World of Warcraft's graphics engine to be upgraded incrementally
by Samuel Axon 
Aug 28th 2008 at 7:30PM
Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, News items
In the wake of a series of comments by Blizzard reps hinting at an eventual overhaul of World of Warcraft's graphics engine, Worldofwar.net contacted Lead Producer J. Allen Brack for clarification. Brack responded by describing specific changes to the engine that will be in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, and then by making a pretty major revelation about the nature of the overhaul.
According to Brack, Blizzard will be making the changes bit-by-bit rather than all at once. "We're taking an iterative, organic approach to graphics upgrades," he said, "going feature by feature as opposed to thinking in terms of an overall new graphics engine."
As for the WotLK changes: those will include a new shadow engine, some new shaders for "even better looking terrain, as well as cool ice effects," and an increased view distance to make those expansive Northrend wastelands look, well ... expansive. He also noted that new water effects will be coming in "a future content update or expansion."
[Via WoW Insider]
According to Brack, Blizzard will be making the changes bit-by-bit rather than all at once. "We're taking an iterative, organic approach to graphics upgrades," he said, "going feature by feature as opposed to thinking in terms of an overall new graphics engine."
As for the WotLK changes: those will include a new shadow engine, some new shaders for "even better looking terrain, as well as cool ice effects," and an increased view distance to make those expansive Northrend wastelands look, well ... expansive. He also noted that new water effects will be coming in "a future content update or expansion."
[Via WoW Insider]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Thrush said on 4:07PM 9-03-2008
I'm sure I'll get ripped for this, but I hope they dont increase the minimum requirements. I firmly believe one of the reasons this game is so popular is that you dont need a $600 video card to play. I play on a laptop with all the special effects down to zero just to get decent framerate. If things get more demanding I'd have to quit.
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