Graphical update/Benchmark feedback - Female midlander face 4

[Miki_L]

There is too much eyeliner now by default, especially on the bottom eyelid. I think that every makeup related change should be completely optional, like how they made Au'ra limbal rings an option now.

Now, when I look at my face 5 character, I get the impression that she spends a lot of time in the morning applying her makeup to go for a certain look. This is not how my character is supposed to be at all! I understand that some people consider Face 5 to be the "caked up" midlander face, but with how limited our customization options are, I think the devs need to realize that some people choose a certain face for the proportions alone. I think whatever designer did this update took too many artistic liberties, and again this could be addressed by making it an option.

Current retail:


Benchmark:


I also miss the slightly open mouth. It was quirky.

[Ibbers]

I wholeheartedly agree with you. However, I don't see such drastic changes in the comparison pics you've provided to warrant that kind of impact. If you did not post a side by side with the differences pointed out, and instead showed me two separate images of your character, I could still tell it is her from one to the next.

I would be hard pressed to tell the differences with unfamiliar faces too.

The thing is that these faces are what their creators have been looking at for years. For someone who's used to the seeing the same face regularly for years, subtle changes throw the perception of the character off, to say nothing of a combination of changes that alter the expression. I don't think the examples you give are analogous to the issue people are having. People have an emotional attachment to a character look that they created themselves and they spend far more time with the character than you or any other person. So their reaction to changes to their own character is going to be much sharper than other people and that's perfectly normal. 'Well I don't see the difference!' is going to be a given if you aren't the person who plays with that character every day.

It's not a question of beauty (at least for me, it looks like it might be the case for others), I find that many other players have beautiful characters, but at the end of the day I still wouldn't play as those characters. I hope that makes sense.

[Gemina]

I don't think the examples you give are analogous to the issue people are having. People have an emotional attachment to a character look that they created themselves and they spend far more time with the character than you or any other person.

I play the game too. I have for nearly ten years now. The strong emotional attachment to one's character is not a foreign concept to me. That is a huge reason why I will not use fantasias on my avatar even to change her eye color (I've been tempted to do so to make them blue instead of purple, but I just can't do it). This is also a reason why I tend to not favor certain pieces of gear that alter the choices I made to my character in the custom creator, but I still may use them from time to time because they are temporary.

What I am telling you is that based off of the images you have provided, these kind of changes would not make me feel the way you do. I am talking specifically to my own avatar. The only thing that is really going to do that are drastic changes that would make her not even look like the same character. That is what I would take issue with.

The other thing that I do take issue with is if the change seems to take steps backwards in terms of quality. An example of this is the post from Miki at the top of this page. While I can tell it is the exact same character, it is very clear to me that the original looks like the higher quality image. She is using the same face as my character so I can really tell the differences here. The only thing that looks better in the Benchmark is the parting in the lips has a natural dark shade instead of a white line.

These graphical updates should be unquestionably higher in quality, otherwise I have to ask WTF are they even doing and how much time did they spend on this? I/we should be awestruck by these images.

[Ibbers]

I play the game too. I have for nearly ten years now. The strong emotional attachment to one's character is not a foreign concept to me. That is a huge reason why I will not use fantasias on my avatar even to change her eye color (I've been tempted to do so to make them blue instead of purple, but I just can't do it). This is also a reason why I tend to not favor certain pieces of gear that alter the choices I made to my character in the custom creator, but I still may use them from time to time because they are temporary.

What I am telling you is that based off of the images you have provided, these kind of changes would not make me feel the way you do. I am talking specifically to my own avatar. The only thing that is really going to do that are drastic changes that would make her not even look like the same character. That is what I would take issue with.

The other thing that I do take issue with is if the change seems to take steps backwards in terms of quality. An example of this is the post from Miki at the top of this page. While I can tell it is the exact same character, it is very clear to me that the original looks like the higher quality image. She is using the same face as my character so I can really tell the differences here. The only thing that looks better in the Benchmark is the parting in the lips has a natural dark shade instead of a white line.

These graphical updates should be unquestionably higher in quality, otherwise I have to ask WTF are they even doing and how much time did they spend on this? I/we should be awestruck by these images.

So ultimately we've come down to arguing about subjective feelings. That's fine, but I think reacting strongly to a level of changing the expression and vibe of a character isn't really any less valid than not caring at all.

I apologize in advance if I got this wrong, but it seems like you're arguing that because you personally are not bothered if a character model change alters your character's expression and vibe, it's not reasonable for other players to do so?

[Gemina]

So ultimately we've come down to arguing about subjective feelings. That's fine, but I think reacting strongly to a level of changing the expression and vibe of a character isn't really any less valid than not caring at all.

I apologize in advance if I got this wrong, but it seems like you're arguing that because you personally are not bothered if a character model change alters your character's expression and vibe, it's not reasonable for other players to do so?

Not once did I say your feelings are not valid. I've offered my condolences for your dissatisfaction, expressed how I can relate to your feelings, and complimented the beauty of your avatar and your style. Yet, you can only take my statements as negative simply because they do not align with yours. That's how this goes, and that's how all these threads will go. Anyone who has anything different to say other than shunning these changes and updates will be deemed as a contrarian.

You're not in the wrong, but if I am not bothered by some of the updates, especially if feelings about them are subjective, then I am the one being unreasonable? Is the only way I can be reasonable is by joining the hate parade upset by these changes? That sounds a bit unfair.

I don't find anyone's feelings on this matter to be invalid. I have mentioned my fair share of criticisms regarding some of these updates along with theirs. All I am saying is that for me personally, the changes are not significant enough to disconnect my emotional ties with my own character.