Dawntrail character graphics update - opinions, requests and discussion megathread

[Cheapshot]

I used procreate for image edit and export gif.

Thank you! I use procreate but didn’t know it had that option.



Keepers of the Moon Miqo’te, Face 4, Eyes 6, Pupils Small, Eyebrows 5, Nose 4, Mouth 1, Lip Colour None.


Here’s an edit I put together that blends the new look of my face with the old features. This is more what I expected/hoped my character to look like updated. The shapes of the features didn’t need to change to make the old model look good. The new model can be adjusted to closer match the old and not lose out on quality at all. I think this looks even better than the current 7.0 version. I even made fixes to the eye problems that 7.0 has.

And if you look at these and think “I can’t tell the difference” then I hope that means you would be fine if these adjustments were made since it should all be the same to you in that case. I can see the difference. I went in by hand to change it so I know exactly how it’s different. I even made a whole big document detailing all the differences I could measure here:
https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...=1#post6513666
I care a lot, lol.

I hope those who just want better looking updated graphics will be able to see from this that they don’t need to be hostile to those that are more perceptive and sensitive of facial details. The current faces in 7.0 weren’t an upgrade across the board. Some faces came out better than others. The models didn’t increase in complexity or detail very much. Most of the visual boost is from some improved texture resolution and lighting. The shapes and details of the original style can be more closely recreated without rolling anything back or making things look ugly. That’s what I hope for more than anything right now, so I can regain my attachment to the game and enjoy playing again. I miss my character and want to keep her adventure going.

[CidHeiral]

Being "old" doesn't automatically make it "busted" or the new version better. I'd say they busted the models in the update.

"Old and busted" is an expression. It doesn't literally mean it's bad because it's old. Whether someone prefers the old or new models is a matter of opinion. If you feel the new ones are busted then more power to you my friend.

Even if the old shadows were "faked", that ultimately means they were placed where a human artist believed the shadows should sit on the character, and it becomes an integral part of how the character is supposed to look.

Additionally, it's not just a matter of new lighting on the same faces. The face structures have been changed, some of them quite considerably.

We'll have to agree to disagree here.

[Iscah]

We'll have to agree to disagree here.

Disagree on which part?

The character models have undeniably been altered. The shapes of features have changed in ways that cannot be attributed to the change in lighting.

It's also a straightforward fact that the old shadows were deliberately placed. And whether they were "right" or not, it told you about the intended shape of the face, and in real lighting you still need to see similar contours for the character to look like they have the same face shape they did before.

Also, just because "old and busted" is a phrase that exists doesn't mean it should be applied to things that are old but not busted.

[AddictedToWitches]

I have noticed a lot of small texture details on NEW armor sets are surprisingly low-resolution
Take a look at DRK's level 100 artifact chest piece for example. There are small details that are high resolution and clear, such as the feathered broach just below the right pauldron, but then you see the buckles? on the upper left side of the chest that are crusty low-res textures for some weird reason
I'm sure everyone has also noticed Koana's low-res details on his coat too

[Cheapshot]

We'll have to agree to disagree here.

No, they’re right. They factually did change. All heads now use the same universal base mesh and they used shapekeys to rebuild the features. Many faces features are not very accurate to the original and some are straight up completely different. I’ve done direct mesh comparison. Some people are more “face blind” than others and some have a more sensitive eye for details but regardless the objective truth is that the meshes did change and to varying degrees.

[CidHeiral]

Also, just because "old and busted" is a phrase that exists doesn't mean it should be applied to things that are old but not busted.

Whether the old models were busted or not is entirely subjective. I think the new models are a massive upgrade over the old ones. You clearly do not and that's okay.

No, they’re right. They factually did change. All heads now use the same universal base mesh and they used shapekeys to rebuild the features. Many faces features are not very accurate to the original and some are straight up completely different. I’ve done direct mesh comparison. Some people are more “face blind” than others and some have a more sensitive eye for details but regardless the objective truth is that the meshes did change and to varying degrees.

I don't deny there are some subtle differences but I have yet to see the radical, unrecognizable differences that are being claimed. But like I've said before, everyone is entitled to have their own opinion on their character. I was discussing the lighting in general, not everyone's individual character grievances.

[Cheapshot]

Whether the old models were busted or not is entirely subjective. I think the new models are a massive upgrade over the old ones. You clearly do not and that's okay.



I don't deny there are some subtle differences but I have yet to see the radical, unrecognizable differences that are being claimed. But like I've said before, everyone is entitled to have their own opinion on their character. I was discussing the lighting in general, not everyone's individual character grievances.

Oh so you’re just wasting peoples time with semantics and strawmen. Sorry, I mistook you for someone discussing things in good faith for some reason, my bad. You think the new models are a “massive upgrade” but also you’re telling people the changes are so subtle they shouldn’t care so much? Hey which is it? I should just stick to leaving my feedback and not bother offering my knowledge in the discussion to people who are just going to turn out to be here to be contrarian and have no interest in common ground.

[sweetchort]

Hello o/

I'm still thinking there is an issue with Miqo'te eyes. The two eyes don't look in the same direction. The main reflection points aren't symmetrical on Miqo'te eyes (this is also the case with Sun Miqo'te) :





I tried to correct it with Photoshop (the upper one):



I really hope we'll get a fix.

Okay, just for update it, I just submitted a bug report, and I hope this time it gets noticed.^^'

[CidHeiral]

Oh so you’re just wasting peoples time with semantics and strawmen. Sorry, I mistook you for someone discussing things in good faith for some reason, my bad. You think the new models are a “massive upgrade” but also you’re telling people the changes are so subtle they shouldn’t care so much? Hey which is it? I should just stick to leaving my feedback and not bother offering my knowledge in the discussion to people who are just going to turn out to be here to be contrarian and have no interest in common ground.

Huh? The two aren't mutually exclusive. The goal of the graphics update was to update the models but keep to their old look as closely as possible, so the overall quality can be a massive upgrade but they may still have subtle differences from the original like an eye being a slightly different shape or something.

In almost every post I've gone out of my way to say people are entitled to their opinion and not wrong about however they feel about their character. Accusing me of posting in bad faith when you're clearly hearing whatever you want to hear to pick a fight is pretty nonsensical.

In any case, it's clear this isn't actually a discussion thread. I tried my best to be friendly and diplomatic but it seems a lot of the same people who so often ask for empathy regarding their character woes have no qualms about dogpiling anyone who doesn't enthusiastically agree with them. Take care and I hope everyone currently unhappy is able to enjoy their character again one day whatever happens.

[Cheapshot]

Huh? The two aren't mutually exclusive. The goal of the graphics update was to update the models but keep to their old look as closely as possible, so the overall quality can be a massive upgrade but they may still have subtle differences from the original like an eye being a slightly different shape or something.

In almost every post I've gone out of my way to say people are entitled to their opinion and not wrong about however they feel about their character. Accusing me of posting in bad faith when you're clearly hearing whatever you want to hear to pick a fight is pretty nonsensical.

In any case, it's clear this isn't actually a discussion thread. I tried my best to be friendly and diplomatic but it seems a lot of the same people who so often ask for empathy regarding their character woes have no qualms about dogpiling anyone who doesn't enthusiastically agree with them. Take care and I hope everyone currently unhappy is able to enjoy their character again one day whatever happens.

Maybe it was your intention, but you strayed from that in the post I responded to, which is why I called you out. You started making strawman arguments against exaggerated portrayals of peoples feedback on the graphics update, which I called out. Apparently that now means everyone who disagrees is being “dogpiled” and no discussion can be had? Come on now.