I entered the open beta yesterday and played WAR for a few hours. I created my character, started learning the ropes, began tinkering with settings, and did a couple of quests.

    I was impressed.

Later that day, I played for a few more hours. I upgraded and customized my armor, participated in RvR, browsed the Tome of Knowledge, and did some more quests.

    I was excited.

This morning, I did a Public Quest, set my graphics card to enable anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering in WAR, showed a real-life friend the various races and classes and how you can customize them, did another round of RvR, explored some more, read some more of the Tome of Knowledge....

    I am ecstatic.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I've been playing MMORPGs for nearly a decade now. If it's on MMORPG.com's list, chances are, I've tried it at least once.

So I'm not easy to impress... quite the opposite, in fact. I've been there, I've done that, and I'm extremely picky.

This game delivers.

...

People whine about the graphics. Those people need to learn how to use their own computers, because with anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering turned on, the game is jawdropping. Without these features, the game still looks quite good, just not "next-gen". The game also runs very smoothly.

Mythic will likely be adding more graphics options after release day in any case. That's pure personal speculation, mind you.

Yes, some of the animations are stiff and awkward on SOME models (certainly not the male Magus, because mine moves like butter). I'm obsessive-compulsive, and yet the worst of these stiff animations don't bother me at all.

"WAR PvP is slow" is WoW fanboys' way of saying: "BAWWWW, I can't win by taping down the spacebar, whipping my mouse around on the desk, and smashing burst damage hotkeys."

I've done what I never thought I would do, never knew I could do: I've become a fanboy of a friggin' video game. But this game deserves that level of praise, quite frankly... and the haters on this forum just seem pitiful, in my opinion.

They're nitpicking tiny issues that don't matter. I'm the sort of person who gets aggravated even by very small annoyances, but the "problems" WAR's critics are nitpicking barely even register on my radar.

This game is ranked somewhere between Chuck Norris and MacGyver in the awesomeness department.

Great post. The level of negativity in this forum is really amazing considering how good the game is.

I've played most major MMOs from UO on and WAR is definitely in the top tier for me.

Sure, there's a linear PVE progression, it's level based, it has a UI, you push buttons, etc., but you won't find more engaging and rewarding large scale combat in an MMO, and the classes, particularly as you get a bit higher, have tons of depth and tactical options.

But, go ahead, miss out on great fun and RVR-induced endorphin/adrenaline rushes, and instead occupy yourself with making miserly or hysterical complaints or waiting and waiting and waiting for DFO or KOTOR or Blizzard's next super secret MMO project.

Good write up see you in game on the edge of my axe "Order'" always

AA and AF does nothing to improve graphics. It just corrects your image. Same can be achieved by increasing your resolution.

AA and AF do not magicaly add polygons or something.

I just wanted to make this clear. I have not  personaly played the game and I actually think WAR graphics are fine.

They are better then WoW graphics, and WoW has 10M subs last time I checked.

Hi.Can you please post some in-game screens?

I laugh when I see people quote the "WoW has 10 mill subs" thing.

A large chunk of that is from asia so it doesnt count imo.

Not being racist by any means, i'll count the ones who actually play the game like normal. Im talking about the fuckin gold farmers an such that need to be murdered and rot in hell lol.

Great game, I love it too. I'm trying to hold off on logging in cause I can't stop.

I wish people would shut up about graphics, you asked for it in AoC and look what you got.  Every one is on a power trip with their computers.  I have news for you I have a better one than all of you, and I still don't care about graphics !!!

They took out all the bull crap and made things easer in most ways, Yet very deep with building renown to buy good gear. Getting around is easy and the World is much much bigger than the Tier 1 zones.

Best thing of all.  Everything is included as they promised.

Good job EA

Originally posted by DoktorTeufel

People whine about the graphics. Those people need to learn how to use their own computers, because with anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering turned on, the game is jawdropping. Without these features, the game still looks quite good, just not "next-gen". The game also runs very smoothly.

Mythic will likely be adding more graphics options after release day in any case. That's pure personal speculation, mind you.

