This is not what I call a downgrade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_737h...ailpage#t=997s

Am I the only one to notice the way the sunlight filters through the trees? Could it look any more realistic?? This is a step way way UP from 1.0, not a step down. Dynamic lighting is amazing.

I 100% agree, everything looks and FEELS so realistic and lively like your actually apart of the world. You yourself feels like you in the game

All thanks to the new Luminous Engine! *When it comes to graphics, Square Enix never fails to disappoint*

I completely agree. 2.0 looks fantastic. The sense of artificiality in the 1.xx environments is gone--the 2.0 world just feels real. I can't wait to get in there and run around!

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Breladine

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

---

I'd imagine or hope that for lower shadow settings they use a blanket shadow rather then the inaccurate and pixely shadow. (Blanket meaning its a solid shadow piece not a leafy pixel block outline). Although they did say you can get more for less in their new system - so maybe you wont even have to lower your settings.

With all the posting I've been doing on the "downgrade" thread fighting for better animation (which was badly named by admission). The OP wasn't trying to generalize an entire downgrade about ARR, just an aspect he/she felt needed attention.

Regardless, I am in love with the footage and the upgrade in graphics we are going to receive in ARR. I'm as happy and excited as the next guy. I'm especially impressed with the color palette, shadows, and UI.

I -love- their new terrain, every zone looks so freaking awesome. I am glad they have added more character to each zone - I was a bit tired of being lost in a zone because every corner looked very similar.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Breladine

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

---

Well, with the new engine, perhaps you wont NEED to turn the shadows down low. I'll probably crank my graphics up real high, as XIV works relatively well for me on high settings even now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Shougun

I -love- their new terrain, every zone looks so freaking awesome. I am glad they have added more character to each zone - I was a bit tired of being lost in a zone because every corner looked very similar.

---

I wish they'd show what La Noesca, Coerthas, and Mor Dhona looked like.

My only issue with the lights is that the shadows look too dark or they're way too sharp for distant objects.
Otherwise it looks great.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Antanias

I wish they'd show what La Noesca, Coerthas, and Mor Dhona looked like.

---

OMG, I would LOVE to see Coerthas!

Yeah, SE has by far redeemed itself :o Hehe gj Yoshida and team!

I think you're missing the point. No doubt, the new dynamic lighting brings a lot of depth to the environments, so much so that I don't even mind the drop in texture quality, and really puts you in the game

The problem is, the new animations pull you right back out

I was afraid they were toning the graphics down a bit at first, but after watching that live session video with Yoshi-P messing with the in-development demo... all my fears were destroyed X) The biggest ones anyway... Definitely feeling like a kid waiting in line for an amusement park ride X)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jocko

I think you're missing the point. No doubt, the new dynamic lighting brings a lot of depth to the environments, so much so that I don't even mind the drop in texture quality, and really puts you in the game

The problem is, the new animations pull you right back out

---

Which new animations? As everyone says, the lack of start-stop animations may be added before launch, as this is pre-alpha footage we're looking at.

And I'm not missing any point. Many people have 'complained' about 'bad grass' and other graphical 'downgrades'.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punainen

Which new animations? As everyone says, the lack of start-stop animations may be added before launch, as this is pre-alpha footage we're looking at.

And I'm not missing any point. Many people have 'complained' about 'bad grass' and other graphical 'downgrades'.

---

I know no one likes hearing about grass - specially since its such a low priority but honestly having a post processing filter or another higher res grass model (option) is not an impossible request. Like I wouldn't mind have 3'd branches with leaves - but I understand that's not a plausible request for lower end pcs and ps3. Making the desire known is not a bad thing...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punainen

Which new animations? As everyone says, the lack of start-stop animations may be added before launch, as this is pre-alpha footage we're looking at.

---

I have good vibes about what Yoshi-P is doing with the game, but at the same time, I'll be cautious and reserve judgment for anything in-game until retail. We got burned the last time we assumed things from alpha and beta were going to be drastically changed in retail. Honestly, if there's something you see that you don't like and it's still present in closed beta, make your concerns loud and vocal, because from a game engine standpoint, huge revisions probably aren't going to be made in between open beta and retail.

I wouldn't bust out the balloons just yet, but... those motions and expressiveness of the Quest NPCs is head and shoulders above what we have now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Orophin

I have good vibes about what Yoshi-P is doing with the game, but at the same time, I'll be cautious and reserve judgment for anything in-game until retail. We got burned the last time we assumed things from alpha and beta were going to be drastically changed in retail. Honestly, if there's something you see that you don't like and it's still present in closed beta, make your concerns loud and vocal, because from a game engine standpoint, huge revisions probably aren't going to be made in between open beta and retail.

---

Well.. if Beta looks and Feels Really awesome then you can say were getting this :D.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Breladine

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

---

They're upgrading to a deferred renderer in 2.0 which, if you've ever seen one in action, are amazingly fast and efficient. Normally, all the shadowmaps/objects on the screen are updated every frame. With deferred rendering, only the parts that change are updated.

Here's a video that does a good job of explaining and demonstrating it.

