Why is ZOS obsessed with the color gray? A look at art direction in ESO

ArchMikem

Rouven wrote: »

Check something like this perhaps:

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

We shouldn't rely on third party addons when all it does is alienate half the player base that can't use them. What we could do though is just try to keep the discussion going, hopefully it sticks in ZOS' minds to eventually do a World Building or Graphics Update in the future.

RealLifeRedguard

AzuraKin wrote: »

psychotrip wrote: »

Publius_Scipio wrote: »

I believe the devs have openly said that they try to keep the game rooted in that "realistic fantasy" plane. Obviously it's a fantasy game but it doesn't escape what forests, ruins, etc would look and feel like irl. The ES games maintain that medieval times look which is cool.

Auridon during the day is very colorful with the purple leaf trees and all that.

That doesn't in any way explain the actual changes to previously established structures. Why make the ayleid ruins cement gray? Where did they get that idea from?

And Auridon itself is beautiful. The architecture is colorless and clashes with the landscape.

cemet grey? think something wrong with your vid card then, they marble white to me.

Look at the screenshots in the OPs posts and elsewhere in this thread. Even the people who like the new ayleid ruins see the difference. They changed them from marble white to cement gray for no reason.

Vaoh

Completely agree OP

SirIronclad

Smepic wrote: »

I previously wrote threads about the Cyrodiil landscape, the fact that ESO is too bland and how the fog is bad – yet people seem to defend Zenimax, saying that it looks realistic or is to prevent lag. Not a lot of work is required to give life to the art and graphics.

willlienellson wrote: »

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I love the art direction of ESO.
It's honestly one of the few reasons I ignore the other problems with the game.

Thing is that the game world has the potential to look that much better. To be fair it'd probably be a considerable effort since all the zones were built with this wall of fog in mind and they'd have to patch some things up and then add an alternative, more sophisticated weather system on top of that. Would definitely be worth it, though - at least for PC players and good PR due to stunning scenes on screenshots and videos.

g00gleyes

I cant stand it when games go with only vibrant colors. vibrancy will take you to another place but realism will convince you the place actually exists. it may not be pretty, but life isn't, and I would like to think I play games not only as a means to escape. there should be a healthy balance and from what ive seen there is, although I haven't been playing long.

SirIronclad

Making everything look gray or brown has nothing to do with realism.

mvffins

Smepic wrote: »

You can not deny that the game is filled with unnecessary fog and gray.

Disagree the large line of sight in TES games, which was also included in this game is something that I like. Compared to other MMORPGS the line of sight in this game is amazing, especially when you can see Stormhold from Desheen, which always amazes me.

Considering the pics the op considered 'gloomy' one of them was from Rivenspire which was absolutely intended to be a hostile and unforgiving environment. While the other pics only seem gray to me because of mountain fog, structures, and skies which.......are gray IRL too!

I'd like to end this note on the fact that there are some vibrant regions in the game and since 1Tamriel is out you can play in any region you want! So just play in the colorful ones ok?

mvffins

RealLifeRedguard wrote: »

Just like how Oblivion completely changed Cyrodiil after the LOTR movies came out. I really think this is less about an artistic vision and more about chasing what's popular at the time. But at least Oblivion didn't suddenly suck out all the vibrancy from the world in an attempt to look gritty. Morrowind was gray and dark too, but I think that goes back to the OPs point about being dark without being dull.

I actually hate the Oblivion graphics for specifically the reason you are mentioning. Oblivion came out when there was a tremendous emphasis on lighting to the point that it was almost painful IMO.

Balamoor

So we have run out of things to complain about when we are down to colour pallet decisions.

Just sayin.

