Witcher 3 downgrade arguments in here and nowhere else
- Thread starter Jigolo
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Why is it stupid? You can always get your money back if things aren't to your liking later on before release.
CadetMahoney
Member
Companies will brush it off as a niche, fringegroup of complainers who are "just making things up and don't know what they're talking about".
Novum_Veritas
Member
I'm honest, I pre-ordered it on GoG, but I totally knew this downgrade would happen, I know CDP lied to us, the only thing is just to wait for the release and see for ourselves.
Except a lot of the things people are pointing out have nothing to do with resolution. The grass example quoted last page is simply a different asset. Doesn't matter what res your gif is at; those assets are completely different. It went from amazing individual stalks of wheat to grass-brush we've had since Crysis.
Projectjustice
Banned
I see words like massive and huge downgrade being thrown around like it's the truth. Neogaf and hyperbolic statements to the extreme never cease to stop around here.
Doesn't matter. If you don't care about the quality of your evidence then I don't care about your image.
A lot of the posters that regularly post in graphical and technical threads have all come in here and mocked the BS people are peddling. We care about visual quality more than most and we are not satisfied by what this thread is producing.
You are absolutely right, but that's not what the thread is about. The thread is about if the game has gone through a graphical downgrade or not. Gameplay/story are a discussion for us to have in the OT thread when the game ships and with any luck this downgrade talk will be kept only in this thread, but that goes both ways as this thread is for the downgrade discussion and not about the story/gameplay.
indigo-cyclops
Member
While folks debate the downgrade for months those of us who don't care or understand why will be playing and enjoying the final chapter, most likely. I'll miss Geralt, probably my favorite fantasy series. 🎓
Hoho for breakfast
Member
I must be confused on some things. I see people repeatedly defending this and it's just defying my logic.
On what grounds are these screens and videos being defended? Are these not actual shots? Is one PC ultra and the others console or something? Do we not even know? I just feel like I'm completely missing something and so the only conclusion I can come to is that there is some astounding bias being displayed here. What's going on?
On what grounds are these screens and videos being defended? Are these not actual shots? Is one PC ultra and the others console or something? Do we not even know? I just feel like I'm completely missing something and so the only conclusion I can come to is that there is some astounding bias being displayed here. What's going on?
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
I still don't know why this thread and all this outrage is only happening now. We've had footage of the final PC build for a few weeks now, readily available. And while a few people questioned the foliage (which I think is what was downgraded the most), there was no outrage like I've seen in this thread.
It's not as if this is the first time we're seeing what the game looks like when we play it in 9 days time.
It's not as if this is the first time we're seeing what the game looks like when we play it in 9 days time.
texhnolyze
Banned
Can't wait for the 19th.
I'm gonna be absorbed into the world of the Witcher for weeks.
I'm gonna be absorbed into the world of the Witcher for weeks.
People love defending companies. People saying there isn't a change when there is a goddamn wall that's a straight line now compared to when it actually had tessellated cobblestones sticking out of it. It's a straight line now..... a straight line. FROM THE SAME SCENE. Take your "time of day" excuse some where else.
I'm done. Hopefully these are just console or medium/high assets for the game.
I'm done. Hopefully these are just console or medium/high assets for the game.
DustyVonEric
Member
Haha! Good stuff
Since it was delayed, I wasn't expecting early trailer type visuals. It is definitely a downgrade, and compares laughably bad in some screenshots. It still look great to me for the scope of the game, however. And probably looks a lot better in motion.
I'm gonna wait for a sale to pick it up. Not as punishment; I just have a lot on my plate right now.
Downgrade discussion? Awesome!
Gameplay and story are more important.
Thread is about downgrade stuff, not story or gameplay.
Not weeks. Almost a year.
Agreed. The console versions, for what they are, are looking pretty damn impressive. It's just the PC version which appears to be a letdown from a technical standpoint.
Denton
Member
Good post.
I am curious about after release comparisons - seeing how locations changed will be interesting - but comparisons such as the one in OP are worthless.
This game has been struggling ever since they showed that preview of him walking around outside the town in the fielded area. The distance LOD was atrocious then, so this isn't anything new. I mentioned back then (like 6 months ago) why is it so difficult for games to have textures that look like this:
instead of:
This isn't the only game that's guilty of this. If fucking Unreal Tournament 2003 can run 2048x2048 grass/tree/bush/wall shrubery textures with full 0-255 transparency levels all at once handily, why can't a brand new sophisticated game engine? At least have the option, especially an option for texture detail in distant foliage LOD levels.
instead of:
This isn't the only game that's guilty of this. If fucking Unreal Tournament 2003 can run 2048x2048 grass/tree/bush/wall shrubery textures with full 0-255 transparency levels all at once handily, why can't a brand new sophisticated game engine? At least have the option, especially an option for texture detail in distant foliage LOD levels.
