Graphicssssss better in SS

[Rogal_dorn0]

Do u guys think Relic will improve the graphics for

Eldar, Chaoz and Space marines?


It really sucks.. to see in WA, DC all the new races

Have more detailed skin.. armor and even faces..

And when u look at the original races.. mannn they look dull

SM looks UGLY! Well except for Inquisitor and Grey Knight

Their armor is soo detailed.. then u look at the normal dudes..

mehhh,

Ya i can just picture it..

Inquisitor: MARINE! WHY DOES UR ARMOR LOOK MORE PRETTY THAN OTHERS?

Marine: Erghhhhh... I polished it?

Inquisitor: YOU MUST BE TAINTED U HERETIC!

**Inquisitor bashes the marine with his mighty hammer **


And speaking of that.. More customizable army paint?


I'm sure each of one here would want to make the Army

as personal as possible and suit it to our individual taste.

[WhiteDeVile]

Even thou I share your opinion about the older race's graphics...
Dude, whats with

That type

Of typing, like

Every damn sentence

in a new line <__< ?

[LoneWolf666]

You should see Hiroshi type.

I fully support the OP, the old, vanilla DoW races look pale in comparison to new ones. Don't get your hopes up, though, upgrading old races gfx is costly and not really in Ironlore's interest.

[Hirmetrium]

I fully support the OP, the old, vanilla DoW races look pale in comparison to new ones. Don't get your hopes up, though, upgrading old races gfx is costly and not really in Ironlore's interest.

Space Marines, Grey Knights, Chaos Space Marines and Bezerkers all look excellent. Sure there are a few crummy units, but it happens. If you turn up your resolution settings (which you can do pretty safely with the latest hardware) then you should see much improvement.

[ghodan]

These skins are mutch better then Relic's work anyway:
http://wh40k.ei8ht.net/forums/index.php?topic=666.0

and the older version for DC:
http://wh40k.ei8ht.net/forums/index.php?topic=328.0

I am sure he will release an install for Soulstorm.
Skins are so good of this guy...you wonder why they don't hire him

[ARMYguy]

As far as i know the best thing you can do is up the res, add AA and enable the teamcolor command for the higher res textures. I would think that will with in SS since its the same engine...

[Versian]

I really hope they do. I hate looking at the giant pixels on my marines' bolters.

[Hirmetrium]

3. TEAM COLOR MIP LEVELS

Currently, the default texture settings for Team Color are optimized to account for AGP bandwidth issues that may occur during online multiplayer games with more than 4 players.

To over-ride this extra level of mip dropping and view the team colors at maximum texture quality, add the following line to your Root\Local.ini file:

fullres_teamcolour=1

Please note that this setting is not officially supported, and may result in severe performance issues. It should not be attempted unless you have a very high-end system (1024MB of RAM and a 256MB graphics card).

The high quality textures have been in the game since forever. Its just you need to enable them by doing the above. Do I need to expand on this point further?

[LoneWolf666]

The textures on vanilla races are a bit worse than on newer ones, and altough the models are quite well-made, there are no random parts and many (especially firing) animations are bland (or there are none...). FX could also use an upgrade. I loved how DC upgraded the Guardsmen animations, they look a whole lot better, more "natural".

But like I said, almost impossible to happen.

[Mokino]

Eldar especially need some animation work.

[{OGS}Sirius]

Yeah i agree polish up needed badly. I hate taldeer dress. I hope Arkandas don't read this.

[War-Reborn]

Yeah if ppl on these forums can do a decent job re-skinning some of the models, there's no excuse why proffesional dev's can't, especially considering how many people asked for improved effects etc in the suggestion box for soulstorm

[Slow_Runner]

Yes because professional devs don't have better things to do than to update all the models and their animations in the existing 5-7 races.

[a1ph4riu5]

It's a fairly important issue that the overall quality is maintained throughout the races, particularly if newer expansions make the old content look bad. I definitely don't think it would be a waste of the devs' time to look at it. That is if their remit is to produce the best expansion they can, rather than just make as much money as possible out of an ageing game franchise.

I suspect the people at Iron Lore and Relic have a personal interest in putting out a good product, so I really can't see how they would have "better things to do". They might not be given the time or resources to look at the older art assets, but that's quite different from not having a good reason to do so.

Also, I don't think anyone was suggesting that every single old model and animation should be changed. The talk has been mainly about specific units from the original four races, that don't look so good anymore, compared to the standards set with WA and DC.

[War-Reborn]

Yes because professional devs don't have better things to do than to update all the models and their animations in the existing 5-7 races.

Yes of course, they have much better things to do, much better things than updating the game for the current generation of hardware or so that the graphics look consistant between races.

