Sounds odd but hear me out. I don't think they fit the overall aesthetic of everything else like the peeps or rock textures being more cartoony and smooth. Mixed with the anti aisling they can be quite ugly when trees are generally my favourite thing to add in such games. They are also quite static but adding more animation to them currently I suspect would add a ton to the processing requirements which is never a good thing.
Have you considered much more simplistic foliage? I think it can be beautiful when done right. One example off the top of my head are the trees in an Early Access game called 'Salt'. Mixed with sound effects of the wind they become something much more than their visuals. I'm not suggesting the trees in Salt to look the same in Planet coaster, simply an example of how trees don't need to be super detailed.
Personally I'd love to see them much more in keeping with the rest of the game.
Another example of the art style I'm thinking of could be the upcoming game 'Sea of Thieves' by Microsoft.
Also something else to consider with this mixture of realism and uncanny valley trees is how they are highlighted and draw your attention from that which is not super detailed. I remember thinking that in the game 'The Last Guardian' the characters are pure cartoon against the backdrop of the world which is more 'real' and this seems to emphasise and make that world seem even more real than it actually is. I'm sure this was very cleverly done on purpose to achieve exactly that. Now, your foliage is also doing that psychologically but to the opposite effect, in that our park and your people take a back seat to the trees. If the trees were simplified it may absurdly emphasise the realism where you want it? At this point I'm talking out of my as.. ascended mind.
Your striving for realism is commendable make no mistake but possibly slightly misplaced in this area is all. After all, your biggest market for commercial success could be children, they love amusement parks and love video games, and are the reason most adults visit them, yet, a realistic simulation on the pc may not entice them in to this wonderful game and genre. Realism in physics and the nuts and bolts I can appreciate was necessary to satisfy the hardcore adult who grew up with your titles and similar games but. Now you have achieved that it could be cool to give a really family friendly aesthetic by just changing the approach to foliage. So children and adults alike can enjoy your wonderful game with its super easy to use interface without being put off ?
The problem with your trees is they are almost too good Kappa [squeeeeee]
edit: your grass textures and colour are freakin lovely btw ( unlike Tropico or SC where greenery doesn't grow back )
Have you considered much more simplistic foliage? I think it can be beautiful when done right. One example off the top of my head are the trees in an Early Access game called 'Salt'. Mixed with sound effects of the wind they become something much more than their visuals. I'm not suggesting the trees in Salt to look the same in Planet coaster, simply an example of how trees don't need to be super detailed.
Personally I'd love to see them much more in keeping with the rest of the game.
Another example of the art style I'm thinking of could be the upcoming game 'Sea of Thieves' by Microsoft.
Also something else to consider with this mixture of realism and uncanny valley trees is how they are highlighted and draw your attention from that which is not super detailed. I remember thinking that in the game 'The Last Guardian' the characters are pure cartoon against the backdrop of the world which is more 'real' and this seems to emphasise and make that world seem even more real than it actually is. I'm sure this was very cleverly done on purpose to achieve exactly that. Now, your foliage is also doing that psychologically but to the opposite effect, in that our park and your people take a back seat to the trees. If the trees were simplified it may absurdly emphasise the realism where you want it? At this point I'm talking out of my as.. ascended mind.
Your striving for realism is commendable make no mistake but possibly slightly misplaced in this area is all. After all, your biggest market for commercial success could be children, they love amusement parks and love video games, and are the reason most adults visit them, yet, a realistic simulation on the pc may not entice them in to this wonderful game and genre. Realism in physics and the nuts and bolts I can appreciate was necessary to satisfy the hardcore adult who grew up with your titles and similar games but. Now you have achieved that it could be cool to give a really family friendly aesthetic by just changing the approach to foliage. So children and adults alike can enjoy your wonderful game with its super easy to use interface without being put off ?
The problem with your trees is they are almost too good Kappa [squeeeeee]
edit: your grass textures and colour are freakin lovely btw ( unlike Tropico or SC where greenery doesn't grow back )
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