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Post by Morreion on Oct 24, 2011 14:55:47 GMT -5
Shrouded Isles was DAoC's first official expansion. Besides bringing new zones, player races and classes, it was a graphics engine upgrade. Looking at images of it now- screenshots I took because I was so impressed at the improvements- it's easy to chuckle, but remember, this was 2003! The graphics engine improved the looks of water, flames, and textures such as mob details. Otherwise, things looked similar to the classic DAoC engine (Gamebryo). This was my favorite expansion. I never quite cared for later graphics updates, maybe because I became so fond of and attached to that comfortable classic/SI look. These images were mostly taken on the Isle of Avalon, the expansion area for Albion. |
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Post by Laethaka on Nov 6, 2011 19:22:32 GMT -5
reflective water and shadows were soooooo cool
me too- I was way happier with SI than TOA. Maybe because DAOC graphics were just so awful before SI hahaha. Trees were a column and two 2D leaf-walls, water was a flat repeating texture... I remember one time very early when I was first walking from Mag Mell to Mardagh, some guy rode past on a horse and something on his armor was bugged and made the model stretch out to infinity on all sides. Kinda scary when he flew past!
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Post by Morreion on Nov 7, 2011 11:46:13 GMT -5
That reminds me of the 'you look like you're standing on the horse while riding' bug, hah! The good old days!  When DAoC went to a more 'realistic' look with the Catacombs engine (I think), I wasn't that thrilled. I was used to the old delightfully cheesy look. I looked a certain way for years, then they totally changed my character! |
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Post by Laethaka on Nov 9, 2011 7:45:25 GMT -5
Did you see there's options on Uthgard to change everything back to classic models? I switched all mine back with one click.
The most jarring change was the Mag Mell reorganization... there are like three times as many buildings there now- I couldn't find the spot where I first entered the world on my Elf Nightshade!
At least Ardee is exactly the same ;D
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Post by Morreion on Nov 9, 2011 9:34:39 GMT -5
Aye, I went classic in Uthgard! I might have to visit there again...
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Post by Laethaka on Nov 9, 2011 21:38:21 GMT -5
I haven't gone back since my first weekend... the top-heaviness is a little depressing. I think it was you that posted that review saying DAOC isn't really focused on inhabiting a world any more? It's just an RVR engine now.
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Post by Morreion on Nov 10, 2011 15:32:01 GMT -5
That's very true- people want to impatiently get to 50 and 'play the real game' as opposed to journeying to level cap and enjoying the world. This seems to be a common player reaction these days  |
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