Originally posted by Atlan99

Originally posted by keithian

Originally posted by likwidsage

The graphics dont look any better than star trek online imo.

Star Trek Online is an instanced piece of crap and even with that their graphics can't compare.

Well to be fair the character models don't look bad and might even be comparable.

However the environments are not even close. STO ground and planet environments are terrible compared to SWTOR.

What I was referring to, also. While I completely agree (probably feel more strongly about it than most) that STO is complete utter crap, the character models are in the same league. The environments...not so much...

The art style is much better in SWTOR, but graphics don't seem all the impressive compared to newer mmos.

I think that SWTOR's artstyle has more in common with the Mass Effect series then WoW. Wow's graphics are deceiving. They managed to pull of a good artstyle with very ow polygon counts (was considered low already even back when it was released). It is not my preferred artstyle, but I still think they really squeezed max aestetics out their  graphics engine.

I also dont agree anymore about LOTRO being at the top. It seems that most ppl mainly see the pretty sky and water effect. For the rest it has low detail charactermodels and bland ground textures. Games like Aion look good too, but also has many bland textures and makes up for it with crazy particle effects and animations.

Atm, I think SWTOR, GW2 and AoC are among the best in the graphics department (for MMO's of course).

STO has decent character models, but their environments are not in the same league as SWTOR at all.  That's not to say that they aren't improving, but you really can't compare the two games, especially given the massive difference in capabilities of each game's engine (STO is built on the Champions Online game engine).

I think this is better...

Originally posted by rpgalon

I think this is better...

Game is that? Graphics in that are a couple TIMEs better than SWTOR.

Originally posted by Ginaz

Originally posted by MMO.Maverick

The character models are improved, though they're still rather ok than awesome, and nowhere near  AoC's or Aion's character graphics.

In this, SWTOR is kind of like LotrO, the environment graphics are superb but in contrast the character models of both MMO's are ok and 'good enough', but nowhere near astonishing.

I agree with you on the environments.  They are very well done and some of the best I've ever seen in a game, not just an MMO.  I disagree with the character models, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OskRij8AYaU

I like everything about ToR..think this video pretty much nails it

Originally posted by Fadedbomb

Game is that? Graphics in that are a couple TIMEs better than SWTOR.

The Secret World, you should check the 20 minute dungeon run gameplay video.

here is one of my favorite monster http://l3cdn.funcom.com/tsw/screenshots/ea_tsw_2-1067x600.jpg

I'm not a swtor fan, but i appreciate the graphics. They look nice and smooth and pretty. But they arent sexy. Nope.  Not at all sexy.

Originally posted by rpgalon

The Secret World, you should check the 20 minute dungeon run gameplay video.

here is one of my favorite monster http://l3cdn.funcom.com/tsw/screenshots/ea_tsw_2-1067x600.jpg

The graphics look great, just like Mass Effect 1 and 2's graphics look more spectacular than SWTOR's. There's a reason why BW didn't opt for Mass Effect level of graphics, even if many including me would have preferred it. It's the same reason why AoC had so many stability and performance issues in the beginning. That level of detailed graphics in an MMO requires huge resources. Sure, I expect TSW to do better in the area of performance and stability than AoC did when it launches, but there's no way that you could show a vast, wide open landscapes in TSW that you'll find in SWTOR like for example the massive city landscape of Coruscant.

Environments look okay.  Surfaces look a little bland but they do well enough.  Background and sky texture are one of the finer things to be had graphically I think. 

Character models look......sort of iffy.  Armor looks fine.  Actual faces and skin texture seem to lack detail to my eyes. 

But to say its one of the best looking mmorpgs out there, to me, seems whoever said it hasnt seen much else because there are plenty of mmos that compare or are far finer graphically.  Artistically they've done alright with what they have.  Although Im not overly impressed there either. 

