More Character Designs(FOcast Model, and Concept Art of new outfits)

[•Col•]

http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Fonewearl-pose-2.jpg

http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/FoNewm-Costume.jpg

http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Focaseal-pose-2.jpg

http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/FoCast-Costume.jpg

http://bumped.org/psublog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PSO2-costume-teaser.jpg

http://bumped.org/psublog/pso2-more-default-character-designs/


FOcast model looks wonky from that angle... But I'm liking it for whatever reason. o.o

Also, the other outfits in the concept art looks absolutely BAMF... Even though it's not very clear what they really look like. :p

EDIT: Also, wtf? They totally messed with the FOcast color scheme... I liked the dark purple... It looks like they alternated the light/dark purple areas from the concept art...

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr282/Aldermar/thumb-pso2-focast-concept.jpg

[Norco]

I really wish the pic with the four concept arts were bigger, oh well xD

Btw, is there someone else who also think that FOcasts really look like some Decepticon? :o

[str898mustang]

nice pics

lol thought the same thing Norco

[NoiseHERO]

I like that one megaman-shaped CAST outfit...

Not sure what gender it's for though.

[maxx69]

PS2 environment textures :(

[Rotek]

Can anyone translate this for me?
Its an email from PSO2 newsletter.

[SPOILER-BOX]▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽

　　ファンタシースターオンライン2通信 2011/11/30

△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△

本メールは、『ファンタシースターオンライン2』
メールマガジン配信希望の方にお送りしております。

◆━━＜ＩＮＤＥＸ＞━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◆
　★ご挨拶★
【1】ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ＆公式mixiページ公開中！
【2】オリジナル壁紙配布のお知らせ
【3】『裏・PSO2通信』（第五回）：ポロリ、冷えてます。
【4】公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも公開中！
◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◆

★ご挨拶★

皆さん、こんにちは！
11月18日より、8月に実施したαテストに参加できなかった方も、
本メールマガジンの登録ができるようになりました！
今回が「はじめまして！」の方も多数いらっしゃると思いますが、
今後も壁紙の配布やポロリ情報、その他さまざまな情報を発信していきますので、
よろしくお願いいたします。

さて、前回のαテストに参加いただいた皆さんは、無条件でα2テストに
参加できるようになる予定ですが、11月18日以降このメールマガジンに新規登録して
いただいた方には、「α2テストへの参加抽選権」が自動的に付与されます。

皆さんお待ちかねのα2テストは2012年初頭に実施の予定です！
ぜひ楽しみにお待ちください！

ここだけの情報ですが、PSO2オリジナルブログパーツやTwitterアイコンなど
さまざまな素材を現在準備中です。入手方法は……
皆さんお待ちかねのあの情報と合わせて、次号のメールマガジンでお知らせする
予定ですのでお楽しみに！

----------------------------------------------------------------
【1】ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ＆公式mixiページ公開中！

アメーバブログにて「ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ」を運営しています。
ご覧いただけていますでしょうか。

シリーズ公式ブログでは、『ファンタシースターオンライン2』の話題はもちろん、
「ファンタシースターポータブル2 インフィニティ」などのポータブルシリーズ、
またサービス5周年を迎えた「ファンタシースターユニバース　イルミナスの野望」や
先日オープンしたばかりのPC用ブラウザゲーム「ファンタシースター
エターナルプラネッツ」、そしてグッズ情報まで、ファンタシースターに
関連する最新情報を、随時お届けしています。

『ファンタシースターオンライン2』関連では、初公開となる設定画や、
「3つの革命」に関するブログならではの情報など、ファンなら必見の情報を
掲載していますので、ぜひチェックしてみてくださいね。

ブログと同時に公式mixiページもオープンしています！
こちらでは情報発信はもちろん、開発チームとユーザーの皆さん、そして皆さん同士の、
より距離の近い交流の場として活用していただきたいと思っています。
実施してほしい企画などありましたら、ご意見をお寄せください。

