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[Poetic.Injustice]

Consumers last week launched a campaign aimed at both developer From Software and publisher Namco Bandai, alleging that the graphics on offer in the shipped retail version of the game are significantly different from preview material being circulated as recently as a few weeks before launch.

"Throughout the game development process, a game is constantly being balanced not only in game playability, but also in the realm of resource management,” From told MCV.

“A developer is always challenged with creating the most rewarding gaming experience while delivering continuity in graphical quality, gameplay dynamics, and balance within the game. The final version of Dark Souls II displays the culmination of this delicate balance and we’re very proud of the positive media and fan reception for the game.”

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/from...-souls-ii-graphics-downgrade-concerns/0129831

So just about the most non-committal answer we'll hear from them for a while.

 

[Dennis]

"We confess. But you will buy the game anyway so whatever"

 

[MaximoffZero]

Translation: "Screw You."

 

[Blablurn]

PR gonna PR

 

[NekoFever]

Hmm. I don't think anyone has an issue with changes being made in order to make the game as good as it can be. It's the marketing and the lack of transparency about these changes that was a problem.

 

[Biggie]

Glad I decided to hold out for the PC version. Hope it will be closer to their original vision for the game.

 

[PairOfFilthySocks]

If the PC version doesn't have those extra effects then this goes from insta-buy to sub-10 bucks sale for me.

Disgraceful business practise.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

So PC gets the lighting or not?

 

[3rdamention]

Dat Balance! "Balance" has definitely been used more in the past few months than I have heard in an entire generation. It seems to me, in my opinion, that it's an easy excuse for nearly any type of negative towards consoles or games.

 

[Dambrosi]

Glad I decided to hold out for the PC version. Hope it will be closer to their original vision for the game.

And if not, then mods.

 

[LiK]

They did it for the framerate and overall performance. Have you guys heard how shitty the framerate was for the debug version? I'd expect the PC version will look awesome. Hopefully.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

I guess we'll have to wait another month to see if we're getting screwed over on PC as well. I mean, I'm okay with the PS3 version because I'm not really playing it for amazing next-gen graphics, but I plan on double dipping on PC and it'd be nice to have better textures and lighting while I explore Drangleic.

 

[DrROBschiz]

They did it for the framerate and overall performance. Have you guys heard how shitty the framerate was for the debug version? I'd expect the PC version will look awesome. Hopefully.

April 25th is gonna be tense

 

[Lalalandia]

"Sorry you were offended by our lies"

 

[pixlexic]

The game doesn't run at a higher frame rate as it is on consoles yet has a lot of the newer effects you see on new hardware.

I disagree with all the complaining about this games graphics but I agree we should never get BSed about them as well.

 

[epmode]

So PC gets the lighting or not?

No one that knows is talking.

 

[Prince Vultan]

Visually, it doesn't even look as good as Dark Souls 1 imo.

 

[elyetis]

Didn't expect much ( expected them to at least do the PR stunt of saying they focused on having a fluid experience for the sake of gameplay, even if it meant small ( again, marketing/PR ) concession graphical wise ), and they even went below that.

I'm going from importing Demon's souls Asia, double dipping Dark souls ( ps3 collector + PC day one ), to most likely only bying Dark souls during a steam promo. It probablly won't mean much for them, but since we are definitly treated as only walking wallet, I will let my wallet speak for me.

 

[DryvBy]

I hate this practice. It's back to when CGI graphics were in ads as gameplay.

However if I didn't look at the videos before, I'd say the graphics are fantastic on the PS3.

 

[SonyToo!™]

So awesome

 

[Mondy]

From Software reek of arrogance right now after the runaway success of Dark Souls.

 

[Forkball]

"Sorry we got caught."

 

[Nightengale]

Did changing engines ultimately help?

Sony's PhyreEngine wasn't exactly beastly, but it was pretty decent when leveraged effectively.

 

[MLH]

Well it seems as expected, PS3 and X360 couldn't handle the lighting effects and increased geometry, even though they didn't explicitly state it.

I suppose now everyone want to know will the PC version look like the earlier versions?
There shouldn't be any reason to remove effects & reduce geometry on a PC.

 

[DrROBschiz]

Visually, it doesn't even look as good as Dark Souls 1 imo.

Ehhhh

Its very comparable to the first two games... which is surprising since it on a new engine. Then again maybe the new engine just allows them to easily scale it up to next gen.

Who knows

 

[test_account]

Hmm. I don't think anyone has an issue with changes being made in order to make the game as good as it can be. It's the marketing and the lack of transparency about these changes that was a problem.

How would they advertise such changes though? Couldnt they just show the PC version (assuming there is no change in the graphics there compared to what was shown in earlier builds)?

 

[atomic moth]

This is pretty shitty, but not terrible. The average gamer wouldn't notice.

The problem is, the people that do notice the changes are the same ones that brought Demons Souls the success it had.

I've been holding out for PC, I'll probably hold out for longer now.

 

[B-Genius]

Hmm. I don't think anyone has an issue with changes being made in order to make the game as good as it can be. It's the marketing and the lack of transparency about these changes that was a problem.

