Do you think DDO would loose something if it was upgraded graphically?
- Thread starter Winterburn
- Start date
I don´t think the game would loose anything by having modern graphics.
I also don´t think that it would have an impact on people running older computers. It doesn´t have to be "Cyberpunk 2077" level of graphics, and most average PCs can run most modern games quite well.
Modern graphics certainly didn´t hurt Baldurs Gate 3 sales.
Is it strictly necessary to upgrade the graphics ? No. But I would definitely enjoy DDO more if it had BG3 level of graphics. (And I started my gaming career on an Atari 2600 as well)
But honestly, updating the overall feel and UI of the game to a modern standard is in my opinion much more important than upgrading the outdated graphics. By that I mean that some of the splash screens are still made for 4:3 aspect ratio monitors, icons are mostly unreadable on 4k screens, etc.
I also don´t think that it would have an impact on people running older computers. It doesn´t have to be "Cyberpunk 2077" level of graphics, and most average PCs can run most modern games quite well.
Modern graphics certainly didn´t hurt Baldurs Gate 3 sales.
Is it strictly necessary to upgrade the graphics ? No. But I would definitely enjoy DDO more if it had BG3 level of graphics. (And I started my gaming career on an Atari 2600 as well)
But honestly, updating the overall feel and UI of the game to a modern standard is in my opinion much more important than upgrading the outdated graphics. By that I mean that some of the splash screens are still made for 4:3 aspect ratio monitors, icons are mostly unreadable on 4k screens, etc.
LeslieWest_GuitarGod
Well-known member
I started with an Atari 2600 too, but my heart moved to the Commodore 64, 128 and then the ultimate. The Commodore Amiga.
I LOVED DUNGEON MASTER. It influenced almost EVERY RPG after it.
I LOVED DUNGEON MASTER. It influenced almost EVERY RPG after it.
Arthuvin
Well-known member
The anniversary party has a huge fountain at the ballroom. Its the same ballroom from the quest "Partycrashers".
It makes the frame rate drops significantly.
Titus Ovid
Mover and Shaker
To stay on topic - nvm if it is happening or not or even possible or not - I would welcome a graphical overhaul. There are areas in the game that are breathtaking in comparison to most of the game, Stormhorns for example. So yes, if it would go that way, more detailed, more atmosphere, I am all for it.
Cheers,
Titus
Aelonwy
Well-known member
Mostly I think the graphics are fine but a few races could use some graphic/aesthetic changes:
PdK could use an entire overhaul. I'm talking face and full body cosmetic surgery. They are mutants.
Dwarves and humans could use some texture and shading improvements mainly facially. A few hairstyles are too angular? They have sharp creases and some look like wigs made from mops.
Aasimar unique female hairstyles have looked awful since inception. Very strange since Gnome came before and theirs are not only more appealing, more creative but also they were given 2 or 3 times as many unique options. Whoever created Gnomes for DDO loved their work, whoever made Aasimar phoned it in.
Tiefling needs only to have a few small horn options, and a few pupil/iris options like Aasimar. Maybe someone can smooth out the forehead a bit on a couple horn options that leave a buttocks like crease there. I mean, that's just gross. I wouldn't nay-say a few more color options for Tiefling skin either such as green and/or hot pink.
Other than that... I know there are some ground textures and old rock textures that could use a facelift. They re-use too many of the same "paintings" for wall art. They should create a suite of new ones from more recent adventures so not every place shares the exact same "paintings."
PdK could use an entire overhaul. I'm talking face and full body cosmetic surgery. They are mutants.
Dwarves and humans could use some texture and shading improvements mainly facially. A few hairstyles are too angular? They have sharp creases and some look like wigs made from mops.
Aasimar unique female hairstyles have looked awful since inception. Very strange since Gnome came before and theirs are not only more appealing, more creative but also they were given 2 or 3 times as many unique options. Whoever created Gnomes for DDO loved their work, whoever made Aasimar phoned it in.
Tiefling needs only to have a few small horn options, and a few pupil/iris options like Aasimar. Maybe someone can smooth out the forehead a bit on a couple horn options that leave a buttocks like crease there. I mean, that's just gross. I wouldn't nay-say a few more color options for Tiefling skin either such as green and/or hot pink.
Other than that... I know there are some ground textures and old rock textures that could use a facelift. They re-use too many of the same "paintings" for wall art. They should create a suite of new ones from more recent adventures so not every place shares the exact same "paintings."
Lazuli
Well-known member
I was impressed when they aesthetically improved The Black Loch. That was a great job. There's a real three-dimensional feel there. I was disappointed when they said they weren't going to give the same treatment to other areas of the game, because The Black Loch looks really good.
