Viera Changes

[Incuboy]

So overall I'd say my character looks pretty ok with the new graphics however there are a few things I've noticed which I'm not too fond of and would like to address.

1. Probably my biggest issue is that the eyeliner tattoo (tattoo 1) is a lot lighter and blurry compared to before where it is darker and sharper. I'd like to hope that they will adjust this so it is more prominent like it was previously but we'll just have to see.

2. In certain lighting, typically in shadows, skin will look really bright as if it's glowing slightly which just looks odd. This is probably an issue across the board for all races. Skin also can look like plastic in some situations such as the shot on the boat at the start of the benchmark.

3. Shadows around the chin and jaw blend in a lot with the neck which gives the impression that the face is blending into the neck (visible in environment 3 of the character creation.)

4. The lips look pretty off. This might just be because they look different to what I'm used to, but it was probably the first thing I noticed when I went into the character creator. The colour of them looked a little too dark which could be adjusted by changing to a slightly lighter shade. Whether this was how they were intended to look all along or not I don't know but it threw me off a bit. They also look much less glossier. Honestly they should just add a lip gloss slider.

5. The textures on the 4th ears look really blurry and pixelated which doesn't really work well with the hair textures which are vastly improved.

I'm no expert and I'm not gonna pretend like I know how these things work but I feel like having darker shadows in places would help certain features feel more prominent, like with the chin looking fused to the neck for example. I'd also really like to see the eyeliner tattoo be improved. Having it look so blurry and the black (colour 8) looking so light really detracts from it.

I think that some sliders should be implemented in the character creator menu. I've noticed lots of people taking issue with the eyes looking lifeless. I personally don't have many problems with the eyes however a slider could be added which simply changes how lively they look.

I'd really appreciate if they made some adjustments regarding the things I've pointed out. Overall, I'm happy that SE is giving us this update I just think it could do with quite a bit of work.

Benchmark:


In-game:

[Seliana]

These are the same data import, and I'm just... so torn about the graphics update mainly on the lips for female Viera face 4. It honestly looks like they were trying to replicate Gaia's lips on them. There is no pout or curved cupids bow on them which causes them to look like a completely different person. I may have to lower the color a bit for my character's eyes, but I can't fix the lips since there are not many options that are close to the original model... I really hope they will fix this issue at some point, because this is very disheartening to see

Current Model:






Benchmark:

[CorrinSyrup]

First image is current and the second image is benchmark. I don't even know where to start!! For the most part the smoothing on the hair and ears is really nice, but when it comes to the eyes and lips, which is where like ALL the expression comes from, they feel entirely flat! The lips have almost no shading, they have lost all definable shape from the OG picture and they just look painted on! The lip line on the benchmark image is literally just a completely straight line which you can clearly see is very defined and organic on the original.

The eyes come across as very blank and unfeeling. I feel like I have a little more leniency with them because I can kind of tell that the dev team was going for more dynamic reflections depending on your surroundings (?) not too sure about that one but still. To me, she feels more like a doll. Where she's all done up and pretty but lacks a lot of the life and charm the original has even in a simple neutral pose.

[nordiclania]

These are the same data import, and I'm just... so torn about the graphics update mainly on the lips for female Viera face 4. It honestly looks like they were trying to replicate Gaia's lips on them. There is no pout or curved cupids bow on them which causes them to look like a completely different person. I may have to lower the color a bit for my character's eyes, but I can't fix the lips since there are not many options that are close to the original model... I really hope they will fix this issue at some point, because this is very disheartening to see

Current Model:






Benchmark:

Those lips look like someone did a bad job overlining them. T_T I'm so sorry for your character... Also, where is the gloss and the slight changes in color? It's just one big, bold, matte lip.

[Seliana]

They put too much setting powder, and used a unsharpened lip liner pencil on her lips

[MikatoKai]

I think one of the major issues I have with Viera faces right now is that they've made the eyes the same. There's no distinction between Veena and Rava right now and you can tell, even if you can't completely recognize it. Rava had smaller pupils than Veena, and now everyone has a Ravan eye. My Veena characters look uncanny because of this change. If nothing else gets fixed, I want them to give Veena back their racial differences. The lips can maybe grow on me over time, despite being wonky, but it is so sad that a racial difference is being removed like this. I hope it is just a bug, because my boy looks different to me. It's difficult to tell because of his eye color, but I can tell the difference. It's more obvious on my girl, who has lighter green eyes.

[Kanehon]

Here to share my own thoughts

I truly appreciate how much work the dev team has put into this. I am Extremely glad of how much better skin is lit up, and the light on the nose is wonderful. My dark skinned characters look amazing now!

But like many people, I also have concerns.

One thing I noticed is the light in the Character Creation screen is very Yellowed, which became most obvious on my pale Viera (My Au Ra friend was wondering why she looked greenish, and his pale base showed it off well)

That said
Any light in the eyes or lips is so directional dependent now, that in most angles the eyes look lifeless and the lips flat. In the Benchmark picture below, one of his eyes is lifeless while the other has a tiny bit of light because of the angle. Being something supposed to be wet, I hope they'll address this before release. The lips are in a very similar situation.

Speaking of Lips, they are all now noticeably darker than before. I have lipstick on and I'm on the fence if I keep or remove it.

I am very happy, personally speaking for my own character, that the bunny nose darkened skin on top is now more visible on face 3. But I know that is not everyone's preferences. However, the nose model looks more flared at the nostrils than it used to be, which I'm not sure if it's a model change or just noticeable because of the texture change for the bunny nose.

For me, I don't mind the eyebrows being lighter, but it's clearly a big concern for everyone with light skin tones + light hair. Not to mention for those who enjoyed the more noticeable eyebrows, it loses some of the personality.




But you can see how Yellow the Character Creator in Benchmark looks comparing it to current in-game creator, As well as how you look like in trailer:

(Jaundice is gone form his skin)

[Aelin_Ashryver]

I would like my Veena to have her larger pupils back, an option to return the twinkle to her eyes and something to give her lips more definition again!

[purincchi]

just throwing in my two cents as someone who mainly plays as a face 3 male viera -- i'm not happy with this graphical update. at all.



his eyebrows are nonexistent (i chose the thicker eyebrows for a reason), his eyes look soulless and dead without the catchlights + the texture updates have actually changed their overall shape, his lips are dull and shapeless... not to mention the eyeshadow being faded and less defined? i personally don't mind the darkened nose too much but i know a lot of folks would rather be able to toggle that on and off, and it does affect the overall look of your character's face. they already hit gold with face 3 imo, so why the drastic changes?

[nordiclania]

I completely agree! I am like mind blown with the subtle changes and wish I could have them now. My Viera's hairline is so clean and crisp now, her mouth looks amazing, and the detail in her eyes was like striking to me at first.

She's so incredibly pretty and I could not be happier!! Plus her skin tone now is MUCH better! We don't look like a ghost with too much sunscreen. I'm really glad of how inclusive they decided to be for players with darker skin tones.

In my opinion, face 1 for FemViera looks very good after the update. And if I remember correctly, it is that face that they have modeled when showing us progression pics of the graphics update. So, congratulations on your stunning bun!
However, as a FemViera player using face 2, things are not as great. The lips are the worst part, but the eyes also really makes a world of difference. Hoping the benchmark will get an update, or that we will be reassured that changes will be added to 7.x.