Proof the graphics update was necessary.

[Absurdity]

A few? The picture shows a few more triangles in the ears, but you'd have better luck asking the Twitter account that sourced the image. I just wanted to share it here.

Bones, not polygons. More polygons just means the model is smoother, less jagged edges and, if rigged properly, less awkward defomations on the model. The bones are what the mesh gets rigged to and are used for animating the characters.

He's basically asking if they increased the ear bones beyond the current number, 1 for each Miqo'te and 2 for each Viera ear, and are able to animate them more.

[aiqa]

If SE really wanted to make characters more expressive, they could have done so with the current faces. SE is using a very limited number expressions in cutscenes, there are far more animations already available in FF. I don't see why they'll suddenly make better use of their available options just because of different head mesh.

[Sacae]

Has anyone checked the bones in the models used for the Hildebrand cutscenes and compared them to the new models yet? IIRC, don't they use the Hildebrand quests to test new graphics things?

[DBriggs304]

Seems like a huge waste of time, resources, and opportunity. We basically have a dual wielding samurai and a painter coming as new classes, but somehow the graphics are super important.

There's a major disconnect where the game's evolution is severely starting to lack.

[Taliriah]

Seems like a huge waste of time, resources, and opportunity. We basically have a dual wielding samurai and a painter coming as new classes, but somehow the graphics are super important.

There's a major disconnect where the game's evolution is severely starting to lack.

Sorry if you cant see the point of more detailed facial animation rigs in a cutscene heavy game.

[Ancalagon_Blacktalon]

If SE really wanted to make characters more expressive, they could have done so with the current faces. SE is using a very limited number expressions in cutscenes, there are far more animations already available in FF. I don't see why they'll suddenly make better use of their available options just because of different head mesh.

this whole change is happening because they couldn't do it with the current faces. the new head meshes have more detail and more rigging, which makes it easier to animate them.

Again, Aymeric's mouth needs more polys so that it actually works properly, but this game is ancient so they weren't able to do it (also I suspect their internal toolkit is a huge PITA to work with due to the nature of ARR's development).

But also, it's not just character faces. Like, unless you've been actively skipping this entire thread, it's also extremely crusted models and textures, which you can't update without it being really obvious which parts of the game are untouched. We already have somewhat have this effect in the game with Lv90 armors vs Lv50 armors in terms of texture detail.

[aiqa]

*snip*

So why would they suddenly use more animations that need a newly rigged heads, while previous cutscenes don't even even use half of the existing animations that work perfectly fine and are already available for the current mesh? And SE (almost) never makes variations of facial animations that are possible with the current rigs, outside of selling emotes. I already questioned that in my original post, but you completely glossed over it in your response. And a specific head having to few polygons to animate properly is not a convincing arguement. It's not that difficult to add a few more polygons and weight them. That doesn't need completely new rigs, much less prove anything.

Internal toolkit point is pure speculation, so I'll not address.

The game already is a huge mishmash of inconsitant texture resolution, mesh quality and scale issues. That isn't just "some". In particular environments can have perfectly fine parts right next to textures with meter long pixels. Almost square meshes. And objects scaled up hugely to give the illusion of being somewhat filled. I haven't seen anyone question environments needing some improvements.

[DBriggs304]

Sorry if you cant see the point of more detailed facial animation rigs in a cutscene heavy game.

The feels and writing have been effective for years to elicit an emotional response in those cutscenes whether I see one wrinkle or three.

[Nebelheim]

The feels and writing have been effective for years to elicit an emotional response in those cutscenes whether I see one wrinkle or three.

I feel people should also adapt to new technology and changes instead of clinging onto things because they can't or won't accept change which is what I feel people who want the devs to revert back to the ps3 graphics are doing. People always seem to refuse to upgrade there machines and want to force devs to continue to develop for the lowest end of machines because they don't want to feel there left out rather then upgrading for a feature that will benefit the game in the long term.