ESO's Draw Distance Is Toooo Short

zyk

Gidorick wrote: »

The difference between my preference and yours is the company doesn't support my preference @zyk , as a paying customer, I should be able to suggest to the company improvements that I feel is important to the overall enjoyment of the product. Shouldn't I?

Of course.

As for this being a flaw or "the way it was engineered" I prefer to split the difference and call it a "Design Flaw".

It's not a flaw because some people do not prefer it. While I'm sure everyone would prefer a better looking game with no costs, that's not the case here. As an MMO, performance takes precedence over fidelity.

I honestly don't see how anyone could seriously think the below screenshot looks BETTER with fog.

Because a screenshot is a snapshot of one moment and not reflective of how the game looks in motion, while playing it and after playing it for years -- in all locations. I think the game looks far worse without the stylized fog. At first it can be refreshing until the problems with the long distance rendering become apparent.

Gidorick

Xylphan wrote: »

Are you kidding? Without the fog/mist/etc it's not even realistic looking. The sun that low to the horizon should be orange, and the dust/moisture/etc. should make it "glow".

If we're going to talk about realism @Xylphan , then let's talk about how realistic it is to have a constant fog around the world, all day, all night.

Anyway, I wasn't talking about realism. I was talking about esthetics. Sure the hue and tint could use some work but the fog... by the divines the FOG. The amount of fog in that scene is almost laughable.

Gidorick

I prefer this:

zyk wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

The difference between my preference and yours is the company doesn't support my preference @zyk , as a paying customer, I should be able to suggest to the company improvements that I feel is important to the overall enjoyment of the product. Shouldn't I?

Of course.

As for this being a flaw or "the way it was engineered" I prefer to split the difference and call it a "Design Flaw".

It's not a flaw because some people do not prefer it. While I'm sure everyone would prefer a better looking game with no costs, that's not the case here. As an MMO, performance takes precedence over fidelity.

I honestly don't see how anyone could seriously think the below screenshot looks BETTER with fog.

Because a screenshot is a snapshot of one moment and not reflective of how the game looks in motion, while playing it and after playing it for years -- in all locations. I think the game looks far worse without the stylized fog. At first it can be refreshing until the problems with the long distance rendering become apparent.

I simply have a problem when a developer leaves out options that are technically viable for the engine/platform/machines that a piece of software is running on to cut corners.

We can argue all day about what looks good what doesn't. That is entirely subjective.

What is not subjective is that ZOS included the fog to hide distant low LOD textures. ZOS didn't have to have low LOD textures. They could have included the option to have detailed textures and little to no fog. Why didn't they?

I believe it was to save time. The fog allows them to "not worry" about far off textures. That is a design choice that I disagree with. If you are going to make a game that has a legacy of...

this:


and this:


You should have been satisfied with this:


Notice how both oblivion and skyrim have fog, but it slowly and gradually gets thicker over distance? ESO isn't like that it's more like a curtain. A wall of fog that covers everything past a certain point in muddied haze.

And for the record... I'm 100% for contextual fog. This is from March 2015:
https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/156070/eso-contextual-fog-concept/p1

Gidorick wrote: »

Here's a quick one.

When the weather is bad we should see the fog that we see now and possibly even MORE fog. When the weather is good, we should see much less fog, possibly even no fog. The maximum amount of fog relief be attached to a slider in the graphics menu and the amount of fog relief could be based on the percentage of that slider.

Allow those of us who are able to support no fog, experience no fog.

I have more Fog/No Fog screenshots here:
http://i.imgur.com/RAasVtQ.jpg?1

Please note, I have seen NO noticeable FPS drop since installing SweetFX.

I decided to take some comparison shots of inside a dungeon:

Thoughts?

But if I MUST choose fog or no fog... I would choose no fog.

oxxalejandroxxo

zyk wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

zyk wrote: »

Game development is always about compromises. I like the compromises ZOS made in terms of fidelity vs performance.

Whenever I see a screenshot with modified post-processing, I do not think the game looks better. Only different. It's a cup of tea thing. I think it goes without saying that each of us would design a game at least slightly differently if we were in charge.

Removing the fog has zero, I mean ZERO impact on performance @Zyk . At least none that I have experienced.

Right, but as others have noted the fog is a stylized element to cover up the poor long distance rendering. The poor long distance rendering is the performance compromise.

Poor long distance rendering means ZOS did not do a good enough job on ESO's graphics. After tolerating this for 2 years, the new WOW graphics update makes it now unbearable.

oxxalejandroxxo

Gidorick wrote: »

I agree... while I think there ARE times that FOG is better than no-fog.

It's all about context... but one thing is sure. ESO WITHOUT fog can be beautiful.

If tech savvy fans could get this done, I don't know why ZOS cannot do this, with the distant objects' detail improved of course.

oxxalejandroxxo

Gidorick wrote: »

I agree... while I think there ARE times that FOG is better than no-fog.

It's all about context... but one thing is sure. ESO WITHOUT fog can be beautiful.

Will using this get me banned?

Gidorick

oxxalejandroxxo wrote: »

Gidorick wrote: »

I agree... while I think there ARE times that FOG is better than no-fog.

It's all about context... but one thing is sure. ESO WITHOUT fog can be beautiful.

Will using this get me banned?

No. Not at all @oxxalejandroxxo !

It WILL, however, get you immersed in Tamriel like never before!

ItsGlaive

I'd just be happy not to have plants and flowers sprouting up through the ground around me while running/riding a horse. Anyone know of a fix for this?

oxxalejandroxxo

Troneon wrote: »

PC Master Race https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/268131/esoptimize-fog-removal-and-graphic-improvement

Troneon wrote: »

Thanks for the help all, first got the 64 bit client running....then tested the first version of Hook64 (Previously ESO Enhanced Graphics Launcher) which was created by sorien which gives the game a graphics boost, shaders, effects etc and removes the in game fog ......this was soriens first enhanced graphics launcher version for 64bit ESO and it works!!!

Then last test was to get my RadeonPro+SweetFX profile (better colors etc) to work by adding a trigger alias with the 64bit client with soriens hook64 as well and...VOILA!!!

Crisp 60+ fps 64 bit ESO with soriens Hook64 Enhanced Graphics Launcher and my choice of colors using SweetFX

http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/eso-launcher-graphics-enhancer-2/page/27/

Full Album : http://imgur.com/a/Y7aYv





Before with normal crappy colors but without in game fog to compare....

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/268131/esoptimize-fog-removal-and-graphic-improvement

http://tamrielfoundry.com/topic/eso-launcher-graphics-enhancer-2/page/27/

There is Trojan in Sorien's zip file...

Reapor

Prolly a false positive can we get a confirmation plox

Epona222

Digiman wrote: »

oxxalejandroxxo wrote: »

There have always been complaints ever since launch that the game is too "foggy". Now, when we compare ESO's draw distance to WOW Legion's improved one, we'll found that very soon ESO's view distance would be much shorter than another MMO launched 11 years ago!! Pls ZOS, do something! At least pls start to discuss a plan to improve the draw distance!!!

Eh, kinda sick of the fact my left foot doesn't meet the step of stairs because it's lower for a game released 2 years ago. Especially compared to GW2.

However the draw distance seems fine for me, it seems a little immersive breaking when I see plain fields and instead grass and weeds fill up a few feet away.

Having grass set to a low draw distance is the best way to spot alchemy ingredients from a distance without spending any skillpoints in keen eye passives