WAR (Warhammer Online)

To the OP:

Nope, nobody cares about graphics. Gameplay and story is what drives an MMORPG. Specifically a fantasy MMORPG. Graphics are important insomuch as they drive the story. There is a reason why Mud's were/are so popular. People care about the story. If you don't believe that story is important and Graphics are the most important thing, Go play Vanguard. In 5 years PC's wont play that game at the highest settings. But it died because it's just abysmal story/gameplay.

Now with all that being said a successful mmo needs thefollowing elements:

-Gameplay (WTF, you have to move with the TFGH Keys and use the numpad for skills?!??! Shift to dodge?!?!)

-Population (Growth and behavior)

-Story

-Wide ranging appeal (something for everyone)

-Community (Comics, real world items, collectibles, message boards, artwork)

-A Hook, a catch (Wicked PvP, Endless PvE, Grind to exalted for items)

-regular updates, expansions

Why are graphics not on that list? Why is sound/Music not on that list?

Are those items important? Sure they are, but they do not a successful MMO make (sp). Then again that's my list. Having a giant COCK in the middle of every city might be on yours.

Looking at old screens vs. newer screens of course you are going to see a difference.

Me?

I took the old screens as "works in progress" and instead of analyzing the pixels and shaders etc. I focused on the art direction.. the "style" and the "feel" of the game.

And I like what I saw. Of course improvements will be made, after all, they are works in progress.

So then I look at the new screens and see the same style and feel that I like, and now see the shaders and lighting and "quality" of the engine and I too must say that I really like them.

It's like looking at the hand-drawn story boards for a movie and saying "this movie looks like crap" instead of waiting to see the actual moving scenes in the movie and how they play out.

Gameplay is everything!

Originally posted by jzuska

To the OP:

Nope, nobody cares about graphics. Gameplay and story is what drives an MMORPG.

Talk for yourself, I care about graphics among other things.

If the game is fun, I'll play it regardless of its graphics.  If the game is crap, then who cares how pretty the images on your screen are if you are bored out of your mind with the actual game?  One can look at pretty graphics for free with the internet.

Originally posted by altairzq

Originally posted by jzuska

To the OP:

Nope, nobody cares about graphics. Gameplay and story is what drives an MMORPG.

Talk for yourself, I care about graphics among other things.

Really? Graphics are #1 on your list?

Over gameplay and player population.

So if you're the only guy playing and it takes a machine worth more than your home to play, that makes you content? Really? I dont believe you.

Why not have great gameplay and great graphics? Am I fantasizing here? Perhaps. But, I think both elements are equally important and see no reason why someone should state that they prefer a quality more over another. A game should have all the important qualities in order to create the best immersion possible.

Originally posted by sirslayerr

Find a good picture of a White Lion, then I'll be glad to play endlessly. :-P

Straight off the Warhammer Concept Art page. This is most likely the White Lion's pet.

The filename is was CNWhitelion or something of that sort for a while, but now it has been changed.

I care about graphics.

I could not force myself to really try DAOC, City of Villains and even Everquest 2 because I hated graphics in those games (EQ2 graphics even because of art direction and "plastic" look).

WAR graphics (screenshots, mind you, I really need to see HD videos or play in beta) look pretty weak to me, so right now, I don't believe I will play it.

I think one of the main problems with this argument is the expectations of each individual.  Of course great graphics are eye candy to everyone, yet what people seem to believe is that every new game that comes out must top the previous one in this aspect.  No where has it ever been stated or expressed that Warhammer Online is striving to be the most realistic looking game out there. 

There is also a vast range of different screenshots floating around that I don't believe are good representations of what the game is/will look like.  Can't say I have seen the game personally myself, but it is pretty easy to tell the difference between a low res and hi res screenshot, and those shots that are not including certain aspects such as lighting and textures.  The screenshots that are being posted on various sites are also not necessarily the most recent screen shots either, they may be taken a while ago and just now recently released.

The strategy behind not showing all that there is to offer of the game is not necessarily a positive or negative thing.  Sure people tend to judge a game upon its cover, or in this case screenshot, but in the end I think Mythic and EA will feed the people what they want. People may decide not to buy it, but seriously with still potentially a few  months to go till release, everyone will be taking a second and third look before the game comes out anyways.  You don't buy something without looking into it yourself and trying it out.  To be honest it is still too far off even for myself to known if I will play this game, we'll see when its ready, so far so good though.

edit.   I hate to draw references but do the 8 million or whatever players who play WOW really play it for the graphics?