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 I decided to do a direct side by side comparison as well (tip if you do this: find a landmark in the background to position the light direction). Botched the zoom on the Elezen a bit. Accounting for Vaseline-o-Vision (TM) Viera got some subtle adjustments to the jawline and nose, and Elezen 4 really won out in the mouth and chin categories. I'm tempted to do this with all the fantasias I've saved over the years. It's interesting to see what I notice.
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Apr 18, 2024 03:14
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I compared my in-game (left) to the benchmark side by side. Lighting isn't 1:1 of course and I zoomed in as close as gpose would let me, but here's the glow up.
HackensackBackpack fucked around with this message at 04:14 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 03:14
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HackensackBackpack posted:I compared my in-game to the benchmark side by side. Lighting isn't 1:1 of course and I zoomed in as close as gpose would let me, but here's the glow up. Yeah, those zoom-ins look absolutely spectacular. Oh wow, the scar going through the tattoo!
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Apr 18, 2024 03:18
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If there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that male elezen deserved better and they got sooooo much better.
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Apr 18, 2024 03:23
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Yeah fwiw I think as far as the psychology of recognizing faces goes, I'm probably way more sensitive to it than the average person and I'm painfully aware that it's gonna be tough for people to see things like I see them. That's kinda why I really boiled down my talking points to very specific little features that I felt were unique and important to face 4 and would be a huge shame to lose to a more generic feminine pass-over. Any other change I am ready to call a write off or attribute to lighting. Hell, I would be satisfied if they just gave me back my eyelashes and lip gap, and separated the brow colour from hair. The nose job hurts me but maybe I'd get used to the straighter flatter one. Her charm stocks are def down though. Honestly though stuff like lashes, makeup, fang length, brow colour...these should all be their own selectable options by this point. The CC needs a serious update, more than I think the character models did. blastron posted:My Face 4 (assuming 4 is the one on the far right) tomboy catgirl looks the same to me: I can for sure see the difference in your lips, nose and eyelashes. That's gonna be a bigger deal to some than others though. Your brows however look like they came out pretty much unscathed! I wonder if that's just because your hair is darker or if the ones I picked just got hit harder? Yours look like they still fade out on the ends. The texture of mine looks "fuller" and less sparse and wispy. They made brow colour match hair colour more, and combined with an overall flatter texture and my blonde hair it looks pretty different on me.  Sorry for the inconsistent lighting. Take my word on the brow colour being a thing.
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Apr 18, 2024 03:32
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My main takeaway from all of these side-by-sides (many not specifying which side is which) is that the upgrade is lateral at best. It just looks like the shadows were made darker, providing illusionary definition. Maybe it's because I play with shadows turned off (or set to as low a setting as possible), but this entire facial upgrade appears to be the equivalent of someone taking five minutes to tweak a shader setting.
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Apr 18, 2024 03:46
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I see the changes you’re talking about, but I also think differences are inevitable when the artists are having to make decisions about how to model the faces at higher fidelity. I also think that saying the faces are now unrecognizable is catastrophizing a bit, but that’s how gaming communities seem to communicate about everything. I don’t envy the FFXIV staff who have to deal with this
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Apr 18, 2024 03:47
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biceps crimes posted:I see the changes you’re talking about, but I also think differences are inevitable when the artists are having to make decisions about how to model the faces at higher fidelity. I also think that saying the faces are now unrecognizable is catastrophizing a bit, but that’s how gaming communities seem to communicate about everything. I don’t envy the FFXIV staff who have to deal with this they knew it would generate controversy in some circles, which is why they're willing to eat what's likely a not insubstantial cost handing out free fantasias to everyone as a measure of goodwill. you had more-or-less the same thing happen in WoW when they did their overhaul, and they were making even fewer changes to the models there. it's an inevitable part of the job of reinterpreting older assets to a newer format
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Apr 18, 2024 03:54
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Offkorn posted:My main takeaway from all of these side-by-sides (many not specifying which side is which) is that the upgrade is lateral at best. It just looks like the shadows were made darker, providing illusionary definition. actually blind
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Apr 18, 2024 04:00
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Bruceski posted:Yeah, those zoom-ins look absolutely spectacular. Oh wow, the scar going through the tattoo! Yeah the scars look deeper and the skin texture on the forehead really stands out in that shot.
