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Borderlands with new graphics

Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date

Borderlands, the shooter with the Mad Max ambient, will be coming with Cel-Shading graphics instead of the gloomy visualization that has been seen on the screenshots up to now.
Borderlands: The new Cel-Shading graphics
 
Borderlands: The new Cel-Shading graphics [Source: view picture gallery]
Since the developer studios and the publisher keep a tight lip about Borderlands, there aren't many details know about the Unreal Engine based action game which is supposed to be released in 2009. That's what we know: Borderlands uses a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3 and some features of DirectX 10 (like Virtual Texture Management and Geometry Shader). Lighting and shadows are supposed to benefit a lot from that. Furthermore it seems like the game will support GPU accelerated Physx.

New style: Cel-Shading
Now the developers took a bold step in matters of the graphics: Instead of the realistic and dark look of the Unreal Engine the game will be realized with Cel-Shading. This rather looks like Prince of Persia and not like the comic style of XIII. Nevertheless the characters appear to be a little overdone. Take a look at our comparison below to judge for yourself.

Click to select the Borderlands graphics


Unfortunately the Cel-Shading games Prince of Persia and XIII weren't very successful: XIII never got a sequel and apparently Prince of Persia wasn't selling very well although both games were quite good in matters of gameplay. Are Cel-Shading graphics bad for the commercial success for a game? What do you think of the new look? Use the comments to give your opinion.

Update June 9, 2009:
At the E3 new screenshots were presented. They show in-game scenes from the Ego perspective and characters you will meet in the game and partly control yourself. The new pictures can be found in our gallery.

Furthermore developer Gearbox revealed to shacknews.com that Borderlands will be released in October 2009. The open world shooter was originally planned for 2008 but Take Two postponed the release to 2009.





Picture gallery  (enlarge to view source)

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Author: Thilo Bayer (Jun 09, 2009)


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Comments (6)

Read all comments here!
connos Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date
Senior Member
09.06.2009 14:27
For me it looks really nice and i am really looking forward for this game. Not repetitive game play thou is the key for me in order to buy it .
Ar.Pi Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date
Senior Member
20.04.2009 22:35
Looks nice.
I guess it's a matter of taste eventually, but i agree with zizou, gameplay and story is much more important. I didn't play the new PoP because I wasn't interested in the franchise anymore. I think it's too many sequels as it is.

I definitely need to see some gameplay footage to see which art direction would be preferable to me. This small screenshot (which looks a bit like concept) is too little.
chizow Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date
Senior Member
20.04.2009 19:21
I don't particularly care for the art direction in the screens in Borderlands, but the Cel Shading in Prince of Persia looked great. Overall excellent visuals and art direction in PoP, I'm sure a major reason it didn't sell well was because it was heavily pirated with no DRM whatsoever. One thing about Cel Shading that is important to note over traditional rendering, is it cuts down on aliasing significantly for any cel shaded objects. I ran PoP with 4 xTrMSAA, but it was only really necessary for non-cel shaded objects and transparencies. All the main characters and forefront objects didn't need AA nearly as much because of the cel shaded borders.
harshahorizon Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date
Senior Member
20.04.2009 17:41
i kind of like this look because there should be new ways to visuallys graphic .
connos Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Update E3 screenshots + release date
Senior Member
20.04.2009 15:05
For me the new look its awesome!!
Zidane Re: Borderlands now with Cel-Shading graphics - Fl...
Member
20.04.2009 13:52
Cel-shading has nothing to do with the sales of game, in terms of it not being sold very well that is. Look at Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Why did it sell well? Because it's a Zelda game. Why didn't Okami sell well? Because it's an under appreciated gem. Why didn't Afro Samurai sell well? Because it was a mediocre game. Why didn't Prince of Persia sell well? That I don't know, but it might surpass the 1 million mark eventually, like Mirror's Edge and Dead Space. I bought the PC-version of Prince of Persia not so long ago, why? Because I love the game's art style. Seriously, if PoP had looked like the old ones, I might not have bought it.

Borderlands' style appeals to me now, it was the earlier style I didn't like that caused my lack of interest in the game, but now I'm looking forward to it. Cel-shading doesn't hold back the sales of a game, it only improves them. Why a certain game doesn't sell? I don't know, Crysis looked amazing, yet it sold poorly at its release. Why? Because it needed a PC from outer space in order to run it at max settings. What I'm trying to make clear here is the fact that the sales of a game don't depend that much on the art style of the game.

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