Originally posted by grvmpybear
@topographic
Awesome! Well then you know exactly what I'm shooting for.

Sounds interesting.

Make sure there are boomerangs in the game. ;-)

Originally posted by General_Dru-Zod

Originally posted by ClaudeSuamOram

Shows you the mindset of this day and ages gaming community when the majority of people wouldn't play such a game based on graphics. Game Mechanics > Graphics 24/7 365days.

 

Of course though...today's gamers are spoiled by the ability of the graphics now compared to those of us who came up with video gaming from it's birth. Still have an occasionally play my 2-bit Atari 2600 after all.

This is correct.

I grew up playing games with this style so I dont mind playing 8-16 bit if im having fun.

I grew up with it aswell, but sorry, no, just no, if that sandbox game OP mentioned has everything I want from my sandbox MMORPG experiance I sure want it with up to date graphics.

Does that make me a spoiled gamer, perhaps it does....but I do believe there is a pretty big market for something OP suggest

Originally posted by Reklaw

Originally posted by General_Dru-Zod

Originally posted by ClaudeSuamOram

Shows you the mindset of this day and ages gaming community when the majority of people wouldn't play such a game based on graphics. Game Mechanics > Graphics 24/7 365days.

 

Of course though...today's gamers are spoiled by the ability of the graphics now compared to those of us who came up with video gaming from it's birth. Still have an occasionally play my 2-bit Atari 2600 after all.

This is correct.

I grew up playing games with this style so I dont mind playing 8-16 bit if im having fun.

I grew up with it aswell, but sorry, no, just no, if that sandbox game OP mentioned has everything I want from my sandbox MMORPG experiance I sure want it with up to date graphics.

Does that make me a spoiled gamer, perhaps it does....but I do believe there is a pretty big market for something OP suggest

 

Thanks for your feedback. I sincerely appreciate it.

A 16 bit graphical style wouldn't bother me. In fact, it could be considered a plus if implemented properly. Many older sprite-based games, as well as some new ones, still look fantastic. Plus unless the programmers are complete and utter screw ups, they're guaranteed to run smoothly on any PC or console sold today.

For example, look at this: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grimoire-forever/

Old school graphics (and gameplay), but the sprite work is absolutely beautiful, IMO. The aesthetic easily rivals that of most modern RPGs. In fact, I think everyone should go support that project right now :P

Also, check out Hotline Miami. Great looking game, old school graphics.

In the end, what it boils down to is quality of the aesthetic. Any graphical style, whether a GPU-melting 3D game with all the bells & whistles, or an 8-bit game that can run on a graphing calculator, is going to look like crap if the devs don't put some actual love & care into it.

Example of an older game that still looks great: Super Castlevania IV. Still the best looking game in the series IMO. Though honestly all the 2D Castlevanias (mostly Metroidvanias) to this day look pretty damn good.

Originally posted by DalekThay

A 16 bit graphical style wouldn't bother me. In fact, it could be considered a plus if implemented properly. Many older sprite-based games, as well as some new ones, still look fantastic. Plus unless the programmers are complete and utter screw ups, they're guaranteed to run smoothly on any PC or console sold today.

For example, look at this: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grimoire-forever/

Old school graphics (and gameplay), but the sprite work is absolutely beautiful, IMO. The aesthetic easily rivals that of most modern RPGs. In fact, I think everyone should go support that project right now :P

Also, check out Hotline Miami. Great looking game, old school graphics.

In the end, what it boils down to is quality of the aesthetic. Any graphical style, whether a GPU-melting 3D game with all the bells & whistles, or an 8-bit game that can run on a graphing calculator, is going to look like crap if the devs don't put some actual love & care into it.

Example of an older game that still looks great: Super Castlevania IV. Still the best looking game in the series IMO. Though honestly all the 2D Castlevanias (mostly Metroidvanias) to this day look pretty damn good.

Thanks for that link! I'll definitely be watching that. Also, thanks for your input.

Probably not.  Esthetics are important.  While gameplay is more important, if I don't like the way my character looks or moves, I will always be irritated by it, which would mean I am always irritated with the game.

Now if you can blend thoe graphics in a way that looks nice (looks nice to me that is) I would consider it.

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Originally posted by grvmpybear
Thanks for your feedback, koboldfodder. This decision is a style choice, not a lack of ability. I love this look, and I'm sure there are others who feel very similarly, even if it's a very niche market. Also, there is no game like what I have in mind currently on the marktet.

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Originally posted by Aeolyn

Some examples to refresh everyone's memories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqJ5x8ePPpI 8 bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l06rRIeCTws 16 bit

I'm glad you posted that, because it reminded me that 16-bit wasn't all that bad.

Originally posted by grvmpybear
If a sandbox MMO were to be released that met or surpassed your gameplay standards, but was implemented in an 8 or 16 bit graphical style, would you play it?

Not no but hell no.  First off I have grown to understand the majority of sandboxer's are the Hipsters of the genre, where their elitest no-all attitudes ruin more communities then not.  I imagine those are the sorts of players who sit around making fun of things like Nickleback, Walmart and McDonalds on other forums.