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Apr 18, 2024 04:40
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as a hrothgar player I have zero thoughts on the face overhauls but ngl I hooted and hollered when the wol pulled out an actual map and looked at it in a way that wasn't "sorta just chilling in your palm"Offkorn posted:My main takeaway from all of these side-by-sides (many not specifying which side is which) is that the upgrade is lateral at best. It just looks like the shadows were made darker, providing illusionary definition. interesting bc I've seen a lot of people complain that the shadows are drastically less intense than they used to-- quote:Maybe it's because I play with shadows turned off oh
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Apr 18, 2024 05:21
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Offkorn posted:Maybe it's because I play with shadows turned off (or set to as low a setting as possible), drat you, Ascian!
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Apr 18, 2024 05:52
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Valentin posted:as a hrothgar player I have zero thoughts on the face overhauls but ngl I hooted and hollered when the wol pulled out an actual map and looked at it in a way that wasn't "sorta just chilling in your palm" Yeah, I'm hoping that everyone's right about the map/compass/waterskin business being SE showing off new "characters can hold and plausibly interact with objects now" tech
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Apr 18, 2024 05:53
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Now that people are pointing the changes out, I do see them, but they all just read to me as more polygons tracing out smoother shapes. I’m a little irritated at the slightly rounder eyes, and I might keep old shots around as reference for when I’m drawing her, but since I didn’t notice at first glance, it probably isn’t going to bother me. The real thing to get used to is going to be the updated shaders. Everything else is going to be drowned out by the uncanny wrongness of skin actually looking like skin and not starkly lit brown plastic.
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Apr 18, 2024 06:03
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blastron posted:Now that people are pointing the changes out, I do see them, but they all just read to me as more polygons tracing out smoother shapes. I’m a little irritated at the slightly rounder eyes, and I might keep old shots around as reference for when I’m drawing her, but since I didn’t notice at first glance, it probably isn’t going to bother me. Yeah. When the liveletter showed off stuff like flying mounts banking and grass parting was when I really understood why they were so excited about the graphics update. People are gonna care about their characters (and I get how jarring some of the seemingly subtle changes can feel) but most of the time I'm zoomed out anyway unless gposing so all the focus they were doing on faces felt weird.
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Apr 18, 2024 06:24
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Bruceski posted:but most of the time I'm zoomed out anyway unless gposing so all the focus they were doing on faces felt weird. the back of my head is gonna look amazing 
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Apr 18, 2024 07:10
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Hey, I'm over the moon about how good the grass and ground looks! I'm just not over the mooncat changes. In other cat news though, I dig the new fem hroths! I really really like how androgynous you can make them if you want! Big step in the right direction when imo they seem to be stepping in the wrong direction with other races.  Look at this cat slay. Very cool.
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Apr 18, 2024 07:25
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  My Settings versus Maximum Settings. Satisfactory, though I'm used to getting Extremely High from previous benchmarks...
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Apr 18, 2024 07:26
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Bruceski posted:Yeah. When the liveletter showed off stuff like flying mounts banking and grass parting was when I really understood why they were so excited about the graphics update. People are gonna care about their characters (and I get how jarring some of the seemingly subtle changes can feel) but most of the time I'm zoomed out anyway unless gposing so all the focus they were doing on faces felt weird. do you close your eyes during the cutscenes
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Apr 18, 2024 07:46
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cutscenes are a relatively small part of the experience if you're someone who engages with endgame and the various grinds.
