Are you kidding me with these graphics?

[caeska]

Because this is absolutely ridicilous.
When is TTG going to learn and actually implement some proper graphics and animations into their games?
While this style of graphics is too cartoony and doesn't fit the L&O genre at all but I wouldn't mind that so much if Telltale would just take the graphics aspect somewhat seriously.

Look at Jurassic Park: Good characters, good story. But the graphics look like they were, and they probably were, done by amateurs who never attended a graphic design class in their lives.
My 5-year old niece could have done a better job in that department. The character animations as a whole, body language, movement, lip synch and
facial expressions of emotions is completely unrealistic and it is actually done so poorly that it makes it impossible to get immersed into the game world. BTTF was the same, no effort whatsoever put into animations and thus, no entertainment value.

And so far L&O seems poised to do exactly the same mistakes that BTTF and JP did because there is no indication that L&O will be any better. It's too rough around the edges and with the graphics style they've chosen to use they've effectively destroyed the game before it's even released. I'm still hoping to be proven wrong, but somehow I have my doubts.

If they are not going to bother to work with the graphics and animations, then I'm not going to bother with paying money for the game. It really is that simple. The graphics aspect is so important in a computer game that in many cases, it determines whether it becomes a success
or failure. And it is one of the most contributing factors to replay value and how drawn you as a player get into the game.

[Ribs]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0la5DBtOVNI

[coolsome]

One thing I found weird about the graphics is Jack McCoy looks airbrsuhed and wrinkle free.

[caeska]

Originally Posted by Ribs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0la5DBtOVNI

That link has no relevance to what I just said. All I've done is state my opinion, which, as you might recall, is the entire point of having a public discussion forum to begin with.

[The Gentleman]

The cell shading simply doesn't look right in my opinion. I have nothing against cartoon graphics personally, but these graphics look like a poorly made TF2 lightwarp mod. I don't usually complain, but I just really dislike these graphics.

[Irishmile]

Caeska... curious... do you smash all your old games that no longer have state of the art, $100,000,000 development stages?

What about games like ZORK that is still considered by serious gamers to be an excellent game.. that has no graphics at all? Or how do you explain Minecraft's popularity?

While I agree presentation is important in most cases, I disagree that if the games visuals are not the best on the market that its automatically a horrible game.

Also your five year old niece sounds amazing I cant wait to play her game...

[Trixie]

His point is valid still. The game's footage from the trailer has the art style that does seem too cartoon/TF2 for what Law and Order is. If it was the same game with a different name, an original IP, then the style may fit. As is, it doesn't fit the tone of the show.
The animations for almost all Telltale games, in my eyes, are the same for the most part. There are some new animations but the main few animations have been there forever. BTTF:TG suffered for it's lack of animations, the characters just seemed to act like a bad actor who didn't know how to convey the emotion correctly. This is mainly for dialogue though, outside of conversation animations are much more varied and fluid. Although this does make the static talking animations look more obviously odd.
The art style is still only one piece of the game, the gameplay might be brilliant but opinions right now are on what the trailers show us. Don't judge a game on graphics, judge it on the gameplay and entertainment you will get from playing it.
Btw, don't hate someone to give opinions. Offending actual, just, criticism won't help anyone.

[Ribs]

Originally Posted by caeska

That link has no relevance to what I just said. All I've done is state my opinion, which, as you might recall, is the entire point of having a public discussion forum to begin with.

I think the game has a beautiful aesthetic that works well, and you are saying that it's not even trying and you are not buying it because of the graphics alone. Plus, you chose to bash BTTF's graphical style - one of a few features I liked about the game - seemingly only because it wasn't 'realistic'. You were rude about it and didn't offer criticism that could realistically be met before release.

[OMA]

Originally Posted by caeska

the graphics look like they were, and they probably were, done by amateurs who never attended a graphic design class in their lives.

I just saw the video and I don't think the graphics are nearly as bad as you put it. I think the cel-shaded look works pretty fine.

Besides, you don't need to offend the game creators just because you don't like the graphics. "Amateurs who never attended a graphic design class in their lives?". They surely worked hard to create those graphics and don't deserve those kinds of words.

Originally Posted by caeska

My 5-year old niece could have done a better job in that department.

Then she must be a pretty awesome artist

[thom-22]

Originally Posted by caeska

The graphics aspect is so important in a computer game that in many cases, it determines whether it becomes a success
or failure.

Not to everybody, and this does not appear to be a computer game, or rather not a desktop computer game, as it seems clear to me it's optimized for the iOS market.

Although I'm not particularly demanding about graphics myself, I sympathize with those who see graphics as important to immersion. But you have to factor in price. $3 per episode? As Telltale has already gone "casual" with gameplay, it's probably not a bad idea for prices to reflect that, and it's not surprising graphics will be more casual as well.

The real question is what are they going to charge for the PC/Mac version? If it's higher than that of the iOS version, with nothing extra added (eg. still the iOS resolution like Hector was), well then, that would certainly be cause for a rant of the OP's magnitude.

[mjc0961]

Originally Posted by caeska

That link has no relevance to what I just said. All I've done is state my opinion, which, as you might recall, is the entire point of having a public discussion forum to begin with.

No, all you've done...

Originally Posted by caeska

Look at Jurassic Park: Good characters, good story. But the graphics look like they were, and they probably were, done by amateurs who never attended a graphic design class in their lives.
My 5-year old niece could have done a better job in that department.

Is be a dick. That link said "it's okay to not like things, but don't be a dick about it" which is extremely relevant.