Now I am not adverse to many elements of the sandbox as long as it focuses on PvE and combat as the main game systems in place.  FFA PvP, crafting centric loot systemwith no regards to dropped items and Buidling/farming and other menial chores are not why I play a MMO for.  Give me the things I want in a good PvE world and yes it must include "fair to midling" graphics to be on my list of games to play.

There are enough fun games with good graphics and gameplay.

There is no point is sacrificing one or the other. So, no.

Originally posted by Loktofeit

Originally posted by Aeolyn

Some examples to refresh everyone's memories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqJ5x8ePPpI 8 bit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l06rRIeCTws 16 bit

I'm glad you posted that, because it reminded me that 16-bit wasn't all that bad.

Here's a few more http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syDmvF8KH6M and  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcxc592yS8Q and then a couple from my fave Lunar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syDmvF8KH6M and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZUh3QMv31E and yea sure they're dated but most are still more fun to play than the majority of games I've tried over the last few years.  Oh and they actually have some ribald humour, they may even fall under mature nowadays.

Graphics aren't everything, but they are important or money wouldn't be spent on trying to improve them.

So no, I wouldn't play.

Nor would I date Honey Boo-Boo's mom..even if she had a great personality...

Originally posted by azzamasin

Originally posted by grvmpybear
If a sandbox MMO were to be released that met or surpassed your gameplay standards, but was implemented in an 8 or 16 bit graphical style, would you play it?

Not no but hell no.  First off I have grown to understand the majority of sandboxer's are the Hipsters of the genre, where their elitest no-all attitudes ruin more communities then not.  I imagine those are the sorts of players who sit around making fun of things like Nickleback, Walmart and McDonalds on other forums.

 

Now I am not adverse to many elements of the sandbox as long as it focuses on PvE and combat as the main game systems in place.  FFA PvP, crafting centric loot systemwith no regards to dropped items and Buidling/farming and other menial chores are not why I play a MMO for.  Give me the things I want in a good PvE world and yes it must include "fair to midling" graphics to be on my list of games to play.

Sounds to me like you, sir, are unaware of the true definition of a sandbox. It also sounds like you've had some bad experiences that have left you bitter. I appreciate your input, and I understand this style of graphics not being your cup of tea, but I don't think you need to stereotype and insult the sandbox playerbase.

This game will have PVE, but will also be very crafting centric. If that's not your thing, that's fine. Also, your definition of "fair to midling" graphics most likely varies from other people's opinions. As stated before, pixel graphics can look fantastic.

Also, Nickleback does suck. :)

Originally posted by AlBQuirky

 

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Originally posted by grvmpybear
Thanks for your feedback, koboldfodder. This decision is a style choice, not a lack of ability. I love this look, and I'm sure there are others who feel very similarly, even if it's a very niche market. Also, there is no game like what I have in mind currently on the marktet.

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The first game that came to my mind was Minecraft. While it is not typically considered an MMO, there are some servers. I tried playing it but the graphics were just too bad for me to get interested.

 

Minecraft is far from 8 bit. The texturing is 8 bit, but blown way up. Minecraft is a voxel game, and once again, those voxels are huge compared to most other voxel-style games.

Originally posted by Psychow

Graphics aren't everything, but they are important or money wouldn't be spent on trying to improve them.

 

So no, I wouldn't play.

 

Nor would I date Honey Boo-Boo's mom..even if she had a great personality...

Fair enough. I suppose that makes me a chubby-chaser then. (No, I don't find Honey Boo-Boo's mom attractive, but in reference to your metaphor...) 

I understand these are older style graphics, but there are fantastic pixelers out there. Pixeling is somewhat of an art, so I wouldn't say that there wouldn't be any improvement... it just won't be a 3d render.

Picture playing in an isometric world resembling this.

EDIT: Fixed link.

Originally posted by grvmpybear
If a sandbox MMO were to be released that met or surpassed your gameplay standards, but was implemented in an 8 or 16 bit graphical style, would you play it?

I'm personally waiting for a company to take advantage of doing an MMO with an isometric view. Then using a cell shading style similar to the old zelda: the wind waker game that was released on game cube.

 The art style is fairly simplistic which would allow for low system requirements for the customer. If done properly the game will be able to sustain a long life due to the fact that it's not trying to go for an overly realistic appeal.

In addtion to the cell shading style it'll be fairly simplistic when creating new content which in turn would allow for faster expansion packs.

 You could even head the route of D&D Neverwinter Online and do player generated content which could ease the workload for content created by the developers.

I would definetely accept isometric gameplay if the game mechanics were superb and interesting. But I do not believe you have to roll all the way back to 8 and 16 bit graphics, hell, warcraft and starcraft editors have better graphics than that, there are a lot of resources floating around and its not that hard to process isometric gameplay, even D3 had subpar visuals, despite how good it looks its not demanding much graphically.

I'd like to start daubling in some designs myself, and isometric is probably where I'll start if I do. Most MMO style games are operating in a two dimentional space anyway, despite the graphics, and dumbing down the graphics makes it easier to deliver content and do unique things. Hopefully I'll find some good resources for game generating soon, good luck to anyone else as well.