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Apr 18, 2024 07:47
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Cheap Shot posted:Hey, I'm over the moon about how good the grass and ground looks! I'm just not over the mooncat changes. They're very good! I had no real interest going into the benchmark but now I'm like, "hmm... maybe!"
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Apr 18, 2024 07:53
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Endorph posted:cutscenes are a relatively small part of the experience if you're someone who engages with endgame and the various grinds. That's true I suppose, but drat if the rest of the game isn't 80% cutscenes. Not complaining but for the average player this game is basically a visual novel.
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Apr 18, 2024 07:54
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I really gotta play some of these visual novels people are playing where they stop you every five minutes to do some MMO combat.
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Apr 18, 2024 08:15
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lines posted:I really gotta play some of these visual novels people are playing where they stop you every five minutes to do some MMO combat. Don’t you remember how Phoenix Wright gets frustrated because his Objection! isn’t off GCD yet? It can make him wipe in Trials. Cheap Shot fucked around with this message at 08:23 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 08:21
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Remember that "High" "Very High" whatever are just measurements of your average framerate over the course of the benchmark and you can check your average framerate (and min framerate) by hitting the save results button at the end. If you only have a 60hz monitor "Very High" is probably already higher than your monitor can draw
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Apr 18, 2024 08:32
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lines posted:I really gotta play some of these visual novels people are playing where they stop you every five minutes to do some MMO combat. I have been playing EW for the first time, and despite the story being good/interesting, holy crap am I bored as a game player. 90% of it has been "walk to this place, read a cutscene. If you're good we will have a voiced one you can listen to!" But I WISH it would let me actually do some combat every 5 minutes. Not sure how far I am, but like when you first get to Sharlayan, you can either go with StreetCred or Alisae. I did all of StreetCred's bit until the dragonbro asks if you want to assault the tower and StreetCred is all "probably but we gotta go talk to our friends", then for the other one, I am about to start following the Gleaner Hunter guy to eavesdrop on him, because he's apparently getting orders direct from a Forum member. So I dunno how far in I am. I am hoping an actual dungeon happens soon or even a solo duty. I really like it when I get to actually play a game rather than just reading it.
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Apr 18, 2024 13:16
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Failboattootoot posted:They're very good! I had no real interest going into the benchmark but now I'm like, "hmm... maybe!" It's nuts...I can't see myself changing my WoL ever but this is the first time I've had a "maybe I should make an alt...." thought since launch lol.
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Apr 18, 2024 13:31
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HaB posted:I have been playing EW for the first time, and despite the story being good/interesting, holy crap am I bored as a game player. 90% of it has been "walk to this place, read a cutscene. If you're good we will have a voiced one you can listen to!" But I WISH it would let me actually do some combat every 5 minutes. How are you just now feeling this way when you made it to EW? That's the whole dang game from level 1. I totally understand wanting some action to break up the talking but it's funny to me.
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Apr 18, 2024 13:35
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i'm glad that once dawntrail comes out both my pc and me can play very high
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Apr 18, 2024 13:39
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HaB posted:
You are not far. Maybe like.... 15%. When you wrap up the msq where you are at, it will dovetail into a dungeon. If it's any consolation, the opening is interminable since so much of it takes place in a noncombat area. Ibram Gaunt posted:It's nuts...I can't see myself changing my WoL ever but this is the first time I've had a "maybe I should make an alt...." thought since launch lol. My current plan is I think I will do the msq as my current moon cat and once I clear that, I'll make a hrothgal alt and check the animations and burn my fantasia then if I really like it. My last couple of fantasia's lasted all of 2 days each so I figure I'll wait until after the MSQ just to have a consistent experience there if I end up wanting to revert.
