The graphics in this game with such a huge open world are top notch, especially with everything on high in DX10. Sometimes I catch myself just standing looking at the views or the atmospheric effects. I love this game, but what I don't understand is why they cannot improve the character animations. I think the graphics in the game are far superior to Aion and much in line with my taste, but they really should take a cue from Aion with regard to the animations. Does anyone know of another MMO that drastically improved the animations after it was released? Can it be done in an MMO? I would think so.

The character animations are easily the worst part of this game, and I really do wish they would improve them. Playing the Aion open beta, I saw how nice character animations could be.

I agree about the animations. They are the worst part of the graphics. Having said that, they are not THAT bad, it's just the rest of the presentation is so well done.

Male characters need a more fluid confident stride and female characters need a more fluid feminine stride (slightly sultry...just a wee bit of hip action). As is, all toons look like they have lower back problems, especially when walking.

The character models could use some work too. Animations and character models kept me from playing this game. Big beautiful world and fantastic setting but I couldn't look past.

I agree with all this. In my opinion, Turbine just as the worst designers when it comes to character models. I was looking at the Aion avatars and moving my character around carefuly looking at the moving hair. However, in a Turbine game, the hair is essentially a piece of clay that just sits on the character's head.

All in all the avatars are very dissapointing to my taste.

A reply from a dev states that most MMO's put a big amount of money in one thing, Turbine put there in The world, Aion put there in Animation.

why is it so hard to except the animations? They are by far the best animations done in any mmorpg, so the real problem is you.. :D

I have been looking forward to try this game for a while now, though I have to find some time as my game time is somewhat limited atm.

I'm actually playing EvE and AoC, both are games with outstanding graphics so I'm now somehow spoiled. I run these games with fairly high graphic settings, lowering them only when getting into PvP to improve my framerate and avoid lag.

Could any of you with first hand experience in EvE and/oe AoC, tell me how LotRO compare with them graphics wise?

Originally posted by Eanok

I have been looking forward to try this game for a while now, though I have to find some time as my game time is somewhat limited atm.

I'm actually playing EvE and AoC, both are games with outstanding graphics so I'm now somehow spoiled. I run these games with fairly high graphic settings, lowering them only when getting into PvP to improve my framerate and avoid lag.

Could any of you with first hand experience in EvE and/oe AoC, tell me how LotRO compare with them graphics wise?

There's no way to compare EVE, which is a space sim where you never leave your ship, to a game like LotRO. As far as graphics, AoC is a lot better than LotRO. Character models, animation, landscape, everything.

Yes it would be nice if Turbine could improve character animations and character design.

Most major MMORPGs (Everquest2, AION, AOC, WoW, FFXI, L2 ) have better animations than Lotro today.

They do not work on character animations because the subscriber base is not clammering for it.  They are working on the next expansion which is coming out December 1 and I hardly think that they are going to invest man-hours and cash on an aspect of the game that no one playing the game is complaining about.  Turbine has been responsive to the LotRO subscribers and if we start complaining about animations long and loud enough they would address it.

Originally posted by Eanok

I have been looking forward to try this game for a while now, though I have to find some time as my game time is somewhat limited atm.

I'm actually playing EvE and AoC, both are games with outstanding graphics so I'm now somehow spoiled. I run these games with fairly high graphic settings, lowering them only when getting into PvP to improve my framerate and avoid lag.

Could any of you with first hand experience in EvE and/oe AoC, tell me how LotRO compare with them graphics wise?

I've played all these titles. I agree with a previous post that it is hard to compare to Eve because it is in space but I would say that if you can play with the graphics all the way up, you will have those same WOW!!! moments you get in Eve when Eve is at its best.

Compared to AoC, I think LOTRO is head and shoulders better because all that you can see is actually exploreable whereas AoC is "a game on rails" (those who have played it know what I mean). Of all MMOs, I find LOTRO to be the most immersive and "believeable". 

Most ppl agree that the animations are bad - and they have been so from day one and ppl have pointeted it out million times.  Still Turbine does absolutly nothing about it. 

I would love to see Turbine hold a Blizzcon like event and see every person in the hall BOO! the animators.