▼ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ
http://ameblo.jp/sega-psblog/

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』mixiページ
http://p.mixi.jp/sega_pso2

----------------------------------------------------------------
【2】オリジナル壁紙配布のお知らせ

今月は、編隊を組み航行するアークスシップから飛び立つキャンプシップの
画像を壁紙としてご用意いたしました。ぜひお使いのPCでご利用ください！

○1024×768
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1024x768.jpg

○1280×1024
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1280x1024.jpg

○1920×1080
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1920x1080.jpg


----------------------------------------------------------------
【3】『裏・PSO2通信』（第五回）：ポロリ、冷えてます。

皆さんこんにちは！
アシスタントプロデューサーの盆子原（ぼんこ）です。お久しぶりです！
11月18日以降、メールマガジンに新規登録をしていただいた皆さんは、
このメールが第一号になりますね。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

初めての方に説明させていただくと、『裏ぷそ』は、メールマガジン読者限定の
情報をうっかりポロリしてしまう、ネタコーナーとなっています。
過度な期待は禁物ですが、喜んでいただければ嬉しいです。

さて、最近の流れ的に、「また設定画？」とお思いな方！
いえいえ、今日は久しぶりにゲーム内の画像をいくつかポロリいたしますよ！

やはりオンラインゲームなので、私は長く付き合う自分のキャラクターと
コスチュームが気になっているのですが、皆さんはいかがでしょうか。
ということで、今回の1枚目。

▼ポロリ画像（その1）
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/image/pso2_mmphoto20111130_01.jpg

ニューマン女性フォース＝「フォニュエール」をイメージしたコスチュームです。
設定画を見ていただければ分かりますが、かなり細かな部分まで再現されています。
顔のペイントなども、バッチリ再現されていますよ！
設定画とも、ぜひ見比べてみてください。

▼設定画はこちら！
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187653577965987&set=a.187650291299649.48571.184356218295723&type=1&theater

続いて2枚目のポロリはこちら。

▼ポロリ画像（その2）
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/image/pso2_mmphoto20111130_02.jpg

こちらは、キャスト女性フォース＝「フォーキャシール」をイメージしたパーツです。
PSOにはフォーキャシールは登場しなかったので、新規のデザインとなります。
魔法少女をイメージしているそうですよ！

とにかくこの子は、お人形みたいで、ちっちゃかわいいんです！
しかも足首がとっても細いんです。
母心なのか、見ているだけでなんだかにんまりしてしまう私なのでした。

と、かわいいかわいいしか言わない、全く参考にならない私の感想はおいておいて、
魔法少女だから、ふわっとしたスカートなんですね。今、謎が解けました（バシッ）
動き回っている姿も本当にかわいらしいのですが、それはまた別の機会に。

▼設定画はこちら！
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=223211267743551&set=a.187650291299649.48571.184356218295723&type=1&theater

と、今後もコスチューム・パーツから目が離せない私なのでした。
さて、皆さんはどんなコスチューム・パーツに身を包み、『PSO2』をプレイしたいのでしょう か。
「こんなのが欲しい！」などあれば、ぜひぜひご意見お寄せくださいね。

おっと、言い忘れる所でした！
この2種のコスチューム・パーツはα2ではデフォルトで追加されちゃいますよ！
どうぞお楽しみに。酒P、言っちゃいました！（事後報告）

ということで、本日はここまで。

最後に、今日からメールマガジンを受け取られた方、今後とも『PSO2』を
末永くどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

----------------------------------------------------------------
【4】公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも公開中！

『ファンタシースターオンライン2』公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも
ブログやmixiページに先行して公開中です！
自分に合ったページを選ぶのも良し、全部の情報をかかさずチェックして
『PSO2』通を目指すのも良しですよ！

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』Facebookページ
https://www.facebook.com/sega.pso2

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』公式Twitter
http://twitter.com/sega_pso2/

○あとがき○
いよいよ、α2テストの足音が聞こえてまいりました！
前回のαテストを参考に、実施に向けて現在進行形、頭をカリカリいわせながら
私も準備しています。近々、●●●も始まりそうな予感！？（バシッ）
寒くなってまいりましたが、皆さんお体にはお気をつけて（ぼんこ）

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

　　 　発行：株式会社セガ／株式会社ISAO

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
このメールの無断転載を禁止します

[/SPOILER-BOX]

[MaggotSai]

The default character models are looking really nice. I'm really looking forward to customizing them.

