Enhancing Graphics

[Legal Fish]

Considering all of FFXI graphics are client side, what is limiting PC and Xbox360 from having better and additional textures? While the PS2 suffers memory limitations, if that unique skin of that tiger in this zone, or that better looking fountain in that Bastok zone only appears on games on PC and Xbox360, PS2 is not hurt at all. Things like new music also could be added in this method. While the PS2 players will miss out in additional texture designs, they will be able to play on an older console, while FFXI looks attractive to players who want a next-gen MMORPG.

[Feba]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

Basically this would involve making multiples of every single model in the game. You can see why that would be an unattractive option.


A better question would be if they could increase graphics with AA/AF, increased drawdistance, instead of forcing players to try to make it work with third party tools..

[Kailea]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

yeah, the game is 3+ years old, and you wnat next gen? then wait for the newer SE MMORPG thats comeign out. SE wants to keep FFXI teh same on all versions, because they wamt to make a "same experiance" kind of mood.

[Gentoo]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

SE wants to keep FFXI teh same on all versions, because they wamt to make a "same experiance" kind of mood.

I used to buy into SE line about keeping the experience on all platforms the same, but not any more. Even with the latest update, you have 360 specific content.

From the 24July2006 update details:

[For Xbox 360 version players:]
After fulfilling certain requirements, players will be able to speak with title-changing NPCs to unlock Xbox 360 “achievements.”
In the case where players have no titles available to change, they will be unable to unlock any achievements.

Additional textures might be a pain to impliment, but better textures on PC and 360 clients seems doable at first blush.

So, I think the question is valid. Why not fork the PC client and start providing enhanced content since platform concurrency isn't important any longer?

[Macht]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

You do know, depending on how SE executed it in programming. The consistancy in the crossplatform program could still exist, just that the PS2 and PC has extra code sitting on their systems that do nothing.

Then again it could be that they do send info to XBox Live, just if the character isn't bound to any XBox Live account then Live doesn't do anything with the data.

[Thrasher]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

I think upgrading textures does present a storage issue for users with older pc's with low hard drive space, to keep with the comparability issues you would now have to have 2 sets of every textures for everything in the game.

The average FFXI player will most likely have a computer the is a older pc with a older gaming videocard or a newer low-midrange pc that is using a intragrated video solution. And if your average player does not have the computing power to make good use of the extra features whats the point to shift the development resources to new textures and more eye candy?

This games engine has many GFX problems, and most of those issues are much more important to get fixed (as if they ever will) then giving the game more eyecandy.

Or this is just Micro$ofts evil plan to get consumers to buy XBOX 360

[Macht]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

Really though, if your end up forcing out a versioning there wouldn't be two files of everything existing. It would still be the same structure, the versioning difference would occure at the update server (If system indicates to be PC of such quality or XBOX 360 send these files, if PS2 or PC of such lower quality send these files). It's the update server and SE who'll be stuck with the doubled files and having to keep them straight which creates a headache for them.

Then is creates potential for more problem.

Oops, sorry PS2 players we accidentally sent you the HQ version that is suppose to go to XBox 360 and PC. That's why the games acting funny on you when you enter the zone. Not much an issue the other way around except for maybe a player complaining saying "This doesn't look HQ, WTF SE!!!!1!one!!".

[Illuen]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

I used to buy into SE line about keeping the experience on all platforms the same, but not any more. Even with the latest update, you have 360 specific content.

I don't think you see, though, there is nothing they added to the game that makes the game itself with more features to the Xboxers. All they have is a NPC, which can give them an accomplishment on the Xbox Live system, that will not affect anything in FFXI itself for them. If there was a Xbox only weapon, or something like that, things would be different, but what the Xboxers got in the update was nothing that will ever affect anyone not playing Xbox in any way, be it positively or negatively.

[Feba]

Re: Enhancing Graphics

like I said, the easiest way would be to turn up the availble graphics for PC like they did for 260, but not mess with dats/textures at all.