Hi res purchasable graphics upgrade?

[Runespider]

I'd pay fullprice for a hi-res graphics pack upgrade for PC..infact I'd buy it 4 times for my various PCs I play XI on >_>

Don't change the engine or anything silly ofc, we all love the games basic look but higher poly models and/or hi res textures (especially on scenery) would give the game an awesome face lift. I'm sure loads would be willing to fork out on a graphics pack upgrade expansion.

Is this in any way feasable or a possibility?

[Bumbeen]

I would pay $100 for something like this. Just letting you know..... SE......

[Mirage]

I'd pay a bit for something like that, but I'd be fine with the same 3d models and stuff, but in a new, more efficient engine, which supported more fancy effects.

[Eri]

Sure i would pay for better looks. (like a LOT)

but as it is they will go like:

'This would take the same amount of Manpower as to create a full expansion.'

As though we get neither the Expansion nor the better Graphics...
Kinda silly.

[Chiibi]

Or... if se dont want to put the man power in why not let the community do it?

[Soundwave]

I'll pay $100 for a summoner job update that is beyond awesome.

[Mirage]

Or... if se dont want to put the man power in why not let the community do it?

Because releasing enough source code to let someone else do that is pretty much unheard of for any game developer, especially when they are currently still profiting from the game. It could lead to exploit-heaven.

[Bumbeen]

The community could already do it. It's just textures. There's tons of dat mods for equipment already.

[Dazusu]

Because releasing enough source code to let someone else do that is pretty much unheard of for any game developer, especially when they are currently still profiting from the game. It could lead to exploit-heaven.

Designing new textures doesn't require source code access. lern2know what you're talking about before you comment.

[Mirage]

I guess I should have specified that I don't really care about a texture bump. I'm more into a vastly improved graphics engine, with better lighting effects, support for proper antialiasing, being able to run the game at 60 fps, and various other things like that.

I actually have a pretty fair grip on what I'm talking about, I just have a bad habit of talking about slightly different things than other people are in some threads.

[Alhanelem]

Purchasable? no. Optional download? yes.

[Coldbrand]

Sad as it is, I'd probably actually be willing to pay a good amount for this too.

[RabidSquirrel]

They're already selling this. It's called FFXIV.

Badumm tss...

But I kid. Those games are worlds apart.

[Alhanelem]

They're already selling this. It's called FFXIV.

Badumm tss...

But I kid. Those games are worlds apart.
Although that game has made major strides, it's sitll not quite where it needs to be yet. At least they've shown they're willing to do whatever it takes to make it more successful.

[Runespider]

I guess I should have specified that I don't really care about a texture bump. I'm more into a vastly improved graphics engine, with better lighting effects, support for proper antialiasing, being able to run the game at 60 fps, and various other things like that.

I actually have a pretty fair grip on what I'm talking about, I just have a bad habit of talking about slightly different things than other people are in some threads.

You have to be realistic to what they would even consider doing and this is way more than woudl ever happen. Best possible scenario is HD texture maps and even then it would be pay only, it would take a lot of graphics artists a fair amount of time to redo skins.

As for users doing it, in all the time and how big the modding community got nobody has ever redone any zones at all.

[Alhanelem]

You have to be realistic to what they would even consider doing and this is way more than woudl ever happen. Best possible scenario is HD texture maps and even then it would be pay only, it would take a lot of graphics artists a fair amount of time to redo skins.

As for users doing it, in all the time and how big the modding community got nobody has ever redone any zones at all.
No one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when D&D online release a high res client; no one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when they added DX10 (and later DX11) support.

Usually, textures are done at a very high quality originally, and downscaled. Unless SE didn't do this, they wouldn't need to be paying artists overtime to redo everything.

[Mirage]

You have to be realistic to what they would even consider doing and this is way more than woudl ever happen. Best possible scenario is HD texture maps and even then it would be pay only, it would take a lot of graphics artists a fair amount of time to redo skins.

As for users doing it, in all the time and how big the modding community got nobody has ever redone any zones at all.

Yeah, I know I probably will never see it, but I never stop believin~

[Madine]

Usually, textures are done at a very high quality originally, and downscaled. Unless SE didn't do this, they wouldn't need to be paying artists overtime to redo everything.

