Graphics

[Zersy]

I have become desensitized to todays graphics even with all the amazing texturing,lighting,detail and jaw dropping moments i just can't seem to look at a game and think

"OMGFG Those Graphics are Amazing"

Is it just me ?

I went back to play a few Last gen games and noticed that those Graphics were pretty amazing considering with the technology the devs had to work with.

but can someone explain or help ?

what made Graphics so awesome ?

what is a jaw dropping moment now ?

(Even Killzone 2 Graphics don't seem to amaze me no matter how many times i play it)

 

[iJosh]

I think killzone 2 graphics are pretty good. I think we are just used to graphics getting better and better every year.

 

[Valiance]

There's practically no notable difference between 2004 and now aside from massive bloom and eyes-out-of-focus.

Details look better, but don't seem to add to the game most of the time.

 

[hermes]

You are not alone.

We are up to a point when they can show you the skin spots of every character in the game and make it look as real as it can gets without being an FMV. With that said, I would rather have an art style that matches the game rather than hyper realistic graphics for every game released. I really preffer the graphics of Team Fortress 2 instead of Killzone 2.

 

[SimuLord]

There's practically no notable difference between 2004 and now aside from massive bloom and eyes-out-of-focus.

Details look better, but don't seem to add to the game most of the time.

Speaking as someone who's been playing a lot of Rome: Total War lately I'm inclined to strongly agree. There's a critical-mass point in games where graphics reach a point of diminishing returns, and I think we hit it five years ago. Even new, modern games (like Empire) just look like 2004 games with a shinier coat, just with longer and more expensive development cycles and truckloads of bugs.

 

[Thorgall]

You should look into some of the MMo's out there if the console graphics aren't doing it for you anymore. There are some amazing graphics in them. However with the current state of movie special effects these days any video game pales in comparison.

 

[Aura Guardian]

AS an owner of an Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, I don't care much for graphics. I've played Killzone 2 and the graphics while they are very impressive, it wasn't jaw dropping nor best graphics ever. I'm not a PC gamer but I've seen Crysis and I wasn't impressed either. I own Gears of War 2 and I thought it was a graphical upgrade but it wasn't spectacular. Maybe that's why I love the graphics on some Wii titles. Deadly Creature, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy, Warioware Smooth Moves, Warioland Shake It, No More Heroes, Madworld and House of the Dead Overkill. Maybe it's because I'm not a graphics nut or the graphics on thoses title do the best they can not to compete with 360 or PS3 games and still look good.

 

[Shy_Guy]

I'm not a PC gamer but I've seen Crysis and I wasn't impressed either.

Honestly, if you weren't impressed, you must have seen it running on Low settings. Even on Medium settings it impresses; Ultra-High with DirectX 10 is something to marvel at.

Screens for proof:
http://gallery.gwn.ru/screenshots/107497
http://www6.incrysis.com/screenshots/crysis_warhead_pcg_2807003.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7171/sampless6je7.jpg
http://forums.filefront.com/attachments/crysis-general-discussion/63808d1211697370-crysis-very-high-dx10-8800gt-maxres.jpg

 

[Aura Guardian]

I'm not a PC gamer but I've seen Crysis and I wasn't impressed either.

Honestly, if you weren't impressed, you must have seen it running on Low settings. Even on Medium settings it impresses; Ultra-High with DirectX 10 is something to marvel at.

Screens for proof:
http://gallery.gwn.ru/screenshots/107497
http://www6.incrysis.com/screenshots/crysis_warhead_pcg_2807003.jpg
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7171/sampless6je7.jpg
http://forums.filefront.com/attachments/crysis-general-discussion/63808d1211697370-crysis-very-high-dx10-8800gt-maxres.jpg

It's nice. I'm still not impressed with them.

 

[sneak_copter]

You are not alone.

We are up to a point when they can show you the skin spots of every character in the game and make it look as real as it can gets without being an FMV. With that said, I would rather have an art style that matches the game rather than hyper realistic graphics for every game released. I really preffer the graphics of Team Fortress 2 instead of Killzone 2.

Same Here. I think Braid looks way better than COD 4.

 

[Valiance]

Photo-realism is overrated and can't really get much better in this state.

 

[_Janny_]

If you've played Oblivion and didn't go "wow" at least once then you might be jaded...

 

[fix-the-spade]

to me it works like this:

Art Design > Graphics

Look at something like Colony wars, Perfect Dark, Halo:Combat Evolved or Final Fantasy 7

They all create interesting, good looking worlds with the hardware available to them. The also all look distinctive, today the reliance is too much on technology to make up for extremely generic character/world designs.

 

[AtLeastImNotFrench]

It's after you get used to HD and such that graphics don't impress. Play a console on a standard-definition TV for an hour or so and then return to HD. The sudden change in detail and the like is very significant.

If you play high-end graphics game after high-end graphics game, a slight improvement in terms of one visual effect doesn't make a blind bit of difference.

 

[Trioptical]

to me it works like this:

Art Design > Graphics

Look at something like Colony wars, Perfect Dark, Halo:Combat Evolved or Final Fantasy 7

They all create interesting, good looking worlds with the hardware available to them. The also all look distinctive, today the reliance is too much on technology to make up for extremely generic character/world designs.

Agreed. Graphics only make a game look good in the here and now, but art design can make a game look good regardless of the level of technology available at a given time.

Back to the OP, I still get the "OMG! Graphics goood!" moments quite a bit. I just played through Tomb Raider Underworld recently, and while it doesn't have a graphics reputation, I still thought it looked really good. For me though, it may have to do with the fact that I aspire to make games, so anything beyond my ability to comprehend how it was made looks really good to me. For the most part.

So it's an appreciation of the work involved in making visuals that impresses me.

 

[DM.]

Oh god they rendered each grain of sand

 

[Deef]

I havn't had a jaw dropping moment since the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, at that point it was so much better than any other 360 game.

 

[SimuLord]

If you've played Oblivion and didn't go "wow" at least once then you might be jaded...

I went "wow" twice. The first time was after I got out of the Imperial City sewers, climbed up the hill to the prison tower, and took a panoramic look out at the world. I'd just bought a new 2006-issue PC (that I still have) and Oblivion was the first graphically advanced game I played on it.

The second time was the climactic final battle. My jaw went slack, I watched the scene, then I said "wow. Holy shit that was awesome." How could the same company that made one of my all-time favorite climactic scenes in an RPG then turn around and make one of the worst two years later?

 

[AdmiralWolverineLightningbolt]

ironic, it's the other way round with me

like 2 or 3 years ago, i could barely tell the difference between many games graphics
but then i got more into art, in particular lighting and noticed how it was applied to games and through that, i now appreciate almost all graphics and seeing some games in motion just amazes me