WoW... Really?!

I just came across these screenshots today from the new WoW expansion... can anyone say Alzadaal knock-off?

http://www.yougamers.com/news/25866_world_of_warcraft_cataclysm_shots/wow_cataclysm_1/

I have nothing against WoW but really... I feel like there's more than one way to present a particular type of area. Can't really find a great FFXI pic but just for the sake of it:

Alzadaal

I don't see it as an Alzadaal knock-off personally.

Blue areas are a hot new trend.

At least we have fish.

I don't really see a knock off either since the one for WoW is more a hallway with steps and nyzul on ffxi is a huge room with pilars for the entrance ways.

And an octopus that magically appears on the inside of the window before fading out... YEARS after the expansion was released.

Well take like Nyzul for example- there's pillars in the hallways there. And... the pillars are what get me the most I think, with the gold trim, and the shape that they are. I mean there are infinite possibilities when coming up with a design, this is just a bit TOO similar for my tastes. Feel like creative staff might be gettin' a bit lazy over there.

That octopus is the only reason I play FFXI anymore.

Honestly... the design is childish and looks like a colouring book. The colours are far too bright for realistic aesthetics, which is part of the appeal of gaming - you can somewhat start to sense that you're inside of the game, itself -

THINK about it.... the games that, throughout the history of gaming, that have been deemed "The Best" have consistently been those with a realistic feel , 2d -> 3d, 24bit -> incredible shading and detail. it goes in a pattern, and consistently progresses towards realism.

this is why i think Blizzard is behind Square Enix in graphics. Square Enix KNOWS how to draw the gamer in. Blizzard is fun to look at, but it remains as unreal and far away as a typical picture book.

THAT being said... i don't claim artistic glory :p

Undersea palaces have a bit of a stereotype to them, no surprise the two have a degree of resemblence. I don't think it was stolen from Alzadaal though.

Straight up octopus love in here!

When I buy the expansion, I'll go there and take some screenshots and tell ya what I think :P

When it has an omnipresent octopus inside, you'll wish you spent your money on A Shantotto Ascension. >.>

Next thing you'll tell me is all forest areas stereotypically have foliage everywhere. Pfft.

What server you on?

I have a few servers,but the one I have been on the most lately is Lothar (Horde).

I was sorely tempted to make an under the sea joke in my other post XD

I just cancelled, but was on Dalvynger(sp?). I can't really remember since I never had to spell it.

Seeing this may want me to come back on.

this

>.> I see Alzadaal + Little Mermaid.

QFT.

It could look like Alzadaal if you thought about it a lot, but it looks as much like Alzadaal as their ugly mounts look like Chocobo ripoffs. Honestly the first thing I thought of was,'How can people even play this game with graphics like this'.

Hallucinogenic drug users need something to do eh?

J/K, to each their own imo. I enjoy FFXI's format & layout, plus watching people (especially new players) jump everywhere to their hearts content makes me wanna strangle old peo... well anyway. It's annoying.

By "the BEST," you mean in terms of your personal appeal right? Because I have a hard time believing that a game that holds only 500 thousand players is "the BEST!" over a game that houses 11 million.

You can argue all you like. WoW holds the MMO market by the balls. FFXI is barely staying alive.

UO > All