FFXIV 1.0 graphics

**Zantetsuken** · 01-31-2014 02:34 AM

'Graphics' is FAR too ubiquitous a term. People need to be much more specific.

Are you talking about the Graphics Engine?

1.0 had a clunky and demanding graphics engine - I don't think anyone wants that back.
ARR's graphic engine is fantastic, and DX11 will make it even better.

Are you talking about the Visual Design of Gear and items?

1.0 was much more realistic in it's design. I miss the sense of 'authenticity' that the gear and animations had.
ARR is very flashy and has far too many glowing weapons, carnival costume gear, and circus mounts.

Are you talking about the Environmental design?

1.0 was copy-pasted and dull, but it was a vast world.
ARR is vibrant, living and full of amazing things to see, even if it is rather tightly packed

Perhaps you mean Texture detail?

1.0 had much higher texture resolutions overall, a clear winner in the close-up shots and cutscenes.
ARR has lower texture resolutions, but it also has MORE textures overall which make the wide angle camera views look amazing.

And then, there are other graphic effects that are camera and light based:

1.0 had crazy bloom effects, but also nifty Depth of Field and Stereoscopic 3D.
ARR has global shadows, volumetric light rays, and a great balance of indoor/outdoor lighting. I really wish it also had 1.0's Depth of Field and Stereoscopic 3D. -- FFXIV was so fun to play in 3D...

**TrystWildkey** · 01-31-2014 02:50 AM

Originally Posted by Zantetsuken

'Graphics' is FAR to ubiquitous a term.

Yes, it is!

I admit that I don't have the knowledge or background to specify what I preferred from 1.0. Unfortunately, my husband doesn't either. Perhaps if I give you my impressions you can tell me what aspects of the graphics I'm missing? (sincere question here, I know that sometimes over the internet it can seem like I'm mocking you or being sarcastic, but I'm not!)

I feel like the world is smaller and plastic, instead of vast and weighted.
Whether I'm zoomed out, or in first person, it feels like I'm in the bottom of a concave bowl, but 1.0 felt more convex, where the scenery around me spread out and seemed farther away.
Also, you know when you watch cartoons, how you can tell the difference between the background and things that actually move? Because there's a different quality to the color or something? I see that in ARR. In 1.0, you could turn off labels, zoom out all the way, and not see a difference between the world and the mobs/people, including your character. In ARR, even with the labels off and zoomed out all the way, the people and mobs stand out, a lot. They look like little colorforms (wow, I'm old >< ) laid out over a drawn background.
Also, the scale or perspective seems off. I can zoom out farther in 2.0, but it just makes the world look even smaller. I don't know if my character is placed in a different spot on my screen, or if it is a difference in scale, but sizes just seem off to me.

So, what aspect(s) of the 'graphics' am I missing?

**Zantetsuken** · 01-31-2014 03:02 AM

Originally Posted by TrystWildkey

So, what aspect(s) of the 'graphics' am I missing?

From what I see, your feedback is more focused on Design rather than graphics... specifically 'Environmental Design'.

And I agree with many of your points. ^^

Thread: FFXIV 1.0 graphics

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