Wrath of the Lich King Cinematic

[Thrik]

I think it's fair to say that's some absolutely fantastic CGI and atmosphere.

Then you get the real thing and it's all...

[attachment=0]world_of_warcraft_dunmore.jpg[/attachment]

[Zyn]

The game is getting some facelifts in the expansion though, dynamic shadows being most noticable.

Shadows got working again in the latest beta build, any shadow-quality above 4 can crash the game (ranges up to 6), as 5-6 is reserved for development.

[Thrik]

About time.

[Sentura]

yeah it looks absolutely fantastic, i bet crysis could not match that.

(note: this was not to offend anyone, but honestly it gets tiresome that a product like world of warcraft gets praise for absolute bullshit. maybe next time let's praise goldsource for its outstanding graphics in comparison to everything else.)

[Algor]

yeah it looks absolutely fantastic, i bet crysis could not match that.

(note: this was not to offend anyone, but honestly it gets tiresome that a product like world of warcraft gets praise for absolute bullshit. maybe next time let's praise goldsource for its outstanding graphics in comparison to everything else.)

Absolute bullshit as in given great gameplay, one can forgive the lack of cutting edge visuals? Heh...

[Erratic]

I think it's fair to say that's some absolutely fantastic CGI and atmosphere.

Then you get the real thing and it's all...

That's something I've always found odd about Blizzard's games in the last few years, the disparity between the in game atmosphere and the cinematics. Guess it's sort of a result of the direction the art has taken

oh shit I went there

[Sentura]

yeah it looks absolutely fantastic, i bet crysis could not match that.

(note: this was not to offend anyone, but honestly it gets tiresome that a product like world of warcraft gets praise for absolute bullshit. maybe next time let's praise goldsource for its outstanding graphics in comparison to everything else.)

Absolute bullshit as in given great gameplay, one can forgive the lack of cutting edge visuals? Heh...

i could forgive the game if it indeed had good or even great gameplay. but tell me, do you think that "fetch x items from y mobs to person z" quests on repeat equal good gameplay? please. i could rephrase the above crysis statement to a portal statement, or any other game with decent gameplay. don't mistake a succesful product for a good game.

[Taylor]

The WoW target audience is casual gamers with dated computers, and half of its players are in China at cybercafés who probably aren’t at the bleeding-edge in terms of kit. Its cartoon style is a clever move on behalf of the developers because in ten years it’ll still have a certain twee charm to it, whereas the wave of titles with realistic graphics, like AoC, will quickly deteriorate into ass as new technology comes out. While patching new graphical features in is an option, you’re just doing to upset the majority of your customer base when they can’t take advantage of it.

It also seems a bit frivolous to deride WoW based on fetch quests or level grind because they are staples to the genre. WoW has handled questing and levelling better than anyone else out there. Being able to quest all the way to maximum level had never been done before, as was having a maximum level you could reach in less than 3 months if you didn't go to the toilet in your chair.

Given a basic love for the MMO genre the problems with WoW have occurred with its shift toward being a PvP-centric game with PvE-centric classes and rules, dumbing down raids, throwing in reputation bars instead of content, and lack of direct feedback to its players.

[Sindwiller]

Yeah, Blizzard's cinematics were always top notch, even back in the SC and WC2 days, which I can remember.

[Sentura]

The WoW target audience is casual gamers with dated computers, and half of its players are in China at cybercafés who probably aren’t at the bleeding-edge in terms of kit. Its cartoon style is a clever move on behalf of the developers because in ten years it’ll still have a certain twee charm to it, whereas the wave of titles with realistic graphics, like AoC, will quickly deteriorate into ass as new technology comes out. While patching new graphical features in is an option, you’re just doing to upset the majority of your customer base when they can’t take advantage of it.

It also seems a bit frivolous to deride WoW based on fetch quests or level grind because they are staples to the genre. WoW has handled questing and levelling better than anyone else out there. Being able to quest all the way to maximum level had never been done before, as was having a maximum level you could reach in less than 3 months if you didn't go to the toilet in your chair.

Given a basic love for the MMO genre the problems with WoW have occurred with its shift toward being a PvP-centric game with PvE-centric classes and rules, dumbing down raids, throwing in reputation bars instead of content, and lack of direct feedback to its players.

while the first paragraph makes sense, it is completely beside the point. i know what audience wow targets and why the graphics are as they are, just don't come tell me it looks beautiful when comparing to other games. again, the same with gameplay.

as for the second paragraph: either you aren't being serious or you haven't tried anything else but wow within the genre. i know at least one or two mmos that came before wow and handled quests, level and items better in addition to having endgame content that would last longer than any pve raid in wow. wow's strength comes in that it is simplified and dumbed down so that everyone can use it; plus having a strong reputation and excellent PR from the company's side. no other company has done this within the mmo genre; thus letting blizzard have the benefit of the first go at the major population. don't get me wrong, it is a succesful product, but it was never a good game.

[FrieChamp]

This is geting rather exciting, who will win this argument? Sentura aggressively tackles each of Taylor's bullet points, one by one. On the other hand Taylor used the word "frivolous" which makes him a winner in my book! Can't we all agree there are multiple 'good' MMOs out there? Will Sentura's daring move make him victorious or will the WOW players tear him into pieces? I can't look!

[dux]

OH HELLOS INTERNETS WE INSTALLED SOME WOW'S IN YOUR DIABLO'S

[Sentura]

This is geting rather exciting, who will win this argument? Sentura aggressively tackles each of Taylor's bullet points, one by one. On the other hand Taylor used the word "frivolous" which makes him a winner in my book! Can't we all agree there are multiple 'good' MMOs out there? Will Sentura's daring move make him victorious or will the WOW players tear him into pieces? I can't look!

haha, brilliant! they should make an internets argument game with a commentator!

[Taylor]

while the first paragraph makes sense, it is completely beside the point. i know what audience wow targets and why the graphics are as they are, just don't come tell me it looks beautiful when comparing to other games. again, the same with gameplay.

I never implied otherwise, this paragraph was for clarity more than anything else.

as for the second paragraph: either you aren't being serious or you haven't tried anything else but wow within the genre. i know at least one or two mmos that came before wow and handled quests, level and items better in addition to having endgame content that would last longer than any pve raid in wow.

This is rather vague, can you name the games that handle these aspects better and what this end-game content is? It's ultimately subjective, but I’m curious.

And yes, I have experience with other MMO’s, though I remember you stating elsewhere you've never played WoW?

wow's strength comes in that it is simplified and dumbed down so that everyone can use it; plus having a strong reputation and excellent PR from the company's side. no other company has done this within the mmo genre; thus letting blizzard have the benefit of the first go at the major population.

I completely agree here on every point, but I don’t think I’ve stated anything to the contrary.

[Skjalg]

Hahahaha, after discussing the cinematic with Sentura over MSN I come here and read the exact same discussion.

Since I play WoW I side with Taylor