About The Graphics of Civ VI

[labellavienna]

So I was watching a few preview videos for CIv 6 and I was completely bummed out by the graphics. There's something very "lacking" about the way the game's appearance, i think the best explanation would be that it looks "scarce" lacking detail.

Now I don't mind the actual graphics themselves, but where are the dense vegetation? The rich marbled landscapes? The thick forests? The gnarly jagged mountains that looked a little menacing as it rises over the empires?

What we got were ultra smoothed grasslands with little sprinklers of pine trees that look like upside down green ice cream cones. Little bumps that passes for hills, barely any details along river beds. Everything looks so perfect, like out of a dream. It's really strange, it seems more magical than a game about history. I really hope I'm wrong because I've been waiting for this game for years!

 

[Haig]

The graphics are detailed and gorgeous with more life in them like the trees swaying in the wind and sun setting as torches are lit in towns.

It's a matter of taste.

 

[labellavienna]

Take a look at the CIv v layout with its cluttered landscape that gives life to the game. It makes the game feel more gritty and realistic in my opinion.

Spoiler :

Then look at this picture of CIv 6, those aren't even shore lines and river beds! Why are there individual trees that try to pass off as thick vegetation? Why is the ground such a strange color of green? I'm so confused.

Spoiler :

 

[labellavienna]

The graphics are detailed and gorgeous with more life in them like the trees swaying in the wind and sun setting as torches are lit in towns.

It's a matter of taste.

I agree, I like the graphics too but that wasn't what I was talking about. I'm talking about the lack of detail within the graphics themselves

 

[Plus Ultra]

Check this thread: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=567232

For images of districts, terrain and... well, everything, check: http://well-of-souls.com/civ/

There is an impresive survey on Reddit if you are interested: Link

This article explains why they changed the Art style from Civ V to Civ VI: Link

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

It's part of the cartoonish aesthetic. It was chosen to help simplify and clarify visual cues on the map, so it's not a giant jumbled mess.

 

[Plus Ultra]

I agree, I like the graphics too but that wasn't what I was talking about. I'm talking about the lack of detail within the graphics themselves

You are comparing an Alpha build image with no improvements, no UI, to a late game crowded image with UI.

The detail is much greater in Civ VI, by far. Check out the latest videos to see late-game cities with districts and watch the animations.

 

[m15a]

Buildings in the middle of train tracks? A plantation house built right through the middle of the Pyramids?

That Civ V version of reality has some serious grit.

Seriously, though. I notice that stuff in Civ V all the time. Sure, it looks realistic if you don't look too closely. Otherwise, the cities are just a nonsensical piles of boxes.

 

[darko82]

It's part of the cartoonish aesthetic. It was chosen to help simplify and clarify visual cues on the map, so it's not a giant jumbled mess.

It was chosen to attract new (young) players.

 

[Gorbles]

It was chosen to attract new (young) players.

Would love to see a source on this completely unsubstantiated claim.

 

[darko82]

Would love to see a source on this completely unsubstantiated claim.

It is obvious. Cartoons always attract kids.

But refer to Gamespot. What do you do to make such complex game more accesible to new audience? Ed Beach "Initially, the artstyle is different and.... "

And I do not like that many companies/developers still think that they make games for kids. They do often clearly imply that in their interviews.

 

[Schuesseled]

It is obvious. Cartoons always attract kids.

But refer to Gamespot. What do you do to make such complex game more accesible to new audience? Ed Beach "Initially, the artstyle is different and.... "

Cartoons don't attract children anymore than adults. It's content not art style that matters.

 

[darko82]

Cartoons don't attract children anymore than adults. It's content not art style that matters.

Really? How many children watch cartoons? And how many adults watch cartoons? I believe the difference will be huge, though there are some adults who like watching cartoons.

 

[Zaarin]

It is obvious. Cartoons always attract kids.

But refer to Gamespot. What do you do to make such complex game more accesible to new audience? Ed Beach "Initially, the artstyle is different and.... "

And I do not like that many companies/developers still think that they make games for kids. They do often clearly imply that in their interviews.

Considering Japan makes animated erotica, the world at large would beg to differ, and I wish America would finally catch up. I don't like anime, but the West needs to finally get past the archaic "cartoons are for kids" notion.

 

[darko82]

Considering Japan makes animated erotica, the world at large would beg to differ, and I wish America would finally catch up. I don't like anime, but the West needs to finally get past the archaic "cartoons are for kids" notion.

It might be pretty difficult, in fact. But yeah. Do you know any kid who hates cartoons? That is where the notion comes from. Children love cartoons in most cases. And that is the way to attract them. Some developers treat games as toys.

 

[AriochIV]

The idea that a game as complex as Civilization is trying to appeal to small children with its art style is pretty stupid.

 

[m15a]

the West needs to finally get past the archaic "cartoons are for kids" notion.

Not really. The Simpsons has been adult or not exclusively kid oriented for almost 30 years (at times completely adult oriented and at times more catering towards a younger or family audience). There are plenty of other American examples, too. All the other Fox prime time shows, the late night Cartoon Network shows (some of which are anime but some aren't). Even Nickelodeon cartoons (e.g. Avatar and more so Legend of Korra) are made with awareness of an older audience, possibly in addition to children.

That's all stuff within American mainstream popular culture (and many other Western countries). That archaic notion is only a notion to people that don't know very much about pop culture or don't think very hard about the claims their making.

Bringing it back to the Civ topic, the "kids watch cartoons" argument is illogical anyway. When you talk about kids watching cartoons, you are talking about watching animations vs live action people. All Civ games are primarily animation... Yes, yes, there were those gritty live action Civ 2 advisors, but for the most part.

 

[darko82]

The idea that a game as complex as Civilization is trying to appeal to small children with its art style is pretty stupid.

It is PEGI 12. What is so stupid about it? That was the age I played Civ 1 the most.

Artstyle is one thing. The other thing is the complexity, which also attracts many people. I used to play Civ 1 because it was a complex and very challenging game for me at that time, for instance.

the "kids watch cartoons" argument is illogical anyway.

For many people it would be illogical that "kids do not watch cartoons" that are PEGI 12.

 

[rastak]

It is PEGI 12. What is so stupid about it? That was the age I played Civ 1 the most.

Artstyle is one thing. The other thing is the complexity, which also attracts many people. I used to play Civ 1 because it was a complex and very challenging game for me at that time, for instance.



For many people it would be illogical that "kids do not watch cartoons" that are PEGI 12.

I agree with Arioch....

 

[m15a]

For many people it would be illogical that "kids do not watch cartoons" that are PEGI 12.

If I ever see that straw man, I'll tell him that his argument is also illogical.