Realm Reborn = downgrade?

[LlenCoram]

Though I take issue with how Nemy presents her arguments here and there, I find I have to agree with her more and more. The movements of our characters are real and it makes them feel alive. Get rid of the start/stop animations? Not ideal, but fine. But what possible reason is there for removing our current running animation? The motion capture already existed, and the new engine is more powerful than Crystal Tools. It should be able to support the old, no?

I think what this thread really boils down to is an argument between people who feel a real connection with their characters which is supported and augmented by the realistic motions they perform while moving, and those people who couldn't care less about any of that stuff and just want a game.

In the case of the latter, that's exactly how GW2 is. There's no soul to the game or to your character. It's just a game. You aren't having a grand adventure, you're just controlling a puppet on screen. In Final Fantasy, every little thing, from the subtle movements while standing, the way we lean a bit when running, the really sudden stop we make when changing direction suddenly, and even to how the camera is positioned, all add up to let the player transport themselves into the character on screen and to inhabit that character. This isn't about roleplay, mind you. I don't even know what it's called, but I'm sure empathy comes into it.

All of this is important.

Unfortunately, it seems it's only important to (a few) current players, and it has been noted that we're not exactly the target audience anymore. I'll still play the game, and I'll likely enjoy it a great deal, but if the animations stay as bad as what we've seen, it's going to be a big loss to a lot of people. At this point all I can hope for is that they've kept the eye movements with the head tracking.

[Nemy]

Though I take issue with how Nemy presents her arguments here and there, I find I have to agree with her more and more. The movements of our characters are real and it makes them feel alive. Get rid of the start/stop animations? Not ideal, but fine. But what possible reason is there for removing our current running animation? The motion capture already existed, and the new engine is more powerful than Crystal Tools. It should be able to support the old, no?

I think what this thread really boils down to is an argument between people who feel a real connection with their characters which is supported and augmented by the realistic motions they perform while moving, and those people who couldn't care less about any of that stuff and just want a game.

In the case of the latter, that's exactly how GW2 is. There's no soul to the game or to your character. It's just a game. You aren't having a grand adventure, you're just controlling a puppet on screen. In Final Fantasy, every little thing, from the subtle movements while standing, the way we lean a bit when running, the really sudden stop we make when changing direction suddenly, and even to how the camera is positioned, all add up to let the player transport themselves into the character on screen and to inhabit that character. This isn't about roleplay, mind you. I don't even know what it's called, but I'm sure empathy comes into it.

All of this is important.

Extremely well said, quoted you in the OP.

[Arcell]

Though I take issue with how Nemy presents her arguments here and there, I find I have to agree with her more and more. The movements of our characters are real and it makes them feel alive. Get rid of the start/stop animations? Not ideal, but fine. But what possible reason is there for removing our current running animation? The motion capture already existed, and the new engine is more powerful than Crystal Tools. It should be able to support the old, no?

I think what this thread really boils down to is an argument between people who feel a real connection with their characters which is supported and augmented by the realistic motions they perform while moving, and those people who couldn't care less about any of that stuff and just want a game.

In the case of the latter, that's exactly how GW2 is. There's no soul to the game or to your character. It's just a game. You aren't having a grand adventure, you're just controlling a puppet on screen. In Final Fantasy, every little thing, from the subtle movements while standing, the way we lean a bit when running, the really sudden stop we make when changing direction suddenly, and even to how the camera is positioned, all add up to let the player transport themselves into the character on screen and to inhabit that character. This isn't about roleplay, mind you. I don't even know what it's called, but I'm sure empathy comes into it.

All of this is important.

Unfortunately, it seems it's only important to (a few) current players, and it has been noted that we're not exactly the target audience anymore. I'll still play the game, and I'll likely enjoy it a great deal, but if the animations stay as bad as what we've seen, it's going to be a big loss to a lot of people. At this point all I can hope for is that they've kept the eye movements with the head tracking.

Maybe I don't get this whole "immersion" thing but playing FFXIV feels the same as playing GW2 or most other games for that matter in terms of feeling like I'm in the world. I really personally don't feel like the lack of these stop/start transition animations really detracts from that. I feel just as "immersed" and not like I'm controlling a puppet in games without them.

With or without these subtle animations I still feel like I'm having a grand adventure and that there's a soul to the game. Maybe that's just me though.

[LlenCoram]

Maybe I don't get this whole "immersion" thing but playing FFXIV feels the same as playing GW2 or most other games for that matter in terms of feeling like I'm in the world. I really personally don't feel like the lack of these stop/start transition animations really detracts from that. I feel just as "immersed" and not like I'm controlling a puppet in games without them.

With or without these subtle animations I still feel like I'm having a grand adventure and that there's a soul to the game. Maybe that's just me though.

I've been told as much before as well, so I understand where you're coming from. I'll be the first to admit that a lot of the connection I feel to this character more than likely comes from how long I've played her. That being said, I stand by my statement. The small controls/movements they give us in this game, such as the realistic running/walking motion and the way our eyes track independently of our heads, really help to nail down the immersion. A friend of mine put it best, "When you interact with other players in FFXIV, you can feel their personality. Just from their motions, you can feel who the player is. When you stand beside or sit next to another player in FFXIV, it feels like you're actually next to them. In GW2, it just feels like you left your car idling next to them."

I've paraphrased her words, but the meaning is still there. There's something special about this game that GW2 lacks, and now I'm worried that 2.0 will throw out one of those little things that differentiate the two.