[kyuuketsuki]

Can anyone translate this for me?
Its an email from PSO2 newsletter.

[SPOILER-BOX]▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽▼▽

　　ファンタシースターオンライン2通信 2011/11/30

△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△▲△

本メールは、『ファンタシースターオンライン2』
メールマガジン配信希望の方にお送りしております。

◆━━＜ＩＮＤＥＸ＞━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◆
　★ご挨拶★
【1】ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ＆公式mixiページ公開中！
【2】オリジナル壁紙配布のお知らせ
【3】『裏・PSO2通信』（第五回）：ポロリ、冷えてます。
【4】公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも公開中！
◆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━◆

★ご挨拶★

皆さん、こんにちは！
11月18日より、8月に実施したαテストに参加できなかった方も、
本メールマガジンの登録ができるようになりました！
今回が「はじめまして！」の方も多数いらっしゃると思いますが、
今後も壁紙の配布やポロリ情報、その他さまざまな情報を発信していきますので、
よろしくお願いいたします。

さて、前回のαテストに参加いただいた皆さんは、無条件でα2テストに
参加できるようになる予定ですが、11月18日以降このメールマガジンに新規登録して
いただいた方には、「α2テストへの参加抽選権」が自動的に付与されます。

皆さんお待ちかねのα2テストは2012年初頭に実施の予定です！
ぜひ楽しみにお待ちください！

ここだけの情報ですが、PSO2オリジナルブログパーツやTwitterアイコンなど
さまざまな素材を現在準備中です。入手方法は……
皆さんお待ちかねのあの情報と合わせて、次号のメールマガジンでお知らせする
予定ですのでお楽しみに！

----------------------------------------------------------------
【1】ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ＆公式mixiページ公開中！

アメーバブログにて「ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ」を運営しています。
ご覧いただけていますでしょうか。

シリーズ公式ブログでは、『ファンタシースターオンライン2』の話題はもちろん、
「ファンタシースターポータブル2 インフィニティ」などのポータブルシリーズ、
またサービス5周年を迎えた「ファンタシースターユニバース　イルミナスの野望」や
先日オープンしたばかりのPC用ブラウザゲーム「ファンタシースター
エターナルプラネッツ」、そしてグッズ情報まで、ファンタシースターに
関連する最新情報を、随時お届けしています。

『ファンタシースターオンライン2』関連では、初公開となる設定画や、
「3つの革命」に関するブログならではの情報など、ファンなら必見の情報を
掲載していますので、ぜひチェックしてみてくださいね。

ブログと同時に公式mixiページもオープンしています！
こちらでは情報発信はもちろん、開発チームとユーザーの皆さん、そして皆さん同士の、
より距離の近い交流の場として活用していただきたいと思っています。
実施してほしい企画などありましたら、ご意見をお寄せください。

▼ファンタシースターシリーズ公式ブログ
http://ameblo.jp/sega-psblog/

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』mixiページ
http://p.mixi.jp/sega_pso2

----------------------------------------------------------------
【2】オリジナル壁紙配布のお知らせ

今月は、編隊を組み航行するアークスシップから飛び立つキャンプシップの
画像を壁紙としてご用意いたしました。ぜひお使いのPCでご利用ください！

○1024×768
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1024x768.jpg

○1280×1024
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1280x1024.jpg

○1920×1080
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/wallpaper/pso2_mmcal201112_1920x1080.jpg


