Although the graphics in the trailer were initially underwhelming, I became almost immediately excited for what other possibilities that could mean: maybe advanced animations (I realized that wasn't the case later), physics (the shopping cart scene seems pretty good?) or something else besides just good frame-rate (which is already 60fps for many much better looking open world games). Now it could just be that they wanted to make the game safe, playable and smooth on as many PCs and consoles as possible at 1080p, 60fps or whatever. There's probably a lot of reasons for the graphics being what they are but one thing I am hoping is that the developers are making the game ready for virtual reality in a consumer friendly way with all the VR systems scheduled for the end of the year/beginning of next year. Thoughts? How important/exciting to you is VR for Fallout 4? I'm sure there will be mods for it, but I don't think it would be as good, easy or user friendly without some official support. I for one am really excited by that! Provided the rumours about the set character aren't true.

I don't see how they could create a game that's playable on both a standard screen and a virtual reality headset. I'm not a programmer of course but it seems to me that it would have to be an either/or situation. As such, it would be a bad marketing move to go with virtual reality at this point. Those systems aren't even on the market yet, and it remains to be seen how many people will really embrace them. I myself have no desire to go with a virtual reality set-up, I just don't want to be playing a game with any sort of uncomfortable and awkward head gear. Frankly, I really don't see them becoming all that popular myself. The hype surrounding those systems reminds me too much of 3D TV, which went nowhere fast. That technology is pretty much dead in the water these days.

No VR please, I have glasses, get motion sickness, and dislike incredibly dumb tech like 3D tv's and movies.

I think they started development of the game before Virtual reality became big, so i think it's unlikely. However it would be cool to use VR, perhaps TES 6 will be VR ready.

I don't see why not if it's plausible. If there's gambling in the game, it would be pretty cool to be actually looking at your cards and your competetors.

Can't speak of whether it was a consideration, but if they decided to go that route, I don't see why they couldn't tap John Carmack for ideas on how to make it work.

Besides development time and budget, I really don't see how a virtual reality version would affect the screened experience, there is definitely going to be just a standard screen version so I wouldn't worry about motion sickness, etc, also as far as I'm aware you don't need prescription glasses for Oculus Rift, it has an internal mechanism for that. My question was more about whether the time would be right as VR is so new, I didn't realize there were actually people who didn't want virtual reality AT ALL EVER. I mean this in a funny, no offense way: but what is wrong with you?! I mean virtual reality is like all your science fiction, fantasy, life dreams come true! If it works effectively that is. I can't imagine not being excited by the prospects.

Why in the world would they ask Carmac?? hahaha

https://imgur.com/a/kFqfZ#0

So there have been these images floating around (screencaps from the trailer) comparing the compressed youtube video to an uncompressed version. I think they look a little better than the trailer showed.

I think there are games that are going to look better but I think Bethesda focused more on what you can do in the world and not how it looks.

who cares id the graphics do not look super uber realistic

aslonng the content and gameplay are good i do not care if the graphics look skyrimish and stocky

people played fallout not because of its graphics , people played previous fallout games because they were great games

I find your theory wishful, but highly unlikely.

IMO the most probable reason for the graphics of the game not being as shiny as those of other recent games, is this:

Bethesda probably started working on Fallout 4 as soon as Skyrim was published.

At that point of time, Sony and Microsoft were still saying that they would make no new console until at least 2016, in case people have forgotten they were saying there will be a decade with 360/ps3 before a new generation comes out.

But in 2012 Nintendo did the move, and the others decided to follow, so by 2013, Ps4 and Xbox1 were announced, while Bethesda was working for 2 years already on Fallout 4 for the old consoles.

And because early on the new consoles weren't selling that much, Microsoft probably convniced Bethesda to not release the game on the old consoles, for the shake of selling new consoles, something that would benefit Sony too.

So basically Bethesda probably started working the game having in mind the old generation of consoles, and while many assets had already been done,in the middle of developemnt, they were asked to bring the game to the newer consoles.

I think that this is the most probable scenario regarding the graphics.

Yes, that makes a lot of sense. Probably explains the longer gap in game releases as well, although maybe ESO played a part in that. Still hoping they'll knock our socks off in other areas. But although I'm sure VR does offer significant challenges, modders can do it relatively quickly so I see no reason why they can't add some official support at launch or in a later patch. Most game studios are experimenting with VR and promising it for their games, would be really cool if Bethesda made a conscious effort to ensure it does not svck in VR.

Not going to chastise you on complaining way too early for now. But... virtual reality is not wide spread. It's doable, but it requires rewriting a chunk of the rendering system. The effort just isn't worth it, when only .5% of the market owns a fricken pair of goggles. This is coming from a Computer Science Major.

I don't think they are on good terms.

*Also, the game already has a first person camera, and adjustable field of view... I don't see anything stopping them from adding VR support to the engine ~but they would have to render the scene twice, potentially cutting the best frame rate in half. Perhaps [one assumes] they would optimize it, and/or cap the resolution when VR is enabled.

On the whole, I think that VR sends them bounding further towards the ultimate goal of all of their past work; closer, more realistic player substitution of the PC in the environment. I don't see why they would ever choose not to include it, unless they have significant engine limitations that make it very demanding to achieve.

Just imagine: Someday their game might look like this (and/or be done in full 360?VR).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1LYb2qRMuY

*AFAIK, this was done by one guy, as a hobby project.

No no no, all indie games I have seen for VR can be played with and without the headset. It's simply displaying the 1 rendering instead of both. Then just locking the looking and the aiming together again.

Probably because it's easier said than done? Especially when the engine is made with a crap load of people working on it?

Nausea is a problem that can bite them. But this is a triple A pro team we are talking about; (more than one).