Players. GW. And WoW... - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 00:49 - 241

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

By "complete lack of detail" I hope you're referring to the engine's capabilities

I'm talking about item/texture detail, not level design. The lack of detail resulting in large areas of uniform color is what makes WoW graphics "cartoony".
Which in turn is forced by a design decision to use small textures and very low polygon counts to reduce CPU and memory requirements.

The engine's capabilities is probably higher than what's actually used. WoW, like GW, has improved in graphics quality since release, with new content more detailed and richer in polygons than the release content.

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 01:47 - 242

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

I'm talking about item/texture detail, not level design. The lack of detail resulting in large areas of uniform color is what makes WoW graphics "cartoony".

Oh, reeeeeeeeally?

lizards

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 02:09 - 243

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Oh, reeeeeeeeally?

Yeah and that's a pic from the WOW site and those don't look nearly that detailed in game. I've been playing both games since my friend got me playing WOW a couple months ago, and I'm pretty much just waiting for GW 2 as I'm not much for title grinding. I couldn't even play WOW at first because of the graphics. I gave it another chance and it does get a little better as it goes on, but the armor and weps just look like total crap. In GW I can see gear and just totally want to get it because it looks so cool, in WOW I just don't see anything like that. I've yet to see any weapon or armor that touches a lot of stuff in GW.

The pvp in WOW is absolutely terrible. The classes are so unbalanced it's sickening and can be very irritating. It takes pretty much no skill, it's just based on who has played longer to be able to get better pvp gear.

I had fun getting to 70 but am pretty much bored with it now.

Bring on GW 2.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 02:37 - 244

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

Oh, reeeeeeeeally?

Yes, really. And that's an in-game screenshot, not a concept rendering, and the image hasn't been downscaled (which increases perceived detail). Note the fur trimmings, the rivets, and the patterning on the leather of the rangers armor. And that the cloth has texture.

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

13 Mar 2008 at 02:43 - 245

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

The lack of detail resulting in large areas of uniform color is what makes WoW graphics "cartoony".

Dont forget the garish, oversaturated color choices. Its a style thing too. Some like it. Some, including me, dont.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 02:45 - 246

They cant use fur textures in wow because fur wasnt possible before DX8. Why still even bother comparing a DX7 to a DX8 game?

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 02:45 - 247

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aera Lure

Dont forget the garish, oversaturated color choices. Its a style thing too. Some like it. Some, including me, dont.

That's part and parcel of the "console graphics" style. I think one must have grown up with console games to like it. I certainly don't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

They cant use fur textures in wow because fur wasnt possible before DX8. Why still even bother comparing a DX7 to a DX8 game?

Because GW and WoW are the same age. They were both in development at the same time, although WoW was released a few months before GW.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 02:51 - 248

Quote:

Originally Posted by ogre_jd

Plenty of adventure, too - both in the cutscenes and in what you do in between the cutscenes. Or do you consider that to be just mindless killing and roaming around to no purpose other than to get XP? If you do, you have my sympathy.

So sorry that I consider a fully persistant world that I can explore however I like to be adventure compared to watching cutscenes in GW. What is the point in all the mindless and REWARDLESS killing in GW? I sympathise for you if you just enjoy killing things for no reason whatsoever, which is what 90% of GW PVE is.

Care to explain how every creature and animal in GW just drops gold? Where does a wild bear get 100 gold coins from?

In wow you extract the hide / teeth / carcass of the bear and sell that to a merchant to make money. Seems a lot more like a real adventure to me.

Chronos the Defiler

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

W/

13 Mar 2008 at 02:57 - 249

I enjoy getting to my objective...the things I kill just happen to be in my way...I don't need to kill them to level up, because I have other quests and missions to do that for me.

And even so, alot of the monster killing in GW isn't "mindless" if you go out there "mindlessly" they will probably kick your ass because of your lack of preparation or knowledge of what your fighting. Rather than the "every enemy does the same thing and be killed by the same thing over and over again"

lizards

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 02:57 - 250

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

So sorry that I consider a fully persistant world that I can explore however I like adventure compared to watching cutscenes in GW. What is the point in all the mindless and REWARDLESS killing in GW? I sympathise for you if you just enjoy killing things for no reason whatsoever, which is what 90% of GW PVE is.