----------------------------------------------------------------
【3】『裏・PSO2通信』（第五回）：ポロリ、冷えてます。

皆さんこんにちは！
アシスタントプロデューサーの盆子原（ぼんこ）です。お久しぶりです！
11月18日以降、メールマガジンに新規登録をしていただいた皆さんは、
このメールが第一号になりますね。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

初めての方に説明させていただくと、『裏ぷそ』は、メールマガジン読者限定の
情報をうっかりポロリしてしまう、ネタコーナーとなっています。
過度な期待は禁物ですが、喜んでいただければ嬉しいです。

さて、最近の流れ的に、「また設定画？」とお思いな方！
いえいえ、今日は久しぶりにゲーム内の画像をいくつかポロリいたしますよ！

やはりオンラインゲームなので、私は長く付き合う自分のキャラクターと
コスチュームが気になっているのですが、皆さんはいかがでしょうか。
ということで、今回の1枚目。

▼ポロリ画像（その1）
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/image/pso2_mmphoto20111130_01.jpg

ニューマン女性フォース＝「フォニュエール」をイメージしたコスチュームです。
設定画を見ていただければ分かりますが、かなり細かな部分まで再現されています。
顔のペイントなども、バッチリ再現されていますよ！
設定画とも、ぜひ見比べてみてください。

▼設定画はこちら！
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=187653577965987&set=a.187650291299649.48571.184356218295723&type=1&theater

続いて2枚目のポロリはこちら。

▼ポロリ画像（その2）
http://pso2.jp/download/mm/image/pso2_mmphoto20111130_02.jpg

こちらは、キャスト女性フォース＝「フォーキャシール」をイメージしたパーツです。
PSOにはフォーキャシールは登場しなかったので、新規のデザインとなります。
魔法少女をイメージしているそうですよ！

とにかくこの子は、お人形みたいで、ちっちゃかわいいんです！
しかも足首がとっても細いんです。
母心なのか、見ているだけでなんだかにんまりしてしまう私なのでした。

と、かわいいかわいいしか言わない、全く参考にならない私の感想はおいておいて、
魔法少女だから、ふわっとしたスカートなんですね。今、謎が解けました（バシッ）
動き回っている姿も本当にかわいらしいのですが、それはまた別の機会に。

▼設定画はこちら！
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=223211267743551&set=a.187650291299649.48571.184356218295723&type=1&theater

と、今後もコスチューム・パーツから目が離せない私なのでした。
さて、皆さんはどんなコスチューム・パーツに身を包み、『PSO2』をプレイしたいのでしょう か。
「こんなのが欲しい！」などあれば、ぜひぜひご意見お寄せくださいね。

おっと、言い忘れる所でした！
この2種のコスチューム・パーツはα2ではデフォルトで追加されちゃいますよ！
どうぞお楽しみに。酒P、言っちゃいました！（事後報告）

ということで、本日はここまで。

最後に、今日からメールマガジンを受け取られた方、今後とも『PSO2』を
末永くどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

----------------------------------------------------------------
【4】公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも公開中！

『ファンタシースターオンライン2』公式Facebookページ＆Twitterも
ブログやmixiページに先行して公開中です！
自分に合ったページを選ぶのも良し、全部の情報をかかさずチェックして
『PSO2』通を目指すのも良しですよ！

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』Facebookページ
https://www.facebook.com/sega.pso2

▼『ファンタシースターオンライン2』公式Twitter
http://twitter.com/sega_pso2/

○あとがき○
いよいよ、α2テストの足音が聞こえてまいりました！
前回のαテストを参考に、実施に向けて現在進行形、頭をカリカリいわせながら
私も準備しています。近々、●●●も始まりそうな予感！？（バシッ）
寒くなってまいりましたが、皆さんお体にはお気をつけて（ぼんこ）

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――

　　 　発行：株式会社セガ／株式会社ISAO

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――
このメールの無断転載を禁止します

[/SPOILER-BOX]
Unless I'm mistaken, that is the newsletter that was covered in this thread (http://www.pso-world.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192131) posted the same day the newsletter was sent out.
PS2 environment textures :(
Hardly. PS2 could not handle textures anywhere near that quality. The floor texture looks a little blurry, but then the camera is basically sitting on it.