I wonder how many people whining about the downgrades have the capability to use it at the best settings?
Downgrade discussion? Awesome!
Gameplay and story are more important.
This is thread for visual downgrades. If you want to talk about gameplay or story [which are not affected], go into some other thread.
Lady Siara
Member
If this downgrade is true, wouldn't you want to get the word out before the game launches so people aren't blindsided? We've already had it happen with a few games this gen so it's not unprecedented. If they are willfully deceiving us, don't you think that's a cause for concern?
I've been avoiding most of the media surrounding this game since the Sword of Destiny trailer to prevent being spoiled, especially with early copies being sold. I doubt I'm the only one.
This game has been struggling ever since they showed that preview of him walking around outside the town in the fielded area. The distance LOD was atrocious then, so this isn't anything new. I mentioned back then (like 6 months ago) why is it so difficult for games to have textures that look like this:
instead of:
At least have the option, especially an option for texture detail in distant foliage LOD levels.
Can't. LODs are baked into the Umbra 3 middleware.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Downgrade discussion? Awesome!
Gameplay and story are more important.
Why come into this thread talking about gameplay and story?
Get the fuck out with this nonsense. This is a graphics thread.
jim2point0
Banned
That's CDPR's reputation for you. People shat all over Dark Souls 2 and Watch Dogs, but people are defending this game like crazy before even having their hands on it. Maybe it's a good game. We won't know until we play it. But for now, we can look at the pre-release media and be disappointed all we want.
People have been calling downgrade for a while, but the Withcer 3 graphics defense force is quick to silence anyone and complain about it derailing threads. And nobody really had good enough visual evidence to create a standalone thread for this yet.
Some of the examples in the OP are some pretty iffy comparisons. but it really just comes down to whether or not you're as impressed by recent media as you were with early media. And I'm not. I don't think the game's visuals are anything to write home about now, whereas I used to be blown away.
They have been posting media for the past year showing what the game looks like. The bulk of official media looks roughly the same as it currently does.
No idea, but I do. I upgraded my PC to play Witcher 2, and I did the same again for Witcher 3 a few years later. If Witcher 3 doesn't push the machine, it's not like other games won't, but meh... At least I should be getting 1440p/60fps with the game now seemingly less technically impressive than before.
His Majesty
Banned
The word is already out: there is at least 10 hours of actual gameplay circulating on the internet. I don't see how you could possibly be blindsided.
Because for some unknown reason there were people that believed there was no downgrade, hence this argument thread started. It's gotten to a point where we're analyzing the downgrade, because arguing over whether or not the game was downgraded is completely stupid (Spoiler alert: It was downgraded. That's a fact).
And then you have the people jumping into the thread saying they have no idea why people are arguing (in a fucking argument thread) or that they're fed up with it (after they clicked on an argument thread).
Have people forgotten that thread whining is bannable? We don't need your metacommentary on whether this thread should exist. That the game isn't out yet is irrelevant. That gameplay is more important than graphics is irrelevant. People are discussing the information currently on-hand in a thread specifically designated for graphics comparison talk. Deal with it. No more metacommentary will be tolerated.
WordsintheWater
Member
Yes, there's a downgrade, to argue any different is being delusional. It's also delusional to expect everyone to be fair when talking about different companies and downgrades. Of course there's gonna be favoritism, that's how it goes in all walks of life. People are more inclined to shit on things they already don't like, which is companies like Ubisoft, who have done this many times before. I may be wrong, but isn't this the first time CD Projekt has done this? It's not right that a lot of people are defending them, but it's not exactly a surprise either because they don't have a track record of doing this.
Emperor_Uriel
Member
I can absolutely understand people saying that CDPR should have at least left in the option for highly advanced graphics. Misleading people is foolish considering how much goodwill the company has garnered, and in light of the fact that the game still looks pretty great.
However, I also understand that this thread would inevitably be replaced by a "TW3 is poorly optimized!/Why are the TW3 requirements to Ultra so high?!/You need two Titans to max TW3?!" complaint thread in the event that they actually implemented those top-end options.
I also still don't believe that the 2013 trailer is actual gameplay. It's Deep Down levels of CG in disguise.
