Dawntrail Graphical Update - Au Ra Feedback

[Ribey]

The red eye shadow makeup is also different. For some strange reason it now goes over the upper eye lid whereas 6.58 only exists on the side/bottom. Not sure why or how it is, just that it seems unusual and would prefer if it was changed to be more similar to how it is in 6.58. The rest of the make up seem good. Upper and bottom eye liner seems about the same but the eyelashes are a nice improvement.

It's gonna be sad if these changes go through. I had so many good memories with Ribey. There were times where people would walk up to and compliment how cute Ribey is (in JP server!! most people walk beside you and stop just to look at you, not even click to examine). Those moments made my day. And this benchmark ruined my day

I'm really hoping SE fixes these changes and actually stick to their promise of ensuring "impressions of the character's wouldn't change" and to "improve the overall look you know and love, rather than to change things"

Couldn't fit everything in one post so I split it in two
part 2/2

[Iscah]

I've been taking more screenshots tonight of my face #3 male Au Ra trying to pin down where it looks wrong - the super-dark inner eye... uh... is there an actual name for the space between eyelid and eyebrow? Anyway, it's too dark and that's the instant obviously wrong thing in the benchmark.

But the other particular thing that changes the expression is the shape of the mouth. On the current model, the corners of the mouth curve up, giving him a slight smile although the shadow around the mouth has a more downward turn. It looks like the "upgraded" model has read that shadow as the shape of the mouth itself and redrawn the lips to follow that line, so consequently the mouth is now downturned and scowling. Either that or they've outright copied the naturally-frowning shape from one of the other faces.

Also adding to my impression is that they've changed the placement of the large-pattern face paint so the part around the forehead sits higher, which probably makes the eyebrows look lower by comparison. I hope that gets fixed too, because it doesn't fill the space as nicely as it did before.

I'll aim to sort out the screenshots tomorrow night and do some better comparative pictures.

Edit to add: From dim memory I think the jaw choice affects the shape of the mouth as well, with the shorter type pushing the mouth upwards at the corners and longer type pulling it down. I'll have to check that later.

Very late edit: one of the jaw shapes tugs at the shadow around the mouth, but not the actual shape of the mouth.

[Tarath]

Not to take away from your otherwise valid feedback, but I think the facial animation in the benchmark screenshot is unique to the benchmark and meant to mirror the CGI trailer, so it looks a lot more "> : )" than what we're used to (on my character it looks a little uncanny to be honest). So this shouldn't reflect on how existing facial animations will look, if that can give you some reassurance.

or at least I hope so...

Fair point, however it's not the expression itself I have an issue with, it's more how the changes of the facial structure and especially the eyes have affected his general look regardless of expression.
I should probably have used a different example and been more specific there, sorry about that.

[fediel]

Only thing im unhappy about is the lips, and i think thats the case for a lot of people.

The lack of gloss/light reflection is making me unhappy with my au ra. And because thats the only thing thats irritating me its draws way more attention to itself then normally. PLZ square fix the lips.

Other than that im pretty happy, limbal rings are fixed. Scales look much better as well. and aside from the dead look au ra face 1 has in creater, it looks fine in the cutscenes.

[Luluna]

Only thing im unhappy about is the lips, and i think thats the case for a lot of people.

The lack of gloss/light reflection is making me unhappy with my au ra. And because thats the only thing thats irritating me its draws way more attention to itself then normally. PLZ square fix the lips.

Other than that im pretty happy, limbal rings are fixed. Scales look much better as well. and aside from the dead look au ra face 1 has in creater, it looks fine in the cutscenes.

The same I think they look so much better now and if they could fix the gloss it would be better. They really look more polished now and I am happy with mine.

[Loggos]

Edit: Sorry for those extra large images! orz

--

Here is my female aura (face 4). She went from stern to soft and cute and I don't like it. :/
I genuinely wish I could keep my old model tbh.

The mouth and the puffy cheeks are the biggest problem for me. I can live with the eyes even though they are a little softer now but the mouth completely changes her vibe from skeptical and stern to a gently smiling doll.

In addition, this mouth is one of my favourite mouths in the game. Personally, I like it as much as male viera face 3's mouth. Very subjective, I know, but I just like it that much, sorry.

So losing her mouth just bugs me extra hard.

As for her eyes, the shape is relatively similar but the lash line is fuller now and as a result it looks like it has been lowered a tiny bit, softening her gaze (also, bigger pupils).
Quick disclaimer: For the diagonal arrows I chose the outermost corners of the eyes where the lash lines meet. Not the corner of the white of the eye. That is why the arrow in the DT model's eye may seem wrong at first glance.

Here is a visual comparison:




Forgot to add this caption:
*No lip dip in the upper lip of the DT model = straight-ish line where upper and lower lip meet
*Pronounced lip dip in the upper lip of the EW model = wavy line where upper and lower lip meet


I also didn't do any analysis on her face shape and chin but looking at the traced image below I am under the strong impression that the EW face is slightly slimmer and the chin is a bit pointier, adding to the sharpness of the face.
The DT face looks rounder and puffier and the chin looks slightly shorter, broader and less pointy.
Some of the roundness may be due to lighting but I do think some model changes have been made as well.


-----

I have also tried something else to better illustrate why this simple change completely altered her personality and why I'm so unhappy about it.

I have drawn two pictures (full disclosure, I traced it and just stylised her features):

The goal was not to 1:1 trace her features and accurately document the differences as I've done above.
It was to depict how I would interpret, capture and stylise her personality if someone asked me to draw the character in the respective screenshot.

It's about the vibe/feeling/emotion I get when looking at the EW and the DT models.
That's why her features are exaggerated to be more stern/cute (like when a caricature exaggerates certain features to emphasise certain character traits).

I hope with this I can communicate a bit better how this change feels to me and perhaps to many others and why something seemingly small like resculpting a mouth can be "such a big deal" and lead people to saying "this looks like a different person".

(To clarify: Yes, the actual differences in the screenshots are more subtle. Again, for an actual comparison of how I physically see the changes please see above.
And I completely acknowledge that fem au ra, even face 4, are unfortunately not very stern in general. I know they are still quite cute. But that is precisely why these changes bother me so much. Face 4 had a hint of sternness at least.
In DT even that hint has been completely removed and I really wish I could have kept it.)

[smashBG]

Superb analysis, this lays out and explains everything I dislike about the changes to face 4 but lack the artistic background to properly articulate

[Loggos]

Thank you very much!

[autoreactive]

For those who have time, I suggest crossposting your feedback to the Japanese forum, where there is a [centralized thread here] that is being used to discuss the graphical update.

I'm not sure the dev teams will have time to comb through the dozens of individual threads on the western forums, especially as most of the staff is located in Japan, so I think it's more likely that your voices will be heard on the JP forums. Many posts here are thorough and insightful, and it would be a shame to see that kind of feedback go unheard.

[I myself posted my character here] and agree with the sentiment held by many posters here - in my opinion, the female Face 4 has been bloated beyond recognition, and has lost the angular features that previously gave it a sharp and coherent aesthetic.

Many of the races really were updated beautifully, but it's hard to see my character now and not feel let down. If you feel the same, please be sure to share your thoughts at the link above.

[GodModule]

Every Au'ra I've seen has been an improvement imo

Call me crazy but they both look like that to me.