SirIronclad

The lighthing and especially the fog has a huge impact on the visuals. Personally I just think it's a huge shame. Imagine you paint a beautifully vibrant picture and then splash it with a coat of gray. What's the point in having drawn the picture that well in the first place, then?

psychotrip

I know it's a faux pas to "necro" threads, but I just sort of found myself on these forums after a long absence. This is still a problem, and I still don't understand why Zenimax went with this drab architectural style. Again, if you want to make something look serious and moody, you need to do more than just make things look gray. What we have here, especially in the screenshots I listed in the OP, is just a gray, drab, boring design.

ofSunhold

Edit: I hate it when I don't notice it's a [snip] necro thread.

psychotrip

ofSunhold wrote: »

Edit: I hate it when I don't notice it's a [snip] necro thread.

Can I ask, honestly, why it matters? I've always been curious why this bothers people so much. If it's old information I could understand, but otherwise why is it worse than making an entirely new thread on the same topic?

ofSunhold

This conversation was over months ago. It just feels weird to me, like walking into a room in July and wishing everyone Merry Christmas.

Enslaved

SirIronclad

From what I've heard things are a lot better in Morrowind? Haven't bought into it yet since it seems to have some issues.

SilverWF

Reapers March is not gray yes, but it's yellow or light-brown - not much better, as for me.

Fodore

Agreed, lets paint the skies green and the buildings pink

red_emu

Well obviously by the time of Oblivion Crysis all Ayleid ruins got a bit of Karcher power wash spell.

And I agree. I find that some zones aren't vibrant enough and to me personally altmer architecture is a huge letdown. All their buildings have that massive, thick, rough stone look to them. When you hear how their cities look like made of crystal and insect wings why would you make their architecture look nearly Orsimer?

Now I get that auridon has a different kind of architecture in lore. Not as refined as their main island but it still baffles me to see those beautiful soaring towers and delicate, intricate street lights all sitting on top of clunky walls that look more like bunkers than homes of the great Altmer people?

danno8

Fodore wrote: »

Agreed, lets paint the skies green and the buildings pink

Yes, that's exactly what people are arguing for. Ever hear of the "Black or White" logical fallacy?

DeadlyRecluse

Most base game zones are extremely monochromatic--Coldharbour is probably the worst offender in that way.

The DLC zones are generally better.

psychotrip

Necroing this thread instead of starting a new one.

So, turns out ZOS's addiction to gray has become so crippling...that they even think coral is gray:



Yes, this is the famous coral of Summerset. At least they didn't totally "transcription error" it away, but of course it had to be gray.

jrgray93

Honestly, I'm more concerned about the skill loadout on that last screenshot.

Lake

I agree. This is the only game I have ever felt I needed to use SweetFX / Nvidia Freestyle on.

JWKe

B tier designers maybe.

Thevampirenight

Well it could be a side effect of the planemeld. Molag Bal drawing the Nirnian system into the waters of oblivion. What was once colorful and bright has its color become gloomy. The time of chaos causing War, death, famine its slowly turning whats beautiful and bright into lands of darkness and gloominess.
Could be a good explanation for it.

Zeni0s

Oblivion had the HDR tech for 'hidding' the gray filters.
Skyrim don' t, and that's why there is so much ENB.
Teso is like skyrim, via nvidia pannel you can add some filters but dunno for amd's owners.

duendology

Fishoscandi wrote: »

I agree with you this game is pretty dark. Skyrim also seemed a bit dark to me. When DB was released I was hoping to walk the colorful Gold Coast once again.

ESO is an *** of colours comparing it to Skyrim though.


And to the OP
It's not dull to me at all. If you want more vibrant visit, I don't know Auridon?
Besides, too much vibrant palette and you end up with a kitch and cartoonish result. So, I'd be careful with that.

NewBlacksmurf

It’s TES

Gandrhulf_Harbard

psychotrip wrote: »

Necroing this thread instead of starting a new one.

So, turns out ZOS's addiction to gray has become so crippling...that they even think coral is gray:



Yes, this is the famous coral of Summerset. At least they didn't totally "transcription error" it away, but of course it had to be gray.

Dead / dying coral usually is gray.

All The Best