The UI icon upgrades suggest they did exactly this (though UI assets clearly don't necessarily predict model texture assets).

[svengalis]

PS2 limitations. As long as this game is supported for PS2 we won't see any graphics update for PC.

[Runespider]

No one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when D&D online release a high res client; no one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when they added DX10 (and later DX11) support.

Usually, textures are done at a very high quality originally, and downscaled. Unless SE didn't do this, they wouldn't need to be paying artists overtime to redo everything.

Square will never do that kind of thing for free, if for no other reason they want to make as much money as possible atm. Square promised to upgrade the engine to work with DX9 a while back and went back on it cause of how much work was involved.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

I'd pay fullprice for a hi-res graphics pack upgrade for PC..infact I'd buy it 4 times for my various PCs I play XI on >_>

Don't change the engine or anything silly ofc, we all love the games basic look but higher poly models and/or hi res textures (especially on scenery) would give the game an awesome face lift. I'm sure loads would be willing to fork out on a graphics pack upgrade expansion.

Is this in any way feasable or a possibility?Unfortunately SE will never do thise and there is one HUGY BLARING REASON WHY.
SE has already announced they they will be implemtning not only a 3rd, but even a 4th MMO.

[Atomic_Skull]

Square will never do that kind of thing for free, if for no other reason they want to make as much money as possible atm. Square promised to upgrade the engine to work with DX9 a while back and went back on it cause of how much work was involved.

I didn't believe that excuse then and I still don't. DirectX 8 and DirectX 9 are similar enough that converting a DX8 application to DX9 is fairly straightforward. At most it'd take one person a couple months.

[Atomic_Skull]

Unfortunately SE will never do thise and there is one HUGY BLARING REASON WHY.
SE has already announced they they will be implemtning not only a 3rd, but even a 4th MMO.

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY???????

FFXI has subscription numbers that any MMO which isn't WoW would be envious of. They should be doing everything in their power to keep it alive not working like beavers to replace it.

[Alhanelem]

PS2 limitations.They have begun making updates that do not apply to the PS2. Such as the hi-res font upgrade and the upcoming icon enhancements. PS2 limitations do not apply, they can make cosmetic changes like this to one client and not another.


Unfortunately SE will never do thise and there is one HUGY BLARING REASON WHY.
SE has already announced they they will be implemtning not only a 3rd, but even a 4th MMO.
1) The new announcement makes 3 MMOs, not 4. Wakfu does not count as SE is merely the publisher, not the developer
2) Even if you were right, each game is developed by independent teams, one game's development does not directly affect another's.

[Unleashhell]

FFXI is approaching 10 years. There really is no reason for SE to put the time into a 10 year old game. Believe me I'd love to see higher res graphics on the PC but I'm sure their current team is pretty small and they have limited resources.

[Runespider]

FFXI is approaching 10 years. There really is no reason for SE to put the time into a 10 year old game. Believe me I'd love to see higher res graphics on the PC but I'm sure their current team is pretty small and they have limited resources.

Game still has a large playerbase, infact many many times more than their brand new MMO and we all still pay full price, age has nothing to do with it.

[Unleashhell]

Game still has a large playerbase, infact many many times more than their brand new MMO and we all still pay full price, age has nothing to do with it.

Age has lots to do with it. Every aspect of the game is coming to 10 years old. The graphics, game engine, limitations on PS2 and I'm sure lots of behind the scenes things we do not even see. With newer technology out there and new ideas that can be put into an entirely new game there is no reason to revamp a 10 year old game. The player base gets less and less daily. You are not going to gain new players that say "oh I want FFXI thats been out for 10 years to be my first MMORPG" when there are tons more options to choose from with better graphics, game engines etc. Unfortunately we are on the down turn of this game, that climax has come and gone. Right now they are just making the game as easy as possible, with virtually no challenges. Players don't even know how to play 90% of their jobs anymore because they just Abyssea them up from 30 to 90. This is just a hold over until 14 is ready and fixed or one of SE's new MMORPG takes over as their newest and greatest game.

