Graphics vs Aesthetics

[Vesperia]

I think the thing is, from the GW video the city seems way more organic than the FFXIV cities. Someone earlier mentioned that the FF cities looked to "clean"? There really is a sterile, still quality to the cities (except in cutscenes when they ream them full of NPCs, like the Ul'dah opening scene parade). Perhaps that's from the overall lack of NPCs? Or the fact that the existing ones just kinda stand there. A game's graphics can be bloody amazing, but if it feels lifeless and sterile graphics can't really make up for that, IMO.

I guess if someone is really OCD, it could be difficult to look past less-than-state-of-the-art graphics to enjoy a lush, interactive, living world. *shrug* if someone can't see the forest for the trees, then that's their problem.

*edit: oh, and for what it's worth: I enjoy FFXIV and have no interest in playing GW2 currently. Just using the vid as a basis for comparison

GW2 probably has the most awful world design of any upcoming MMOs. If you want to pick examples from upcoming MMOs, choose one of the korean games for a lesson on how to make graphically pleasing games + immersive and interactive ones.

I would have been looking forward to GW2 if I didn't have to look away from it for fear of being blinded by ugliness.