Also, though I don't know if SE will offer this option, but a lot of games will offer a lower setting where shadow-maps are used in lieu of dynamic shadows. You lose the nice effect of shadows moving on the ground and across objects, etc.. but you at least don't get the "blob" effect you're concerned about. Again, I'm not sure if SE will be doing that or not, but it's possible.

I love everything in the trailer except the side stepping, strafing which just looks weird to me.

The main reason why I have never played another MMO and stayed with XI/XIV was because the characters animations were so realistic and pleasing to the eye.

This is my only gripe right now, I just hope they haven't got around to implementing it yet.

I honestly can't see them leaving it like that, I think they themselves wouldn't be happy with it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Punainen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_737h...ailpage#t=997s

Am I the only one to notice the way the sunlight filters through the trees? Could it look any more realistic?? This is a step way way UP from 1.0, not a step down. Dynamic lighting is amazing.

---

but omg the grass!!!!!!........... REALLY WTF IT LOOKS LIKE 1000000000000BIRRION TIMES BETTER. It has the very key thing the current version lacks.A lighting / shadow system. Even the buildings are casting shadows. Shadows make things appear more realistic/believable. Now until we see Limsa City can we really see how much the lighting system can work wonders in the new engine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Preypacer

They're upgrading to a deferred renderer in 2.0 which, if you've ever seen one in action, are amazingly fast and efficient. Normally, all the shadowmaps/objects on the screen are updated every frame. With deferred rendering, only the parts that change are updated.

Here's a video that does a good job of explaining and demonstrating it.

Also, though I don't know if SE will offer this option, but a lot of games will offer a lower setting where shadow-maps are used in lieu of dynamic shadows. You lose the nice effect of shadows moving on the ground and across objects, etc.. but you at least don't get the "blob" effect you're concerned about. Again, I'm not sure if SE will be doing that or not, but it's possible.

---

Thats an awesome video >.>

This game is turning out to be too realistic.

I'm afraid if things gets any better it'll be clone of this mmorpg..

http://files.myopera.com/zomg/blog/outsidecj0.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by leomax

I love everything in the trailer except the side stepping, strafing which just looks weird to me.

The main reason why I have never played another MMO and stayed with XI/XIV was because the characters animations were so realistic and pleasing to the eye.

That is my only gripe right now but I hope they just haven't gotten around to implementing it yet.

I can't see SE leaving it like that, I think themselves wouldn't be happy with it.

---

One would think so, Yes. But you never know.

For starters, look at XIV and how it got released. Say what you want about Tanaka, but I'm sure he wasn't completely happy with how the game got released.

Sometimes concessions must be made, but as we've seen, sometimes the wrong concessions are made for the wrong reasons.

To stay on topic: Yes, I think the new Eorzea is gorgeous.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andrien

This game is turning out to be too realistic.

I'm afraid if things gets any better it'll be clone of this mmorpg..

http://files.myopera.com/zomg/blog/outsidecj0.jpg

---

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdGxUyGc1tg

already there.

Speaking of dynamic lighting, it would be great to have completely dark caves in ARR. The player would have to get a torch or a special item to be able to see and navigate the cave easily.

Right now, most caves should be completely dark, but for some mysterious reason every single cave wall in Eorzea emit light.
On the other hand, Cassiopeia Hollow, for example, contains numerous phosphorescent plants which would be an example of a cave that doesn't require any torch or special lighting item.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Antanias

I wish they'd show what La Noesca, Coerthas, and Mor Dhona looked like.

---

I would personally love to see Mor Dhona

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andrien

This game is turning out to be too realistic.

I'm afraid if things gets any better it'll be clone of this mmorpg..

http://files.myopera.com/zomg/blog/outsidecj0.jpg

---

No monthly fees? My mortgage/utilities would claim otherwise. ;)

It is really hard to tell from video's Yes it loosk better then 1.0, at least more fluid, and the landscape is nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexNiculaie

No monthly fees? My mortgage/utilities would claim otherwise. ;)

---

All the things is payed with ingame money ^^

The shadows and lighting DO look amazing, but as Jesus said: "Man cannot live on realistic shadows and lighting alone".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Neptune

The shadows and lighting DO look amazing, but as Jesus said: "Man cannot live on realistic shadows and lighting alone".

---

He also said this:
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34)

How about we all stop backseat developing the game for Square-Enix, and let them do their job?

Any idea what resolution they were running at?

Is there gonna be an Auction House ?

When I get into town, will I have to stand still for 10 seconds waiting for NPCs to appear?

The more you rage the more He loves you. :3

Now back on topic.

and the Lord said:

"STFU and get back on topic."

I swear, the post I posted earlier, these people pointing out the littlest thing and make it so dramatic. LIKE OH HOW I AM GOING TO LIVE WITHOUT IT!?!?!?!!?! Ugh... so digusting... Overall, 2.0 is a huge upgrade rather than a downgrade. It is so obvious!

You guys all have to remember that any demos or videos out atm are all STILL being worked on, the whole game is still being worked on. The only reason they are showing us videos and demos is because we are demanding it and they are giving us what we want.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KiriA500

How about we all stop backseat developing the game for Square-Enix, and let them do their job?

---

Because they literally asked us to bring up issues we have.

But I don't think anyone really hates the lighting system.