MMOFPS Graphics, and the future...

[MindTrigger]

Considering the size and scale of the game, the graphics in Planetside are just about as good as they can be and support a wide range of hardware. The gameplay will be mind blowing even if the graphics aren't the best in the world.

I am hopefull that the next generation of MMOFPS games like this will have graphics meeting the standard that STALKER is setting. STALKER will be throwing out 2 million polys per frame (last I read DOOM 3 was doing around 1 million per frame), and is able to do so with HUGE outdoor maps. In fact, STALKER will actually be one large map. 16km X 16km I think, and I have yet to see a game that looks more real.

Sample Screens:

http://www.stalker-game.com/download...sb_xray_35.jpg

http://www.stalker-game.com/download...sb_xray_34.jpg

http://www.stalker-game.com/download...sb_xray_27.jpg

http://www.stalker-game.com/download...sb_xray_15.jpg

http://www.stalker-game.com/download...sb_xray_08.jpg

Those are some of my favorite STALKER screens, and my brain rattles just looking at them. The game will revolutionize the single player fps genre, and should have some damn cool multiplayer too.

I think we will be able to see graphics like this in the next generation of MMOFPS games, but I don't believe the lack of such graphics will hurt PlanetSide at all. Both Tribes games had to sacrifice extreme detail for larger scale as well. PlanetSide has taken the graphics up a few notches while making the largest game map (world) I have ever heard of. Congrats to SOE and their dev team for this accomplishment.

There are only 3 games I am looking forward to this year:

PlanetSide
STALKER
Deus Ex 2

Yeah, DOOM3 will be neat for about an hour, then it will be like every other FPS I have played. The 3 I have listed here kick the arse.

Comments?