Curse

Pony Slaystation · Jul 23, 2010, 01:17 AM // 01:17

Has anybody else ever looked up at the sky (in game, obviously), and noticed how many clouds there are? Yet most areas have pretty bright lighting, especially when considering how cloudy the sky is. Take Lion's Arch Keep, for example. The sky is mostly black overhead, and pretty cloudy on the horizons. The sun is not that bright looking, and when compared to Lion's Arch itself, the sky overall is much darker, and seems later in the day. Yet both areas have the same lighting effects. I know this isn't that big of a deal, but still, I wonder why the developers would take time to create the different cloud textures (LA Keep actually has a pretty detailed sky, for example), and use a similar sky texture for each area. I'm probably one of the only people who actually does take time to look at the sky... so I guess I'm just weird.

jonnieboi05 · Jul 23, 2010, 01:22 AM // 01:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

I wonder why the developers would take time to create the different cloud textures

Because Arena.Net wanted to make the game as realistic as possible?

Celestina · Jul 23, 2010, 01:27 AM // 01:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnieBoi05

Because Arena.Net wanted to make the game as realistic as possible?

Well, aside from what looks like a giant black hole above Pre-searing ascalon.

Pony Slaystation · Jul 23, 2010, 01:29 AM // 01:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnieBoi05

Because Arena.Net wanted to make the game as realistic as possible?

Well, not really. Black skies and sunshine at the same time isn't quite my idea of realism.

Lanier · Jul 23, 2010, 01:35 AM // 01:35

one of my biggest pet peaves for awhile has been the way clouds on the horizon suddenly turn into a black or dark purple sky in several areas.

jonnieboi05 · Jul 23, 2010, 02:09 AM // 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

Well, not really. Black skies and sunshine at the same time isn't quite my idea of realism.

Please read EVERYTHING that I quoted and replied with before responding to something I said.

He said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

I wonder why the developers would take time to create the different cloud textures

I replied with:

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnieboi05

Because Arena.Net wanted to make the game as realistic as possible?

In short: I answered the section where he asked "why did aNet create different types of clouds" with "because aNet wanted to make it look real(er)".

Black Metal · Jul 23, 2010, 03:35 AM // 03:35

there is no dynamic lighting and shading in the gw engine

they pretty much design the sky texture and lay it in seperately from building and texturing the zone

mage767 · Jul 23, 2010, 03:39 AM // 03:39

When I saw this thread, I thought you meant environmental effects like rain/lightning/day/night cycle. GW2 is bringing it on...wait a year.

Pony Slaystation · Jul 23, 2010, 05:00 AM // 05:00

@JonnieBoi05,
Yes, I realize that's what you meant. And I'm replying to that by saying that combining black skies with bright lighting doesn't make it look any "realer"

Hyperventilate · Jul 23, 2010, 07:55 AM // 07:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

@JonnieBoi05,
Yes, I realize that's what you meant. And I'm replying to that by saying that combining black skies with bright lighting doesn't make it look any "realer"

Pretty much this. Perfect World had a blank blue sky and I think that's more realistic than a random black hole (sun won't you come and wash away the rain...) in the middle of the sky.

it doesn't bother me, it's just a curious thought.

Mintha Syl · Jul 23, 2010, 10:52 AM // 10:52

That's what I always thought as well. Just think about the pre-searing, I name that because I've returned there recently. I think it's one of the most luminous areas in the game, so you'd expect a clear sky, instead you look up and see it all with red/grey cover in most of it, pretty much as if there were some volcano nearby or the searing already occourred. But in areas like that (post-searing ascalon and ring of fire chain) it's all very dark, as it should be.
It's true that detailed skyes make the game more realistic, but sure not if coupled with a totally different light.

Steps_Descending · Jul 23, 2010, 04:17 PM // 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

The sun is not that bright looking, and when compared to Lion's Arch itself, the sky overall is much darker, and seems later in the day. Yet both areas have the same lighting effects. I know this isn't that big of a deal, but still, I wonder why the developers would take time to create the different cloud textures (LA Keep actually has a pretty detailed sky, for example), and use a similar sky texture for each area.

Maybe they were just going for immersion, having only generic skies could have made the game more dull-looking. For teh more detailed parts, (pure suppposition) maybe to make the game lighter for the computer, they restricted the best skies to areas where people had time to look at the scenery instead of killing dwarves.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mintha Syl

That's what I always thought as well. Just think about the pre-searing, I name that because I've returned there recently. I think it's one of the most luminous areas in the game, so you'd expect a clear sky, instead you look up and see it all with red/grey cover in most of it, pretty much as if there were some volcano nearby or the searing already occourred. But in areas like that (post-searing ascalon and ring of fire chain) it's all very dark, as it should be.
It's true that detailed skyes make the game more realistic, but sure not if coupled with a totally different light.

Maybe it's just me, but I find pre-sear's sky to be sensible, if a bit too dark for some areas. It's just a blue sky a bit darker than the land, but not so much. And where's that black hole and grey cover? All I can see is a blue sky with a ring of clouds.

EDIT: after wlking out of ashford... Ok I see the black hole. But I noticed it's not seen around regent valley. 1 Explanation : there are 4 mages preparing the magic equivalent of a mass destruction weapon just north of the great wall... That might have some visible repercusions.

Mintha Syl · Jul 23, 2010, 06:01 PM // 18:01

Weird, I've never noticed the black hole, I really got to check

Now I was watching my last pre-sear screenshots and noticed this:

Well, the same place, near the wall, but strangely the dark side is the one that less points behind the wall. So I guess it's just a case and that all those skyes are random.

Amy Awien · Jul 23, 2010, 07:40 PM // 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony Slaystation

Well, not really. Black skies and sunshine at the same time isn't quite my idea of realism.

You need to get out more. :P

But it looks like the skies in GW are created more for the (dramatic) effect, the immersion, then for realism.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperventilate

... Perfect World had a blank blue sky ...

Landscapes in Perfect World don't even come close to GW's quality.

Iuris · Jul 23, 2010, 07:48 PM // 19:48

I only recently noticed what the skies look like, and discovered that they are mostly actually quite nightmarish. Yes, nightmarish. Black skies, smoky plumes and so on. I was really disappointed once I noticed.

Crystal Of Winter · Jul 25, 2010, 08:38 PM // 20:38

Just looked up in Aspenwood Gate (Kurz) and...

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Almost like the desolation or something

Lishy · Jul 25, 2010, 10:34 PM // 22:34

The Shing Jea explorables. Seriously, what's up with them? Especially the first explorable in factions. I would expect it to look cool, but instead the sky is brown O_o

Fay Vert · Jul 25, 2010, 10:47 PM // 22:47

I think LA has only just acquired it's black sky. I was wondering if it was a post-wik bug.