That said, you're confusing graphics with art style. The graphics look great for the art style they chose. But if you think it looks too cartoony (anyone else having flashbacks to when The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker came out?), your problem is with the art style, not the graphics. And how can you be sure the art style doesn't fit yet? None of us regular folk here have played the game. We've only seen some screenshots and a few video clips. Maybe it works. You just have to give it a chance first. At least wait until you can watch a Let's Play of it if you don't want to spend money.

[Scnew]

Oh, get over yourself. Telltale's never been heavy on the graphics and if you're supposedly a fan you'd have realized that years ago. Do you really think Law and Order is the kind of license that would do well looking like Crysis or something? It's pretty clear that it's intended as a fairly casual game intended first and foremost for iOS.

[caeska]

Originally Posted by mjc0961

That said, you're confusing graphics with art style. The graphics look great for the art style they chose. But if you think it looks too cartoony (anyone else having flashbacks to when The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker came out?), your problem is with the art style, not the graphics. And how can you be sure the art style doesn't fit yet? None of us regular folk here have played the game. We've only seen some screenshots and a few video clips. Maybe it works. You just have to give it a chance first. At least wait until you can watch a Let's Play of it if you don't want to spend money.

Not at all, the art style is not the main issue here. Granted, I don't think the cel-shade style fits the L&O genre and I think they're making a huge mistake going in that direction. The issue is the graphics and animation, which completely destroy immersion.

Originally Posted by OMA

I just saw the video and I don't think the graphics are nearly as bad as you put it. I think the cel-shaded look works pretty fine.

Besides, you don't need to offend the game creators just because you don't like the graphics. "Amateurs who never attended a graphic design class in their lives?". They surely worked hard to create those graphics and don't deserve those kinds of words.

It's not an insult when it's the truth. With the technology available today, the kinds of products TTG put together are simply not good enough. Making believable animations that don't scream at you and put you off throughout the whole game due to its poor quality is not hard; many lesser companies can do it successfully.

Originally Posted by Scnew

Oh, get over yourself. Telltale's never been heavy on the graphics and if you're supposedly a fan you'd have realized that years ago. Do you really think Law and Order is the kind of license that would do well looking like Crysis or something? It's pretty clear that it's intended as a fairly casual game intended first and foremost for iOS.

It doesn't have to be Crysis or Heavy Rain for the graphics to be adequate. All that is required is to make at least some effort so they can at least pretend to be professional.
Also, the fact that it is more of a casual game that you "don't have to be a gamer to play" is more disconcerting than it is reassuring.

[Harald B]

Originally Posted by Scnew

Do you really think Law and Order is the kind of license that would do well looking like Crysis or something?

Yes! It would do great with the looks of, say, LA Noire or Heavy Rain. Noting that Jurassic Park had a lot more realistic-looking faces than the CSI games made me fully expect them to take it in that direction for Law and Order.
The shock when you then see the trailer take it the other way is not pleasant. I've mellowed out about it since learning it's largely aimed at the iPhone market (I did not realize that), but you shouldn't be so surprised about people having the same reaction.

[thesporkman]

I think the game's cell-shaded look looks really good in the still screenshots, but it's a little awkward when you see it in motion in the trailer.

[mjc0961]

Originally Posted by caeska

Not at all, the art style is not the main issue here. Granted, I don't think the cel-shade style fits the L&O genre and I think they're making a huge mistake going in that direction. The issue is the graphics and animation, which completely destroy immersion.

But there's absolutely nothing wrong with the graphics. Everything looks fine. The characters look like who they should look like. Maybe animations are off (I don't see a problem myself), but I don't see anything wrong with the graphics.

It doesn't have to be Crysis or Heavy Rain for the graphics to be adequate. All that is required is to make at least some effort so they can at least pretend to be professional.

And you're still being a dick.

[ObiWanThreepwood]

The graphics are perfectly adequate for me, as well as several other participants in this thread. I respect that a lack of cutting edge graphics has turned you off, but to suggest that something is "simply not good enough" for today's game market for any reason is a generalization which should be avoided. So long as there's a market for what Telltale is selling, as the backlash in this thread suggests, then it's good enough for someone.

[Foxhack]

I'm logging back in to ask two questions:

One, who's voicing Lennie Briscoe / Jerry Orbach? 'Cause his voice ain't right. Then again, nobody could act like him. (He was my favorite L&O actor.) ... everyone just sounds -off-.

Two, how the hell did they get Rey Curtis / Benjamin Bratt back in the series? The character took early retirement after his wife became ill and moved to California.

Yes, the continuity bothers me. I'm weird.

[ObiWanThreepwood]

Originally Posted by Foxhack

I'm logging back in to ask two questions:

One, who's voicing Lennie Briscoe / Jerry Orbach? 'Cause his voice ain't right. Then again, nobody could act like him. (He was my favorite L&O actor.) ... everyone just sounds -off-.

Two, how the hell did they get Rey Curtis / Benjamin Bratt back in the series? The character took early retirement after his wife became ill and moved to California.

Yes, the continuity bothers me. I'm weird.

I think I can answer one of your questions. Rey Curtis' wife passed away in 2009, I believe he guest stared in one episode that season to bury her. As it's 2011 at the start of the game, I think that would be suitable time to grieve then re-apply to his old job.

[Ribs]

Originally Posted by Foxhack

Two, how the hell did they get Rey Curtis / Benjamin Bratt back in the series? The character took early retirement after his wife became ill and moved to California.

Yes, the continuity bothers me. I'm weird.

Also; some episodes seem to take place at different times other than the present, so we may flashback to his time on the show, too.