Benchmark/Graphics Update - Lip shape concern and eyes

[Fellian]

As some have pointed out already, the upper lip for lalafell isn't as clearly defined anymore. I miss the cute, full, kissy shape!

https://imgur.com/qF3LaiR https://imgur.com/XSnCiId

Male dunesfolk also naturally have darkened noses and ear tips and I feel like that darkness has been blended in too much, it isn't as noticeable (especially on darker skin). It would be nice if those features could be made darker/closer to what is currently available.

https://imgur.com/9unWG8N

https://imgur.com/9EDDoe2

overall I'm pretty happy with the upgrade but there are a handful of small refinements that would be appreciated!

[aulierre]

Big agree with the eye and mouth shapes - the eye and mouth shapes have been homogenized. The mouths are just a neutral line, and the eyes are kind of a generic wide-eyed look; this is very noticeable if you use narrower eyes, because the narrow eyes are no longer narrow. The additional eyelashes, when toggled on, are also difficult to see.

[sylanxi]

Like many, one of my biggest issues is the deadening of the eyes/minimising of catchlights (eyes are shiny irl there's no excuse for this, they're literally constantly wet, it's not "more realistic" to make them shine less). My wol's hair makes it a little less noticeable, at least.
Also chiming in on the "mouths weird now" complaint - also, the added lip colour for M!viera is way too much. It looks like a very dark lip stain, if people want to put lipstick on their characters we have a separate CC option for that, but the "no colour" colour is way more than I ever wanted on my wol.
My final complaint is that either the new textures or the new lighting (or both) are extremely unkind to the more fantasy skintones, several Au Ra friends have noticed that their skintones look "wrong" now, and my own previously-warm-grey Viera now looks... green(?) in more lighting than I can handwave away.


left is 6.0 graphics, right is 7.0

To summarise:
- dead eyes
- mouth less wide, more pouty, no little v in the middle, very dark even without lip colour. resting expression went from :} to :|
- green?

[ilustralun]

Big agree with the eye and mouth shapes - the eye and mouth shapes have been homogenized. The mouths are just a neutral line, and the eyes are kind of a generic wide-eyed look; this is very noticeable if you use narrower eyes, because the narrow eyes are no longer narrow. The additional eyelashes, when toggled on, are also difficult to see.

Seconding this so I'll add my previous post to the noise in hopes that it helps this thread and everyone who feels the same way too:

The benchmark changed the shape of my character's eyes by removing the dark/heavier upper eyelids and it makes her look shell-shocked. It's a little upsetting because I recall Yoshi-p mentioning that he wanted to move away from characters having "empty dead-eyed" stares and to me it seems like some fundamental eye shape change has inadvertently caused what he was wanting to avoid. I rather enjoyed that my character held a kind of "aloof" or "bemused" expression that made it seem like she was always quietly thinking to herself.

I have the benchmark photo (left), an edit I drew the heavier eyelids onto (right), and the original/before (center). I feel silly because it's just a game I don't usually care to make a fuss over or be a nuisance about.



I'd like it if the update could retain the original characteristic of her eyes and appreciate the hard work of the developers.

[Endver]

Yeah... Nope, thx





EDIT : Just to explain, I'm really bothered by the eyes. I don't know what words to use to explain this, cause english isn't even my first language. The shape of the eyes, specifically in the upper right corner, isn't the same as before. Until now the shape was "upturned" (according to some google examples) and is now rather flat. Adding the change to the pupil, which is smaller than the first version and also thicker... I mean, a lot of other changes are wrong, but the eyes would be the first thing to work on, in my opinion. I'm crossing fingers that Square takes the time to get it right, no matter how long it takes. A graphics update doesn't happen every day. Tho, it is too bad they didn't take the opportunity to improve the character creation tool in the process... It's something that has always been requested as far as I can remember.

[Spooky_Biscuits]

Adding this here in case this becomes a main thread to get squares' attention on this
you want to update graphics and textures, thats fine. But stop taking away the features that made our characters unique and the charm of their expressions. Some hair has had highlight locations changed, noses uncrooked, lips filled with botox, the light literally stolen from their eyes. its ridiculous. not sure how these changes passed through all the levels as acceptable.

Original:
Benchmark:

[DireKit]

Yeah... Nope, thx





EDIT : Just to explain, I'm really bothered by the eyes. I don't know what words to use to explain this, cause english isn't even my first language. The shape of the eyes, specifically in the upper right corner, isn't the same as before. Until now the shape was "upturned" (according to some google examples) and is now rather flat. Adding the change to the pupil, which is smaller than the first version and also thicker... I mean, a lot of other changes are wrong, but the eyes would be the first thing to work on, in my opinion. I'm crossing fingers that Square takes the time to get it right, no matter how long it takes. A graphics update doesn't happen every day. Tho, it is too bad they didn't take the opportunity to improve the character creation tool in the process... It's something that has always been requested as far as I can remember.

I have the same problem for my main miqo. Her eyes were specifically chosen to be tilted upward for a sassy "cat-eye" look. And I think what happened to us is the bad new eyelashes that everyone is suffering from. I think the placement, shape, and darkness of these added false eyelashes are messing with our ability to see our eye shapes. The eyelashes round out the middle and inner parts of the eyes and then droop too low on the outer corners. That is what I think is rounding out and dulling the expression of our sassy eyes.

[cutestfox]

Posting here too
everything about this mouth needs dire help

[Endver]

I have the same problem for my main miqo. Her eyes were specifically chosen to be tilted upward for a sassy "cat-eye" look. And I think what happened to us is the bad new eyelashes that everyone is suffering from. I think the placement, shape, and darkness of these added false eyelashes are messing with our ability to see our eye shapes. The eyelashes round out the middle and inner parts of the eyes and then droop too low on the outer corners. That is what I think is rounding out and dulling the expression of our sassy eyes.

Yeah, you're right. I spotted it too and took screenshots for comparison.

[Gokki]

One thin i've noticed is the Anti-Aliasing / DLSS has an impact on character rendering when viewed at normal distances (not up close). My character gains an eyeliner and looks like an evil twin.

Look at my forum character photo on the left. She doesn't look like that in the Benchmark.