[lostinseganet]

YEAAAA Thats what I'm spending my money FOr. Now bring on the vids of FO induced death!

[Cayenne]

Forget the videos, bring the Alpha!!!

[Enforcer MKV]

I like that one megaman-shaped CAST outfit...

Not sure what gender it's for though.

Makes me think of the RAcast from PSZ....

And I'd put my money on male.

[•Col•]

Makes me think of the RAcast from PSZ....

I thought that too.

http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/8/88646/1668204-racast.png

It's the damn color scheme, I tell ya!

[Enforcer MKV]

gimme my damn gundam rip-off, dammit Sega! And the default isn't gundamy enough!

[MAXrobo]

gimme my damn gundam rip-off, dammit Sega! And the default isn't gundamy enough!

forget gundam, give me a star driver rip off!

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/mynamebemonkey/325479-tauburn_super.png

[RemiusTA]

No and HELL no

[Ghost Inside]

No and HELL no
I second this. ^^;

[NoiseHERO]

I second this. ^^;

I third this, but I know they're just after trolling me since I hate that human sized gundam look the most.

[Enforcer MKV]

I third this.

...fourth.

And bah, I just want my PSZ RAcast replica. Plz, sega? That's all it'll take for me to love you forever.

[kyuuketsuki]

How about... a human-sized Veritech/Valkyrie (from Macross/Robotech) in Battleoid-mode CAST model? *ducks*

[Enforcer MKV]

.....That's a very close second, actually....VF-1A! VF-1A!

[Zyrusticae]

PS2 environment textures :(
Okay, it's obvious you guys need a memory jog.

These are PS2 environment textures:
[SPOILER-BOX]http://images.psxextreme.com/screenshots/ps2_final_fantasy_10/ps2_final_fantasy_10_166.jpg[/SPOILER-BOX]

It'd be a lot more accurate to say the current textures are PS3-grade:
[SPOILER-BOX]http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/106/1069858/final-fantasy-xiii-20100217095833397.jpg[/SPOILER-BOX]

Didn't see that comin', now didya?! :-P

[NoiseHERO]

Wakka


Wow FF13 has ugly grass.

Oh and Wakka.

[RemiusTA]

FFXIII does this really neat thing.

The character models and some environmental places aren't all that amazing, TBH. But the heads and model textures are so well done it almost casts an illusion when you're playing. You can zoom in super close on the models and see how well detailed they are, but you can also easily see the flat surfaces as well where they cut corners.

Ever since FFXII, Square Enix has been exceptionally good at making low-poly stuff look wonderful with good texture work. Also, the effects and whatnot are very nice too.


Regardless, it's no contest as to which game looks better, and i'd take those FFX textures over PSO2's shitty ones anyday. Gran Pulse's grass textures aren't all that amazing because that area is so large it takes minutes to cross it without a Chocobo.


[SPOILER-BOX]http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy/images/6/63/Sunleth_Waterscape_FFXIII.png


http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy/images/5/50/Lake_Bresha_FFXIII.png




It's not only PSO2's textures that are the problem. Its that they use Textures to implement environmental features that they just shouldn't.

[/SPOILER-BOX]


Annnddd

[SPOILER-BOX]http://jetsetnick.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/ffxiii_battle-event-011.jpg


Same grass texture. Does it look as bad as it did in the other picture? Nope, because there are other things in the picture that supplement it.


http://pso2blog.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/enemy-2.jpg

There's a closer picture, but dont feel like looking for it.

But basically, the effect that helps FFXIII look so great just doesn't happen here. The rockbear textures are among the worst they've shown, which is unfortunate because it's a huge enemy and just degrades the whole screen.

