Blizzard's New Cataclysm Video Is Shameless Scenery Porn

[Vidi Kitty]

ffffuuuuuuuuu....

Its making me want to play after almost 2 years of having a life. Gives me that feeling like when I see someone attractive when I'm standing next to my girlfriend, that it would be awesome... but so wrong to do and probably negatively life changing.

 

[IamQ]

snip

I did play everything up to Icecrown Citadel, and it did get less and less memorable for me as the game went along, but since this is a news post about the trailer, let's keep it about the trailer. The opening was non-existant, as were the transitions, the 2nd part was on 3 different levels of bad and the yet another homage to the original theme was a beat for beat ripoff that sounded worse than what they copied.

Everyone has their own, I guess. While I'll admit that late Lich King music, such as Icecrown, wasn't very memorable, I can still say that I've enjoyed alot of it (Especially the music in Howling Fjord).

But, on the subject of the trailer, I can admit that most of the music isn't that spectacular, but I can't deny that I loved the peice that they played during 01:11-01:48. Sure, it did get a little repetitive, but I loved the instruments they used for it.

 

[Nenad]

Scenery porn? I couldn't believe that expression existed!

As for the graphics, I'll say what I always say: Graphics does not make a game! (I'm saying this to the people that say WoWs' graphics is dated)

Aaand about WoW, it's interesting to see Cataclysm, but I won't be playing it.

 

[samsonguy920]

Pretty dang sweet if you ask me. I am dying to find out what that shiny white city is.

And I jizzed in my eyes

Gosh golly I can't wait for this. Allready got my characters planned out and started exploring the world.

(The world got cataclysm'd before the release of the expansion)

By the way, does anyone know if that is Thrall's voice actor in the beginning?

That is indeed Chris Metzen, the creative director and voice of Thrall, Deathwing, and like... half of the rest of the cast.

Ah, that would be the same person who recently threatened TotalBiscuit of writing him into the lore as a gnome if he didn't start being nice. Was apparently effective. It would be for me.

 

[Vrach]

Wait, that's not the actual intro cinematic is it?

OT: Aye, doesn't look bad, though I'm not a huge fan of cinematics done by in game footage unless the game is graphically amazing (f. ex. ME2).

 

[Amardor]

It does look awesome but it still blows chunks

Exactly. This is the reason why WOW's playerbase is either stagnating or very very slowly gaining people.
First year of WOW: 4 Million. December 2004 to December 2005.
2nd 4 mill(2005-2006)
3rd 2 mill(2006-2007
4th 1 mill(2007-2008)
5th 1 mill(2008-2009)
6th ??? No number released for between December 2009 to December 2010.

Eventually the subscriber list will go in reverse even further, more content means a much larger end game to reach, i.e patience new players won't have.

Yes wow has 12 Million Subs, But it had 8 in its first 2 years, it only doubled 4 years later.

 

[The Madman]

I was going to start playing WoW, but since cataclysm is going to change that much, I think I'll pass.

I don't want to think that I missed out on 6 years of history while playing.

: /

If anything now would be the ideal time to give WOW a try. The new updated leveling zones are supposed to be absolutely incredible and the influx of people making new characters to explore this content means even the lowbie areas are well populated. A friend of mine who recently made a new character tells me that Redridge mountains is now the greatest zone ever whereas previously is was bland to say the least, so I look forward to trying that out when I get the chance.

Just keep in mind there's probably going to be a bit of a disconnect going from the level 60+ zones since Outland and Northrend technically take place *before* the revamped 1-60 content. Mind trip, I know! So it'd be like travelling back in time... whoa!

Still, if ever there was a time to get into it nows the time. Wish I could join you!

Extremely rich in detail!? Compared to what? Games that are 4 years old, maybe, but not modern games, that's for sure...
Something which makes graphics and scenes look impressive is lighting. This is known through the industry and sadly, working on a basic DX9 platform, WoW is never going to look pretty compared to many scenes in Metro 2033 which are actually stunning - when you see the doors to the Metro open for the first time and so on. The contrast & lighting make it an awe-inspiring moment. Sadly, WoW's graphics are never going to take anyone's breath away if they have kept up-to-date because they are simply nothing special- low polygons, limited detail, bland lighting and so on. They are certainly doing the best with what they have, but WoW is certainly looking very dated.

