PC game downloads have grown incredibly fast.
PC game downloads have grown incredibly fast.
It’s the sole instance I’ve considered, yet every texture detail reminds me of when ID introduced the “ultra quality” texture update for Doom 3. It simply pushed uncompressed images to the graphics card—essentially like comparing a PNG to a BMP file. Texture compression could have slowed performance then, but now it’s a routine capability that should be effortless. Likewise, I didn’t really accept the claim Titanfall required uncompressed sound. While compressed audio isn’t completely free, many approaches are well known and should be fine-tuned for live use. In FFXIII’s situation, it felt like delivering Blu-Ray files directly. I still laugh at how FFVII could fit on a single disk without FMVs.
The Witcher 3 appears visually impressive, though I’m uncertain it’s solely due to its texture resolution. In TW3’s case, the standout factors seem to be the shader effects, the dense detail of foliage models, and strong artistic direction. The character textures—especially Geralt’s and the main cast—are typically very high quality. Zooming into random wall surfaces rarely breaks the immersion; they’re just average rather than exceptional.
Absolutely, you're right. Many developers seem to focus on visual tricks rather than true immersion. It's frustrating when games prioritize flashy graphics over meaningful storytelling or sound. I've noticed how much better the audio used to be in older titles like Call of Duty 1 and 2, compared to today's often disappointing soundtracks. Immersion isn't just about what you see—it's also about the narrative and characters. When studios like Ubisoft focus too much on visuals without substance, it really breaks the experience.
I frequently question whether game publishers are rational; it seems they push developers to take extreme actions. Still, games feel excessively heavy on me. I’d prefer more polished visuals or realistic physics instead of poor textures, since the core experience lies in gameplay.
Most people don’t need high-quality files to enjoy audio, especially for something like this. It’s not worth the huge jump in storage space. <5% of players have to upgrade just to listen properly, and it doesn’t justify the extra effort. FFXIII was interesting because it ran at 720p—likely a direct port—and the videos were large even without top quality. They also used .wmp files.
It's not related to audio clarity; we're focusing on minimizing processing steps.