Now.... to the part that Turbine should be even more ashamed off....

MOUNTS !!

lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Mounts

For God sake....  How on (Middle)Earth can a game based on the best fantasy novels of all times have such HORRIBLE mounts ? 

I will NEVER EVER play LOTRO simply because of these mounts.  Turbine should be sued for destroying the LOTR lore with such horror.  I can never ever read the books again without thinking back to this crappy mounts when I read about horses in the game.

Seriously ....

Originally posted by Skooma2

They do not work on character animations because the subscriber base is not clammering for it.  They are working on the next expansion which is coming out December 1 and I hardly think that they are going to invest man-hours and cash on an aspect of the game that no one playing the game is complaining about.  Turbine has been responsive to the LotRO subscribers and if we start complaining about animations long and loud enough they would address it.

Animation is one of the biggest factor why ppl dont play LOTRO.  Any poll would support that.   Subscribers of LOTRO might be listened to.  But there are probably millions of ppl that have tried it and left because of the animations.  And Im not joking here.  It is a huge factor why ppl do not play this game. 

I get angry every time I think about it -cause Turbine managed to ruin my vision of Middle-Earth.   I have to watch the movies over and over again just to get these horrors out of my head that is called LOTRO animations...

Originally posted by Frobner

Originally posted by Skooma2

They do not work on character animations because the subscriber base is not clammering for it.  They are working on the next expansion which is coming out December 1 and I hardly think that they are going to invest man-hours and cash on an aspect of the game that no one playing the game is complaining about.  Turbine has been responsive to the LotRO subscribers and if we start complaining about animations long and loud enough they would address it.

 

Animation is one of the biggest factor why ppl dont play LOTRO.

Yeah it's a huge factor which kept me from buying the game.

Originally posted by Frobner

Originally posted by Skooma2

They do not work on character animations because the subscriber base is not clammering for it.  They are working on the next expansion which is coming out December 1 and I hardly think that they are going to invest man-hours and cash on an aspect of the game that no one playing the game is complaining about.  Turbine has been responsive to the LotRO subscribers and if we start complaining about animations long and loud enough they would address it.

 

Animation is one of the biggest factor why ppl dont play LOTRO.  Any poll would support that.   Subscribers of LOTRO might be listened to.  But there are probably millions of ppl that have tried it and left because of the animations.  And Im not joking here.  It is a huge factor why ppl do not play this game. 

I get angry every time I think about it -cause Turbine managed to ruin my vision of Middle-Earth.   I have to watch the movies over and over again just to get these horrors out of my head that is called LOTRO animations...

Yea I agree. When I tried LoTRO for the first time, the only thing that turned me off was the character animations. Everything else I absolutely LOVE: The lore, NPCs, etc.

But I do wish that Turbine would do something about it. Everytime I play another MMORPG and come back to LoTRO, I am only annoyed by the character's movement lol. It's something I can live with, but it would not hurt if it was improved.

I would, without a doubt, play lotro in a heartbeat if the animations were improved. The only thing that's holding me back!

animations, mounts...

come on

it is the storyline, landscapes, the whole world which makes this game one of the best mmos

I agree. It is time to rent in a few SCA guys and put them in motions suits.

But I think they should redo the whole character modelling. The characters are the worst looking thing in the game, most other MMOs ave the other way around. You spend a lot of time with your character in mid screen and there is really no excuse for nnot making them as good as the rest of the graphics.

Truly, Bioware and Funcom are using people in motions suits to make their animations now. It both look better and are easier. Why can't turbine do the same?

But I have heard very little of Turbine since they released "the mines of Moria". Are they working on something new or have they fired a lot of people due to the economic crises like EA? The only thing lately was making DDO F2P.

Originally posted by lukaszkam

animations, mounts...

come on

it is the storyline, landscapes, the whole world which makes this game one of the best mmos

Everything can be improved, cept Guiness stout. It is just how life works.

And I for one thought LOTRO would attract more players than it have, I mean Tolkien is together with Howard the most important and popular fantasy writer ever. And it sure aint the background graphics of the game, it looks great.

Maybe this is actually one of the reasons that the game doesn't have more players?