Object Shadows - Not Included Options

[Neela]

Well the main forums were all ablaze tonight over object shadows apparently are not included. For my part I think the game looks great. I played Morrowind for years before I even realized that I had the shadow option turned off. Most games that have shadows I usually turn off the option anyway.

I think shadows do add to what I call "atmosphere" games, like Thief games. Characters cast nice soft shadows.. that is enough for me. For every object to cast a shadow would have been really tough for any GPU to handle in real time. This I know from the rendered pictures I create what a big difference in processing time for pictures with shadows vs. without.

After reading many of the threads in the main forums, I guess I never really even expected object shadows in the first place. Which is why I don't feel too upset with this news.

Can anyone tell me why this is such a big deal for alot of people? Or is it simply that we are to that point where anything and everything we hear about Oblivion will sound negative compared to our hype and expectation for it?

[Darkwing]

To be honest, atmospheric shadows are applied using well placed lights not well placed objects. Sure a crate standing in the desert at midday with no shadow might look a little odd, but place that crate in a room with chandeliers (area lights) torches (spot lighting) etc etc and the crate-sans-shadow issue becomes obselete.

Having objects with no shadow is absolutely not an issue. It beggars belief why this has started such a storm.

[Dreadlord7]

I have never been to concerned with shadows for any RPG I have played, sure it may look nice. But I don't think I ever sat down and looked around saying "Wow, those shadows are exquisite." At least it never has had any influence on whether or not I bought a game. There are a lot of other things to be excited about. Why focus so much on the negative aspects of a game, if that is all we did then we wouldn't want to play any game.