Lackluster Graphics in FFXIV

[Elkwood]

I've lost faith in humanity. Abigale is either successfully trolling me by persistently taking the position that the 2005 tech demo is pre-rendered, or he is just really, really dumb. I hope to God he's just trolling.

except for the fact that the proof is in the name TECH DEMO, it means it is a TECHNICAL DEMO not actual gameplay footage.

[gifthorse]

The only things I dislike about FFXIV's graphics are the rendering of water and how there are low-res textures in the background which make a distinctive line as you move around.

[Shelia]

I mean you're probably right as far as engines go. Some of them run MUCH more efficiently than others. However, I am correct in the sense that MMOs take more CPU than a single-player game due to loading more character models, scenery and what-have-you.

[gifthorse]

I mean you're probably right as far as engines go. Some of them run MUCH more efficiently than others. However, I am correct in the sense that MMOs take more CPU than a single-player game due to loading more character models, scenery and what-have-you.

Yeah that's true, but it doesn't really excuse FFXIV's ineptitute at rendering water and such. Especially on the boat which is merely an instance anyway.

[Shelia]

It's true... particularly for instances.

FFXIV was in development since 2005, however... so we can't entirely expect the engines to be top notch.

Or can we?

[h2o]

it doesn't really excuse boat which is merely an instance anyway

boat which is merely an instance

boat which is merely

boat is instance

We will pray for you, be sure, bro!

[Otemori]

I, too, would like to see evidence that the tech demo isn't pre-rendered.
I've looked all over Youtube and haven't found anything beyond this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgtZvn5c4e4
The photograph used for comparison in the original post seems to have been taken from this cinematic.

[Linkurrra]

I, too, would like to see evidence that the tech demo isn't pre-rendered.
I've looked all over Youtube and haven't found anything beyond this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgtZvn5c4e4
The photograph used for comparison in the original post seems to have been taken from this cinematic.

Structure detail in this video is on par with what is shown in the Adventurer guilds in the cities. Sad part is I can hardly get 10-15fps in this area even with the graphics detail turned down to 1. How ridiculous is that?! At this level the graphics are so pixelated it's not worth playing.

Did the addition of the graphics settings give you better fps in most areas? yeah it did! But they still have alot more work to do to make it work on more systems. I know it can be better because I've had a full 30fps in wide open areas. I don't have a stellar system, but the inconsistent framerates is bothersome.

It just doesn't make sense.

Right now I think the Developers focus are on other things besides graphics. I do agree that the graphics could be better when it comes to water. And I believe this game engine can do it.

but FFXIV needs content more than anything else! More quests, more areas, more dungeons. I love FF and Square Enix to death! But they released this game too soon.

[Rhianu]

The water in FFXIV usually looks pretty decent, but I have found it a bit odd that it can't receive shadows or reflections. I'm not sure why this is, but I think it would be worth looking into sometime in the future.

[Abriael]

The water in FFXIV usually looks pretty decent, but I have found it a bit odd that it can't receive shadows or reflections. I'm not sure why this is, but I think it would be worth looking into sometime in the future.

Some effects have to be deactivated in order to save hardware resources. The crystal tools engine is perfectly able to render those effects, as single player games made with it demonstrate (Final Fantasy XIII for instance), this doesn't mean that it's advisable to use them in games that require the rendering of scenes with a much higher number of characters. Put a whole linkshell of people on water with a fully reflective effect and shadows, and any pc would be ground to a halt.