Your entire debate over visuals is silly anyway considering these are two completely different styles: The hyper real vs. the highly stylized. Comparing the two would be like trying to compare Leonardo's Mona Lisa to Van Gogh's 'The Scream'. Technically their both sorta portraits after all right?

No one is going to say WOW is bleeding edge technology... or that it's even anywhere remotely close to that edge. But the game has a unique and appealing sense of style to try and overcome those technical shortcomings which, for many including myself, has an appeal all its own. Trying to compare that to the latest and most high-tech in hyper-realistic shooters is flawed. WOW never even tried to be anything remotely like that, nor does it intend to.

Personally I like it this way and consider WOW to be extremely beautiful.

 

[Terramax]

"Wow, that looks amazing!"

That's what I would've said... back in 1999.

No one is going to say WOW is bleeding edge technology... or that it's even anywhere remotely close to that edge. But the game has a unique and appealing sense of style...

It doesn't really have that either.

 

[Cowabungaa]

Extremely rich in detail!? Compared to what? Games that are 4 years old, maybe, but not modern games, that's for sure...
Something which makes graphics and scenes look impressive is lighting. This is known through the industry and sadly, working on a basic DX9 platform, WoW is never going to look pretty compared to many scenes in Metro 2033 which are actually stunning - when you see the doors to the Metro open for the first time and so on. The contrast & lighting make it an awe-inspiring moment. Sadly, WoW's graphics are never going to take anyone's breath away if they have kept up-to-date because they are simply nothing special- low polygons, limited detail, bland lighting and so on. They are certainly doing the best with what they have, but WoW is certainly looking very dated.

When I mean detail I don't mean that in a technical sense, I meant in art design; grizzlies fishing in the streams in Grizzly Hills, the flowers on the ground covered by barbed plants in Duskwood, NPC's going about their routine, those little things that make the world feel vibrant and alive.

Yes that doors-opening scene in Metro 2033 was impressive, but WoW manages to blow me away just as much, not through technical prowess but through art design. Hence why I said that there's more to eye candy than just technicalities. I don't give a single damn about the low polygons, plain lighting and all that.

Eventually the subscriber list will go in reverse even further, more content means a much larger end game to reach, i.e patience new players won't have.

Because all content before the end-game is completely worthless and no-one pays attention to it, right?

 

[Brotherofwill]

Van Gogh's 'The Scream'

Ouch.

I think the issue with WoW is that the people play WoW & just WoW, and therefore have nothing to compare it to, and therefore don't demand much of Blizzard, allowing them to get away with poor graphics.

They don't demand? Now why would you 'demand' a new engine? That's just dumb I think.

It would cost the dev teams millions and would take a considerate effort that could be spent improving the game with add-ons like this or free content. Why rank up the whole game because it looks 'dated', which doesn't matter at all because the art design saves it from looking plain, uninteresting or otherwise. Having an online MMO be processor intensive with dynamic lighting and all that jazz would create more problems for the community rather than satisfying them. I don't understand people that go around comparing games in the graphics department and being almost offended when something doesn't meet their imaginary gold standard of visual acuity or whatever. WoW looks good, of course the sweeping camera makes the scenarios look better than in game, but the colours and palette of the world are nice and people enjoy the game for what it is. That's why they don't demand better graphics.

 

[Pinkjello]

It would be nice if they would spend that much time on armor and weapons models. Reskinning ftw?

 

[Dana22]

That "stellar art department" fails at creating good looking armor sets since Tier 2, with few exceptions.

Also, sucks that you forgot to mention EPIC MUSIC ! Really, there are a few in gaming industry who can compete with Blizzard, when it comes to CGI and Music.

 

[Atmos Duality]

No matter how many stabs I take at WoW, I have to admit that Blizzard's CGI department still knows exactly what it's doing.

Of course, I say the same thing of Squeenix...