Digital Nightfall on 12/1/2011 at 21:22
The main thing they're pushing to bring Skyrim a generation beyond Oblivion isn't graphics per say; it's polish.
Eldron on 13/1/2011 at 12:32
Quote Posted by Digital Nightfall
The main thing they're pushing to bring Skyrim a generation beyond Oblivion isn't graphics per say; it's polish.
This.
I know Steo's solution to everything is to throw polygons at it, otherwise it doesn't look good, but the amount of stuff they do with the same hardware is way more important, if anything the content in oblivion could've been way more optimized, which means, LOWER polygon counts.
there were a lot of polygons laid around in models that didn't do much.
and Steo,
Artistically they're doing way more than before, technologically they have access to more features, such as full shadowing and more post processing tools at the least, but if you can't see the artistic improvements, then I can't help you there.
steo on 13/1/2011 at 16:22
The fact that they're using the same hardware is the main reason it doesn't look better. Maybe it's impressive that they managed to improve the visuals without affecting performance, but there's only a limited amount they can improve with those constraints, hence my comment that it looks 'basically like Oblivion', which I still stand by. And you can say what you want about the value of polygons, we're not yet at the point where adding more of them doesn't yield a noticeable improvement in visual quality.
Also, I'm referring mainly to what I can see about the technical aspects of the new game, to talk about artistic direction is all very subjective. I thought Oblivion was very good in that respect, particularly if you base your opinion purely on the pre-release screenshots.
I think a big part of this argument comes down to pre-conceptions and expectations. I'm very disillusioned with Bethesda after getting hyped up about Oblivion and then being extremely disappointed by it, plus they ruined Fallout 3. I presume you're on the opposite end of the spectrum. Furthermore, when Oblivion came out, it looked very good and required a very high-end system. For some, obviously short-sighted reason, I expected something similar from Skyrim, which is obviously impossible, since it has to run on the same hardware, hence my immediate dissatisfaction with the screenshots.
So while I'll concede that perhaps I'm not fully appreciating the graphical improvements that are visible in the screens, I think you're getting hyped up and seeing them as being much more major and important than they actually are. Either way, the key improvement in Skyrim will obviously be about gameplay, rather than graphics.
Briareos H on 13/1/2011 at 16:56
Unrelated, but the more I think about it, the more I realise how essential UI is to me. If there is no use for the right mouse button, if I can't select and drag&drop items from my inventory or if I can't manually resize the map window, I'm not interested in the game (may contain hyperbole). My experience with Bethesda games since Morrowind has been the same: a constant feeling of having an interface designed for
something else in front of me.
If the developer is too lazy to develop a specific interface targeted at a control scheme which is obviously a perfect fit (and much better than a gamepad) for a role playing game, then I'm too lazy to play said game when there are tons of better titles around.
Beth dear, look into your heart - and into the compared numbers of PC and console sales (which I'd love to know) - and back at me. Try, oh please try to see in my eyes someone else than a failed console gamer.
As PC gamer puts it nicely:
Quote Posted by http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/12/30/15-things-we-want-to-see-in-the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/
Come on, nerdy stats and inventory lists are what the PC was made for. Let us at ‘em. Oblivion's interface is capable of listing between THREE and SIX items at a time before you have to scroll. Same goes for the map - if Bethesda have any idea how important a really good map can be to the sense of being in a fantasy world, the size of the damn thing in Oblivion didn't show it. These aren't huge issues, but look: modders fixed them in a day or two. If you seriously don't have anyone who can do that before release, hire those modders.
I know every cross-platform developer loves to say “All three versions are identical,” to wash their hands of the platform wars, but guys: they're not. One of them is played with a mouse and keyboard from two feet away. Notice this
That article is a good read anyway, very just.
Dresden on 14/1/2011 at 11:31
Quote Posted by Eldron
This.
there were a lot of polygons laid around in models that didn't do much.
lol, 20 poly grass
Does anyone else remember downloading low poly grass mods and having Oblivion run twice as fast while looking the same? Anyway, I'm loving these screens so far. I also think taking out the Major/Minor skills thing was a good move.
Eldron on 14/1/2011 at 11:44
Quote Posted by steo
The fact that they're using the same hardware is the main reason it doesn't look better. Maybe it's impressive that they managed to improve the visuals without affecting performance, but there's only a limited amount they can improve with those constraints, hence my comment that it looks 'basically like Oblivion', which I still stand by. And you can say what you want about the value of polygons, we're not yet at the point where adding more of them doesn't yield a noticeable improvement in visual quality.
Also, I'm referring mainly to what I can see about the technical aspects of the new game, to talk about artistic direction is all very subjective. I thought Oblivion was very good in that respect, particularly if you base your opinion purely on the pre-release screenshots.
I think a big part of this argument comes down to pre-conceptions and expectations. I'm very disillusioned with Bethesda after getting hyped up about Oblivion and then being extremely disappointed by it, plus they ruined Fallout 3. I presume you're on the opposite end of the spectrum. Furthermore, when Oblivion came out, it looked very good and required a very high-end system. For some, obviously short-sighted reason, I expected something similar from Skyrim, which is obviously impossible, since it has to run on the same hardware, hence my immediate dissatisfaction with the screenshots.
So while I'll concede that perhaps I'm not fully appreciating the graphical improvements that are visible in the screens, I think you're getting hyped up and seeing them as being much more major and important than they actually are. Either way, the key improvement in Skyrim will obviously be about gameplay, rather than graphics.
Disgruntled pc user? ;)
Btw, I am a game artist since quite a few years back, and if there's anything I know quite good, it's game art, hence why I'm seeing so many artistic improvements over the quite mixed bag that was oblivion.
Ostriig on 15/1/2011 at 14:46
"Stop right there criminal scum?"P.S. Nevermind, the sound in Skyrim will officially be awesome because if you look at the static image for that fourth video in the article it has a picture of
TECHNOVIKING!
N'Al on 15/1/2011 at 17:50
Quote Posted by Ostriig
TECHNOVIKING!
Yeah, that was quite hilarious, I have to admit.
steo on 15/1/2011 at 22:51
Holy shit, that actually is Technoviking!
