Lackluster Graphics in FFXIV

[BelgianRofl]

UH Huh and the 2005 FFVII Tech demo is actual in game footage as well right? The 2005 tech demo for Rapture is just a demo of what the engine can do it is not actual in game footage, hence it means it is pre rendered.

No. Pre-rendering is the process in which video footage is not rendered in real-time by the hardware that is outputing or playing back the video. Instead, the video is a recording of a footage that was previously rendered on a different equipment (typically one that is more powerful than the hardware used for playback). Pre-rendered assets (typically movies) may also be outsourced by the developer to an outside production company. Such assets usually have a level of complexity that is too great for the target platform to render in real-time.

Here's an example of Pre-rendering from 2001. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyfe2kMxYPk

And here's an example of a modern, real-time tech-demo. not Pre-Rendered. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eY_En9VcwM

[Abriael]

No. Pre-rendering is the process in which video footage is not rendered in real-time by the hardware that is outputing or playing back the video.

There are several levels of prerendering.
You can prerender a whole movie, you can preprender just the effects, you can create a scene with an engine and then prerender it with additional effects.

In all those cases a movie is considered prerendered. That tech demo is evidently prerendered, just looking at the effects and how they interact with characters and environment shows that.

The vast majority of posters in this thread has evidently told you that you're wrong. The graphica of the game look fantastic. Even reviewers that you brought up so many times (erroneously) disagree with you.

[Elkwood]

Abriel you cant fix stupid this is a classic case of I have to be right syndrome no matter how many tell him he is wrong. Just ignore it and let the baby have his bottle.

[Abriael]

Abriel you cant fix stupid this is a classic case of I have to be right syndrome no matter how many tell him he is wrong. Just ignore it and let the baby have his bottle.

Unfortunately that seems to be the case.

[BelgianRofl]

There are several levels of prerendering.
You can prerender a whole movie, you can preprender just the effects, you can create a scene with an engine and then prerender it with additional effects.

In all those cases a movie is considered prerendered. That tech demo is evidently prerendered, just looking at the effects and how they interact with characters and environment shows that.

The vast majority of posters in this thread has evidently told you that you're wrong. The graphica of the game look fantastic. Even reviewers that you brought up so many times (erroneously) disagree with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgtZvn5c4e4

I see what is causing your confusion. The FFXI Characters being relatively low-poly combined with not casting shadows makes you believe that the background is superimposed pre-rendered CGI because the lighting effects lead you to believe that that level of detail was unattainable real-time in 2005. Am I correct in assessing your (albeit wrong) position?

Unfortunately for your argument, the structures in the demo don't cast shadows either. There's just nice water reflection effects. Which just furthers my point that water reflection make the game look a WHOLE hell of a lot prettier, and is an effect which uses minimal resources (think waverace 64) - especially compared to ambient occlusion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xrReCeiZPc An example of what a modern tech demo looked like in 2005.

Edit: ^this 2005 3dmark video makes one wonder where SE got the idea for Limsa's cutscene

[Abriael]

I see what is causing your confusion.

You're the one that's confused

Not only there are no shadows cast by characters, but there's no shadows casted ON characters. on the other hand there are shadows cast on structures. There are also baked shadows very visible, which are a clear indication of prerendering.

Reflective water uses "minimal resources" only when the water model is extremely simple. That's most decidedly not the case with FFXIV.

You really shouldn't talk about what you don't know Everyone disagrees with you, and ultimately this thread was epic fail.

[BelgianRofl]

D Everyone disagrees with you, and ultimately this thread was epic fail.

#1, You and Elkwood having zero understanding about what pre-rendering is does not mean everyone disagrees with me. Did you even look at the 3dMark 2005 video showcasing vastly superior real-time graphical technology?

#2, You've posted on this thread probably about 45 times. It doesn't get much more WIN than that, making fanboys this mad...

#3. Pause the 2005 video at 9 seconds in and examine what you see. The walls, posts etc.. of the structure do not cast shadows. Light is allowed to pass through as if there are no walls, lampposts, or rails. Hence, no shadows on the characters either. Same thing as compared to FFXIV today.

[Abriael]

#1, You and Elkwood having zero understanding about what pre-rendering is does not mean everyone disagrees with me. Did you even look at the 3dMark 2005 video showcasing vastly superior real-time graphical technology?

You're showing some very selective reading. A very vast majority here says that the graphics are fantastic. Also, are you seriously comparing a benchmark program (which is not even a game) with a MMORPG?.

#2, You've posted on this thread probably about 45 times. That means my thread is epic WIN.

You have a quite wild idea of "win" if you think that being proven wrong 45 times no matter how you spin it has anything to do with winning

#3. Pause the 2005 video at 9 seconds in and examine what you see. The walls, posts etc.. of the structure do not cast shadows. Light is allowed to pass through as if there are no walls, lampposts, or rails. Hence, no shadows on the characters either. Same thing as compared to FFXIV today.

Nope, characters in FFXIV today cast shadows both on environment and on themselves. It's an entirely different effect, as FFXIV uses as the only dynamic light sources the sun and the moon.

[BelgianRofl]

You're showing some very selective reading. A very vast majority here says that the graphics are fantastic. Also, are you seriously comparing a benchmark program (which is not even a game) with a MMORPG?.

The thread is not about an overall lack of graphics in the game. It's about repeating textures, lifeless water tech, and lousy shading. Check the OP

Also, I was comparing a vastly superior tech-demo to another inferior tech-demo that you believe is pre-rendered LOL

Nope, characters in FFXIV today cast shadows both on environment and on themselves. It's an entirely different effect, as FFXIV uses as the only dynamic light sources the sun and the moon.

Yes. Characters cast shadows correctly on themselves, other characters, and the environment. unfortunately, that is not the point of discussion. It's the environment that doesn't cast shadows. If it did, it would drastically futureproof this game.

[JudgeN]

Nope, characters in FFXIV today cast shadows both on environment and on themselves. It's an entirely different effect, as FFXIV uses as the only dynamic light sources the sun and the moon.

Dunno about the sun and the moon because the landscapes don't seem to cast a shadow. Characters do have dynamic shadows like you said. While I do think the graphics in this game can be good the lighting is still very much lacking, why didn't square make ALL light sources dynamic?

The thread is not about an overall lack of graphics in the game. It's about repeating textures, lifeless water tech, and lousy shading. Check the OP

Bingo this is all that's wrong with the game right here.