how do modders make the graphics look better then original games graphics?

modded games like gta4 and crysis look alot better than the the graphics the devs develop. but how do modders do it?

Improving textures and lighting is generally the way that happens. You'll see downloads for hi-res/HD texture packs for many titles out there...and that makes the biggest difference. But lighting effects can also make a nice difference as well...some games that benefit from SSAO where it wasn't supported at launch, etc.

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.

It isn't always about "making it look better" either. Sometimes it's about making it look different in some way. Good example:http://bit.ly/onrGtv

modify shader files if available in the install?

GTA IV

Oblivion

Stuff like this is done by making custom scripts and .dll files and confiqs to go above and beyond what the normal game engine was designed to do. Developers don't put the very best stuff in because A) consoles can't render a lot of this and B) not everyone can run this type of thing on PC.

Modders do it because they have fun modding and they can give those of us who have the hardware to spare something to drool over

modded games like gta4 and crysis look alot better than the the graphics the devs develop. but how do modders do it?

TheShadowLord07

This

Improving textures and lighting is generally the way that happens. You'll see downloads for hi-res/HD texture packs for many titles out there...and that makes the biggest difference. But lighting effects can also make a nice difference as well...some games that benefit from SSAO where it wasn't supported at launch, etc.kursah

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.ChubbyGuy40

is the answer to your question ... some of the best examples are Crysis ( like you mentioned ) and Oblivion (I've seen some damn good mods about this game) ...

GTA IV

wis3boi

The pic hurts my eye. There is no visual balance in here.

The pic hurts my eye. There is no visual balance in here.

s_emi_xxxxx

That's what happens when you use the ENB mods. It's there or it's not, you can't tell it where to be or not be. You can adjust values but that's about it.

Improving textures and lighting is generally the way that happens. You'll see downloads for hi-res/HD texture packs for many titles out there...and that makes the biggest difference. But lighting effects can also make a nice difference as well...some games that benefit from SSAO where it wasn't supported at launch, etc.

kursah

Textures don't make the biggest difference, it's the lighting and shading. Good examples are GTA 4 and Crysis, all you need is ENB for GTA and a good ToD/config mod for Crysis

[QUOTE="kursah"]

Improving textures and lighting is generally the way that happens. You'll see downloads for hi-res/HD texture packs for many titles out there...and that makes the biggest difference. But lighting effects can also make a nice difference as well...some games that benefit from SSAO where it wasn't supported at launch, etc.

FatSlasH

Textures don't make the biggest difference, it's the lighting and shading. Good examples are GTA 4 and Crysis, all you need is ENB for GTA and a good ToD/config mod for Crysis

It all depends on what you prefer. If you look at GTA IV, the ENB series mod gives it a real nice look, but it's the HD texture packs that really push it over the edge of reality.

I prefer higher quality textures/models over lighting effects any day (then again I'm a little more old school than some).

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.

ChubbyGuy40

This. Devs optimise so it runs well and looks ok and decent. Modders add everything they can and don't care about performance most times

I like mods but sometimes it can be a pain. Getting all my Oblivion mods to work was a huge pain. Here are some screenshots I took myself. ]RyviusARC

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.

ChubbyGuy40

But everynow and then the modders get it looking better and performing better.

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't some of the Stalker Complete mods fall under this category?

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.

Lach0121

But everynow and then the modders get it looking better and performing better.

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't some of the Stalker Complete mods fall under this category?

Developers = limit and optimize around a targeted system spec.

Modders = Add everything you can and go the highest res you can. To hell with system specs.

ChubbyGuy40

I was wondering the same exact same thing the other day :P.

is it just me or those oblivion mods are just perv mods? I mean they look great but isnt there a way to get the non-perv version? im not really interested in having voluptous semi naked woman on ridiculous and stupid looking armors all around the world. but I do agree its a great improvement in charater models...they are all so ugly...and if there was only one that would fix the awful voice acting :lol:lightleggy

[QUOTE="lightleggy"]is it just me or those oblivion mods are just perv mods? I mean they look great but isnt there a way to get the non-perv version? im not really interested in having voluptous semi naked woman on ridiculous and stupid looking armors all around the world. but I do agree its a great improvement in charater models...they are all so ugly...and if there was only one that would fix the awful voice acting :lol:Freak2121GTAF

[QUOTE="Freak2121GTAF"]

[QUOTE="lightleggy"]is it just me or those oblivion mods are just perv mods? I mean they look great but isnt there a way to get the non-perv version? im not really interested in having voluptous semi naked woman on ridiculous and stupid looking armors all around the world. but I do agree its a great improvement in charater models...they are all so ugly...and if there was only one that would fix the awful voice acting :lol:lightleggy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI7-YRAJnIk

OT: They have teh talent.

Modders have the luxury of programming for computers that are more powerful then the ones the game was orignally designed for. See the Oblivion mods, they require 1GB of VRAM, that kind of memory was unheard of at the time Oblivion came out, at that time the GPUs that were out only had a maximum of 512MB of VRAM.

Now 1GB, even 2GB is pretty much standard. Only one card has 3GB of VRAM per GPU.

Modders also have unlimited time to release their mods. Game developers can only spend so much time on making good graphics before they need to release the game.

The pic hurts my eye.s_emi_xxxxx