What's the reward for all the mindless killing in WOW? I play both and have no clue what you're talking about, it's pretty much the same thing except that WOW has about a million more pointless quests and NO story line whatsoever. And you also have to change your armor and weapons every 5 levels or so. I've yet to understand why people grind for gear in WOW at lvl 30 (just a random number) when they'll just have to change it in 5, 6, 7 or 8 levels. There's no point in even getting any gear until 70 and the only way to get anything decent is by pvping.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 02:59 - 251

The reward is the drops. In GW drops hardly matter because you already have max gear.

I dont find getting better gear grind. I find chasing pointless titles in GW grind.

Made In Ascalon

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

None

Rt/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:00 - 252

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

So sorry that I consider a fully persistant world that I can explore however I like to be adventure compared to watching cutscenes in GW. What is the point in all the mindless and REWARDLESS killing in GW? I sympathise for you if you just enjoy killing things for no reason whatsoever, which is what 90% of GW PVE is.

The majority of killing which goes on in WoW is either pointless grind or rewarded with mediocre items which are outlived very quickly.

Quote:

Care to explain how every creature and animal in GW just drops gold? Where does a wild bear get 100 gold coins from?

Care to explain how every creature and animal in WoW is capable of dropping magical weapons and armor? Where do they get them from?

Quote:

In wow you extract the hide / teeth / carcass of the bear and sell that to a merchant to make money. Seems a lot more like a real adventure to me.

Uh... that's your definition of a real adventure? Professions in WoW are my definition of a real job.

I can't help but wonder if you play WoW at all.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:03 - 253

There's got to me more than gameplay and graphics that draw people to one or the other.

Everquest 2 has virtually identical gameplay to WoW, except...

EQ2 has player housing.
Tradeskilling in EQ2 is a whole subsystem of gameplay elements. Some people only tradeskill because of how much you can do.
EQ2 has a more advanced graphics engine.
EQ2 has more combat options, such as the ability to control enemies and their skillbars, 2 complete class trees each with 3-4 paths, Heroic Opportunities, Miracles, and more.
Voice acting for almost every line of dialogue in the game.
Changing content galore. The game's content is constantly being added to or updated. Almost every month a huge patch is done that can add a new area or new game feature.
24 professions. Not including tradeskilling. There are probably a dozen of those.

If I took the time I could go on for a while.

I think the reason why people prefer a particular game is far more than what the game has in it and how it looks.
Popularity? Accessibility? Lore? Who the developer is? Or maybe it plays just how you like it. Probably a lot of factors involved. I knew a number of people in WoW, whom when I asked if they played EQ2, they said no only because Sony made it.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 03:04 - 254

No i dont play wow at all lol. I played for a month then moved onto lotro.

No one here seems to be bothered about lotro though which is just perfect in everysingle way.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 03:11 - 255

I played EQ2 before GW, and... well, it's a good game, it just never grabbed me. There were all these little annoyances, like item wear, or waiting in line for a boss to respawn, or the random people milling around when I was trying to quest... Also I really like the tactical aspect of GW combat, which is completely missing in EQ2 combat. Not at all a bad game, but not my cup of tea.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:13 - 256

I enjoyed EQ2, but when I found out about WoW, I switched to that, but then when I found out about GW I switched again. I simply found something I enjoyed more than the previous two. There are probably a lot of nuances to whether or not we like a game.
Also what we played before a game, is probably a crucial factor as well. My time spent in WoW did not last as long as EQ2, only because I was growing bored with the type of game they both were when I switched to WoW.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 03:16 - 257

How do you think GW2 persistant world is going to work? There is going to be boss camping a plenty. If everyone loves the instanced play so much in GW, then why are Anet changing it? Obviously because persistant world is better.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 03:20 - 258

Because persistent worlds improve social interaction, and social interaction is what keeps people hooked to a MMO.

Personally I like that GW is instanced, but then I'm not big on social interaction.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:22 - 259

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

How do you think GW2 persistant world is going to work? There is going to be boss camping a plenty. If everyone loves the instanced play so much in GW, then why are Anet changing it? Obviously because persistant world is better.