I must fall into this categories of  "whiners" because I think the graphics kinda stink.  I have turned on AA and AF and they still stink .  Definitely not jaw-dropping.  In fact, as far away from "jaw dropping" as you can get.  I'm not trying to be a jerk, I simply don't understand people saying this game has amazing graphics.  It kind of irks me because I just don't get it.  They look terrible.  Wait, no the environment looks OK at BEST but the animation, models, textures on those models...they look like crap to me.  Are we playing the same game?  I'd understand if you said they're OK graphics, but "jaw dropping"?  As in you look at them and think "Damn!  That's some amazing graphics.  Beats the hell out of Crysis by far!  Lucas CGI aint got shit on this!"

Do you have a version I don't have?  Because I want some of that "jaw dropping" stuff...

I feel like I'm in the twilight zone on that one.  It's like walking out of  Michael Bay's "Pearl Harbor" and telling me it's better than "The Godfather"....just don't get it. And I keep hearing these comments about how amazing the graphics are....

I've got everything running at max by the way with very smooth framerate so I don't get it.

Good post. Always nice to read peoples positive feedbacks on games. The problem i find with THIS FORUM is that its so diverse in the games it covers that its very easy for fanboi;s of other games to start leeching into other games forums to corrupt its image. To be honest, most of us are guilty of doing that. Most people feel that when they feel very strongly against a game, they think they should go out and try to stop as many people (who they think are fools) from trying the game. the problem is, is that when someone has a Good experience or feels strongly FOR a game, they tend to just play the game and keep quiet. Good on ya for sharing your experience.

Originally posted by gorguk

I laugh when I see people quote the "WoW has 10 mill subs" thing.

A large chunk of that is from asia so it doesnt count imo.

Not being racist by any means, i'll count the ones who actually play the game like normal. Im talking about the fuckin gold farmers an such that need to be murdered and rot in hell lol.

That was a pretty damn ignorant statement. So WoW's 10 million subs have nothing to do with NA/EU market? how about japan? oh that's right all 9.8 million wow subscribers are chinese gold farmers...

  Hey dok, admittedly,im not computer literate but am playing WAR and am loving it....

Tell me something sir if you could...How the hell do i go about turning on those two enhancements on my computer in order to highten the graphics?

anti aliasing and the other...could you just give me a quick how to....?

thanks...good thread btw

I am in OB as of last night,  seems like the graphix trouble most ppl are having is a difference of opinion more in the style of the game, the ART aspect.  Not as much in the quality.  I dont disagree that the character graphics/models are a little lacking.  The environment to me seems very well done.  I'll look at it a little closer tonight........ I think it looks good so far.

What OP said!

I've been in OP, CB for ages, and only thing that irks me is how ugly elf and human look. WoW model are better then those from this game and that tell you much.

Will that stop me from playing this game, no. I just witch they would have spent more time on models and character creation aspect. It's the only thing i hate about the game.

It's a ton of fun to me. 

People who bash the graphics aren't really thinking about the MMO aspect of the massive fights they are gonna have.  Why have the best graphics when you can't even move?  Graphics look fine to me, pretty much what Warhammer looks like.

People think there is lack of CC but they haven't fully explored collision detection.  I think its a good thing you're not stunlocked or sheeped for ages.  Why create something then a counter for it just to fix it?

The PvP is fun and the world PvP and keep defence is a blast.  I forgot how much I missed world PvP since daoc.  It's not for everyone tho, so I'm sure some won't like massive keep battles and the large skirmishes between armies.  It's nice having outflanking manouvres, intercepting and baiting in a large environment again.

Animations are a little stiff imo, I think they should work on that.

All in all, it's PvP aspects alone make it worth playing for me.  Having world objectives is a large plus and it's nice to have a good guild to RvR with.  I think the teamwork that is required to be successful will be a challenge.

I never understood how people hate games they never played and start putting out negative comments on it.  It's hilarious imo and these people are really pathetic.  I guess they have nothing else to do but to naysay and hope stuff fails.  I like that some people don't like the game tho, because RvR is not for everyone.

They could have better graphic work while still maintaining the same polygon count.  You miss the point.

If people are complaining about the art work and not the realism than in my opinion War is just fine.  I love how the game immurses you from the start into the realm verus Realm atmosphere!  Sure the graphics don't have the higher poly count of some of the higher end games, but like others said that would never fly in big realm battles. Just take what Shadowbane(when first released) would lock up as soon as the two city armies engaged unless the graphics were turned way down, or you have to limit the amount of people as Age of Conan does.  The graphics to me create the proper atmosphere, so I rather have the game play over any performance drop myself.

