New Benchmark (June): Au Ra Feedback

[Taranok]

So, in the interest of better explaining (part) of the issue, I've decided to compare face 4 to face 1 in live and in the benchmark, on the 3/4 profile (roughly.) It won't be exactly 1:1, but is close enough to really showcase the differences. To better showcase this, here's a rough 3/4 profile of live and benchmark with the tip of the horn in face 4 roughly in the same vertical line as the corner of the lip.

Live:


Benchmark:


Of note is, check the contour of the cheek and chin. In live, face 1 has a more pronounced cheek and chin than face 4. Both are flatter for face 4, overall. Moving to benchmark, the chin of face 4 is more pronounced. Not quite face 1 levels, but still pronounced. Likewise, the cheek is more pronounced. Only it's actually more pronounced than face 1 now. As in, we went from having less pronounced cheeks than F1, to more pronounced. Of note, F1's cheeks are less pronounced in the benchmark as well.

This really should help showcase exactly why F4 looks so 'wrong' now. The chin and cheeks are just flat out wrong. Lips are surprisingly not that bad, dimples aside, but the cheeks are extremely bad.

Also showcases problems with face 1, such as the cheeks and chin changing, and I can't tell exactly what's happening with the eyebrows, but they look wrong as well.

I really wish the devs didn't ruin my favorite face though. This is just amateurish.

[Irishfae]

I should really leave it with what I've already posted, but I just seem to keep going back.
So to add to what Taranok has pictures of. I snipped Kal's hair and tried to do some overlays. It isn't completely perfect, but I tried to get it as close as possible. I to get a head on comparison, but I just couldn't get it right, so hopefully these do.
((As a note, this rounding of the face occurred in my Viera alt too, really not sure why this decision was made))

You can see the different outlines around the cheeks and chin. DT is the transparent overlay.

So, in the interest of better explaining (part) of the issue, I've decided to compare face 4 to face 1 in live and in the benchmark, on the 3/4 profile (roughly.) It won't be exactly 1:1, but is close enough to really showcase the differences. To better showcase this, here's a rough 3/4 profile of live and benchmark with the tip of the horn in face 4 roughly in the same vertical line as the corner of the lip


Of note is, check the contour of the cheek and chin. In live, face 1 has a more pronounced cheek and chin than face 4. Both are flatter for face 4, overall. Moving to benchmark, the chin of face 4 is more pronounced. Not quite face 1 levels, but still pronounced. Likewise, the cheek is more pronounced. Only it's actually more pronounced than face 1 now. As in, we went from having less pronounced cheeks than F1, to more pronounced. Of note, F1's cheeks are less pronounced in the benchmark as well.

This really should help showcase exactly why F4 looks so 'wrong' now. The chin and cheeks are just flat out wrong. Lips are surprisingly not that bad, dimples aside, but the cheeks are extremely bad.

Also showcases problems with face 1, such as the cheeks and chin changing, and I can't tell exactly what's happening with the eyebrows, but they look wrong as well.

[Irishfae]

Unrelated to my main character - but there appears to be a texture issue with Xaela face 2
It looks like the texture of the preset scales are a lower resolution than the optional and then there are two points that look like something is missing. (just repeating what I wrote in the pic in case it doesn't show correctly)

[duckslap]

(copying what I posted in the JP thread but in English)

Here is what my WOL looks like currently vs in the latest benchmark



These are the main issues for I would like to highlight:

1. Eyes + forehead scale




The eyes do look 'prettier' overall and I love the new highlights, but the pupils are still more dilated than they are in the current game, which changes the look of my WOL a fair bit. The limbal rings don't extend to the outer edge of the irises, making the larger pupils even more apparent. The top eyelashes also appear to be leaning more downwards, and the lower lashes around the middle look a bit shorter. The upper lid eyeliner isn't as dark either.

The forehead scale has lost its sharp pointed edges and the shape is slightly different.

2. Lips




The lips don't appear as 'flat' now compared to the first benchmark, which I'm happy about. Compared to how they are in 6.58 however, they also appear to be 'frownier', and the centre line isn't the same, so they give off a very different impression in my opinion.

All that being said, I really appreciate the devs doing all they can to listen to feedback, especially so close to Dawntrail's release date. Thank you so much!

[Taranok]

I should really leave it with what I've already posted, but I just seem to keep going back.
So to add to what Taranok has pictures of. I snipped Kal's hair and tried to do some overlays. It isn't completely perfect, but I tried to get it as close as possible. I to get a head on comparison, but I just couldn't get it right, so hopefully these do.
((As a note, this rounding of the face occurred in my Viera alt too, really not sure why this decision was made))

Thanks for the even easier to digest image with red marks pointing it out. The face was such a stark difference when I first saw it in the benchmark that I instantly knew it before zooming in. It really is, simply, a massively different face and profile. Really was stung by bees in the cheek.

[Alice9]

I really hope they make some adjustments, while I can only speak for my own character, it really does feel like she, along with the identity of face 4 F Au Ra was just lost in translation here. The updates are steps in the right direction, but there's just too many things that were just ignored and look way too different from the original. Might be too close to release for them to do anything, but hopefully in a patch or something- maybe I'm being idealistic, but I'd love to recognize my character again. This was absolutely my favorite face, and it does feel ruined still.