And the grass decals sticking out like a pink highlighter is also annoying. And the lighting engine sucks.
[/SPOILER-BOX]



Edit: Ah, found a good one!

[SPOILER-BOX]http://www.gamerbc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pso-2-alpha-screenshot-03.jpg


Looks great right? If it had a better lightning engine and better textures it'd be absolutely amazing. It looks good the way it is, but the dated graphics engine just keeps it away from being as eye popping as PSO was.


The game looks much better in motion though, because those ugly grass decals actually animate. And THAT looks great.



[/SPOILER-BOX]

[NoiseHERO]

/Looks at FF13...

/Looks back at PSO2.


LOOOOOOOOL...

My eyes...

Good thing I don't play my FF13...

Also a good thing I\it's not really mine and I didn't pay for it.

[Omega-z]

I think the four new outfits are most likely the FOmar, RAcasel, RAnewel, RAnewm. Just a Thought.:rappy:

[Angelo]

I think the four new outfits are most likely the FOmar, RAcasel, RAnewel, RAnewm. Just a Thought.:rappy:

I think they're most likely just more costumes.

[NoiseHERO]

I don't think the costmes are race-locked at all..........

[Angelo]

I don't think the costmes are race-locked at all..........

They aren't, which is why I don't see why people keep referring to the outfits as 'FOmar' or 'HUmar', etc.

[RemiusTA]

I do it because its easier than writing Human Force Male or Human Hunter Male.

That, and the outfits default to a specific race/sex/class combo.

[NoiseHERO]

Yeah but I think new outfits would be kinda up in the air other than...

robot or not and gender.

For example I shall call that one CAST outfit, "the green megaman thingie"

[Angelo]

I'm hoping they add in some good reploid-esque helmets for CASTs.

I know there was one head type in PSU that would've looked amazing with a flesh-style face.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmVrEiyYgw

The head at 3:05 where it says 5/14.

It'd be awesome if we could have a helmet like that with the Megaman style costume in the concept art.

[NoiseHERO]

I'm hoping they add in some good reploid-esque helmets for CASTs.

I know there was one head type in PSU that would've looked amazing with a flesh-style face.

Phantasy Star Portable 2 - Character Create - CAST - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmVrEiyYgw)

The head at 5:14 where it says 5/10.

It'd be awesome if we could have a helmet like that with the Megaman style costume in the concept art.

If they actually do that I'd be tempted to main a cast...

PSU casts would've been perfect if they gave the choice of fleshie faces on mecha headgear.

And EPECIALLY vice versa (Badass masks)

[Kent]

FFXIII does this really neat thing.

The character models and some environmental places aren't all that amazing, TBH. But the heads and model textures are so well done it almost casts an illusion when you're playing. You can zoom in super close on the models and see how well detailed they are, but you can also easily see the flat surfaces as well where they cut corners.

Ever since FFXII, Square Enix has been exceptionally good at making low-poly stuff look wonderful with good texture work. Also, the effects and whatnot are very nice too.

Regardless, it's no contest as to which game looks better, and i'd take those FFX textures over PSO2's shitty ones anyday. Gran Pulse's grass textures aren't all that amazing because that area is so large it takes minutes to cross it without a Chocobo.
One thing worth pointing out that's needed most, I think, is normal-mapping.

Normal-mapping is the process of creating an image for a model, similar to a texture in how it's applied, except instead of giving off bitmap data as a texture does, it gives geometric data used by the lighting system. This allows there to be more detail as far as the lighting system is concerned, while not needing to increase the polygon count. Basically, it makes it so that when light interacts with a surface creating highlighted and shaded areas, the normal map is used to create detail and texture (in the physical sense of texture), creating the illusion that there's more actual geometry being lit than there really is.

Unreal Engine makes extensive use of this, which is why games like Gears 3 look so good, despite actually having rather low polygon counts on pretty much everything. Texture work is one part of it, but normal mapping adds a completely new level of detail to it. It's relatively-new to see in mainstream Japanese games (for some reason), but a handful like Dark Souls and Star Ocean 4 actually make quite good use of it.

