Lackluster Graphics in FFXIV

[Dreamer]

Those are not maxed out graphics...

I'm pretty sure they are. Look at the texture work on his sleeves and on the stonework on the nearby spiral. The distant texture draw in Limsa is just REALLY bad. I can simply rotate my camera and watch it switch between the fantastic hi-res texture and the abysmal and blocky distant texture.

[Kaedan]

I'm pretty sure they are. Look at the texture work on his sleeves and on the stonework on the nearby spiral. The distant texture draw in Limsa is just REALLY bad. I can simply rotate my camera and watch it switch between the fantastic hi-res texture and the abysmal and blocky distant texture.

It just looks a lot worse than on my PC, that's why I'm pretty sure they aren't maxed. When I get home, I'll turn everything up to max and post a shot from the same spot if I can.

[BelgianRofl]

1280x800? Seriously, might want to get a better monitor/video card. Mediocre resolution does not "maximum graphics" make.

K

http://i.imgur.com/uXXgP.jpg

[Abriael]

K

http://i.imgur.com/uXXgP.jpg

Better, but there's still quite a difference with the ones I posted. Besides the fact that you intentionally cherry picked the least impressive angle (convenient to zoom in as much as possible in order to show as little as possible of the actual city. Actually very convenient considering that one of the major strenghts of the engine is the wide field of view and amazing draw distance) in order to make the city look worse than it is.

Again, better rig is in order.

[BelgianRofl]

Until I play a game worthy of my time that can't be run on max settings @ 1920x1200 with at least 45 frames, I'll not be upgrading.

[Abriael]

Until I play a game worthy of my time that can't be run on max settings @ 1920x1200 with at least 45 frames, I'll not be upgrading.

Do you mean like this?
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/...2ae312fd_o.jpg

Notice the fraps FPS counter on top left.

And mind you, my PC is very far from being a beast.
http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=1329846

Before spending tens upon tens of posts stubbornly bashing a game's graphics, might want to actually experience them in their full splendor. As much as one might want to experience the vast majority of a game's gameplay and systems before bashing them.

[Munba]

I think graphics are pretty nice generally (technically speaking) with some letdowns here and there indeed (like the bad res of trees that makes them like 'paper' made sometimes).. BUT the game lacks about "warm" (and so immersion) in several Areas.

Take Limsa Lominsa. It's very cold and bland in this state... too GREY around. When i saw for the first time the art of it, i imagined it with Santorini colors (and maybe some mosaics on walls), lights from the sea surface in the night and trees around also from the water (i presume a sort of mangroves), like the above image suggests:




Gridania is instead a perfect example of a warm and immersive area, much more detailed than LL if you ask me. It's all matter of colors and details around. A perfect example is the Tavern, with colored-glasses. A little masterpiece imo.

Uldah, in the end, is in the middle. Several streets are empty and bland but there are some plazas rich of colors and the market street, with th stands, gives a sense of warm indeed.


Concluding, some areas need a restyling about colors and details, adding stuff (flora, fauna, objects) to make the enviroment more alive... not so cold and sometimes 'artificial'. I don't like to make comparisons usually, but FF11 was FULL of warm and details in every corner. Why FF14 is sadly a (long) step backward in this departement? Btw i have still faith and hope devs will make something about it in the future..

[BelgianRofl]

Your PC is very good. Believe me, if I didn't have to buy this I'd be upgrading my system every generation.

[Abriael]

Take Limsa Lominsa. It's very cold and bland in this state... too GREY around. When i saw for the first time the art of it, i imagined it with Santorini colors (and maybe some mosaics on walls), lights from the sea surface in the night and trees around also from the water (i presume a sort of mangroves), like the above image suggests:

That's a matter of art direction, not of graphics. Limsa is basically a pirate cove. Pirates aren't exactly known for their artistic exploits. Also, the grey cliffs do have a nice effect. They pick up lovely hues with sunset/sunrise (and even night actually) light conditions.

Concluding, some areas need a restyling about colors and details, adding stuff (flora, fauna, objects) to make the enviroment more alive... not so cold and sometimes 'artificial'. I don't like to make comparisons usually, but FF11 was FULL of warm and details in every corner. Why FF14 is sadly a (long) step backward in this departement? Btw i have still faith and hope devs will make something about it in the future..

Might really want to polish your FFXI memories a little. Try to remember Bastok. It was basically the same as Limsa. Actually even much worse, due to the much smaller presence of water and vegetation.

It is, by the way, a pretty common problem with MMORPGs. Since almost no team designs all the areas at once, areas designed first tend to be less impressive than those designed later, as the team starts to pick up the style and the art direction of the game, and becomes more confident with the tools.
You can also look at Coerthas and Mor Donha. They look a TON more beautiful (and less monotonous) than Thanlanan, Black Shroud and La Norsca.

Your PC is very good. Believe me, if I didn't have to buy this I'd be upgrading my system every generation.

I didn't say it's bad, but it's definitely not near the top as well. Currently it's pretty much a mid-range gaming PC. I built my girlfriend an identical setup (just changing the motherboard because she wasn't interested in a future SLI expansion) for 800 bucks.

[Sinzfeldt]

Do you mean like this?
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/...2ae312fd_o.jpg

Those cliffs still look absolutely horrible though.