Why not just mail it back in time to 2004, that way no one will have to worry about "wasteing" time on improving anything.

[Steel*Faith]

It's called Dawn of Warhammer: Firestorm Mod.

Yes because professional devs don't have better things to do than to update all the models and their animations in the existing 5-7 races

Stupidest sarcastic remark ever.

Infact for DoW2, let's use all the old races models & graphics, and give the Tyranids next gen graphics, that will look awesome!

[Imperial Dane]

Which of course they will easily do, just transfer stuff from one engine to another. Besides, don't you think there are better things to do than update old textures ? Like ensuring the game works and stuff like that ?

[War-Reborn]

Yes your so right, as long as the disc loads that's all that matters, why bother with trivial things like updating the graphics etc, hell why even bother with a box an manual, a disc in a plastic sleeve that loads when you shove it in the drive thats all thats important.

[Imperial Dane]

and how about you cool down and start acting rational ?

[{OGS}Sirius]

Yeah it seem that relic need more staff alot more. Perhaps they should form cabaals like valave done but valave has more people to do that hmm. Yeah thier time manage ment if i could put a chart up would be 70percent time making the game work. rest on other comestic stuff.

[War-Reborn]

and how about you cool down and start acting rational ?

Is it so irational to expect a 2008 game, even if based on an older game engine, to have some graphical enhancements added, reflecting the fact things have moved on in the past 4 years, this is'nt an expansion appearing 6 months, 1 year after the original.

Is it so irrational that if i buy a new pc tommorrow, that i should be able to play SS without ugly black bars on the sides or a squashed picure, since WS monitors are now standard on every pc you buy.

What does seem irational is that if someone raises this perfectly valid point, that no sooner is it said, than a load of sarchastic remarks are made about how programmers have better things to do, than enhance the graphics and features of there new 2008 expansion.

[Saldrin]

I was really excited to hear about Iron Lore working on the project with Relic. If any of you have seen/played Titan Quest, (besides the rocky start) the game turned out to be beautiful. If they can put what that did into TQ as far as details, graphics and creativity, I'll be picking up the game.

But I do have the same concerns. The price for this "expansion" is pretty much dead on with a new game, and a new game this is not. The wide-screen support is a hax, and it results in horrible stretched UI (4:3). some of the units we have been seeing for far too long, the terrain is looking the same from the screenshots...

Its kind of why I asked why they are bothering? I would much rather have them devote time/resources on DoW 2 and put this engine to rest. But I do look forward to seeing what Iron Lore can do. I hope they live up to their past.

[Slow_Runner]

Yes your so right, as long as the disc loads that's all that matters, why bother with trivial things like updating the graphics etc, hell why even bother with a box an manual, a disc in a plastic sleeve that loads when you shove it in the drive thats all thats important.

That the disk loads, that the new races are done best as possible, that the air units work, those are the priority, obviously. That the new multiplayer netcode works ok is probably pretty high on the priority list too. That the old races are balanced to match the new races (or vice versa) is probably next on the list. That the Space Marine's bolter looks a tiny bit better than what it has looked for the past 3 years? Probably not that high on the list.

The point I'm trying to make here is that they have limited resources. Updating graphics for the old units isn't nowhere near as important as most of the other things that they are working on. I'm sure they don't have anything against updating the graphics on principle, but the reality is that they do have to prioritize.

[ViS]

I too am bothered by the fact that they're marketing what's technically on par with a 2004 game at the price of a 2008 game. Don't any of you think that's a tad bit preposterous?

Still not stopping me from buying it though...

>.<

[Imperial Dane]

On par in what regards ? Plus as far as i can see it, it is an expansion price. I mean if i have to convert the price over to my currency, it is an expansion price, perhaps even cheaper ! So stop acting like they are trying to drain your coffers.

[Mardhyn]

What do you guys expect, Crysis? Dark Crusade is a damn nice game to look at, and so will Soul Storm. Remember, a smart girl is better then a blondie in the long run.

[ViS]

Well, by the looks of things, SS looks exactly like DoW...

You'd have thought that they'd at least improve the textures a bit, right? It doesn't take THAT much effort just to reskin a bolter or two...

Frankly, the blurry, indistinct textures make a mockery of the 8800GT most of us seem to have shelled out for.

=P

[Mardhyn]

Well, by the looks of things, SS looks exactly like DoW...

You'd have thought that they'd at least improve the textures a bit, right? It doesn't take THAT much effort just to reskin a bolter or two...

Frankly, the blurry, indistinct textures make a mockery of the 8800GT most of us seem to have shelled out for.

