Updated graphics?

ioticus · #1 March 23rd, 2006, 05:50 PM

I really don't place emphasis on graphics at all, but I don't see an improvement in the graphics from Dominions 2. I was hoping for some improvement since it was stated they would be improved. Anyone else feel the same?

DominionsFan · #2 March 23rd, 2006, 07:22 PM

Yes, but this game is really not about gfx.

Saber Cherry · #3 March 23rd, 2006, 07:25 PM

Unfortunately, those pictures are kind of low-res and in lossy JPG. To my eye, the battle terrain looks vastly better, and some of the spell effects (like lightning) are very impressive compared to the lightning in Doms2 (which didn't look like lightning).

The low screen resolution and JPG compression artifacts make it difficult to get a good view of the units themselves, but they look higher-res than in Doms2. Maybe additional pictures will be released, higher-res and in lossless png format, that make the changes more obvious.

Bear in mind, though, that release date is "Summer" - and unlike Oblivion and Trespasser (whose graphics got monotonically worse with each new set of shots), I suspect Doms3 will only get better

JaydedOne · #4 March 23rd, 2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Saber Cherry said:
Unfortunately, those pictures are kind of low-res and in lossy JPG. To my eye, the battle terrain looks vastly better, and some of the spell effects (like lightning) are very impressive compared to the lightning in Doms2 (which didn't look like lightning).

Agreed. The backgrounds by themselves are notably better. The lightning/fire column effects seem much prettier to my eye. And the units seem a bit more detailed. I will say, with regards to the latter, that TOO much improvement would by its nature make modding much more difficult, assuming that the modding tools for unit creation are pretty much the same as Dom 2 in that regard.

So, yeah. They're better. Not in a revolutionary way, but certainly much nicer within the same framework as Dom 2.

Nerfix · #5 March 23rd, 2006, 08:33 PM

Some units don't seem to take the close-in zoom too well for some reason (the giant apes with...cubistic bows spring to mind). I bet the game looks rather neat as long as you don't zoom to grassroot level.

EDIT: In fact one guy on one other board said that the game looks good.

Gandalf Parker · #6 March 23rd, 2006, 11:06 PM

Its the same game as far as graphics but it looks like Kristoffer has improved his skills with GIMP.

In other words it handles them the same but it does seem the units have been redrawn to look better.

Kristoffer O · #7 March 24th, 2006, 03:33 AM

I do not draw sprites in GIMP I use 'spooky sprites' of JK's design

. I have redrawn sprites thet were randomly rezoomed from dom1 to dom2. Militia, barbarians and national troops with blotchy heads are made less blotchy etc. Nice changes, not revolutionary, on the sprites.

DominionsFan · #8 March 24th, 2006, 09:55 AM

Well imho the gfx is perfect for a game like this, this is all about grand strategy. The only part which I dont like still are the unit's gfx. However the modders will have the possibility to add neat unit gfx to the game if they want.

Phoenix-D · #9 May 2nd, 2006, 01:29 PM

The in-combat graphics look better, but the world map looks quite a bit worse..

Gandalf Parker · #10 May 2nd, 2006, 01:50 PM

Does it? It looks like they are testing the new map generator which seems to use the mapstuff file that Kristoffer gave us. Of course they might be to the level of beta play that those are all maps generated on some "fast and dirty mode" to the monstrously huge new maximum settings.

You KNOW the kinds of maps Im hoping for! As soon as its released I will be offering maps generated to the maximum settings, or as large and as many provinces as my biggest server machine is able to generate without puking.