Specifically, one area of Star Ocean 4 (the Purgatorium) puts the technique to one of the better-looking examples I've seen in video games, but a lot of it has to do with the way it emphasizes the area's lighting.

[spoiler-box]Go to about 2:15 to see it put to proper use. Note the ground around the braziers, and how the lighting interacts with the brickwork on the ground as the camera rotates. The ground here is actually a completely-flat plane that has a normal map that actually gives it the look of being made of individual bricks. While this may be possible with a proper texture map as well, the way the lighting interacts with it from the braziers is something that's only possible to such a degree by using a normal map.

From a processing standpoint, it's also ridiculously-efficient compared to adding enough polygons to achieve the same effect.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNOGwXr-K84
[/spoiler-box]
It's starting to catch on in more of the well-respected AAA-budget Japanese game studios though, which is great and everything, despite that it's been basically the standard for almost every western studio of the same budget range since the start of this console generation (last generation used a much-simpler method of bump-mapping, which doesn't give nearly as much detail).

Normal-mapping, combined with proper application of specularity-mapping and shader effects, can take a game's graphical fidelity to levels of magnitude past just a high-quality texture map (though make no mistake, those are also very important), without actually increasing the polygon count at all.

On a side note, it's actually quite interesting how it all works and is made, as well.

[Zyrusticae]

Ah, yes, normal mapping. My favorite graphical feature of the past decade. Even more than ambient occlusion, which is easily my second-favorite graphics feature (because things cast occlusion shadows when they're sitting on solid ground, see - it just makes things more grounded in reality).

I like this unreal engine demo for how well it showcases normal mapping:
[spoiler-box]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7T5ay_8DI
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m7T5ay_8DI)[/spoiler-box]

I will note that the lava level textures are really, really badly in need of this - especially the ones that show lava through the cracks. It looks awful in its current state, where it is, I am guessing, merely a diffuse map and nothing else. I hope it's just a placeholder and that they're actually going to do something about it, it just looks terribly flat.

[Zorafim]

They did an excellent job taking the original force look, and updating them to today's technology and style. These all look amazing, and I would love to play as any one of them. Even FOcast, which I didn't like the original concept of, looks great ingame.

As for the current topic of conversation, I'll stay out. I'm no art major, and I'm so used to low technology that I'm pleased with almost everything I'm given (WoW is a stretch).

[RemiusTA]

Yeah, normal / bump mapping has been around forever now. Halo 1/2/3 has been spamming the technique and showing its merits for years. But this engine not supporting it...i dont even


If you guys wanna see some real impressive results, look up Parallax Mapping. It's the far superior version of both of those, and it's been around forever too. I know games like FEAR and GTA4 used it for bullet hole decals in order to give them a convincing illusion of depth without actually changing the geometry.

The new crap is Parallax Occlusion Mapping, which i can barely tell the difference from actual geometry changes (displacement mapping). Things like CryEngine 2/3 spam that to get everything in the level to really pop.




All of that is overkill if they're trying to make it accessable to lowend computers, but SERIOUSLY Bump/Normal mapping has been around since Gamecube/Xbox, and there is no excuse for anyone with a graphics card incapable of handling the effect. Definitely since cards today are designed with far more complex lighting techniques in mind.



My computer is using a GeForce 8600 which runs this

[spoiler-box]http://akibaferret.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/sonic_generations_-_green_hill_-_game_shot_-_7.jpg


O hi Sega's normal mapping

http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/257/3/3/sonic_generations_planet_wisp_by_sonicthehedgesant os-d49um45.jpg


O HI Sega's normal mapping and ridiculous amount of environmental fluff + draw distance + shaders + motion blur + baked light diffusion that loads as i run by on my crappy Geforce 8600 at 300mph
[/spoiler-box]


but on Nvidias website you can purchase an 8400 (probably not much different) for $60. I just saw a 9800 on Ebay for about the same price....but i dunno about buying computer hardware used.