GW2 is going to have both. Persistent areas will be new to the series, but instanced areas are still going to be crucial. Any information about persistent world bosses was that they'd be designed for everyone to fight together, such as the big dragon example they gave.
Bosses needed for specific quests or story arcs, will probably still be in instanced areas.
I wouldn't be surprised to find that persistent world zones are going to function as outposts and hubs to instanced zones. Basically giant outposts where we can fight monsters now.

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 03:29 - 260

Wow and Lotro have instanced areas too. Although im not too keen on playing with other people in GW, as I mentioned before its just sooo amazing how much better it works in lotro. Your doing a quest, you see people, you join up. And you dont get noobs because the game is balanced well enough for everyone to be able to play well.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:32 - 261

I've played a number of mmorpgs that have instanced areas as well. Only they are instanced because the area is meant to be a specific challenge.
In GW the instancing was meant to allow elements such as NPCs that group with you, puzzle pieces and story telling that could occur at a personal level.
One thing I hated in EQ2 was that there were some instanced areas in which monsters still respawned. I have no idea why they would do that. It's annoying and not taking advantage of the immersive potential of an instanced zone. Pop....raWr. I hate respawns.

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:50 - 262

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

That's part and parcel of the "console graphics" style. I think one must have grown up with console games to like it. I certainly don't.

Oh, but I have. My first console was the Atari 2600, and played them all through PS2/GC days, simply deciding not to invest in a Wii or PS3.

I dont like the color set as applied in WoW. The colors aim more towards oversaturation to my eye than they do lean towards console-based colors, which are simply pure and bright, early on lacking very subtle differentiation. The color choice in WoW would better fit another genre, imho, with its purples and greens and odd color choices. Its subjective, like I say. Some (many obviously) love it. I really dislike it. Its not a knock on WoW by any means either - just sharing why I couldnt even get anywhere near it.

I do see your point though. WoW certainly aimed for non-realistic and succeeded, but just chose an odd palette.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:55 - 263

I wonder how long it'll be before online rpgs have graphics like this. lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b37u4ZIOCsI&feature=user

Chronos the Defiler

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

W/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:58 - 264

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redfeather1975

I wonder how long it'll be before online rpgs have graphics like this. lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b37u4ZIOCsI&feature=user

When everyone and their grandma has a super-computer from space...then my friend, that is when :P

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

13 Mar 2008 at 03:58 - 265

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redfeather1975

I wonder how long it'll be before online rpgs have graphics like this. lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b37u4ZIOCsI&feature=user

I SAID ping your skills!! *boom*

bhavv

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 03:59 - 266

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhavv

Most people dont have uber high end machines. Believe if or not there are still millions of people out there with a Gefore 5200, or even just a Geforce 2. These people might want to play a good game, and pick up WoW because it *is* a good game and it will run on their PC.

By todays standards, the graphics in GW are also amazingly shitty if compared to current modern games. Take LOTRO for example:

So erm, why does anyone still play GW and WoW then if they have *Shitty* graphics in comparison?

Maybe it is largely due to the fact that they are still great games? Just last week I found myself playing through Civilization 1 + 2 and Alpha Centauri again because I love the clasic Sid Meier games. Yes I do have Civ 4 too, but I wanted to go back and play the great older ones.

You know there are still plenty of people out there that also still play Space Invaders and Pong, particularly the people that grew up on those games.

- P.S. I only said the graphics in Guildwars are shitty to exemplify that graphics =/= a good game.

I would rank the current MMO's that I have played as follows:

LOTRO > Maple Story > WoW > GW.

Yes GW comes last. It is hardly anywhere near as fun or enjoyable as the other ones, particularly playing with other people. In LOTRO and WoW, you can literally add anone to your party of the required level and the skills that they have and the enemies will be balanced enough to complete whatever mission you are attempting.

'Noob Pugs and useless henchmen' are only a negative feature associated with GW. Both LOTRO and WoW are far more enjoyable in both solo and party play. And I speak entirely for PVE not PVP.

Quote for chronos since he cant be bothered to look back a few pages.

