Luclin

[Zuranthium]

That's a huge thing modern MMO's are getting wrong with their design - overly pristine/crisp visuals. The sense of foreboding and/or character created by so much of the classic Everquest World has been completely unmatched for 12 years. You need more deep shadows, more rough edges, and more ambiguity to truly engage a person's imagination. Until we get technology that fully places our entire senses and personage within an alternate World, ala Inception, then games are always going to need to follow a lot of the same visual principles as painting/photography/film. There's a huge difference between the typical car commercial and art. Right now, MMO's are aiming for car commercial.

[Tiggles]

Originally Posted by Zuranthium [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

That's a huge thing modern MMO's are getting wrong with their design - overly pristine/crisp visuals. The sense of foreboding and/or character created by so much of the classic Everquest World has been completely unmatched for 12 years. You need more deep shadows, more rough edges, and more ambiguity to truly engage a person's imagination. Until we get technology that fully places our entire senses and personage within an alternate World, ala Inception, then games are always going to need to follow a lot of the same visual principles as painting/photography/film. There's a huge difference between the typical car commercial and art. Right now, MMO's are aiming for car commercial.

[SCB]

Originally Posted by Zuranthium [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

The sense of foreboding and/or character created by so much of the classic Everquest World has been completely unmatched for 12 years.

Disagree 100%. I don't see what anyone thinks is special or unique about EQ classic's "art". All posts like this just read like nostalgic bullshit to me.

[Millburn]

Originally Posted by SCB [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Disagree 100%. I don't see what anyone thinks is special or unique about EQ classic's "art". All posts like this just read like nostalgic bullshit to me.

To me it's a lot like the differences between a book and a movie. You need ambiguity to allow your imagination to go wild. Does that make sense? If not then look no further than lingerie.

[SCB]

Originally Posted by Millburn [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

To me it's a lot like the differences between a book and a movie. You need ambiguity to allow your imagination to go wild. Does that make sense? If not then look no further than lingerie.

To be honest this is the first time I've ever even begun to understand why people feel this way. I still disagree, but at least now I don't think it's just pure nostalgia.

Good comparison man.

[Borador]

First, maybe I missed it in a previous post, but WORLD OF WARCRAFT!!!! 2004, right after GoD, it took a LOT of people from EQ. It also provided the first real competition to EQ from a game design standpoint. In an effort to fix EQ issues it created other issues. You then have this back and forth about what is good and what is bad. People like to look in game, but you also have to look at what is happening in the real world. Five years is a long time to do anything, let alone play a video game. Some people are just not wired to stick around, no matter what changes were or were not made. Graduation, wife, girlfriend, kids, job? EQ wasn't "best" at any certain time in game, it was best when I could play til 4am or skip classes to stay at home and level.

Originally Posted by Millburn [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

To me it's a lot like the differences between a book and a movie. You need ambiguity to allow your imagination to go wild. Does that make sense? If not then look no further than lingerie.

Agreed. The only thing I'd add is that by lacking in certain areas, it allowed the brain to focus more on other things which enhanced different aspects of the game.

[Kika Maslyaka]

Originally Posted by Borador [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

First, maybe I missed it in a previous post, but WORLD OF WARCRAFT!!!! 2004, right after GoD, it took a LOT of people from EQ. It also provided the first real competition to EQ from a game design standpoint. In an effort to fix EQ issues it created other issues. You then have this back and forth about what is good and what is bad. People like to look in game, but you also have to look at what is happening in the real world. Five years is a long time to do anything, let alone play a video game. Some people are just not wired to stick around, no matter what changes were or were not made. Graduation, wife, girlfriend, kids, job? EQ wasn't "best" at any certain time in game, it was best when I could play til 4am or skip classes to stay at home and level.

+1

I wish I have played WoW during Vanilla...

[myriverse]

Originally Posted by SCB [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Disagree 100%. I don't see what anyone thinks is special or unique about EQ classic's "art". All posts like this just read like nostalgic bullshit to me.

Even in 1999, it was something I tolerated against my will, because the rest of the game was top notch. Boxy edges and awkward poses. Eyuck. Of course, I'm from the Atari generation, so anything over that is sweet to me.