Improving graphics...?

I'm sure this conversation has come up before, and therefore I apologize for being redudant, but I think this is an important issue for many current and potential residents for SL.

Have there been any plans recently announced to imrpove the visual quality of SL? The rendering capabilites do not meet modern expectations for a game client. The avatar meshes could stand some improvements. To say nothing of the polycount, it would be nice to have more morphs to facilitate better customization. I would like to see, as some others have mentioned, support for custom bump maps, as well as specular and displacement mapping.

I know SL is not necessarily a "game", and it doesn't have the same audience that other PC titles might have and, therefore, it doesn't have to live up to similiar expectations.

I do believe, however, that improving the visual experience of SL would attract new interest as well as provide new tools and inspiration for creators. These basic improvements seem to have been overlooked to SL's detriment.

Enju, it is not similar to other games because only the bare bones of it are stored on your computer. Everything else, like avatar meshes, prims, textures, location of each, simply EVERYTHING, has to be constantly transmitted to your pc from the server and back. Increasing mesh detail and polycount will result in much higher data transmission and much higher rendering resources necessary. Seriously, as nice as it sounds - you don't want them to put those up. You'd rather want it to work moderately well.

Much of the lack of graphical quality in SL is the fault of the content creators (us). Very few of us are graphical artists in any way, so our creations are sure to be flawed in comparison to anyone educated in 3D arts. (^_^)

Add to that, the prim based construction methods is a plus and minus. While it offers building capabilities to the most unknowing user, it also results in unreasonably high polygon counts. Add to that, the ease of use practically guarantees a certain amount of amateur creativity being brought to the forefront. (^_^)

That said. I've been to locations and seen avatars that blow me away in imagery and make me believe that the rendering engine is quite suitable. Beyond that, yes, a lot of people have been screaming for improvements since day-1. (^_^)y

Proper shadows would be one of the greatest improvements to graphics.

They are on the agenda but dynamic shadows on the regular viewer are still some way off.

Enju, I couldn't agree with you more. Linden Lab should be working toward achieving some (or all.....even more) of the suggestions you put forward. In my opinion, the avatar mesh should be paramount. However, the same reasons (or excuses) are always tossed out about all the (or most) of the clothing content created so far would also need improving. And all that is fact.........but plodding along with the mesh we have now,which compared to other games or programs that have avatars is really quite primitive looking, is only delaying the inevitable. Sooner or later either LL or someone else will improve it. And the ones who don't will be left behind. The longer LL waits the more painful it's going to be.......for everyone (LL, content creators, residents and anyone evolved in Second Life).

The real world economy at the present time is not helping. It certainly will require a huge monetary injection to get the ball rolling.........and even more to impliment it. But, it's going to be done. The can of worms LL opened with Second Life with all it's features cannot be closed. When someone with the resources gets it started there will be no turning back or standing still........LL might as well be that someone.

How all this could be done is something I can not even guess. But we all know there is unlimited genius out there in the real world.........someone will find a way. But, it's going to be painful.

They are working on it Paddy, to be sure, to be sure.
It's just so big now [SL] with so much old content, making any small change will have a huge impact.
The change to Havok4 took a long time. The change to a new mesh will too.
One day a major change has to happen, I reckon they are just holding off, because it's too big of a change, until the other engines have it running. All avatar associated content will have to change with it.

I'm sure an infusion of CorpAd money will help with development. After all, we want all those logos that will be popping up all over the place looking spiffy, don't we?

While it all sounds like a nice warm fuzzy idea.....People just don't seem to realize what a monumental task it is to make one tiny change .... that EVERYONE will be able to see/use in a system like SL.

As someone already stated....in other games.....the information is stored on your system.....in SL .... the very things that make it so cool.....are NOT stored on individual systems.....so this 'graphic' upgrade that everyone is pining for.....is just not that simple. It might indeed be simple to do.....but it would a nightmare to incorporate a fundamental change like avatar mesh, to the entire grid. This was brought up in an earlier thread..... and the bottom line is a change that basic....would force the change of all textures that can work on said new avatar mesh.

So.....it follows that any other serious graphic upgrade is going to have the same kind of impact....in that not only would the change happen.....but the ripple effect in-world....among content creators....users (who either would NOT be able to run SL with the new pretty upgrades.....or who would be forced to run out and get new hardware......this pisses people off on a regular basis as it is lol) Anyway..... from a business standpoint.....and a customer service standpoint....LL has to constantly tow the line between keeping SL ahead of the curve concept wise (which it is indeed) and keeping it user friendly, so that people aren't falling off the grid left and right while their virtual planet shudders and shakes and sheds it's old skin for newer prettier skin.

One day tho....One day...... but we are just such a spoiled entitled generation with all the technology around us.....we're come to expect everything to be perfect and seemless and immediate......But, I haven't ever been disappointed by an orchid....or a rose....or my cat sleeping in a single ray of sun on the patio.....or a sunset off my back porch. Never.