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:06 - 267

Some nice lighting effects, but they are subtle. LOTRO doesnt look that much better than Guild Wars to me, at least in those screens presented. Sure I can see the difference, but it isnt game breaking to me. The one thing I do see (at least implied) is the one thing I wanted in GW for ages, and that was weather and time of day effects. Kind of wondering about the actual character and creature models, but I can have a look for myself, as it strays off topic.

Back on topic, GW2 will likely raise the bar graphically to aim for around the level of LOTRO is my guess. Its an issue though, as a good many would need a new system, or at the very least more RAM and a much better video card.

Cacheelma

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Ascalon Union

Me/Mo

13 Mar 2008 at 04:09 - 268

Quote:

Originally Posted by Made In Ascalon

The majority of killing which goes on in WoW is either pointless grind or rewarded with mediocre items which are outlived very quickly.

Are you sure you're talking about WoW here, and not GW?

Mediocre item drops are GW's signature. Plain and simple.

Oh wait, yeah, you're talking about WoW clearly, as WoW's items can be "outlived" after some time while GW's items are mediocre right from the moment they drop.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:11 - 269

Yeah, there is far less item variety and smaller scaling in GW.
I rarely used any drops I got. Usually bought my gear.

Aera Lure

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

In Baltar's head

Bring Out Your Dead [BOYD], former officer [LBS]

Mo/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:12 - 270

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redfeather1975

Yeah, there is far less item variety and smaller scaling in GW.
I rarely used any drops I got. Usually bought my gear.

Its a problem that disappointed me as well, due of course to the low level cap.

Chronos the Defiler

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

W/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:12 - 271

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aera Lure

Some nice lighting effects, but they are subtle. LOTRO doesnt look that much better than Guild Wars to me, at least in those screens presented. Sure I can see the difference, but it isnt game breaking to me. The one thing I do see (at least implied) is the one thing I wanted in GW for ages, and that was weather and time of day effects. Kind of wondering about the actual character and creature models, but I can have a look for myself, as it strays off topic.

Back on topic, GW2 will likely raise the bar graphically to aim for around the level of LOTRO is my guess. Its an issue though, as a good many would need a new system, or at the very least more RAM and a much better video card.

Well doesn't Guild Wars use its own engine? Right now even max settings in GW can be run on moderately old systems fine. It is well built for a large demographic of PC owners...not as much as WoW because it basically can be ran off of an integrated graphics card.

If Anet continues the trend and improves the engine, they can squeeze out better performance with much better looking graphics.

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:14 - 272

In games where there was a ton of variety and scaling it was no fun either.
I'd feel like my new gear was junk after a few levels.
I'd break my back trying to get some good gear and after a few levels see common stuff with better stats.
Eventually I decided it wasn't worth trying to get quality gear until I reached the endgame.
I think a game needs to find the sweet spot!

Redfeather1975

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2006

Apartment#306

Rhedd Asylum

Me/

13 Mar 2008 at 04:18 - 273

I would like it if GW2 had a weather system. Even if just for screenshots. XD

Inde

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2004

13 Mar 2008 at 04:41 - 274

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

No, it does not use typical PC-style graphics, it uses typical console-style graphics, as seen in pretty much every console game except for the most recent generation of games for the PS3 and XBox360, and for the same reason: until the most recent generation consoles had extremely weak hardware, and made a virtue out of their inability to pull off semi-realistic graphics.
The cheery color scheme, complete lack of detail, small texture size, low polygon count, and omnidirectional lighting, are not due to a stylistic statement, they're due to technological constraints.

Numa, I was referring specificially and only to MMO's right here. And as Jetdoc pointed out I liked it because it was different, period. I'm just sticking to one genre when I speak of the graphics. I remember very vigorous debates on how WoW wouldn't compete because of the graphic style and because of the outrageous colors they were using in a cartoonish setting in the beginning. I thought the fact that an MMO was "going against the grain" in this regard to looks was what was intriguing. I'm sure with their large amount of staff and well... it's blizzard, they very well could have made an engine capable of realistic graphics. They have the money and the resources.

