Dragon Age: console or PC - Page 7

Robert Sharp · 11-07-2009, 09:25 AM

Agreed. I just started last night, and the graphics are a BIG disappointment. I have everything set to max, too (PC version).

Falcon554 · 11-07-2009, 09:32 AM

Dont forget its been in dev for what 3 or 4 years?

Chris Nahr · 11-07-2009, 09:32 AM

Can't see why that would be a disappointment since every game trailer we've seen showed off the rather pedestrian graphics...

Robert Sharp · 11-07-2009, 09:34 AM

I don't understand what that has to do with anything. Why can't I be disappointed by the graphics? First, I don't watch trailers because they contain spoilers. Second, even if I had watched them, I could have been disappointed all along, or I could have hoped they would spruce it up, or whatever. Does something have to be a surprise to be a disappointment?

Kevin Grey · 11-07-2009, 09:56 AM

As I believe Desslock noted in his review, the graphics are quite inconsistent. The Kokari Wilds looked pretty bad but I've been plenty impressed by a lot of other areas I've been too. Certainly not state of the art but still plenty attracrtive (PC version completely maxed out FWIW).

Ben Sones · 11-07-2009, 10:11 AM

I find that the game looks a lot more attractive from the overhead, Baldur's Gate view. Up close you see a lot of inconsistencies in texture detail, stiff character models, etc., and most of the environments I've seen so far aren't too impressive when you can see to the horizon. But from the pulled back view, it looks consistently great--much better than NWN. It's almost like the game was designed with that view mode in mind (who knows? Maybe it was). I wish I could play from that view all the time, but unfortunately the game has a tendency to activate outdoor encounters from way beyond the limit to which you can pan the view. Indoors and in dungeons, though, I leave it in overhead view mode all the time.

Desslock · 11-07-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Grey

As I believe Desslock noted in his review, the graphics are quite inconsistent. The Kokari Wilds looked pretty bad but I've been plenty impressed by a lot of other areas I've been too. Certainly not state of the art but still plenty attracrtive (PC version completely maxed out FWIW).

Yeah, the art is quite good in other areas, and creatures are well animated -- after being initially quite disappointed with the art (as I mentioned in the podcast as well as the review, I was ultimately pretty happy with it). The prelude in the Wilds definitely has the worst graphics in the game, probably because it was done years ago. Clipping occurs pretty regularly, unfortunately.

Dragons are legitimately scary and look Godzilla-ish huge, spell-effects are great. Top-down view always looks great, as Ben indicated.

mkozlows · 11-07-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Sharp

Does something have to be a surprise to be a disappointment?

Yes. If you're expecting them to be bad, they're just bad; they're only disappointing if you were expecting them to be good.

Pedantically yours,

Mordrak · 11-07-2009, 11:27 AM

So far, I think it looks pretty good. I'm happy it runs well on my machine. It runs better than NWN2 and it definitely overall looks better in execution so far (other than perhaps an area or two in MotB).

Tim James · 11-07-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair

The PC version isn't going to win prizes for looks. It's NWN++.

No doubt. You can still pick up holdovers from back in the day, but they've done a lot to improve it finally. For example, you don't have to wait 5 seconds after combat for the loot bag to appear, and can actually loot corpses during battle. There also seems to be a greater range to it so you don't do a little animation dance walking up to the loot. The Witcher was really obvious about those kind of holdovers.

Mordrak · 11-07-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim James

No doubt. You can still pick up holdovers from back in the day, but they've done a lot to improve it finally. For example, you don't have to wait 5 seconds after combat for the loot bag to appear, and can actually loot corpses during battle. There also seems to be a greater range to it so you don't do a little animation dance walking up to the loot. The Witcher was really obvious about those kind of holdovers.

I'm not saying it doesn't have its problems, but you guys really need to actually compare screen shots if you think it's just NWN2++. Stop getting hung up on individual smeary textures which may look bad and start looking at the whole picture.

If I had NWN2 installed, I'd do some more comparison grabs. They did a good job for the most part (except for Morrigan) generating skin textures too.

Alistair · 11-07-2009, 04:01 PM

Yes, it's a lot better than NWN2. It's just not great.

Mordrak · 11-07-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alistair

Yes, it's a lot better than NWN2. It's just not great.

