Graphics don't look so good

[SaFe]

Hopefully CA recognize that eye candy is not the most important thing for this game...

It will help nobody if we have a wonderful "sea in action" and stupid ai and broken diplomacy.

[Rodion Romanovich]

@SaFe: Being a soon graduated computer engineer I would say the most time consuming part of making the sea is to program the wave model, LOD and setting up a basic reflection, which seem to have been done already in the screenshots. Only things left to do are probably small adjustments that can probably be done by one coder in less than 3 hours or so: for example fixing the specular lighting (there should be a bright line from the sun to the camera), and secondly making the surface look less oily (I think it's possible to do that with 1-10 lines of code).

Though I agree the AI and gameplay is most important and hope it will be given more coding hours than other aspects!

[Hoplite7]

I can safely say what you are looking at is very early work. Things have moved on since then.

Lighting is a bit broken, textures are an early pass and the men are "placeholders" and not "the full monty".

Some of the ships are stuck "in irons" as a result of turning through the wind and as a result the sails, which are also not using the full sail model, look a bit ropey.

The naval AI is still being written.

Things will move on. I'm glad you still think it looks good though.

When you see the sea "in action" you will realise that it really is better than almost any game you have seen before.

Oh OK, that explains it. I knew something looked odd with the men lol.

Can't wait for the first video, videos always make it look better. The water part looks great, almost as good as Bioshock's DX 10 water, which since this is an RTS, is really saying something.

Just as a question: The game will obviously be a DX 9 game, but will it feature DX 10 settings?

[Zoring]

Hell i'd be happy with Medieval 2 graphics as long as CA fired whoever did the mongolian skins, yuck. As it is it's looking far from shabby!

[challengethesea]

Hmmm.... either that ship in the far distance and the one in the foreground are in irons (pointed dead upwind), or there isn't a realistic sailing model being shown here.

Perhaps they're tacking? Though I believe they would rather wear ship... It could be indicative of poor AI, which at this stage would not surprise me (so early in development). I do remember in POTC the game, the AI had a terrible habit of trying to sail upwind and ending up in irons, which led to some very easy raking actions. At any rate, I am pleased to see that the sails in the ship in the background appear to be backed, unless me eyes are merely playing tricks on me.

[Stig]

Hopefully CA recognize that eye candy is not the most important thing for this game...

Eyecandy makes sure the game will be sold to the big public. All other things make sure that some people will play it longer than a month. Simple as that.
If you want to make millions with your game eyecandy is the most important part, face it most people buy games because of stunning graphics. Ever heard reviews: "look at this stunning looking game ... oh and it plays quite well as well, but it looks so good".

You might not agree, but look at things, every game that sells well as damned good graphics.

[ninjahboy]

things are looking fantastic - some screenshots better than others :P
Hopefully itll be DX9 compatibile but mostly DX10 (hopefully illl have vista and a new graphics card by the time this comes out :D)

[Caius]

Hard to please, aren't we?

If we are so hard to please with CA, why dont we help CA?

[andrewt]

Eyecandy makes sure the game will be sold to the big public. All other things make sure that some people will play it longer than a month. Simple as that.
If you want to make millions with your game eyecandy is the most important part, face it most people buy games because of stunning graphics. Ever heard reviews: "look at this stunning looking game ... oh and it plays quite well as well, but it looks so good".

You might not agree, but look at things, every game that sells well as damned good graphics.

Two of the best PC developers, Bioware and Blizzard aren't noted for their graphics. Blizzard makes pretty artwork from an artistic standpoint but they make graphics that are dated from a technical standpoint. Bioware's graphics are mediocre at best.

[Red Spot]

Does this mean they're putting gameplay over graphics ...

I'm hoping they do!!
than you'd finally have a game thats not just cool to see, but actually cool to play ...

dont get me wrong Rome and M2 I have with expansions for Rome and I like them, but if they'd ask me if I'd like to comprimise some graphics for better gameplay I'd take gameplay any day!!

IMO the whole gamemarket atm is about nothing else than who can release the most and most flat but graphicly über games.


G

[ninjahboy]

i dont think that theyve compromised anyhting in M2 tbh. maybe the only thingis unit groups caps at 150 men. but meh i can still have sweet battles.

[Geoffrey S]

Graphics over gameplay... all I have to say on the matter is that first time I loaded up any TW game I've been amazed at the graphics, and they have all been among the most enjoyable titles I've ever played. Sure, they're not perfect, but issues that long-time players notice will probably largely pass most consumers by; I know I've only ever played an unpatched MTW and did so for a long time with RTW (before joining these forums) without it reducing my enjoyment whatsoever.

[Daveybaby]

When you see the sea "in action" you will realise that it really is better than almost any game you have seen before.

Post some movies for us then.

[Hooahguy]

i, for one, would rather have the graphics of RTW but really good AI and such than ridiculously god graphics (which, btw, would be a sad mistake on CA's part to have really high system requirements, for i for one, will not have a GeForce 8800, whcich is what most people are thinking is what you will need)

[Intrepid Sidekick]

We have programming teams dedicated to different tasks; One for Graphics, one for AI for the battles, one for AI for the campaign etc etc. Each element of the game is getting its fair share of attention.

For those that are interested in the appearance of the ships I have just seen one of our artists putting in the new stays and shrouds for one of the first rates. He assures me that the reefed sails are looking spanky too :0)

In a way it's a shame we have to show stuff that isn't finished but it's all part of the development* process, and of making you people and the rest of the world aware that we are not resting on our laurels.

I could also talk about the clouds and the rain but you might think I was a "bit odd" for finding this stuff so interesting.


* This means things are in an ongoing process of change!

[pevergreen]

Any word of progress on the campaign map?

[Incongruous]

Yet more info on GFX

[Intrepid Sidekick]

You have no blummin' idea how hard it can be to just sit here and not be able to blurt out everything we are doing, or talk about how great it is, or even talk in any detail about the complications and issues we have to deal with everyday to get a game built and ready to play.

Its best I leave that stuff to our marketing chaps to announce. I will be happy to talk about the NON GFX elements of the game when they are announced. You will see that has been done elsewhere on these and our own forums.

There will be some dev diaries being released on our forums as development continues and we will be spending more time talking about actual game features and not just what some of you think of as "eye-candy".

[Boyar Son]

need to have good graphics....

but i cant wait for those inf. battles!

[Bootsiuv]

Hmmm.... either that ship in the far distance and the one in the foreground are in irons (pointed dead upwind), or there isn't a realistic sailing model being shown here. Oh well, probably too early to start carping, eh?

Ooof... I'm going to need a new computer too. But the timing's about right, this time around.

Probably more like a Pirates set up....wind will still play an important factor, but I don't think they'll go into huge detail, especially not the first time around.