You either like it, or you don't like the look I've found. We all play games for different reasons and for different purposes. Same debate can be made for those who play for rewards, exploration, highest levels, fastest times... etc. Some of the most addictive games I play have terrible graphics, but if you're like others and want to be "immersed" then certainly gravitate towards games that appear realistic.

Made In Ascalon

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

None

Rt/

13 Mar 2008 at 05:00 - 275

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

Are you sure you're talking about WoW here, and not GW?

Mediocre item drops are GW's signature. Plain and simple.

Oh wait, yeah, you're talking about WoW clearly, as WoW's items can be "outlived" after some time while GW's items are mediocre right from the moment they drop.

uh... I'm well aware that mediocre items drop all the time in GW too. What you are unaware of is that I was responding to someone's assumption that GW is worse because of mediocre drops when they're both equally mediocre. At least mediocre items in Guild Wars can be put to some use on heroes.

Cacheelma

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Ascalon Union

Me/Mo

13 Mar 2008 at 05:06 - 276

Quote:

Originally Posted by Made In Ascalon

uh... I'm well aware that mediocre items drop all the time in GW too. What you are unaware of is that I was responding to someone's assumption that GW is worse because of mediocre drops when they're both equally mediocre. At least mediocre items in Guild Wars can be put to some use on heroes.

And mediocre drops in WoW (namely grey weapons/armors) can be sold to vendor for a hefty amount of gold. Whenever you get it.

Your point being?

How many heroes do you have? Is it enough to substitute for the pointless drops you always get (and can't really be sold for much gold) in GW?

Made In Ascalon

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2006

None

Rt/

13 Mar 2008 at 05:11 - 277

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cacheelma

And mediocre drops in WoW (namely grey weapons/armors) can be sold to vendor for a hefty amount of gold. Whenever you get it.

Your point being?

How many heroes do you have? Is it enough to substitute for the pointless drops you always get (and can't really be sold for much gold) in GW?

Stop fvcking talking about it, jesus christ. you're taking my statement out of context; I wasn't addressing you, and I don't even disagree with you, so what the hell is your point?

Bryant Again

Hall Hero

Join Date: Feb 2006

13 Mar 2008 at 05:19 - 278

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius

Yes, really. And that's an in-game screenshot, not a concept rendering, and the image hasn't been downscaled (which increases perceived detail). Note the fur trimmings, the rivets, and the patterning on the leather of the rangers armor. And that the cloth has texture.

What sucks is you'll only see that high-level detail when you're in an instance. The textures get really numbed down and nasty in outposts, which is where you see people the most.

To sum it up, all we're doing is picking out the best/worst armor bits and pieces. You could point terrible pieces of armor in each game (seen Dwarven armor in GW?) and still just end up at a standstill. Both games have awesome and detailed sets of armor, let's end it at that.

And nitpick all you want about the graphics, it ain't gonna be stopping WoW anytime soon. The less graphics intense it becomes, the more accessible it gets, which has always been a vital selling point in Blizzard's games.

Cacheelma

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

The Ascalon Union

Me/Mo

13 Mar 2008 at 05:25 - 279

I agree. Bashing WoW's graphic only proves that for AT LEAST 10 millions of people, graphic doesn't really matter.

Numa Pompilius

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: May 2005

At an Insit.. Intis... a house.

Live Forever Or Die Trying [GLHF]

W/Me

13 Mar 2008 at 09:31 - 280

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryant Again

What sucks is you'll only see that high-level detail when you're in an instance.

By default, yes. It's a bit of a mystery to me why ANet doesn't supply that as an in-game switch; enabling full detail in-town doesn't seem to put much strain on the computer or graphics card.

Quote:

Both games have awesome and detailed sets of armor, let's end it at that.

I've yet to see any armor sets from WoW as detailed as the worst GW armors (e.g. prophecies Ranger armors).

Quote:

The less graphics intense it becomes, the more accessible it gets, which has always been a vital selling point in Blizzard's games.

And that is my point. WoW's shitty graphics is by design, because the game is intended to run on basically anything sold the last ten years. The weak graphics of WoW are due to it being designed for the lowest common denominator.

EDIT: Cacheelma, you just made a "10 million flies can't be wrong" argument. Just wanted to point that out.