WC4 Graphics

[Drizzt Do Urden]

I was looking through some of the recent news on wcnews and I saw the WC4 movie and the picture of the excalibur and it reminded me how good the graphics where for that game and in some ways they seem better than WC5s graphics. I was just wondering if anybody else out there thought that as well.

 

[ChrisReid]

It's very hard to make a comparison based on just those two pictures. The space background in the WC4 screenshot was artificially added in by Queeg for his movie, and the GameSpot Prophecy screenshot is fairly low resolution. It's not hard to find another pair of shots that makes WC4 look fairly dated compared to Prophecy:
https://cdn.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/wc4w95vista.jpg
https://cdn.wcnews.com/newestshots/full/3dfxtest5.jpg

There's a lot to be said for people who might prefer individual art styles and designs from one game or another, but Prophecy does have sharper textures, more complex models, deeper colors and a handful of hardware accelerated effects. Both games had incredible graphics at the time they were released and continue to hold up well against some of the modern space sims.

 

[Spertallica]

To be honest, I always thought WC4 was the worst looking game of the lot- the capships were just plain fugly due to the crappy textures used in that game (WC3 looked wayyyy better).

 

[Edfilho]

I agree with Spertallica. WC4 made the mistake of changing the CapShips' textures to something that looked really messy onscreen.

But, other than that, I'm still amazed at how awesome WC3 and 4 look, still today.
No other non-accelerated games ever got CLOSE to looking as clean and "realistic" as them. And I've played them both recently.

I can't really put my finger on it, but there is something about that engine that makes the space and the ships look like they're really there, like they have real volume. Ok, now i'm just rambling.

 

[Peterson]

I think the best thing about Prophecy's graphics were the gorgeous missile trails.

Whereas the best looking thing in WC4 was... Velina Sosa.

 

[Spertallica]

I wish they hadn't reused WC 3 capship models so much- but what can you do- I'm still a holdout for seeing some old WC1-2 capships in future games, as unlikely as that is... (though more likely now that a ship from the original two games has officially made it into 3d... the good ol broadsword )

It would make some sense, seeing as WC2 capships from my understanding were some of the newest ships in Confleet up until WCP- but I'm still not holding my breath.

 

[cff]

But, other than that, I'm still amazed at how awesome WC3 and 4 look, still today.
No other non-accelerated games ever got CLOSE to looking as clean and "realistic" as them. And I've played them both recently.

Have to disagree. When it comes to best graphics pre 3D cards the Oscar has to go to the Darkening. WC3 and 4 were great, but P2 was even better in that aspect.

 

[Andrewas]

To be honest, I always thought WC4 was the worst looking game of the lot- the capships were just plain fugly due to the crappy textures used in that game (WC3 looked wayyyy better).

IIRC, this was because the artists put a lot of detail into those textures, not realising what would happen when they dropped the resolution for mapping onto the in-game models. I wonder if the hi-res textures are available anywhere, and if they could be modded into the game.

 

[Ricochet]

That would be cool...
Also, there was a big switch from the rasterized wc 1/2 (great) look to a low poly models used in wc 3/4.

I never liked it, ships(and cockpits) in 2 looked much better design - wise than the others. It might be all that military green...

 

[Bandit LOAF]

It would make some sense, seeing as WC2 capships from my understanding were some of the newest ships in Confleet up until WCP- but I'm still not holding my breath.

It depends on the ship - no matter what the Wikipedia says, histories for most Wing Commander ships are actually quite sparse. WC2's Confederation-class is only five years old or so, but the Gilgamesh-class destroyers were around during Wing Commander I... and there's no history on the Waterloo-class at all.

IIRC, this was because the artists put a lot of detail into those textures, not realising what would happen when they dropped the resolution for mapping onto the in-game models. I wonder if the hi-res textures are available anywhere, and if they could be modded into the game.

The textures were made extra-detailed for the CGI sequences - covered in rivets and portholes and so forth.

 

[Edfilho]

That would be cool...
Also, there was a big switch from the rasterized wc 1/2 (great) look to a low poly models used in wc 3/4.

I never liked it, ships(and cockpits) in 2 looked much better design - wise than the others. It might be all that military green...

I disagree. In-game, most WC1/2 ships were a mess of big pixels, you could barely have an idea of what the ship looks like.

It was really gorgeous at the the time, and quite impressive, but it aged worse than WC3, which is not the norm...

Most 2D (i.e. sprites) games age better than the earlier 3D ones.
Just compare FF6 and FF7.

 

[Edfilho]

Have to disagree. When it comes to best graphics pre 3D cards the Oscar has to go to the Darkening. WC3 and 4 were great, but P2 was even better in that aspect.

I don't know, The Priv2 engine was better, but the WC3 ships just looked better.

 

[Peterson]

I disagree. In-game, most WC1/2 ships were a mess of big pixels, you could barely have an idea of what the ship looks like.

Yeah, it hurts to admit it, but you are right. When seen close up, the ships were just a blur, whereas the graphics of WC3 onwards are still absolutely fine to see what's what.

 

[MjavTheGray]

By the way, can anyone explain me how to see enemy shields state in WCIV?
Had always flown without the knowledge, and somehow survived (Though never succeeded in levels higher than ACE).
But if someone knows - I'd certainly love an explanation.

 

[Edfilho]

I don't understand what exactly you're asking...

 

[MjavTheGray]

Ummm...
I mean - I can't find any indicator of enemy shields.
Armor status - it's easy. Red is blown up. Green is okay.
But the shields? The target screen doesn't change while I am punching enemy shields, and then suddenly the armor is red. It's not that I can't live without shield indicator, sure I can.

But I do love Armada's indicator with "three-line" shield status and green-yellow-orange-brown armor indicator.

Maybe I am just looking the wrong way in WC IV?
But enemy shields status is nowhere to be found.

 

[ChrisReid]

Look at the targeting VDU. In this first shot, the Pirate Razor's side shields are at full strength, its rear shields are partially damaged and its forward shields are virtually gone.

Now its rear shields have been restored, but it has taken some shield damage on the left.

 

[MjavTheGray]

Sorry, but I still can't see difference. Maybe I am kind of colorblind (and that may explain it), but I can see only two stages: "dark" and "dark green", that is okay" and "blown". No way for me to see "partially damages" shields. But that looks really to be my problem.

And - thanks for teaching

 

[Death]

The shading changes on the green circle around the target status indicator are what indicates the shielding levels, from full (dark green) to gone (not there at all), with the shade lightening as you do more damage to the shield.

 

[Dundradal]

I don't think colorblindness effects seeing the differences in the color. It's all the same color, but of different shades (dark to light) of green. I think maybe your monitor might be set odd. Trying turning up the contrast and brightness.