If I were to play Tor, it wouldnt be because of the graphics any how, because they're not pushing the envelope there in the least.  They're okay.  Not bad.  Just not what I would consider fantastic.  I kind of think if fans here took a step back and stopped patting each other on the back about how amazing the graphics are, they might see that. 

People claim they've chosen these cartoony textures because of art preference.  I dont buy it.  Others say its so it can run on lower end machines.  Nope.  I figure if anything its because if they really do have 200+ hours of game play per class, they'd need to tone it down a bit in order to accomplish a game that big.  But thats just a mild opinion.  Not a fact. 

Originally posted by Corehaven

...  Nope.  I figure if anything its because if they really do have 200+ hours of game play per class, they'd need to tone it down a bit in order to accomplish a game that big.  But thats just a mild opinion.  Not a fact. ...

I'm curious about your opinion.

Do you believe that 200+ hours of gameplay per class is unique gameplay? 

Or... do you believe that 200+ hours is about 180 hours of shared gameplay for each faction, with about 20+ hours of unique gameplay for each of the 4 base classes?  Or... do you think it is somewhere in between?

Originally posted by fadis

Originally posted by Corehaven

...  Nope.  I figure if anything its because if they really do have 200+ hours of game play per class, they'd need to tone it down a bit in order to accomplish a game that big.  But thats just a mild opinion.  Not a fact. ...

I'm curious about your opinion.

Do you believe that 200+ hours of gameplay per class is unique gameplay? 

Or... do you believe that 200+ hours is about 180 hours of shared gameplay for each faction, with about 20+ hours of unique gameplay for each of the 4 base classes?  Or... do you think it is somewhere in between?

 

 

 

 

My guess would be that the 200 hours is average for each class to get through their story from start to finish, as with anything your mileage may very but on average it was earmarked at 200, This includes everything including killing mobs, walking to areas (in a beeline way, if you go wandering off that doesn't count towards the timer) and talking to NPCs.

Each class (not advance class) is marked 200 hours, so thats 200x8 (thats 4 for each side) of class story. Now you may at some points be in an area with other people who are doing things there, but they are there for different reasons and under different motives. This does not include raids, flashpoints, group quests, world bosses, exploration or crafting, this 200 hours is just one aspect of the gameplay which is the personal story.

I'm not sure what the big deal about this statement is.

I mean, let's look at the facts.  There's a pretty limited pool of MMOs with big enough resources to do really great graphics.

There's an even more limited pool of fresh MMOs that use more modern graphics technology (I mean, look at how old things like WoW and CoH are. :P ).

Just by process of elimination, SW:TOR is going to have some of the best graphics for an MMO.

Not THE best maybe, but definitely among some of the best.

Just like you'd expect TSW and GW2 to have better graphics than most MMOs out there.

(shrug)

So, I give this title a 'perfectly accurate' rating on the Meowhead scale.

Graphics =/= better gameplay. Fail argument in general.

Originally posted by whilan

Originally posted by fadis

Originally posted by Corehaven

...  Nope.  I figure if anything its because if they really do have 200+ hours of game play per class, they'd need to tone it down a bit in order to accomplish a game that big.  But thats just a mild opinion.  Not a fact. ...

I'm curious about your opinion.

Do you believe that 200+ hours of gameplay per class is unique gameplay? 

Or... do you believe that 200+ hours is about 180 hours of shared gameplay for each faction, with about 20+ hours of unique gameplay for each of the 4 base classes?  Or... do you think it is somewhere in between?

 

 

 

 

My guess would be that the 200 hours is average for each class to get through their story from start to finish, as with anything your mileage may very but on average it was earmarked at 200, This includes everything including killing mobs, walking to areas (in a beeline way, if you go wandering off that doesn't count towards the timer) and talking to NPCs.

Each class (not advance class) is marked 200 hours, so thats 200x8 (thats 4 for each side) of class story. Now you may at some points be in an area with other people who are doing things there, but they are there for different reasons and under different motives. This does not include raids, flashpoints, group quests, world bosses, exploration or crafting, this 200 hours is just one aspect of the gameplay which is the personal story.