Edit: Anyway, I should remember you guys are probably playing it at super high resolutions. I'm sure my relatively low resolution obscures some of the problems and I need to keep that in mind when you guys are bitching. Nevermind.

Alistair · 11-07-2009, 04:19 PM

Er, hard to compare directly, but anything 'current gen' really. Stuff I have installed now is G3, ArmaII and Crysis, and I played Dead Space, Risen and Drakensang recently, plus the recent CODs. The stuff that DA looks better than is fairly B-list, or open world, I think. I suspect the good console titles have raised the bar for animation rather. I think DA is fine but not especially impressive so far, for me. I think the NWNs were a bit behind in this respect as well... DA is a long way ahead of them, but still not as far forward as others. From memory, I'm not sure the Witcher didn't look as good. I've been in so many RPG swamps in the past couple of years, they've all blurred...

Murbella · 11-07-2009, 04:59 PM

Oh graphics nazi's...

I play at 1920X1200 and it looks nice in my opinion, but then again i wouldn't pop open a Zima and declare my undying hatred for a game solely based on the pixel count being less than in final fantasy 13 either so maybe that explains it.

ElGuapo · 11-07-2009, 06:23 PM

Console question. How do you pull back into an overhead view? Can you do that? I've only done the close in view so far.

Bill Dungsroman · 11-07-2009, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElGuapo

Console question. How do you pull back into an overhead view? Can you do that? I've only done the close in view so far.

You cannot do that in the console version AFAIK.

DoomMunky · 11-08-2009, 10:25 AM

Okay, this is driving me crazy.

In the PC version, where is the "next party member" command? It's not in the controls options, but the lack of it is driving me crazy. I want to cycle thru my party members, not pause and click them or their portraits.

Did they fuck up this essential element of tactical control?

Skorin · 11-08-2009, 10:28 AM

F1 - F4 individually select your party members, if that helps.

Tim James · 11-08-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordrak

I'm not saying it doesn't have its problems, but you guys really need to actually compare screen shots if you think it's just NWN2++. Stop getting hung up on individual smeary textures which may look bad and start looking at the whole picture.

I'm just talking about lingering user interface quirks. Haven't even noticed the graphics, they seem passable to me.

Enidigm · 11-08-2009, 07:43 PM

I think it looks nice at 1900 x 1200 w/ 4xAA. Good use of focus perspective helps, and the faces are well done, if somewhat lifeless.

I actually agree with the comments on the spell effects. I like that they are not over the top garish.

Mordrak · 11-08-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim James

I'm just talking about lingering user interface quirks. Haven't even noticed the graphics, they seem passable to me.

Are you playing on the PC? Interface seems pretty smooth for me. The camera gets stuck on a wall sometimes when I'm trying to pull out to top down view, but that's my only real complaint, other than the general lack of information on some things.

If I had one complaint about the areas, it'd be that in general, they are pretty small. No walking through an open forest area (at least not yet) in my game. Where you can go is pretty restricted. And if they aren't small, it's mostly closed in (like the ruined temple). I still miss the exploration that was available at the beginning of BG1.

Tim James · 11-09-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mordrak

Are you playing on the PC? Interface seems pretty smooth for me. The camera gets stuck on a wall sometimes when I'm trying to pull out to top down view, but that's my only real complaint, other than the general lack of information on some things.

Again, it's not stuff I'm complaining about, just things I've mentioned a few times now that have been the same since NWN. No big deal, just funny to wonder what's going on under the hood.

I agree about your second point. I think Tom ruined it for me when he compared it to Mass Effect, which he said was space in the form of connected dungeons. I still find the DA maps better than The Witcher, where they were a series of huge long corridors. However, the quest design is better in Dragon Age so I have less time to think about it since I don't have to run back and forth endlessly.

Calistas · 11-09-2009, 01:51 PM

Might as well ask here: I am starting to Jones for this but
my laptop is old and I would need to get Steam to install it on my USB attached enclosure.

Laptop is c2d dual 1.6 with 2.5 gig ram and ATI radeon mobility X1600.

Would this setup run DA reasonably or should I get on with it and order a new PC as I have been thinking?