Seeing that they have no intention of going to those extremes, I would settle for an improvement to some of the avatars (others have already mentioned before what needs to be improved, I agree), and above all, an improvement to some textures: lava and sand, above all, which I think are the two that fail the most. In some parts the lava looks like orange marmalade, and I don't think it took many resources to improve it. Sand needs a little love too.
Removing that, fix the graphic bugs and please, please, start thinking about an overhaul of the storage system. I don't think we can expect much in terms of graphics.
Seeing that they have no intention of going to those extremes, I would settle for an improvement to some of the avatars (others have already mentioned before what needs to be improved, I agree), and above all, an improvement to some textures: lava and sand, above all, which I think are the two that fail the most. In some parts the lava looks like orange marmalade, and I don't think it took many resources to improve it. Sand needs a little love too.
Removing that, fix the graphic bugs and please, please, start thinking about an overhaul of the storage system. I don't think we can expect much in terms of graphics.
Lagin
Well-known member
unfortunately there is no "simple" answer to this. I use AMD's upscaling, which is a mixed bag of results for DDO. That being said, prior to building this rig the game always looked washed-out. Now, I enjoy seeing the game in it's full glory. (it's kept me here).
My bigger question; "Is SSG working on DLSS? FSR? Ray tracing isn't a big deal to me, but the benefits of these new techs don't end at RT. There's things a game company can do in 2024 which weren't possible 2 years ago. But how viable is it for SSG to invest $ in any of these new tech's?
The other end of this spectrum is players being able to afford investing in a 2K or 4K rig? **If SSG did everything they could, how many players would be able to spend $ on capable gear?
My bigger question; "Is SSG working on DLSS? FSR? Ray tracing isn't a big deal to me, but the benefits of these new techs don't end at RT. There's things a game company can do in 2024 which weren't possible 2 years ago. But how viable is it for SSG to invest $ in any of these new tech's?
The other end of this spectrum is players being able to afford investing in a 2K or 4K rig? **If SSG did everything they could, how many players would be able to spend $ on capable gear?
Even bigger question: What for ? What computer (that would support either of these technologies) struggles with performance in this game ?
You´d sacrifice picture quality to get 300 instead of 200 FPS ?
FaceDancer
Olde Wurm
I unfortunately kinda get the impression that they're patching the hull of this vessel to just keep it afloat at this point. I really hope I'm wrong! They seem to be more focused on the mechanics of the game and less so the visual aspects. The UI should be a pretty high priority IMO and has been mentioned from time to time, but nothing as of yet. 
A Q&A with Severlin in 2023 had this commentary:
-UI scaling pushed back to work on VIP, will be worked on with ui art revamp *and were still waiting on this one...*
-Character model revamp incoming to modernize looks (Q4 2023 or later)
Severlin had mentioned that he would like to enable sliders to change the different aspects of character features like they have in LOTR.
If I run this time-frame through my SSG Time to Real Time Translator I get.... 2026 (or later YMMV, etc...)
A Q&A with Severlin in 2023 had this commentary:
-UI scaling pushed back to work on VIP, will be worked on with ui art revamp *and were still waiting on this one...*
-Character model revamp incoming to modernize looks (Q4 2023 or later)
Severlin had mentioned that he would like to enable sliders to change the different aspects of character features like they have in LOTR.
If I run this time-frame through my SSG Time to Real Time Translator I get.... 2026 (or later YMMV, etc...)
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Ying
5000+ hours played
I forget who said this -- might have been Cordovan during one of the Friday at Four streams. Basically, there's a large number of players who still play DDO on the equivalent of a toaster today. So anything that would require a hardware upgrade, or even a change to the minimum version of DX, would affect a large portion of the playerbase.
ACJ97F
Well-known member
You can improve the models without drastic resource hogging. It's not so much a question of boosting the pixel count and redoing the engine,
as opposed to changing the shape of the model cages. Basically, rounding off corners to lessen the "blocky" appearance slightly. They also have
many areas that suffer terrain overlap that change appearance when you turn your head. That's just lazy design, and boils down to money.
as opposed to changing the shape of the model cages. Basically, rounding off corners to lessen the "blocky" appearance slightly. They also have
many areas that suffer terrain overlap that change appearance when you turn your head. That's just lazy design, and boils down to money.
FaceDancer
Olde Wurm
The texture overlaps are a bad one IMO. Even if they didn't do anything else, these should be fixed @ a minimum!
Aelonwy
Well-known member
Ah yes the Z-fighting textures of headache-inducement. I love Ravenloft but the castle is so full of these its almost nauseating.
Eme
Well-known member
by the time we reach L40 3D as we know it will be moot, and AI passes will be the thing with custom AI models for however you prefer your game to look- you want the game to look like Lord of the Rings - sure, you want it to look like a watercolour fantasy painting - sure, etc.