Of model detail and Murloc Suits
by Elizabeth Harper 
Aug 12th 2007 at 3:04PM
As World of Warcraft grows so does our technique and skill in producing new models for everybody to enjoy. Keep an eye out and you will notice more of the improvements we have already made besides the murloc costume.
In the meantime, check out all of the details of the Murloc costume in this little gallery (images taken by a Nagrand stream, where I imagine Murlocs would feel quite at home if they resided in Outland). You can clearly see that the back-fins of our fake Murloc are made of socks (one of them mis-matched, of course), that our hero is wearing heart-covered undies, and that the suit zips up the back with the zipper labeled EPC. Now the real question is... what the heck does EPC stand for?
Filed under: Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pokute Aug 12th 2007 3:35PM
EPIC?
Baluki Aug 12th 2007 3:49PM
I don't think that the model itself is really more elaborate than usual, but the texture is AMAZING. I think it's gotta be a higher-res texture than what the game normally uses. I don't know what it is now, but if the game uses (at the highest settings) 512x512 textures, this has got to be even higher, like 1024x1024. Which would mean that WoW is built to support higher-res textures already.
I could be totally wrong of course, but that could mean that Blizz could (relatively) easily add higher-res textures to the game some time in the future. Hopefully they planned ahead from the beginning and made all the textures huge to begin with and then downgraded them.
Of course, adding lots of high-res textures to the game would drastically affect framerates.
Joel Aug 12th 2007 4:39PM
@2 The game already supports different textures, with lower res versions of the current textures built in, so they must be making the 'high end' textures have even more detail. Oooooo.
But yeah, lovely models, and please, more Murlocs in the next expansion.
Khallah Aug 12th 2007 5:22PM
I think just generally, given the low poly constraints of the game, the modelers do really well.
BaboonNL Aug 12th 2007 6:32PM
WoW's graphics have always looked amazing to me.
Especially the animations look very fluent and natural, the style is great, and everything just looks nice together.
I like it way better than the look of most "next-gen" games.
Eztonic Aug 12th 2007 7:29PM
Frozen Shadoweave Shoulders also have an amazing texture. It's a shame the detail is a lot less with the robe.
Melissa Della Aug 12th 2007 8:38PM
I really hope some day they redo the textures on characters, especially humans. Some remodeling would be nice, but even just upgraded high-end textures would make such a difference...
TotalBiscuit Aug 12th 2007 9:36PM
@6 - Frozen Shadowweave is just recoloured arcanist, so that detail's been there since the Molten Core Tier 1 revamp.
and yes, EPC is clearly EPIC (which we're taking credit for turning into a catchphrase, no matter what anyone says, Blizzard obviously took it from WoW Radio ;))
TB.
Pook Aug 12th 2007 11:40PM
I just wish they would make the human males have less freekishly long arms, I mean i know there not inteligent and civilised like gnomes; but theres no reason to make them look like apes..
Steve Aug 13th 2007 4:02AM
I fond I really have to stop sometimes and hold off from running in, whacking things and just take a moment to appreciate the finer details that some of the NPCs have.
THEN run in and try and beat them to a pulp.
Love the odd sock...
Doug DeJulio Aug 13th 2007 11:49AM
I'd love to see a shot of a priest wearing that while in Shadowform...
Grubbtubb Aug 13th 2007 11:58AM
@11, Im guessing that it is a shapeshift form and wont stack with Shadowform. The same goes with the Ogre Suit from Dire Maul...
Bodah Aug 13th 2007 3:28PM
I certainly noticed the greater detail on this year's Orphan Week rewards - my turtle is a little blurry, and just runs after me, while Egbert is very detailed, and has specific animations and actions when I'm idle for too long.
Also, I'm sure I'll have to upgrade my computer for the next expansion - I already see slowdowns in Shattrath.