WOW getting gradual graphics upgrade News
MMO PC News by Oli Welsh
World of Warcraft producer J. Allen Brack has said that Blizzard is taking an "iterative, organic" approach to overhauling the hit MMO's graphics, rather than building towards one big revamp.
Brack made the comment to Worldofwar after he'd been quoted suggesting that a full graphical upgrade would be on the way with the next expansion (something he intimated to us a few months ago).
"It's important to note that in general we're taking an iterative, organic approach to graphics upgrades, going feature by feature as opposed to thinking in terms of an overall 'new graphics engine'," Brack said. "For example, we've discussed plans for new visuals for water, but this would be for a future content update or expansion."
Brack also underlined the enhancements coming in imminent expansion Wrath of the Lich King.
"We do have some graphics updates coming with Wrath of the Lich King, namely in three areas: shadow system, shader technology, and view distance. The shadow system will greatly improve the look of existing shadows, and players will be able to display both character and structure shadows," he said.
"The new shader technology we've implemented enables the team to create even better looking terrain, as well as some cool ice effects. And, the view distance has been increased, so players will be able to see farther than ever before in Northrend."
We can report from our own experiences on the beta that the game is indeed substantially prettier thanks to these effects, with only a minor hit on framerate.
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Comments: 1-34 of 34 in total
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hiddenranbir
29/08/08 @ 08:33
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Iterative is good. Not everyone upgrades their PC at the same time or as much. So this is good.
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They can add shaders, shadows, up the draw distance, it won't cover up the fact that the models look rubbish. You'd need a full overhaul to solve that.
However, I think it's worth more to Blizzard that WoW runs on just about any machine than if it looks really up-to-date but only a fraction of their userbase can run it properly. |
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farticusmaximus
29/08/08 @ 09:27
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"the models look rubbish"
It's still the best looking MMO out there. Yes, better than AoC which although has higher res textures still manages to look like ass. |
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Talk Show Host
29/08/08 @ 10:20
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What's the use of upgrading some areas in graphics if you can only see them in the expansion? What of the previous areas?
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WoW has the best animations. It doesn't matter how anatomically detailed your models are if they move like Thunderbird puppets. WoW is now lacking in detail *but* it still runs fine on very low end graphics cards, as I found out when I had to temporarily replace my new graphics card with an old GF2 MX.
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Bitkari - shut up and bring me ten hog snouts, and stop whining about it!
"WoW has the best animations. It doesn't matter how anatomically detailed your models are if they move like Thunderbird puppets." So very, very, true. Admittedly, I'm not terribly well versed in MMORPGs, but I certainly prefer the look of WoW to LotR and AoC. |
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farticusmaximus
29/08/08 @ 10:46
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@Bitkari
"such great art direction makes up for lack of technical wizardry" This is so true. The lighting and particle effects in WoW are superb, but it's the art direction that keeps it in a different league visually to any other MMO. Cheeky and chunky but oh so very immersive. Of course it's not to everyone's taste... only around, what, 9 million paying customers? ;) |
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WoW indeed has the best animations. WotLK is a serious upgrade but it comes at a cost. My laptop can't run the beta very well.. my "big" PC has no trouble with the new graphics options. Overall it looks a lot better, especially when you go back to TBC and are faced with the rather crap draw distance.
BTW LOTRO still is the best looking MMORPG ;) |
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WoW still has it's charms, and i'm sure that still passes for new players, or those who are still in love with the game.
Having not played it for some months though, trying WoW again really highlights it's issues when not viewed through rose tinted glasses. Objectively it looks very dated, despite the excellent art direction. I'm another one voting in favour of Lotro though in the visual department (among other things). Lovely models, textures, environments and effects. But above all it's the atmosphere. It really hits that nail on the head. |
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MrChallacombe
29/08/08 @ 15:55
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I love how WOW runs fine on most computers, yet others mmos just die. well done.
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WoW graphics are a joke... very weak indeed, AgeOfConan graphics are 5 times better, i'm not judging anyone who likes these kind of games but, i think they'r boring as hell, i tried, ireally did, but they'r absurdly boring for me and quited after reaching level 30 with a hunter... gimme gimme gimme some shooters 3rd person or 1st person, it doesn't matter, or RTS and i'll be fine.
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AphoticCosmos
31/08/08 @ 12:35
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"the models look rubbish"
It's still the best looking MMO out there. Yes, better than AoC which although has higher res textures still manages to look like ass. Technically or artistically? Technically, EVE Online, LOTRO and AoC are all far more advanced than WoW, and always will be tbh. EVE's ships and stations look like sex and spit on WoW's cartoony low-res bollocks. Artistically speaking, it's just a point of view thing. I would happily nominate Guild Wars, though. Artistically it's a thing of beauty and EotN regions are technically great, too. |
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iokthemonkey
02/09/08 @ 09:25
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I always found the environments in WoW were superior to the character models. The effect of the colour palette changes and the way they render forests with PURPLE shades simply shouldn't work, yet they make it look beautiful.
The problem I have with WoW though is that the character animations are lacking - look at the Male Dark Elf and watch the way they bounce around when they run/jump. They're like big floppy bunny wabbits or something... I personally think LOTRO is a better looking game, but LOTRO's animations and character models are weak. The characters run in an odd way (especially female characters) that would cause you to trip over your own feet and the torso-to-leg ratios on male humans is out. AoC has the most anatomically correct models, but they're smudgy and kind of undefined. But I think this interview proves why WoW's userbase is 2309324802394809 times bigger than AoC's - you can have a game that looks fantastic but if it plays like ass, well nobody's going to play it... |
Comments: 1-34 of 34 in total
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