[Tagrineth]

Players don't even know how to play 90% of their jobs anymore because they just Abyssea them up from 30 to 90.

People were gimps and retards before abyssea. Abyssea didn't change a damned thing in this regard.

Also: World of Warcraft is only 2 years younger than FFXI, and nobody gives a shit about its age yet. Age is not really a significant factor with MMORPGs.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

2) Even if you were right, each game is developed by independent teams, one game's development does not directly affect another's.No, SE "steals" it's developers from its other games. And the announcement was about the single, but they stated that another was in the works as well. So 4.

[Alhanelem]

No, SE "steals" it's developers from its other games. And the announcement was about the single, but they stated that another was in the works as well. So 4. SE does not "steal" developers from works in progress. Sometimes individual staff members decide themselves to move from one project to another or take on more than one, but that was a choice they personally made.

You also seem to have forgotten that several projects have also been cancelled recently, which leaves more staff free for new/other projects.

Also please provide links and definitive proof that there have been two seperate announcements, you can be 100% proof positive that they are not announcements about the same thing, and that neither of them is the yet to be released Wakfu or are referring to either of their existing projects..

There has only beeon one instance since the release of FFXIV that they said they were working on a new MMO that I know about. And they certainly did not say they were working on two new MMO games.

[StingRay104]

PS3 version of game. yes please, and higher grapihic version that isn't lol14

[Eri]

People were gimps and retards before abyssea. Abyssea didn't change a damned thing in this regard.


So True! But Abys changed one thing for sure! The ppl that you named are getting invites to Abys now while before noone would invite Trash!

@ OP: How about adding the ToaU Skybox everywhere? it would look so mutch better and its no Upgrade really..... Its 'Copy & Paste'!

[Kuporeid]

No one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when D&D online release a high res client; no one had to pay for a graphical upgrade when they added DX10 (and later DX11) support.

Several years ago, Sony put out an expansion for EverQuest that included a new game engine, featured a graphic overhaul of characters, and opened the game to different user interfaces. Players who chose not to buy that particular expansion are still able to play the game with the original engine, graphics, and user interface.

EverQuest has also had 17 expansions (each with genuinely new content like new continents, jobs, and/or races) released in it's 12 year history, despite having several hundreds of thousands fewer subscribers than Final Fantasy XI. MMOs age differently than other games--players invest so much time and energy (and money) into them that they are generally able to hold onto a strong playerbase if they continue offering genuinely new content.

I am very curious as to how many active devs FFXI has versus other long-running MMOs. Depending on the numbers, this may very well be one of the factors contributing to why we hear so many "no"s from the dev team.

[Tsukino_Kaji]

SE does not "steal" developers from works in progress.Ha, you called FFXI a work in progress.

[Atomic_Skull]

I guess I should have specified that I don't really care about a texture bump. I'm more into a vastly improved graphics engine, with better lighting effects, support for proper antialiasing, being able to run the game at 60 fps, and various other things like that.

I actually have a pretty fair grip on what I'm talking about, I just have a bad habit of talking about slightly different things than other people are in some threads.

If you want to see how much of a difference just improving the engine without touching the art assets can make look up the Aion 3.0 trailer on Youtube.

[Alhanelem]

Ha, you called FFXI a work in progress.
Ha, I wasn't referencing FFXI, I was referencing all projects in development in general.


I guess I should have specified that I don't really care about a texture bump. I'm more into a vastly improved graphics engine, with better lighting effects, support for proper antialiasing, being able to run the game at 60 fps, and various other things like that.All those things are nice, but nasty looking textures will still be nasty looking textures, just with better lights shining on them and a better framerate. You can only mask the low resolution of the textures so much.

[Atomic_Skull]

Ha, I wasn't referencing FFXI, I was referencing all projects in development in general.

All those things are nice, but nasty looking textures will still be nasty looking textures, just with better lights shining on them and a better framerate. You can only mask the low resolution of the textures so much.

HDR rendering and global lighting and shadowing would still make a huge difference.

[Mirage]

Also, I wouldn't even mind if they just didn't change the old textures, but instead just let new gear added after the graphics bump get higher texture resolutions, along with perhaps the empyrean gear. Because let's face it, how much old (visible) gear is used today?