=P

Then don't buy the game, simple as that. But don't try and convince the fans that the game sucks because you think the game looks bad.

[Imperial Dane]

Besides, there are many out there with a not so great computer.

[War-Reborn]

That the disk loads, that the new races are done best as possible, that the air units work, those are the priority, obviously. That the new multiplayer netcode works ok is probably pretty high on the priority list too. That the old races are balanced to match the new races (or vice versa) is probably next on the list. That the Space Marine's bolter looks a tiny bit better than what it has looked for the past 3 years? Probably not that high on the list.

The point I'm trying to make here is that they have limited resources. Updating graphics for the old units isn't nowhere near as important as most of the other things that they are working on. I'm sure they don't have anything against updating the graphics on principle, but the reality is that they do have to prioritize.

If this exp was comming 6 months, 1 year, even 2 years after the original, i would say thats a fair point, but comming 4 years later, means the graphics are now extremely dated to say the least.

The Exp for COH did tart up the graphics a bit, even though COH being a relatively recent game it wasn't really required.

SS is an update on a 4 year old engine, therefore a graphical update is a far higher priority, as things clearly have changed a lot in 4 years, COH still looks fine now compared with recent releases, yet they still tinker

DOW looks dated, and although the engine is old, some sharper textures, more detailed map's (more tree's, better water effects, etc) an terrain textures, + maybe a couple of updated animations on selected units, together with new updated effects (i'e rhino smoke, bullet traces an hit effects, etc) would make the game look quite a lot better and at least at a passing glance more on a par with releases from the past 2 years

This is 2008 not 2004, the game should at least get a mild polish up to reflect this, and it should support 2008 standards like WS an not rely on some 3rd party camera mod, in order for users of computers bought in the last year to be able to play without distorted graphics or black bars, this is'nt a budget 2005/6 title that you can understand not supporting current industry standard formats this is a 2008 title an should work out of the box with 2008 hardware without having to resort to hacks and 3rd party mods

[ViS]

I'm not saying the game sucks because it looks bad. I'm saying that a 4 year old game deserves to be updated a bit. Sure, there are people with non-gaming PCs, but why not at least give the guys who shelled out hundreds of pounds for their PC the chance to play a game they love to bits and actually enjoy what they see?

[loop]

The textures ARE outdated. Furthermore, it's definitely possible to do a lot better with the same engine, as certain modders have proven like Fried P and the WH mod WITHOUT forcing people who can barely run this game to have to upgrade. So it's no wonder why people are questioning the graphics.

But it still seems like it'll be fun so I'll be buying it.

[Hirmetrium]

I dont understand...full texture space marines look easily as good as some of the dark eldar do :/

Chaos purple is still mega scary...

[ARMYguy]

I think maybe people are referring to how somethings looks good and other things look really bad, like the bolt which was already talked about. I dont think the SM buildings look bad, i think they still look good. I dont have beefs at all with most of the art in the game even today, but little things like the bolter (i mean how long would it take to re skin the bolter) should be updated. I dont really think much else besides water and the bolter are that ugly... and to fix the water all they have to do is add some dx9 water effects, because as far as i know installing dc installs some dx9 libraries already so it wouldnt be that hard to make shiney water would it?

[DeadlyFred]

I'm still not getting this prevailing sentiment that old software should be spontaneously updated to take advantage of new hardware. Since when do companies do that? When has a company done that?

There's nothing at all wrong or ugly about the skins/models of the old factions and I don't really see how they're any different in quality to the newer ones to begin with.

[a1ph4riu5]

There's nothing wrong with the Space Marine Tactical Squad models, for example. They look very nice, even today, by the standards of most RTS games (CoH is the exception, really). But like people said, the Bolters are blurry. The Scout Bolters are so blurred they barely have any detail at all... and don't even think about zooming in on the CSM Plasma Guns.

Also, some units have missing animations altogether, or at least very poor animations. Check out the Eldar Guardians firing, or the Ork Shoota Boyz. They stand there like statues! Also lot of the Ork infantry textures also suffer from blurred weapons, like the Space Marine Bolters.

While the majority of the old art assets still stand up to scrutiny, there are quite a few that really stick out when put next to the newer stuff. It wouldn't be that difficult to update those odds and ends. But obviously nobody can expect Iron Lore to look at something like that now, if they haven't already done so.

[ViS]

The armour of the old armies also look a LOT less sharp compared to the Necrons and Tau. Just look at them with fullres_teamcolour=1 and you'll see what I mean.

[Steel*Faith]

Then don't buy the game, simple as that. But don't try and convince the fans that the game sucks because you think the game looks bad.

That's a fanboy response.

