A small complaint about the graphics...

[gapper4]

First, please understand that I tip my hat to FD for a job extremely well done on the game in general and the graphics in particular. Even playing with a DK2, with its limited resolution, I think the ships, systems and stations really convey a sense of scale and look just right. The one area where the team dropped the ball, however, is in the explosions.

Perhaps it's been noted before, but the explosions in ED look like something from early Command & Conquer games. Flat, dinky, completely underwhelming. It's very jarring to have an epic fight with an Elite pirate and see him go down in a whimper. This is particularly surprising given the quality of the rest of the graphics and the fact that space explosions have been done so well in games several years old. Anyone who ever played Hegemonia: Legions of Iron will attest to how amazing explosions in that game looked. Recently, the remastered Homeworld games gave us another taste of the epic spectacle that space fights can be.

Does anyone know if FD plan to address this at some point ? Because, frankly, it's turning me off fighting, especially playing with a DK2. You get incredibly immersed in the moment and get jarred back to the fact that you're playing a video game when you see those cut & paste textures.

Not meant as a rant, just as constructive criticism to improve an already great game.

 

[Derpster Frey]

You're in space.
Explosions in space aren't that impressive.

 

[Anuranium]

Sorry man, I've played on OR too, however I don't find it as immersion breaking as you do. I'd like FD to work on a ton of other issues before they "fix" this.

 

[Odan Brota]

Explosions aren't too impressive in space. Maybe they should just add a brighter flash for the FSD going nuclear or something?

 

[Kondensat]

i think the explosions are VERY well done, with volumetric clouds, sparks, shockwave......
very fast and quickly vanishing (like it would be in space with just the oxygen in the ship as
combustible)

 

[Tetsuko]

i think the explosions are VERY well done, with volumetric clouds, sparks, shockwave......
very fast and quickly vanishing (like it would be in space with just the oxygen in the ship as
combustible)

I concur. Especially in the Rift with headphones on the explosions are really impressive, beautifully timed with the audio too. The resulting debris is also very well done - I had the pleasure of destroying a Clipper that interdicted me the other day, the wreckage was very pretty indeed. Anyone who has seen an Anaconda blow up close by in the Rift wouldn't be expressing disappontment.

 

[Chevy66]

You're in space.
Explosions in space aren't that impressive.

So how do you know what explosions in space look like?

 

[Derpster Frey]

So how do you know what explosions in space look like?

You're joking, right?

 

[Trueno33]

So how do you know what explosions in space look like?

Because he is an E: D CMDR!!

 

[Chevy66]

You're joking, right?

No, when have you seen a real explosion in space?

I'd think they'd be pretty spectacular with no atmosphere to slow particles and expanding gasses down

 

[Derpster Frey]

No, when have you seen a real explosion in space?

There have been numerous studies about explosions in vacuum, besides the basic science of it.
Search google for "explosions in vacuum" and you'll find many videos and studies depicting this.

 

[Jerakeen]

Exploding Anacondas look very cool

 

[gapper4]

You're in space.
Explosions in space aren't that impressive.

I'll give an opinion after I see an actual explosion in space. For now, I was under the impression that I'm playing a game and that the goal is spectacle.

 

[uncle bulgaria]

Big ships go with a pretty decent pop.

 

[Derpster Frey]

I'll give an opinion after I see an actual explosion in space. For now, I was under the impression that I'm playing a game and that the goal is spectacle.

FD hasn't hired Michael Bay yet, fortunately
Feel free to suggest it, instead of complaining.

 

[Chevy66]

There have been numerous studies about explosions in vacuum, besides the basic science of it.
Search google for "explosions in vacuum" and you'll find many videos and studies depicting this.

OK so I did a search, there aren't that many vid on youtube of an actual explosion in space, but I wouldn't say the ones there are are "Unimpressive". If it was a ship exploding you would get parts and gas flying out very fast

 

[SpartanBeef]

Perhaps it's been noted before, but the explosions in ED look like something from early Command & Conquer games. Flat, dinky, completely underwhelming. It's very jarring to have an epic fight with an Elite pirate and see him go down in a whimper. This is particularly surprising given the quality of the rest of the graphics and the fact that space explosions have been done so well in games several years old.

Not a rift user, but I completely agree. The explosions look fine from a distance, but if you fly near one it just looks horrible, you can see that its made out of 2d layers and the lighting looks like something out of an old GIF image. A whole 256 colours! Then theres the fact that as the dust expands you can see individual blocks of grey because its so low res. I know people will probably disagree with this but I think the wreckage looks pretty terrible as well. Its really low poly and and the textures are really low res compared to the rest of the game. Its pretty jarring when you blow up a ship at close range then fly through the wreckage afterwards.

That said, Its still a long way down my list of things I'd like fixed or added. Maybe take a look at it after persistent NPC's, Thargoids, an improved supply/demand system etc.

 

[Uncertain]

No idea why the thread immediately got so tense, the OP sounded fine to me. Anyway I also did a search and couldn't find any vids about explosions in space or in a vacuum, but I'd love to see one, it sounds like it'd be legitimately interesting to watch. You can't hear sound in space either, as well you know, but fortunately FD did hire Hans Zimmer, without whom we would be playing E to MIDIs of Hall of the Mountain King.

 

[Slopey]

Sigh - First result on Google for "explosion in vacuum"

https://vimeo.com/36083925

There you go.

 

[Gannopen]

It seems like basic science to me. Fire needs oxygen. Pictographic explosions need oxygen. Space has no oxygen. I appreciate this is a game and people want visual enjoyment, but if they threw out all the rules of science it would destroy the game. Yes, I know we can't travel faster than light, but the rest is incredibly well drawn and the physics are amazing.