[goatkohai]

To piggy back ontop of what others have said so far, I am pretty happy with the changes since the last benchmark. The new eyebags on face 3 were definitely a surprise, but I didn't even mind it all that much- I could see myself getting used to it, I think I just wished there was a slider or something for the intensity of it. It is very pronounced in a lot of lighting, even at night.


she looks like she is a bit sleep deprived...

However, my main issue is not with that- but with how the hair (as someone else said) doesn't even seem to be attached to the head in some parts. I can see through my hair where there is no split there on the other side. I'd be fine with seeing through here if there was any split in the hair, but as you can see, it's pretty seamless from behind:



I'm unsure if this will be in the final version, but I thought I'd be helpful to share anyways. Despite this, I'm still pretty happy with adjustments in the benchmark. ♥

[Tarath]

The updated benchmark is without a doubt a much needed improvement from the previous one, but I can't deny that I'm feeling a bit disappointed that many of the concerns brought up previously weren't addressed. The new environmental lights definitely helps define the shapes of the face more, most notably the nose in my case, but it's clear that the new sculpts were left untouched for this update. EDIT: I'm blind


I'm not found the the plump lips, wider face, and the nose is especially wide between the eyes which drags the eyebrow texture down to it.

When he blinks, all the skin up to the eyebrows get dragged along which I find to be rather uncanny. This doesn't happen in the current version. In the benchmark however, it does happen to the other male Au Ra faces too, albeit not as prominent.


Aside the uncanny blinking and the eyebrow texture, I do like the changes made around the eyebrows. Toning it down a bit makes it look less swollen, and helps the eyes become more visible from certain angles. However I'm still not a fan of the new fuzzy eyes which makes him look more dozy and bored, rather than having a sharp, piercing gaze.

Neither am I a fan of the new scale texture. The skin colour I chose was done so to match with the slight tint of orange present in the scales, but the benchmark scales took a different direction making them look much more lifeless and dull. Can't say I like how the edges of the scales have been shaved off as it helped give depth. And though the edges have been cleaned up since the previous benchmark, they're still noticeable pixelated.


Additionally there seems to be a piece of scale growing underneath the spiky scales on the side of the face. I assume it's always been there and can now be seen due to the scales floating more from the face.


The spikes attached to the jawline is also floating, creating another gap. The spike is also made much larger which I guess to match the size with the other jaw options. An odd decision in my opinion, but I personally don't mind it.


Lastly the glove is still clipping through the hand.



To me it feels that the development team underestimated the amount of work this graphic update would take, and it shows where they had to cut corners. I understand it's a tough task and a lot of what they have showed us so far is beautifully done. I'm not expecting any more changes to be made for Dawntrail release, however I do hope that all the feedback being posted here gets taken into consideration once time allows it.

[mk-sein]

First things first, I'm really grateful that the benchmark was updated! I think it was a huge upgrade and I'm really happy with how bright colors are now. Backgrounds look gorgeous now.

I play a female Au Ra, face 3. I'm very happy that her eyes don't look lifeless any longer.

That said, I personally don't like how big and blurry the new pupils look. It makes her eyes look less focused, in a way, and hides a large part of the iris.


She has also gained some pretty intense eyebags, though this change doesn't bother me.

My main issue is with my character's mouth. The corners of her mouth got turned down, so she has lost her permanent smile. As I picked this face + mouth shape specifically because I wanted her to look warm and friendly, I'm disappointed with this change.
Here is a neutral expression in live vs a neutral expression in CC/Benchmark.
And a detailed look:



A further issue is how the light makes the mouth look at times.
Here is a screenshot from the April benchmark. The lips look fine here.
In comparison, here is a screenshot from the new Benchmark. The lower lip looks bigger on her left/our right and almost like it extends past her upper lip.
This issue is not exclusive to the Benchmark trailer. It happens in several light conditions in the new character creator, too. Examples here:






It leads to a very odd-looking shape, as if her lower lip were significantly wider than her upper lip.


To me, the mouth shape changing so that her slight smile is lost is the biggest issue. It's one of the reasons why I picked that specific face so losing that is disappointing.

Overall, I am thankful for this new Benchmark because it did address a lot of issues present in the last one (lifeless eyes, skin looking like plastic, strange lighting and colors, etc). Unfortunately, it seems like most model changes, apart from things that were actually broken (like Elezen and Lalafell mouth rigs), are here to stay. I am still very much looking forward to Dawntrail and the graphics update but I am sad that my character will lose part of what defined her.

Thank you for all your hard work, and thanks for reading.

[Tarath]

but it's clear that the new sculpts were left untouched for this update.

I stand corrected, the face and nose have been slimmed down. I guess I blinded myself too much with artefacts such as face scales still floating from the previous benchmark. The face is still wider compared to the current version, but honestly I'm pleasantly surprised and welcome the adjustments.



My criticism remains, however as long as the small oversights gets fixed, I'll be happy with my character. As much as I would love to have the old eyes and scales back as well, I'm starting to lose hope there.


On a different note, the shadow cast from the horns and clothes are pretty low res and jitters quite badly under harsh light. Hoping it's another oversight and gets looked into.