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Apr 18, 2024 13:41
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Ibram Gaunt posted:How are you just now feeling this way when you made it to EW? That's the whole dang game from level 1. I totally understand wanting some action to break up the talking but it's funny to me. Eh, it hasn't felt quite THIS bad until now. Maybe right after ARR before HW starts, but I felt like they had been improving the post-expac A -> pre-expac B experience since then, and then I got here, at which point it feels like it has ground to a halt again. I also lol that of all the new mechanics they could have added to the game, one of the ones they picked was escort quests - notoriously one of the worst game mechanics ever invented. At least this one isn't bad, but really? Of all the things you could have picked - you went with escort quests?!?
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Apr 18, 2024 13:53
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HaB posted:Eh, it hasn't felt quite THIS bad until now. Maybe right after ARR before HW starts, but I felt like they had been improving the post-expac A -> pre-expac B experience since then, and then I got here, at which point it feels like it has ground to a halt again. The escort quests were worse on release, back then if you used a mount while they were following you they'd most likely lose track of you. As for how close you are, I think the thancred route is about the same length as the elfs route, and then there's a dungeon (and after that the story kicks into gear)
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Apr 18, 2024 14:16
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Yeah the first couple areas of EW are pretty slow but then it kicks into high gear
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Apr 18, 2024 14:28
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Another random thing regarding the benchmark - there's an ingame option called "Character Light" which puts fake lighting on characters. If you use that in the live client, it defaults to 0 in the benchmark and isn't configurable. I don't actually remember what the default setting of it is in the live client, probably 0? Generally that kind of fake light is something you don't want in an "accurate" renderer but if you've been playing with it for years it might be something you notice in the benchmark. Benchmark default (CL 0):  Benchmark with CL 100: 
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Apr 18, 2024 14:45
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Cheap Shot posted:Hey, I'm over the moon about how good the grass and ground looks! I'm just not over the mooncat changes. personally I think Dio's behavior is NOT very cool but you can believe so if you'd like
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Apr 18, 2024 15:17
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Zeruel posted:do you close your eyes during the cutscenes When playing Endwalker I was indeed amazed by cutscenes. I was amazed by the additions they'd made to eye movements, how characters have gotten better at pretending to eat things, some subtle facial animations... None of those are conveyed by still photographs. When they were holding up zoomed-in pictures of Elezen ears and saying "we have sub-surface scattering!" that is not something that I would ever consciously notice unless a scene went out of their way to show it off, and it does not make a difference in my usual gameplay. On top of that, I was blessed to have characters who are largely unchanged by the update. When I watch the benchmark I don't say "that's amazing that I can look like that" I say "yup, that's me, looking pretty good there" and move on. Holding stuff in ways that look organic was FAR more interesting to me than whatever my character's nose was doing. When they announced the graphics change they really focused on player faces for understandable reasons (also I recall a lot of Yoshi-P saying "and better grass but we're not ready to show that off yet, trust me"), which lead me, from the position of someone who thinks the current game looks fine for what it is, to wonder "why bother". I don't mind older graphics if they fit the aesthetic of the rest of the game and that's what FF14 did. Now that they've had a chance to show off improvements they've been able to make which are a lot less subtle, that's a reason to bother.
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Apr 18, 2024 15:25
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https://twitter.com/MsRicoFierce/status/1780693911960465818 the changes could always be worse
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Apr 18, 2024 15:53
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Bruceski posted:When playing Endwalker I was indeed amazed by cutscenes. I was amazed by the additions they'd made to eye movements, how characters have gotten better at pretending to eat things, some subtle facial animations... Yeah, I'm with you on as long as my character still looks like my character, I'm good. But it's also nice to see the other (non-character) stuff. Also, it turns out that they had the best reason of all to bother: It allows developers to learn to use modern tech, giving them skills that will allow them to advance their career. Yoshi-P really does care about everyone involved in the game. 
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Apr 18, 2024 15:55
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tbf hes also one of the higher level people at squeenix at this point so its in his best interest to ensure like. they have developers who know how to make things that arent ps3 games
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Apr 18, 2024 15:57
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All the non-character stuff in the graphics update, the grass and flowers, ground textures, clothing etc look amazing
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Apr 18, 2024 15:59
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