The fact is the game is old, and with each expansion the new races are looking better and better, while the old races still look like they have placeholder animations ect. I think it's a huge priority to make all the content in the game look on par to as a whole. This is starting to look awkward now. Thankfully we have mods, otherwise I seriously would have given up on this franchise until a sequel was released. Sad but true.

[Imperial Dane]

@Paladin Might: First you complain that slow runner is making awful sarcastic remarks, then you make one yourself that is awful. Then you call someone a fanboy, and afterwards begin praising mods.. Hypocrite.
He isn't a fanboy, he is just stating a fact, that if you don't like the game, don't buy it, nobody is forcing you !
Developers have better things to do than update every tidbit of graphics, and i don't recall them doing that before in any other game to be honest.
And answer me this, during battle, are you really going to be staring at your marine's bolter up close ? Because if you are, you are missing a vital aspect of the game.. and if you aren't.. Why are you complaining ?

[Chaingun]

Updating graphics take resources like everything else. So it's more of a question of whether Relic think the extra investment will give higher returns rather than shoulds or should nots.

I mean, they only need to take screenshots of the new units for the box art and online store art, and try to sweep the old graphics under the floormat. That will probably sell equally well. ^^

[s1_ONE]

Oh, c'mon, what's the problem? in general dow textures sucks compared to other recent games, just go into Adeptus Modificatus subforum, click on the 1st sticky: The Texture Replacement and Requests List, version 2.0 (Updated 8/13/07)

then download & install the textures you like.. Personally i love, seriously, i fruiting love the specular textures for all races by Megazogg.. with fullres & filters the game looks shiny! & all races have textures of a quality near AS mod ones... \o/

(Let's hope Megazogg will do that also for SS.. ^^ )

[ViS]

Dane, NONE of us are saying the game sucks... You're just twisting our words. We haven't even played it yet. All we're saying is that it would have been nice for them to have bought all the race on par with each other so that the game wouldn't look ridiculous as a whole.

[Azarr]

I don't think Dane ever said that. And he is quite clearly responding to Paladin Might.

[{OGS}Sirius]

I say everyone calm down and pray to the emperor or chaos gods that we will get dow 2 confirmed like the gamespy rumor said.

[War-Reborn]

And in regards to the two people saying they don't know of any old game engine being updated, well it has happened

not often, but thats mainly because, expansions don't tend to still be comming 3 or 4 years later, so the need to update the graphics is not usually a pressing one, since the graphics of the original are still relatively up to date, as most exp arrive 6 months to a year later, although most expansions still tweak or add enhancements to the looks,

However for games which have soldiered on for quite a while, the last releases of them have either updated the old engine, or reworked it entirely

See

Half life blue shift
Tie Fighter
X wing

[Versian]

If this exp was comming 6 months, 1 year, even 2 years after the original, i would say thats a fair point, but comming 4 years later, means the graphics are now extremely dated to say the least.

Except that Relic worked on Winter Assaut and Dark Crusade in the mean time. And Dawn of War is based off an engine that is MORE than 4 years old. The Impossible Creatures engine as far as I know. Slow Runner is right. Although I'd love to be see a good looking bolter on my space marines, there are better things to do in SoulStorm's development.

First of all Development has been transferred to Iron Lore. A company that is, honestly, not so heard of. They can't afford to mess up. Especially since Dawn of War is not theirs. They don't want to be known as "they guys who ruined Dawn of War". As a result, they have to make the new races good, make the campaign good (debatable, but belongs in another thread), make the new units good.

Besides, do you know how zoomed up you must be to really notice how bad a Bolter looks? really close. Which is not so usual. On top of that, Bolters can be replaced by heavy and special weapons. Although I would indeed love a good looking bolter. I'm really not surprised Bolters look bad.

And then there's THQ breathing down their backs. Although not as Bad as EA, THQ seems to be a big fan of deadlines and thinks quantity is better than quality.

Honestly, there is only so far you can stretch a game engine, otherwise we'd all be using game engines from the 90s with graphics like crysis. SoulStorm is NOT a 2008 game. It's an EXPANSION of a 2004 game. Besides, the whole thing looks great already.

[Vytae]

One thing Relic understand well: Its not about the pure graphics and prettiness,its the Atmosphere and detail.

DC still looks awesome,because there's always lots of cool shit going on. Games like Crysis rely SOLEY on their graphics to sell. The gameplay itself is average,the story is fairly bad,the execution worse. But damn it looks sexy. But when the sexy wears off,theres nothing left. And then theirs games like SC. Where the graphics are fairly simple but the sheer scale makes up for it.

Meanwhile you got DC,she might not be the prettiest,but she gives it all she gots and knows all the tricks.