And who knows, modders might be able to dig up those old graphics options Watch Dogs style.
However, I also understand that this thread would inevitably be replaced by a "TW3 is poorly optimized!/Why are the TW3 requirements to Ultra so high?!/You need two Titans to max TW3?!" complaint thread in the event that they actually implemented those top-end options.
I also still don't believe that the 2013 trailer is actual gameplay. It's Deep Down levels of CG in disguise.
And who knows, modders might be able to dig up those old graphics options Watch Dogs style.
AzureFlame
Member
Ouch that downgrade.. but still not as bad as Dark Souls 2 downgrade which killed the beautiful atmosphere we saw in the early trailers xD.
Yikes, well maybe offer a slider for the threshold when those LOD's activate or something if that's possible =/
Yep, the graphics have absolutely been downgraded since when we first saw it in 2013. Probably even more so than Watch_Dogs.
But I download the recent 2015 gameplay trailer and the game still looks amazing. If the game looks like that on console I will be more than happy.
My biggest graphical concern is with the pop-up, specifically the shadow pop-in, on the console versions.
But I download the recent 2015 gameplay trailer and the game still looks amazing. If the game looks like that on console I will be more than happy.
My biggest graphical concern is with the pop-up, specifically the shadow pop-in, on the console versions.
stabiliser
Neo Member
I am not defeanding anybody, just telling you why this whole downgrade thing is not going anywhere.
Its a singelplayer only game with no crappy online features, no drm, no day one DLC - in fact it even has free DLC, filled whit content - comming out just after The Order witch was particularly short, has a clear ending since this is going to be the last game with Geralt - so no shitty cliffhanger... and so much more.
And it is comming out in a time when over the top focus on graphics has allready made out to be resposible for all the shit going wrong in the gamesindustry. That is why this is not going the same way the Watchdogs downgrade went. Nobody will give a shit and in the end most people will see you as the bad guy.
Whether there is a downgrade or not, don't expect much to happen, people are not on your side.
They would have to manually tweak LOD distances for every object that is on screen, and then bake-in new values and offer [maybe big] patch.
FlyingSaucer
Banned
I'm more and more glad that I haven't bought that GTX 970 when it was released.
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Also, I will say I am just really happy I get to ride on this the whole game.
With hairy/furry monster heads dangling from the side.
Maybe even some Fur armor if Geralt has some of his own.
With hairy/furry monster heads dangling from the side.
Maybe even some Fur armor if Geralt has some of his own.
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
I think everyone is within their right to complain. The downgrade is obvious, and has been to me for weeks. However, I still think the game looks incredible. It's a different situation to say Dark Souls II, where the downgrade wasn't apparent until people had bought the game and put the disc in their PS3's and 360's. Or the Watch Dog situation where the game looked terrible on consoles after the downgrade imo.
CDPR should get an earful for this, because they clearly over promised in terms of their visuals with bullshots and scripted sequences - that one gif where Geralt is riding his horse during a storm doesn't even look like gameplay. At the same time I don't think people saying 'the game still looks good' should be shrugged off as apologists.
I'm actually really looking forward to seeing a proper comparison with the PC version on ultra upon release, to see how much of the downgrade is due to art style change, and how much is actual technical pull back.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
God tier target render bullshot.
This is worse than Ubisoft pulled with Watchdogs, just goes to show how important is winning the favors of gamers. You can pull this shit and people will defend it.
I can't see mods even getting close to replicating how good the original foliage was. My guess is that there will be a bunch that just increase the density of the foliage that's in the game and some that will probably improve it a little. But recreating foliage is not easy. Especially at that level of detail.
GreyOcelot
Member
without being an expert on engines and graphics at all, seems like the vast majority of downgrades are lighting related. from DS2 to watchdogs to this. sure textures get downgraded, but the lighting looks so realistic and amazing pre-release and ends up far more basic
110% it's been downgraded. Anyone saying otherwise is deluding themselves.
Can't blame CDPR, they just had to follow the current industry standard on showcasing amazing graphics to build pre release hype-I'm not mad.
But the visuals are still breathtaking for an open world game.
Can't blame CDPR, they just had to follow the current industry standard on showcasing amazing graphics to build pre release hype-I'm not mad.
But the visuals are still breathtaking for an open world game.
There's this video showing off the graphics from the 2013 trailer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SpPqXdzl7g
I dunno but it feels to me like in 2013 they were pretty confident that the game would look like this. Obviously it didn't end up happening, though.
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