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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWoW Moviewatch: Are WoW Cataclysm Graphics Good?
by Michael Gray 
Jun 6th 2011 at 12:00PM
This movie is actually a sequel of Wowcrendor's original Are WoW Graphics Bad? Tribute videos like these aren't uncommon; we saw a lot of nostalgia videos about the time Wrath of the Lich King was going away. Still, Wowcrendor has a pretty good eye, and he puts it to use in these landscape features.
Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.Filed under: WoW Moviewatch
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
allison.lins Jun 6th 2011 12:19PM
This reminds me of that time lapse of Dalaran from the PoV of the shopkeeps. Ugh, I can't find it. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Shinae Jun 8th 2011 11:18AM
http://wow.joystiq.com/2010/02/01/wow-moviewatch-life-of-a-vendor/
I was just thinking of it, too!
Snark Jun 6th 2011 12:31PM
They keep hiding behind water and lighting effects. Those things are what were recently revamped.
SINisterWyvern Jun 6th 2011 12:44PM
"Are WoW ******Cataclysm***** Graphics Good?"
Also in many places the textures were replaced with much higher resolutions. You don't notice if you don't turn them on or are just running around from one place to another. Just stop and look sometimes.
Ithrandil Jun 6th 2011 12:47PM
WoW graphics are someof my favorite of all time. It's the cartoony nature that allows em to hold up where other games that try to push the envelope with current edge 1) are hard to play unless you keep upgrading your system and 2) look very dated after a few years.
I made the same argument for Kingdom Hearts with some friends a while ago, that KH had the best graphics of any game ever. It's rendered anime/disney cartoon style was absolutely perfect for the PS2 engine and becuase it went for a certain cartoon/anime style. Instead of pushing the engine's capabilities trying to make things look hyperrealistic it still holds up better than most games coming out today.
WoW is the exact same, the style used for the game is unique and cartoony and overexagerated and it keeps the the game looking fantastic when other games 6+ years old just look sad.
Pyromelter Jun 6th 2011 1:20PM
The 2 Kingdom Hearts games were by far the best games Square/Enix made for the ps2, and are definitely the best thing they've put out since FF9. Graphical qualities are included in that assessment. Putting the KH team on a FF13 project seems to me like an all-time blunder, if Square was smart they'd have that team put out a new KH every 2 years for the next 20 years. Then again they've made so many mis-steps in the past few years, it's a wonder they are still even in business.
TheTraveler12 Jun 9th 2011 10:56AM
and 2) look very dated after a few years.
this is the nail on the head so to speak.. this games graphics have been dated for some time now.. people are just blind with blizz love to see it. that and the combat is stale. 123123123 ad nauseum.. its boring now.. its time for something new..
at some point you WILL look like everyother (insert class here) given access to the same tier loot. there is no way to make your toon unique looking.. its why i left.. dyes would add something... using specific models while still retaining the stats of your tier XX gear. gee.. imagine that... do people REALLY need more BG crap and arena shit? oh wait... you PVP people will all look the same at some point also.. see what i mean...its time for something new
Pyromelter Jun 6th 2011 1:16PM
WoW graphics are great as long as you aren't looking at a human. Or a troll. Or a night elf. Or an orc. Or a dwarf. Or an undead. Or a... well you get the idea.
(btw, not ragging on the styles of the races, simply the graphical qualities of them.)
Finnicks Jun 6th 2011 1:25PM
I can see Blizzard's dilemma tho:
If we upgrade the player-character textures, how many players will be upset with the new face options or new body options or new whatever options that don't exactly match their original face/other options?
It's a tough thing for them.
---
BTW, Blizz, my draenei is still rockin' that stupid 'stache. WHY, Blizz, WHY!?
Gyussz Jun 6th 2011 3:14PM
Only if we get one free character re-customization service :)
RetPallyJil Jun 6th 2011 5:26PM
I still chuckle over the "totally accidental HONEST" texture test during the Wrath beta testing. Panic in the streets!
(I must have screenshots somewhere)
cart Jun 6th 2011 1:16PM
just upgraded from a barely useable 7600gt with the graphics reduced, to a ATI 4800 with everything on ultimate. Wow the difference was amazing. I love Cata graphics
loreaddict Jun 6th 2011 1:41PM
WoW has great aesthetics.
Graphics on the other hand, are pretty damn old.
FYI:
Aesthetics: Art direction (Cartoony, fantasy setting, the overall "feel" of the game")
Graphics: Tech stuff (Textures, polygon count, etc)
Learn the difference, it could save your life.
Still, I'm amazed at how much has Blizzard managed to optimize what originally was a 3D RTS engine.
kaminari Jun 6th 2011 2:53PM
art style is also part of the graphics, as important or more so than the tech stuff.
although wow's models have low polygon counts it's art style makes up for it and it looks better than many more recent games.
learn not to make bs distinctions it will improve your quality of life.
Aceman67 Jun 6th 2011 2:01PM
What Loreaddict said. The game's graphics are VERY dated.
Games like STO, Rift, FFXIV all blow it out of the water.
Jorges Jun 7th 2011 10:59AM
Those are games on the "realistic" side of graphics. They will look outdated the next year.
Blizzard simply has to add more polygons, more detail and better textures. Games in the style of Free Realms, Ratchet and Clank or Kingdom Hearts have the same cartoonish look of wow, without looking outdated.
They did a pretty good job with SC2 (completely different engine, I know). I think can do the same for WoW... just look at the worgen models and all the new NPC ones!
jimforbes40 Jun 6th 2011 3:44PM
I love wowcrendor, cos he's much like me, can take this piss when needed, but still l loves WOW for what it is, an amazing MMO, with pretty beautiful graphics. Reminds me of when i first started playing wow and was totally blown away by how big and detailed the world was!
rip Jun 6th 2011 3:59PM
Wow graphics are pretty good until you start looking at trees...
RetPallyJil Jun 6th 2011 4:05PM
Blizzard Design Inc. has an unmatched eye for color. In clumsier hands, WoW's landscapes would look like a 5 year old vomiting up a box of crayons.
I love WoW's dreamlike feel, and I hope they never move away from it.
Jari Jun 6th 2011 4:11PM
Looking at the video makes me think of only one thing.
Good from far, far from good.