Incendiary Lemon · 11-09-2009, 09:56 PM

The textures are pretty rough in places and some of the fluff in the levels, like wine casks, use so few polygons that they stick out but that said I'm incredibly impressed with the level design. They did a brilliant job, you've got castles which seem to climb into the sky and precipices which really drop away beneath your feet. It really comes together beautifully despite the compromises and the occasional inexplicable texture.

roguefrog · 11-10-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon554

Dont forget its been in dev for what 3 or 4 years?

Longer than that. It was first announced in May '04. Probably first started a year or more before that.

I'd say at least six years.

Chris Nahr · 11-10-2009, 01:35 AM

The console versions have certainly one thing going for them, and that's decent handling of DLC. I just installed my copy and grabbed the free DLC and Warden's Keep. While everything eventually worked fine, the experience was unbelievably clumsy -- switching out to a browser window multiple times, Bioware's amateurish website cuts off text in 120 dpi Firefox, wouldn't accept my old Bioware account until I entered the account name instead of the explicitly requested e-mail address, forced me to re-enter my password multiple times to get Warden's Keep, required manual resyncs in Dragon Age to finally get the DLCs... just terrible. Everyone who complains about the PSN store requiring too many clicks should be forced to buy some Dragon Age DLC on the PC. This platform is so doomed.

mike · 11-10-2009, 04:44 AM

Playing on PS3, and no complaints here.

peterb · 11-10-2009, 05:47 AM

For those of you trying to decide between PC and console, I will observe that I gave in and picked up DA:O on PC, for a change (played KOTOR, Jade, and ME on the console), and...well, I have at least one crash to desktop per night.

Your mileage may vary, but there's a data point.

Destarius · 11-10-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterb

For those of you trying to decide between PC and console, I will observe that I gave in and picked up DA:O on PC, for a change (played KOTOR, Jade, and ME on the console), and...well, I have at least one crash to desktop per night.

Your mileage may vary, but there's a data point.

I've yet to have ANY crashes (6 hours straight in one of those sessions), so there's another data point.

11-07-2009, 09:25 AM	#181
Robert Sharp World's End Supernova Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: somewhere in OH gamertag: bobertchin Posts: 16,194	Agreed. I just started last night, and the graphics are a BIG disappointment. I have everything set to max, too (PC version).

11-07-2009, 09:32 AM	#182
Falcon554 Broad Band Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 282	Dont forget its been in dev for what 3 or 4 years?

11-07-2009, 09:32 AM	#183
Chris Nahr How To Go Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Aurora Posts: 12,768	Can't see why that would be a disappointment since every game trailer we've seen showed off the rather pedestrian graphics...

11-07-2009, 09:34 AM	#184
Robert Sharp World's End Supernova Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: somewhere in OH gamertag: bobertchin Posts: 16,194	I don't understand what that has to do with anything. Why can't I be disappointed by the graphics? First, I don't watch trailers because they contain spoilers. Second, even if I had watched them, I could have been disappointed all along, or I could have hoped they would spruce it up, or whatever. Does something have to be a surprise to be a disappointment?

11-07-2009, 09:56 AM	#185
Kevin Grey New Romantic Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 6,531	As I believe Desslock noted in his review, the graphics are quite inconsistent. The Kokari Wilds looked pretty bad but I've been plenty impressed by a lot of other areas I've been too. Certainly not state of the art but still plenty attracrtive (PC version completely maxed out FWIW).

11-07-2009, 10:11 AM	#186
Ben Sones World's End Supernova Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Boletaria, Gamertag: Ben Sones PSN: bsones Posts: 17,221	I find that the game looks a lot more attractive from the overhead, Baldur's Gate view. Up close you see a lot of inconsistencies in texture detail, stiff character models, etc., and most of the environments I've seen so far aren't too impressive when you can see to the horizon. But from the pulled back view, it looks consistently great--much better than NWN. It's almost like the game was designed with that view mode in mind (who knows? Maybe it was). I wish I could play from that view all the time, but unfortunately the game has a tendency to activate outdoor encounters from way beyond the limit to which you can pan the view. Indoors and in dungeons, though, I leave it in overhead view mode all the time.

11-07-2009, 11:27 AM	#189
Mordrak How To Go Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 12,210	So far, I think it looks pretty good. I'm happy it runs well on my machine. It runs better than NWN2 and it definitely overall looks better in execution so far (other than perhaps an area or two in MotB).

