Character graphical changes are NOT in an acceptable state, please make it optional

[Loggos]

snip

[Comparison of player screenshots to official images]

I think a lot of this has to do with hindsight. In hindsight, yes I can immediately spot the alluded dimples in the official picture. But that's because I now recognise it due to the much clearer example from the player's benchmark screenshot.

The dimples here are so weird that they make the lower jaw almost seem like a marionette's jaw. Now that I know about it I can perceive it in the official picture too but the angle and - ha -the lighting in this picture seem so optimal and staged that it was easy to overlook without any knowledge or idea what it would possibly look like ingame most of the time.

And tbh I think it's just not reflective of what we see in the majority of the benchmark. Perhaps this means that in 5% of the lighting scenarios with perfectly soft, diffuse ambient light and that one perfect camera perspective certain characters will all look great. But what we have seen in the benchmark is real and reflective of what our ingame experience will be like. And for the most part it's nothing like in the official screenshot and a lot closer to what the other user is showing.

Also, please also keep in mind this is a different face option. (I don't know if it matters but it's the base used for Y'shtola too, so who knows, perhaps they were extra careful here to preserve her character.)
We know that some options are more affected than others. This face preset looking good does not negate all the examples where it went south.

For example some of the au ra may not look as mangled and marionette-like as the miqo in those screenshots but their faces still do look different.

So both may be true at the same time: they may look good from a technical perspective but they may also not look like your character because of the changed features.
That is my case tbh. I don't actually think my chars look bad at all in terms of technical presentation. They just don't look like themselves anymore. And personally that bothers me more.

[Scintilla]

I think a lot of this has to do with hindsight. In hindsight, yes I can immediately spot the alluded dimples in the official picture. But that's because I now recognise it due to the much clearer example from the player's benchmark screenshot.

The dimples here are so weird that they make the lower jaw almost seem like a marionette's jaw. Now that I know about it I can perceive it in the official picture too but the angle and - ha -the lighting in this picture seem so optimal and staged that it was easy to overlook without any knowledge or idea what it would possibly look like ingame most of the time.

You know the 'L' word is forbidden here, right?

The lighting definitely seems different between the example image and the player's one. As I said, the shadows and contrast on the player's image seem somewhat stronger, emphasizing these particular features which they dislike. Whether this shadow difference is entirely down to lighting or not, I'm not sure. The lighting in the CC is terrible anyway, so comparison images using anything taken there needs to taken with a grain of salt. I think it's safe to presume that by this point the player has already run the benchmark and found they still dislike how it appears in there too. And the lighting there would be different, so there may be some other factor at play. Though exactly what (graphics settings, selected features/face shape) we don't really know.

Also, please also keep in mind this is a different face option. (I don't know if it matters but it's the base used for Y'shtola too, so who knows, perhaps they were extra careful here to preserve her character.)
We know that some options are more affected than others. This face preset looking good does not negate all the examples where it went south.

For example some of the au ra may not look as mangled and marionette-like as the miqo in those screenshots but their faces still does look different.

I would agree that it could simply be down to differences between the player's choices of features and those used in the example. What might have looked very flattering on one model might not appear the same on another. Again, I mentioned this:

One thing I would say is that the shadows are deeper on your benchmark than on the examples, leading to a greater contrast at those dimpled areas making them appear very slightly more pronounced. But this is shadow - not structural. That could be any number of reasons: positioning? lighting? settings? an unfortunate consequence of your own choice of lip shape compared to that of the example?

[Loggos]

You know the 'L' word is forbidden here, right?

snip because character limit

Ok, sorry this became a lot longer than intended. No hate or attack intended.
--
But that is the point I'm trying to make. The screenshots of the miqo are not just from the CC, they are also from the benchmark (the chocobo riding scene) which are supposed to represent the actual ingame experience.

And tbh I still think their DT character looks different and not like their current one.
I agree that the mouth does look different in shape (the lacking curve/dip of the upper lip, the lower lip's shape/outline being changed etc.) and leads to a different overall "feature". If both mouths were options in the CC I would not think "oh, those are the same". I'd definitely feel as if choosing one over the other would lead to a different characterisation.

I think the official image of the Y'shtola-faced miqo is a bit misleading (I don't mean to say it's an attempt of manipulation - of course you choose a particularly good-looking image for your promotional material, that's understandable.)

The changes are very subtle and if you only go by this very staged, idealised picture (that may also not be applicable to every race and face type) then you wouldn't expect the results we have seen from all kinds of players the last couple of days. My point is that this picture just doesn't reflect the majority's experience in the actual benchmark.

I respect your opinion but I do think the gif and the comparison images of not only the miqo in question but also many other people (incl. on the Japanese forums) have shown that remodeling the features has in fact taken place, leading to an appearance change beyond lighting.
I just don't think this is a fact that can be denied. It has been proven by many people, including players with 3D modelling experience (in the Viera thread somebody posted a very interesting analysis).

If you think the changes are not personally bothersome to you then I won't dispute your personal taste because I'm happy if people have a good time with DT.
But please don't try to downplay what has been objectively demonstrated over and over again. The mouth shapes (and other things) have been changed. It is simply not just the lighting.
And that can lead to your character “feeling” very differently. My character went from edgy dark knight knock-off that is eternally stuck in her 2000s MCR phase to basically a doll. Nothing inherently bad about that, some people might even think she looks better that way. But that’s just not the character I want.

And as much as emotions are really heated right now (I understand both sides are probably at the limits of their patience) it does feel dismissive when your character of several years that you really care about gets changed, doesn't feel like it's the one you grew attached to and then people either argue over and over that it's a) not there (it is) and b) if it is there it's not a big deal (and if we care we are just exaggerating so much, we need to touch grass - what if I'm allergic, damn it? ).
If it's not a big deal to you that is all good.

But people expressing their dissatisfaction (and there *are* lots of analytical posts) with a product that they have invested lots of time and money in, on a forum that serves this very purpose are also legit in their view.
Like yes, the fact that something that I really love to do in my free time but also has been a major money sink for me, may change the most important thing (my char) is a bit meh tbh. Do games end/change etc.? Yes. But that doesn’t mean it’s unreasonable that people experience emotions related to it. We can acknowledge something and still think “well that sucks”.

And as long as there is still an opportunity to provide our feedback and opinions it’s important and fair to do so imo. (This of course also includes the perspective of people who *do* like the upgrade.)
I'm annoyed but me (and others) writing about it here doesn't mean we lack total perspective and think it is objectively The One Worst Thing in the world right now. And if FF ever shuts off I'll be sad just as I'll be sad when my favourite show or game ends or is cancelled but I can move on.

I guess, since we only talk about FF here this frame of reference is missing and it may seem like this right now is The One Thing that ruins our lives but imo that's misleading and pretending this has to be our overall mindset just seems to be a bit in bad faith tbh. We can be unhappy and attached to our chars and still find the logout button (I have seen it happen!).