I`m not good at such thing and want somebody to explain me what is the difference between prototype and alfa footage? Is Prototype footage is how game will look closer to release? Why here View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MumYPtiRaw and here View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuVeZ8n4CAQ (skip to 3.17) Graphics look better than in latest videos?
The Prototype footage was made with the intent to "impress" and show something similar as to what the game will look at its launch when polished and all. They intentionally made it look so good, unlike the pre-Alpha footage (we arent still in Alpha even) where they are still basically toying with everything and dont need such detailed models still (just look at the vehicles). Here is where Ghislain (art director) explains why the models in the Prototype were so awesome: The characters from the prototype were really hell on the animation part, the rig very unpratical, the character quickly assembled in a way that did not allow customisation, so most of the changes we've made are stuff you dont really see (ways the geometries are built and cut and vertex are placed). But I do agree it looks much impressive as it displayed a finished looking character. To be honest, though, I think that it is mainly because everything in the prototype video was aimed at giving a feeling of something that looks somewhat like a finished product, to sell the idea of the gam, while what you see nowadays are greyblck test environement taht we are using to validate what we are doing on a more global scale. Seen form the outside, it might be less impressive, but it's like taking a step back before jumping. There is a lot of work that is been done in the shadow to pave the way for what's ahead. For exampel, we are presentely completely rethinking the way the textures are done so that they will be made to link easily with the customisation / sub-faction palettising (palettizing?) and more importantly be optimised for PBR, which is the lighting technique we're aiming to use at this point. Which is why you are seeing untextured character turnarounds. http://forum.eternalcrusade.com/threads/major-issues-with-marine-models.21000/page-15#post-422474
The prototype is like concept art, just a really good looking version of the game just to see how they would like it to be represented in the future at launch. The game has just gotten out of pre-alpha so the graphics will be getting better over the next couple of months. I asked Patrick about the graphics engine they are using, he said that they are currently working with it and are doing more prototypes, but nothing really for show, just tests to see what they can do with it, they cannot tell us what the engine is yet, we will have to wait until beta before we be told. Hope that answers your question and I advise people to take note on what OP has said and go overboard.
Its an easy mistake to make, I thought all the alpha was going to look that good when I saw it, but it doesn't Cant wait to see the game in engine!!!