11-07-2009, 04:01 PM	#192
Alistair Social Worker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,000	Yes, it's a lot better than NWN2. It's just not great.

11-07-2009, 04:19 PM	#194
Alistair Social Worker Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 2,000	Er, hard to compare directly, but anything 'current gen' really. Stuff I have installed now is G3, ArmaII and Crysis, and I played Dead Space, Risen and Drakensang recently, plus the recent CODs. The stuff that DA looks better than is fairly B-list, or open world, I think. I suspect the good console titles have raised the bar for animation rather. I think DA is fine but not especially impressive so far, for me. I think the NWNs were a bit behind in this respect as well... DA is a long way ahead of them, but still not as far forward as others. From memory, I'm not sure the Witcher didn't look as good. I've been in so many RPG swamps in the past couple of years, they've all blurred...

11-07-2009, 04:59 PM	#195
Murbella Social Worker Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 2,996	Oh graphics nazi's... I play at 1920X1200 and it looks nice in my opinion, but then again i wouldn't pop open a Zima and declare my undying hatred for a game solely based on the pixel count being less than in final fantasy 13 either so maybe that explains it.

11-07-2009, 06:23 PM	#196
ElGuapo New Romantic Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 9,811	Console question. How do you pull back into an overhead view? Can you do that? I've only done the close in view so far.

11-08-2009, 10:25 AM	#198
DoomMunky Social Worker Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: SteamID: DoomMunky Posts: 3,414	Okay, this is driving me crazy. In the PC version, where is the "next party member" command? It's not in the controls options, but the lack of it is driving me crazy. I want to cycle thru my party members, not pause and click them or their portraits. Did they fuck up this essential element of tactical control?

11-08-2009, 10:28 AM	#199
Skorin Hustle Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: It's cold here. Posts: 371	F1 - F4 individually select your party members, if that helps.

11-08-2009, 07:43 PM	#201
Enidigm New Romantic Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 7,518	I think it looks nice at 1900 x 1200 w/ 4xAA. Good use of focus perspective helps, and the faces are well done, if somewhat lifeless. I actually agree with the comments on the spell effects. I like that they are not over the top garish.

11-09-2009, 01:51 PM	#204
Calistas New Romantic Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wellington Posts: 5,840	Might as well ask here: I am starting to Jones for this but my laptop is old and I would need to get Steam to install it on my USB attached enclosure. Laptop is c2d dual 1.6 with 2.5 gig ram and ATI radeon mobility X1600. Would this setup run DA reasonably or should I get on with it and order a new PC as I have been thinking?

11-09-2009, 09:56 PM	#205
Incendiary Lemon Social Worker Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Charlottesville, Virginia Posts: 2,222	The textures are pretty rough in places and some of the fluff in the levels, like wine casks, use so few polygons that they stick out but that said I'm incredibly impressed with the level design. They did a brilliant job, you've got castles which seem to climb into the sky and precipices which really drop away beneath your feet. It really comes together beautifully despite the compromises and the occasional inexplicable texture.

11-10-2009, 01:35 AM	#207
Chris Nahr How To Go Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Aurora Posts: 12,768	The console versions have certainly one thing going for them, and that's decent handling of DLC. I just installed my copy and grabbed the free DLC and Warden's Keep. While everything eventually worked fine, the experience was unbelievably clumsy -- switching out to a browser window multiple times, Bioware's amateurish website cuts off text in 120 dpi Firefox, wouldn't accept my old Bioware account until I entered the account name instead of the explicitly requested e-mail address, forced me to re-enter my password multiple times to get Warden's Keep, required manual resyncs in Dragon Age to finally get the DLCs... just terrible. Everyone who complains about the PSN store requiring too many clicks should be forced to buy some Dragon Age DLC on the PC. This platform is so doomed.

11-10-2009, 04:44 AM	#208
mike Broad Band Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 285	Playing on PS3, and no complaints here.

11-10-2009, 05:47 AM	#209
peterb Spinning Toe Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 754	For those of you trying to decide between PC and console, I will observe that I gave in and picked up DA:O on PC, for a change (played KOTOR, Jade, and ME on the console), and...well, I have at least one crash to desktop per night. Your mileage may vary, but there's a data point.

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Dragon Age: console or PC