If it's about the marketing then go after the people marketing the game. From has never promised a game that looks like it did in event/beta builds or their domestic promotional material. And besides, what do people want them to say when confronted like this? At least the developer had the decency to directly address the public at this point.

 

[AdventureMike]

Zero fucks given by them it seems.

Oh well, they won't have my money.

 

[DrROBschiz]

How would they advertise such changes though? Couldnt they just show the PC version (assuming there is no change in the graphics there compared to what was shown in earlier builds)?

My thought is that just about every CrossGen/Mutilplatform game is usually marketed with the highest fidelity version at the forefront

 

[wrowa]

Well, From Software aren't the ones who are responsible for PR, though. That Namco Bandai is still advertising the game with old footage/screenshots is out of the team's control.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

What could they have said though? #WereSorry

 

[Jarlaxle]

I don't understand the huge deal. They were trying to optimize the game so that it ran as smooth as possible. They had to cut some of the lighting effects to do so. It's a balance. I don't think they were trying to fool anyone. If the graphics had remained at the level seen during previews, there would have been other issues with the game that people would have been complaining about.

 

[AgentChris]

The balance strikes back.

 

[Holykael1]

Guys, I know the downgrade is a bummer but would you rather play the game at like 20 FPS because GRAPHICS.. The downgrade was obviously needed to achieve a decent and stable performance for consoles.

 

[maquiladora]

"We confess. But you will buy the game anyway so whatever"

.

 

[Recall]

Everyone should actually listen to the latest bombcast as Dave Lang actually tells you why it is the way it is.

Also we don't know the impact the lighting had on the framerate especially as in the state it is in now it isn't consistent on the consoles.

 

[fluffydelusions]

I can accept sacrifices had to be made for the last gen consoles...now about that PC version from...

 

[Haunted]

The thread title could've been "From Software doesn't respond to Dark Souls II graphics downgrade concerns" and it still would be correct.

What a non-answer.

 

[FunkyLounge]

Now lets beg Boris for DS2 ENBseries!

(not going to happen)

 

[The_Darkest_Red]

This whole situation disappoints me but I personally don't consider it enough of a reason to skip out on the game (not that I really had the choice anyway since I bought it before hearing about this controversy). Thankfully the game has been an absolute joy for me so far, but I realize that's not the real issue here.

 

[Jack cw]

Visually, it doesn't even look as good as Dark Souls 1 imo.

Yep. It might run at a higher native resolution, but that vaseline blurr with FXAA is seriously hurting the image quality more than anything else. Not even talking about the way off gamma in the game. Its a pretty huge fuck up at the moment. The fact that the PS3 version runs like utter shit is also not something From could be proud of.

 

[Violater]

"We confess. But you will buy the game anyway so whatever"

Dat first post, so sad but true.

 

[daniels]

Zero fucks given by them it seems.

Oh well, they won't have my money.

aww cmon the game is amazing i am already on NG+ and the gameplay is simply awesome there are not many games like it

 

[Portugeezer]

I am not satisfied. But I didn't buy Dark Souls 2, so there's that.

 

[B-Genius]

This is pretty shitty, but not terrible. The average gamer wouldn't notice.

The problem is, the people that do notice the changes are the same ones that brought Demons Souls the success it had.

I've been holding out for PC, I'll probably hold out for longer now.

With all respect, speak for yourself. I own a copy for each region of DeS, PS3/PC copy of DaS and plan to double-dip with DaS2. I see the changes and can understand why they are there. I don't need an explanation/apology from anyone. You need to make a distinction between people who notice the changes and those who decide it's worth pressing charges about.

If you're upset/holding out, fine. That's your choice as a consumer. But can we put an end to this notion that everyone who has bought the game thus far are suckers or "walking wallets"? It's frankly rather childish and insulting.

 

[spookyfish]

My thought is that just about every CrossGen/Mutilplatform game is usually marketed with the highest fidelity version at the forefront

That's how it used to be, anyway. I remember ads with small print "SNES screens shown" or "PlayStation screens shown". Maybe publishers should have to clarify again.

 

[JNT]

That's a lot of text to say nothing.

 

[Messofanego]

"Continuity in graphical quality"

 

[Eusis]

Did changing engines ultimately help?

Sony's PhyreEngine wasn't exactly beastly, but it was pretty decent when leveraged effectively.

Never used PhyreEngine actually.

This is pretty shitty, but not terrible. The average gamer wouldn't notice.

The problem is, the people that do notice the changes are the same ones that brought Demons Souls the success it had.

I've been holding out for PC, I'll probably hold out for longer now.

On the other hand many of those people are probably not the ones who actually care the most about graphics, Demon's Souls and Dark Souls looked nice enough but for the most part weren't exactly graphical stunners, none of the games even have moving mouths outside of a few special exceptions. Yeah, there was a big deal over the PC version, but that was a monumental case of Missing The Point about half of why people wanted the PC version, to use higher end, more expensive hardware to make a game look much nicer where forced parity is downright offensive (the other half was just so BlightTown wouldn't run like shit still), this is something that looked nice but development realities for PS3/360 set in and pending a lot of nice options being there won't be better on PC, and even then it'd be some of the effects at most. Nevermind that to some extent it must have been just deciding a different look would be best, some of the examples of changes aren't ones that weren't straight downgrades.