Anyway, my long rants and using Sonic Generations as an example is just to say, technology has evolved to where graphics like PSO2's are a non-issue. I was afraid a game like Generations (Console with PC port) would be poorly optimized, but it actually runs exceptional well for a game of its type. With the same type of optimization, PSO2 should run at optimal Framerate on MAX settings at a high resolution for anyone with a decent graphics card.



But yada yada, this is still alpha. I hope Sakai was serious when he said he wanted to up the graphics. It's not REALLY that big a deal, but there's nothing else to talk about right now.

[WBMike]

But yada yada, this is still alpha. I hope Sakai was serious when he said he wanted to up the graphics. It's not REALLY that big a deal, but there's nothing else to talk about right now.

Talking about the official specs and widening the range, his comment was also directed towards lower end PCs that still run direct x 9. It sounds as if the official minimum specs may be lower than the alpha specs. Though I can't say how high or how low he wants to go since nothing seems to be set in stone yet anyway.

[Angelo]

I still think PSU is a good looking game so I'm going to be pleased as fucking punch regardless of visuals.

[Kazzi]

I think the reason they use such mapping techniques is because they made it quite clear they wanted people on any sort of computer to be able to play the game, not just those on hi-end. Maybe they'll have additional settings in game that'll up the graphics for those with the pimped out machines. It's difficult to say anything at this point.

[RemiusTA]

I think the reason they use such mapping techniques is because they made it quite clear they wanted people on any sort of computer to be able to play the game, not just those on hi-end. Maybe they'll have additional settings in game that'll up the graphics for those with the pimped out machines. It's difficult to say anything at this point.

Well, i guess my rant was to say that those effects would have been taxing on computers years ago, but games have been using them extensively since the last generation of gaming consoles and videogames.


The game doesn't NEED them, but it would make alot of environments look tons better than they currently do. But no amount of light/texture techniques is gonna hide the ugly textures they're using in many areas, like that hideous Rockbear or the ground textures in the forest.

[Kazzi]

Well, i guess my rant was to say that those effects would have been taxing on computers years ago, but games have been using them extensively since the last generation of gaming consoles and videogames.


The game doesn't NEED them, but it would make alot of environments look tons better than they currently do. But no amount of light/texture techniques is gonna hide the ugly textures they're using in many areas, like that hideous Rockbear or the ground textures in the forest.

I'm a games designer myself, I know exactly how you feel. But in most cases, a lot of people won't even notice the textures as they'd be more focused on the character and enemy models. So as long as those look top notch and the action keeps up, I think they might get away with it. Whatever helps prevent lag and increase loading time is a good thing! Maybe the textures will look a bit nicer in some of the areas we haven't seen yet?

[Malachite]

You know, if it's possible for PSO2, I'm sure that someone will make a high-res texture pack to satisfy everyone who thinks the textures are too damn ugly.

I personally don't give half a crap about graphics unless they're just simply ridiculous. I play N64 all the time and love every minute of it.

[RemiusTA]

I'm a games designer myself, I know exactly how you feel. But in most cases, a lot of people won't even notice the textures as they'd be more focused on the character and enemy models. So as long as those look top notch and the action keeps up, I think they might get away with it. Whatever helps prevent lag and increase loading time is a good thing! Maybe the textures will look a bit nicer in some of the areas we haven't seen yet?


Well i wasn't worried that much until i saw the city area, which typically looks very bad in most games that don't do them correctly as they're plagued with depthless textures.

[Kazzi]

Well i wasn't worried that much until i saw the city area, which typically looks very bad in most games that don't do them correctly as they're plagued with depthless textures.

I know how you feel ;_; but it's still in Alpha, so they could still update the textures yet :D! Best to remain optimistic, and if they don't then it's not that big a loss.