Updated benchmark

[smashBG]

There are still differences between 6.58 and BMv1.1 but overall I'm satisfied with the changes. These screenshots all use the same face options but I was pretty happy after messing around with the updated options a bit. I feel like I was finally able to create my lizard as she appears in my mind's eye, in a way that even the existing character creator doesn't allow me to.

[Angelivia]

i dont like the new benchmarkt tbh.
the shadows are a complete mess. looking at the hair shadow on the neck. left one looks so smooth and the right one almost unhealthy.
left is 1.0 and right 1.1

That's exactly my issue, too. When the benchmark first came out, I didn't understand why people bemoaned the new lightning/shadows since I was very much pleased with the softened out look. But too many were complaining about how stark contrasts and low poly edges are missing and that the smoothing over took away their "charm points" and "sharp features" even though it was nothing of the sort but only an evidence for poor graphics. I could hold a flashlight under my face and it would have the same effect and I couldn't fathom that some were seriously preferring that over the way improved and more natural results.

The strong shadows were the reason why I set character lightning up to 50. Before the benchmark update I had hoped I could turn it off again because character models were now only reflected by environmental light - which was just perfect and beautiful - but in the end SE heeded the cryout and brought back artificial light to cast these exaggerated shadows... A pity.

[BasalIntegral]

Miqo'te face 4 and eye shape 3 are still off. The entire face looks shortened, which makes him look like a different person. Other parts are nose 1, and mouth 4. He looks rounded when he should be more angular.

Edit: After looking a little more back and forth, the nose is not only smaller, but if you look at where the eyebrows and nose connect, they are not in the same position.
Benchmark v1.1


Current live patch

[Roda]

Does anyone else experience this weird green lightning?

Old benchmark:


vs.

New benchmark:


Additionally, I noticed a seam line down the nose.

It makes sense in those scenes, since your character is being lit partially from the light that's bouncing off of the oscean.

[Luca_]

Old benchmark vs new:



Current vs new:



My bunboy looks very soft and cute again, I'm happy!

(And kind of in disbelief that so many people tried to tell me he looked exactly the same in the first benchmark...)

[BrunoKazuki]

[MediocreIndigo]

The benchmark update definitely improves things overall, but I'm disappointed that the mouth on Face 2 femras hasn't been changed back to its original shape. That was my biggest issue with how my WoL looked in the original benchmark, and it's still my biggest issue now.

Ignore that the caption on the far left of the third image says 6.55. It should say 6.58.

[programcanaan]

I am honestly fascinated. It isnt just the light that has changed, some little things were changed with the mouth. But now my bunny actually looks almost like herself (mouth is still changed) compared to the old benchmark where I didn't recognize her and she looked swollen and somewhat featureless.
New benchmark left, old right

The Viera Face 4 mouth changes are probably one of the most severe examples of forced changes (unwanted ones at that). If they wanted to introduce new looks they should have expanded the options instead of replacing current ones.

And it's not just the mouth being wider, thinner etc. The whole shape has literally changed.

[Fawkes]

It makes sense in those scenes, since your character is being lit partially from the light that's bouncing off of the oscean.

Shouldn't everyone's screenshot of that moment be green, then?

[RhaesDaenys]

Shouldn't everyone's screenshot of that moment be green, then?

That depends on the characters skin tone. The paler you are the more apparent it is.

Unrelated - the only issue I see now is how the hair doesn't attach to most of the characters heads anymore. Its floating. That definitely needs to be fixed.