Is the water that bad?

[Xatsh]

Well the water in limsa does not look at that bad, it is very choppy and not transparent. Corethas lakes are very calm and the water is not clear. The river in corethas look real good in my opinion, and the crystal clear creek things in grid are top notch.

The only water that fails completely is the boat, and the ocean is too calm need more waves and what not as it gets closer to land. Besides that I see nothing wrong with the water.

[Munba]

I don't dislike the water effect (river and lake one) but the interaction with it. When you walk in it the effect is horrible. It needs better splashes and more whirls effects. The sea water instead is rather normal.

[Alzelia]

That's funny... but you're right. The boat ride water is sub par compared to everything else....
It really does look like a Windows Media Player visualization.... hahaha...
And yet Shroud gets more hate than any zone...

Any idea why the Black Shroud, ( which I will call the BS from here on out) is so much better in this regard?

[gifthorse]

I agree but somehow the water at the R20 fishing leve points in the black shroud for example look amazing, I don't understand why the other areas don't.

I think it's only "amazing" because they applied an extra texture to it (a mottled green and shadow texture to represent reflection of trees). It's still the same in all other zones, the crappiness of the water is just disguised better in Black Shroud for some reason.

Compared to a game like this, FFXIV is below the curve. Im sorry but it's true.

[gifthorse]

Well the water in limsa does not look at that bad, it is very choppy and not transparent. Corethas lakes are very calm and the water is not clear. The river in corethas look real good in my opinion, and the crystal clear creek things in grid are top notch.

The only water that fails completely is the boat, and the ocean is too calm need more waves and what not as it gets closer to land. Besides that I see nothing wrong with the water.

If you stare at the water for too long anywhere in the game, you realise it is all the same thing: a moving tile that barely represents what water looks like, let alone its interaction with its environment. It's a very old-fashioned representation of water. There are new standards and it's weird to see a graphic's engine that seems so capable in other areas fall so far behind in this area.

[Rydin]

I think it's only amazing because they applied an extra texture to it (a mottled green and shadow texture to represent reflection of trees). It's still the same in all other zones, it's just disguised better in Black Shroud for some reason.

Compared to a game like this, FFXIV is below the curve. Im sorry but it's true.

Anyone got a video link of well done water? I'm anxious to see this now...

[Sinzfeldt]

Gifthorse just posted a link, it isn't that hard to outdo ffxivs water so a simple youtube search will work too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1WRktXLtrM

[Alzelia]

I guess that I would definatetly approve of better water graphics, I would prefer more optimization of the graphics first, so my computer could handle it better.

[Rydin]

Gifthorse just posted a link, it isn't that hard to outdo ffxivs water so a simple youtube search will work too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1WRktXLtrM

I know I can google tons of video of games with water, I just wanted an idea of what people thought was the best...
Yea, I saw his link after I posted.... ArcheAge looks like "Suikoden" on Steroids
I don't know if it's just me but it seems easy to make turbulent water look good... all the movement and waves cover up any inadequacies. Calm water might be easier to render, but it seems like it is also easy to mess up

[Sinzfeldt]

but it seems like it is also easy to mess up

FFXIV in a nutshell, one giant mess with shitty looking water.