gta4 graphics

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
Why do they look so nasty?

I was expecting alot, I bought it back at launch but never really tried it (on my 20wmgx2 atm) and it looks really bad.

Burnout Paradise looked fine, GT5 looks great.. b ut for some reason this looks bad!

PS3 btw

any thoughts?
 

purbeast0

No Lifer
Sep 13, 2001
53,664
6,547
126
GTA4 just flatout does not have that great of graphics at all. The people who try to back it just say that it can't because it's such an opened ended game and has so much going on, which is true and is the reason that it's graphics just aren't that good.
 

randay

Lifer
May 30, 2006
11,018
216
106
the graphics are not up to the hype, its not your hardware at all, its just like that.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
i guess i expected better, feels too blurry and has framerate issues when driving
 

CasioTech

Diamond Member
Oct 1, 2000
7,145
9
0
what do you expect with such a huge scale game? fight night 3 or virtua fighter model graphics?
 

warcrow

Lifer
Jan 12, 2004
11,078
11
81
I'm reposting from what I typed up in the original GTAIV thread when someone else asked the same thing:

Do you base "awesome graphics" on just the visual fidelity of a game? What about the amazing architecture? What about the sheer vast amount of objects moving around on the screen? Have you taken the time, in this game, to stop and just look around and see what's really going on around you? All the cars moving about--some even hit each other--or people walking around and on their way to an appointment or coffee or food, doing their own things. What about the environmental weathering (have you seen a heavy rain pour yet or how about the fog rolling in? It looks like nothing else I've seen in a game). Nothing, here is cookie cutter. Every single corner and alleyway has been uniquely designed and there is probably still over 80% of the game that you still needs to see (a guess of course).

In past GTA games, walking through any door (when outside) would mean you were going to see a loading screen. Resturants, Bars, Gyms, and everything else was not immediately accessible. Now, walking through a door and immediately have access to these things still trips me out. The first time I did this (I was cloth shopping :p ) it litterally made me stop and think about what had just happened--and then I killed everyone in the store because I was so excited.

Anyone who's played any of the previous games knows that GTA has never ever been about the graphics--it's always been kind of understood that that aspect of the game just wasnt going to blow you away, so this is a huge improvement!

This is not Gears of War where you're running down brick/rock/steal hallways--this is an open world with a really impressive draw distance with hundreds, maybe thousands of things going on at once. I personally think the game looks stunning. There's more to a great, visually impressive presentation than the resolution of a brick pattern on the side of a building. Take some time to stop and look around you.
 

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
It doesn't have bad graphics, people just mistake intentional graphical effects for "bad" graphics.

Like this:

Originally posted by: BassBomb
i guess i expected better, feels too blurry and has framerate issues when driving

The blurriness of objects in the distance is intentional.

The whole environment is very detailed, and I think it looks pretty good. I was impressed by the little they did, like the momentary blindness effect when you walk out of a building into bright sunlight.
 

BassBomb

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2005
8,390
1
81
I simply can't stand the trend of adding blur to a game to hide its aliasing which so many games have these days.

The game really needs AA and less blur

Personally I would take loading screens over a full world with framerate issues
 

erwos

Diamond Member
Apr 7, 2005
4,778
0
76
This reminds me of the Mass Effect grain discussion. Some people love it, others hated it.
 

JE78

Golden Member
Jun 6, 2004
1,418
0
71
When driving the framerate is almost unplayable in some spots of the city. But there is alot going on so atleast you know the processor is working.
 

Oyeve

Lifer
Oct 18, 1999
22,071
885
126
There is only so much the current console can pull off graphically while maintaining playability. If this game ever hits the PC and the port is good then you will see all the graphical goodies. IMO, I think the game looks pretty good on my HDTV. If I sit very close to the screen I can see the limitations, but from about 6 feet away it looks damn good.