This reply is pretty much exactly as I saw it.  Each class has a personal story which factors into it.  So thats individual time allotment.  Id imagine there are also class specific quests and missions. 

I know classes will be doing some of the same stuff or playing with one another.  So in response to Fadis, maybe a bit of both.   But if the 200+ hour thing is true, especially for each of the classes, yea.....thats a LOT of game. 

Originally posted by Erstok

Graphics =/= better gameplay. Fail argument in general.

I'm not talking about the game play which I think has to show case two of the worst players in MMO history lol, just the enviroments. 

Good thing you saw that part, before you comment huh? oh wait...

Hes is not saying graphics equal gameplay, even says so right in the original post.

Originally posted by Meowhead

I'm not sure what the big deal about this statement is.

I mean, let's look at the facts.  There's a pretty limited pool of MMOs with big enough resources to do really great graphics.

There's an even more limited pool of fresh MMOs that use more modern graphics technology (I mean, look at how old things like WoW and CoH are. :P ).

Just by process of elimination, SW:TOR is going to have some of the best graphics for an MMO.

Not THE best maybe, but definitely among some of the best.

Just like you'd expect TSW and GW2 to have better graphics than most MMOs out there.

(shrug)

So, I give this title a 'perfectly accurate' rating on the Meowhead scale.

The only problem I see is that Swtor isnt significantly better graphically (as far as I can tell) than WoW for instance.  I said significant.  I do agree I think it looks a little better than WoW.   Im not sure it really quite compares to TSW or GW2 though.  Ive seen some amazing graphics in games recently.  And for a few years now.  Id kind of expected Tor to be a little more graphically advanced. 

But as some as said, great graphics and pretty lights do not make a great game.  Thats very true. 

Originally posted by Corehaven

 

The only problem I see is that Swtor isnt significantly better graphically (as far as I can tell) than WoW for instance.  I said significant.  I do agree I think it looks a little better than WoW.   Im not sure it really quite compares to TSW or GW2 though.  Ive seen some amazing graphics in games recently.  And for a few years now.  Id kind of expected Tor to be a little more graphically advanced. 

 

But as some as said, great graphics and pretty lights do not make a great game.  Thats very true. 

Not significant. Come on.

Originally posted by Corehaven

The only problem I see is that Swtor isnt significantly better graphically (as far as I can tell) than WoW for instance.  I said significant.  I do agree I think it looks a little better than WoW.   Im not sure it really quite compares to TSW or GW2 though.  Ive seen some amazing graphics in games recently.  And for a few years now.  Id kind of expected Tor to be a little more graphically advanced. 

 

But as some as said, great graphics and pretty lights do not make a great game.  Thats very true. 

You might be looking at older screenshots and videos too!  I have to admit, about a year and a half ago I looked at SWTOR graphics and was pretty appalled (No offense SWTOR people!).

They've stepped up their game since then, though.

More modern videos are quite a bit better graphically than they used to be.  Perhaps you just don't like the aesthetics?  That's a different matter...

Originally posted by Atlan99

Originally posted by Corehaven

 

The only problem I see is that Swtor isnt significantly better graphically (as far as I can tell) than WoW for instance.  I said significant.  I do agree I think it looks a little better than WoW.   Im not sure it really quite compares to TSW or GW2 though.  Ive seen some amazing graphics in games recently.  And for a few years now.  Id kind of expected Tor to be a little more graphically advanced. 

 

But as some as said, great graphics and pretty lights do not make a great game.  Thats very true. 

Not significant. Come on.

Yea it does look better.  Of course still screen shots kind of help the whole thing. 

I was sort of thinking more along the lines of some of the videos and stuff Ive seen recently.  Demos from the convention and all that.  Looked better than WoW to me.  Just not a lot so.  Things look different in motion. 

Of course.....they probably also look a lot crappier when watched on youtube at low resolution settings.....so....yea.