This is not what I call a downgrade

[Punainen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_737h...ailpage#t=997s

Am I the only one to notice the way the sunlight filters through the trees? Could it look any more realistic?? This is a step way way UP from 1.0, not a step down. Dynamic lighting is amazing.

[Starlord]

I 100% agree, everything looks and FEELS so realistic and lively like your actually apart of the world. You yourself feels like you in the game

[AsterBarnivere]

All thanks to the new Luminous Engine! *When it comes to graphics, Square Enix never fails to disappoint*

[Rane]

I completely agree. 2.0 looks fantastic. The sense of artificiality in the 1.xx environments is gone--the 2.0 world just feels real. I can't wait to get in there and run around!

[Breladine]

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

[Shougun]

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

I'd imagine or hope that for lower shadow settings they use a blanket shadow rather then the inaccurate and pixely shadow. (Blanket meaning its a solid shadow piece not a leafy pixel block outline). Although they did say you can get more for less in their new system - so maybe you wont even have to lower your settings.

[Punainen]

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

Well, with the new engine, perhaps you wont NEED to turn the shadows down low. I'll probably crank my graphics up real high, as XIV works relatively well for me on high settings even now.

[Preypacer]

It does look fantastic, though the sheer volume of shadows on the ground from trees I fear will look like a giant mess with my shadow settings turned down to minimum like they usually are (for performance rather than detail).

They're upgrading to a deferred renderer in 2.0 which, if you've ever seen one in action, are amazingly fast and efficient. Normally, all the shadowmaps/objects on the screen are updated every frame. With deferred rendering, only the parts that change are updated.

Here's a video that does a good job of explaining and demonstrating it.

Also, though I don't know if SE will offer this option, but a lot of games will offer a lower setting where shadow-maps are used in lieu of dynamic shadows. You lose the nice effect of shadows moving on the ground and across objects, etc.. but you at least don't get the "blob" effect you're concerned about. Again, I'm not sure if SE will be doing that or not, but it's possible.

[Shougun]

They're upgrading to a deferred renderer in 2.0 which, if you've ever seen one in action, are amazingly fast and efficient. Normally, all the shadowmaps/objects on the screen are updated every frame. With deferred rendering, only the parts that change are updated.

Here's a video that does a good job of explaining and demonstrating it.

Also, though I don't know if SE will offer this option, but a lot of games will offer a lower setting where shadow-maps are used in lieu of dynamic shadows. You lose the nice effect of shadows moving on the ground and across objects, etc.. but you at least don't get the "blob" effect you're concerned about. Again, I'm not sure if SE will be doing that or not, but it's possible.

Thats an awesome video >.>

[Zaireeka2025]

With all the posting I've been doing on the "downgrade" thread fighting for better animation (which was badly named by admission). The OP wasn't trying to generalize an entire downgrade about ARR, just an aspect he/she felt needed attention.

Regardless, I am in love with the footage and the upgrade in graphics we are going to receive in ARR. I'm as happy and excited as the next guy. I'm especially impressed with the color palette, shadows, and UI.