Realism vs. Style? Opinions please.

[wassermelone]

I was just curious as to people's opinions about a debate between the people following two popular upcoming computer games. Both are headliners: World of Warcraft and Everquest 2

The debate is of course over which game has the better graphics...
EQ2 has multiple technologies in their engine that are new to MMO and has attempted to go towards realism.
WoW, on the other hand, does not have new technologies or astounding polycounts. What it has however is a clear and recognizable artistic style.

Personally I think WoW has the better graphics despite EQ2's new technologies. The graphics just look overly bland for what should be an escape from reality rather than a stagnation. But don't take my word for it. I would love to see peoples opinions.

WoW:
http://wow.warcry.com/images/screenshots/030514-ss001.jpg
http://wow.warcry.com/images/screenshots/030430-ss005.jpg
http://wow.warcry.com/images/screenshots/021105-ss011.jpg


EQ2:
http://everquest2.station.sony.com/screenshots/Long_and_short_of_it.jpg
http://everquest2.station.sony.com/screenshots/BD_OgreGates.jpg
http://everquest2.station.sony.com/screenshots/elf2.jpg

[incognito]

though I am not a mmorpg player, I think that WoW looks better. Its a fantasy game and it looks like it really is in a fantasy setting, while EQ2 looks like its set in some medievil england setting with castles. My pick: WoW.
Oh, and EQ2 does look like it has better graphics, graphics wise.

[WildSpruceMoose]

WoW is more fun looking. Stylized, nice and pleasing to the eye. I also want in the WoW beta test :P EQ2 is ok, but lacks a certain feeling that WoW makes up for. The fact is that a truly realistic game would not be nearly as much fun as a fantastical game. Ever seen Command and Conquer units? I like Command and Conquer and all but they were so tiny compared to the giant grunts and footmen of the Warcraft series.

[mtw]

I personally don't care whether they go for realism or for a certain style. Both styles give the games a certain feeling, and I like both. I do think that Everquest has lower quality graphics, meaning that the models don't look good. It's not a result of using a realistic style but a result of bad modelling. That probably sounded harsher than I actually feel.

[DragonGX]

the EQ2 pics arent loading for me, but Im pretty sure id prefer WoW... I like the style of blizzard, compared to realism.. Its just funner to paly in a fantasy world liek that reather than something that looks more realistic..

[DragonGX]

ok that was strange, as soon as i posted my reply and the page refreshed, the EQ2 pics worked... :confused:

[adahl]

how come I cant see this pict? theres just this white squares with red cross in it! :(

[look]

I don't see the difference between art style. I mean both are realistic approach, just that WoW has more interesting designs.