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Originally posted by Psiho246
AA and AF does nothing to improve graphics. It just corrects your image. Same can be achieved by increasing your resolution.
AA and AF do not magicaly add polygons or something.
 
I just wanted to make this clear. I have not  personaly played the game and I actually think WAR graphics are fine.
They are better then WoW graphics, and WoW has 10M subs last time I checked.

---

AA smooths out the model edges, so instead of a somewhat jagged edged, you get a smoother roundish curve. That increases the look of graphics by quite a lot. Changing your resolution won't help the blockyness. Or at least it does nothing at all for it at 1680x1050.

Compare the 2 triangles here, for instance.. the one on the right has AA:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Anti-aliased-diamonds.png

(from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing )

Game changes and expands very very quickly past Rank 7-8 from your first proper Warcamp. This is where you get to train your Renown Rank Ablities (quite separate to Rank abilities and Skill system).

At around Rank 7-8 you gain access to the Flight Master and through that the starting zones from the other races AS WELL AS you Capital City.

On Graphics....

a) This is BETA. Graphics are turned down and there is an issue with textures in the distance not loading properly, the reason why they seem so blurry. It will hopefully be fixed for release.

b) Due to the issue in a) some areas with a lot of rock terrain and mountans will look ugly. However forest areas with vegetation look nice, and buildings and structures and inside areas overall look very good. Check out Altdorf or Inevitable City with AA/AF forced through drivers and ONLY THEN talk about graphics. They do not suck a little bit, compared to WoW this is a great improvement.

c) Scenarios. For some reason, the texture loading issues seem less visible in Scenarios. Orc starting area scenario isn't very impressive visually, but jump on a Wyvern and fly to the Chaos area (Nordenwatch if I'm not mistaken) and play the Scenario there. I think that visually it's QUITE IMPRESSIVE.

d) Animations need attention and they DO need to be de-clunked if at all possible. They are sub-par compared to other MMOs and single player games. Not near as bad as LotrO (stopped playing due to avatars flying over terrain etc) but there's room for improvement and it needs to come soon.

Overall the number of available quests and options multiplies by 3 or 4 as soon as you reach Rank 7-8 there is just so much to do and the game really picks up in pace. More abilities become available and combat is ANYTHING BUT SLOW. It's tactical though, finally Tanks have a role in PVP. I'm one so I can tell. And it's all about choosing the right choke points and tactics as opposed to hitting 4-5 directional buttons for one skill.

Just my 2cents. I've got a lot more to say but want to stay focused and keep the message clear:

- don't judge the game too early before you get to see it properly
- this is still Beta and not Release
- duo to the above graphics are turned down
- there is an issue with loading textures from distance which makes them look bad and blurry especially rocks and mountains and this will be fixed

- try out various scenarios especially the one in Chaos area (Nordenwatch). For some reason it has less graphical issues and shows the potential of WAR in terms of graphics better than some other areas or scenarios

- around level 7-8 there's plenty of new options that open up to the player in terms of PvE, PvP and character advancement. Hell, I had no clue there were separate Renown abilities until I stumbled across a trainer in my Warcamp!

- check out Capital Cities with AA/AF on high if you can, they are quite impressive imho
 

Originally posted by nellson

tell me something sir if you could...How the hell do i go about turning on those two enhancements on my computer in order to highten the graphics?

anti aliasing and the other...could you just give me a quick how to....?

thanks...good thread btw 

Certainly.

1.) Go to Start Menu > Settings > Control Panel.

2.) Double-click the NVIDIA Control Panel icon.

3.) In the "View" menu up top, make sure "Advanced" is selected.

4.) Under the "3-D Settings" heading on the left, click "Manage 3-D Settings".

5.) In the large window, select the "Program Settings" tab.

6.) Click the "Add" button. Find the executable file (should be war.exe, located wherever you installed the game) and open it.

7.) In the large settings window, set "Antialising - Mode" to "Override any application setting".

8.) Set "Anisotropic filtering" and "Antialiasing - SETTING" to whichever values you like, pending an in-game test, of course.

9.) Turn the "Texture filtering - anisotropic sample optimization" setting ON.

10.) Click "Apply" at the bottom of the settings window.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure what to do with ATI cards. I've never owned one, and I wrote this particular guide myself.

Also, here is a close-up screen shot of my character with high AA and AF settings (cropped somewhat to fit better). Honestly, anyone expecting the game to look like Crysis is toking on the peace pipe.