphics for EQN rather than EQ then.
I can not remember winning or losing a single debate on the internet.
Its not going to change, and the art choice favors SOE as far attracting customers to the game. Lots of people like the graphics they have presented.
I didn't think Star Wars should ever go LEGO but guess how that turned out for them. Your issue with the art work is entirely subjective and not a flaw in the game only an issue in relation to your personal desires. They may not be making the game for you but they certainly have a target audience in mind. It is certainly no issue to "storytelling" in this twisted lemon of a sandbox but perhaps an indicator that they are aiming at a more PG audience than you desire. If it really just kills you then there is always TESO. Intellectual properties change and engender spin off niche products by nature of the modern multiplatform and cross media age of entertainment we live in.
With one word I can disprove your entire premise. Akira.
I have to disagree on all points made. I will not judge a book by the cover of another book simply because someone else has preconceptions that dark must be gritty or "cartoony" must be shallow.
Actually, I'm going to take a step back here. I'm not convinced that EQN is "cartoony" in the first place. Consider my own reasoning. Have you ever had a caricature done? You have what is by definition, a cartoon of yourself. You may look at the image and laugh about the exaggerations but you will ultimately give in to the fact that it looks like you. Does this mean you are a cartoon? Does it mean you look cartoony? I can't answer these questions for you, but I will say that a video game character looking like a cartoon character does not make the video game character cartoony.
I cannot feel very immersed in a game that looks like a Disney/Pixar movie. This isn't my choice or something I can change. It's just how I am. I wish those graphics didn't affect my feeling of immersion, but they do.
Hopefully EQN graphics don't look too much like Disney and Pixar to me. The footage I've seen so far is on the fence...
And if the evil characters look more serious, I hope there is no faction based PvP because all of the pop will be playing evils.
/zerg;
/pause 2;
/faceroll good;
/macro imbalance
Survivor of the great MMORPG Famine of 2011
I'm the opposite. I can feel more immersed in a Pixar movie then half the real stuff these days. I could run around and be a part of Wreck It Ralph's world.
What I like about more cartoony/stylized visuals is that it allows for imagination. Where as the closer a game gets to reality, the easier it is to tell that it isn't real (uncanny valley). It is very obvious when a "realistic" character does something unrealistic and there is less room for flaws. Where as a stylized character flying through the air or shooting fireballs out of its hands looks natural and possible.
I can still watch Toy Story after all these years and it looks as good as the first time, but every time I watch Braveheart I see little screw ups in the editing/filming process.
oh, its this thread again.
I'm sure disney would disagree with their ability to convey a story or captivate the imagination.
I will say they need to do some work to make the characters match the world. Seeing simba and jaylena running around indar just didn't look natural.
"I and others I know do not personally believe that the current graphics shown during the reveal suit Everquest. These graphics disturb our ability to follow the storytelling of a game."
^fixed.
"There are at least two kinds of games.
One could be called finite, the other infinite.
A finite game is played for the purpose of winning,
an infinite game for the purpose of continuing play."
Finite and Infinite Games, James Carse