Wait, are you referring to the aliasing? Seriously? I didn't even notice that because it was a total give-in. I thought you were actually referring to some artifacting, not aliasing.
I'm not sure if you were aware, but anti-aliasing is extremely resource intensive. For the most part, the only console games that are usually able to afford this luxary are linear, simple-graphics shooters like a Call of Duty which almost never dip below 60 FPS to begin with. At least half the games on the market cannot afford anti-aliasing.
The fact that this is what you were referring to makes your criticism go from 10% valid to about 0.1%. This isn't the fault of the engine programmers, it's the unavoidable fault of building a massive game in 2013 on hardware from 2005. The idea that they've managed to create such a large world with graphics this decent on hardware that ancient is something to be marvelled at if anything. Really, perhaps that game design course you're taking will do you good in your quest for technological knowledge when you can't even identify something as trivial as aliasing, and then procede to make such a fuss over it.
Are you kidding me? I know exactly what anti-aliasing is, and I know how resource intensive it is. Many console games don't even have it.
Again, what I'm referring to is GTA V's lack of a smoothing filter (at least in the Xbox 360 version). It's much less resource intensive. My laptop can run smoothing filters on emulators no problem, and my laptop is pretty bog standard.
Anti-aliasing literally cleans up the edges of models/sprites in an image. With anti-aliasing, the models retain sharpness, without becoming jagged.
Smoothing (something I'm saying GTA V should have) is simply putting a filter over the image that makes everything blend together better. It's like an illusion, rather than literally making the images sharper. It sacrifices extra sharpness for smoother lines, even if the overall picture will look a bit blurrier. Many games utilise this to prevent the jagged lines that I'm seeing in GTA V (you may not be able to see it, because of differences in eyesight, and maybe I am the only person to speak up about it so far, but it's still a valid complaint, because smoothing is in fact, missing, and if it can effect me, then it can effect others).
And don't try to take a jab at me regarding my course in video games design. I've actually rendered images of simple models already in Blender, some using smoothing, others with anti-aliasing. I know exactly what I'm talking about.
Also, while GTA V's jagged images and models is a valid complaint, I never said it was the worst thing ever or anything. It was you who got upset and started throwing condescending comments at me over this. I would of dropped this subject after my first post if it wasn't for your unjustified, cocky attitude towards me. You may be a mod of this site, but the worst thing a mod can do is be a condescending asshole, over a video game of all things. On the other forum I'm on, we only had one mod for a while. He became a bit of an asshole, and people left the site because of his attitude. You represent this community. I'd hate to think visitors of this forum are seeing your lashes at me, and thinking "wow, this community must be full of condescending, presumptuous assholes", because my experience on this forum has been amazing so far and everyone has been well mannered for the most part, even in long debates. You're the only person I've had a problem with so far. Taking personal lashes at me over this is not making you look credible, especially when they relate to things like my college course, or calling me "self-racist" (which I know is meant to be another personal jab at me, but Irish people in general actually ARE really self-racist, and we constantly make fun of ourselves for it, meaning I really don't care if I am or not! So I'm not even going to counter your argument regarding Patrick, especially since you completely missed my point of criticism regarding him. A habit you've been practicing across this entire debate).
I am not going to continue this discussion any longer. You can form an opinion over me if you wish, think of me as "the next universal twat" of the site, whatever. I won't form an opinion over you, because I'm of the belief that you should never make rash judgments about people over your interactions with them on a forum. But over the course of this debate, you've been having a terrible attitude. I don't know if this kind of attitude is how you are every time you debate, or just in general, but I sincerely hope it isn't.
I will repeat - GTA V is not a bad game. It's very good (I used to think it was more mediocre but it's grown on me a little since yesterday. It won't grow on me much more though, I think, though it might), just lackluster considering the budget, development time, and hype it had. The game hasn't hooked me at all either. As Shokio put it in his video, if someone asked me to play another game with them, I'd do it instantly, where as with games that have hooked me, I'd have a humourous "JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES!" kind of reaction.
I've presented the EXACT same points to my classmates in college when discussing the game. They all bought the game themselves, day one. They were hyped. And most of them loved the game to death. Heck, two of them skipped college to play the thing, and stayed up late to play it. Yet even they can understand where I'm coming from, despite being in disagreement. Why would that be the case if my points are "terrible" and "invalid"? Also, I can assure you that none of them gave me the highly disrespectful attitude you've given me.
And another classmate of mine who picked up the game and was really hyped for it, actually found it a big disappointment, much like me. Heck, he was even going to record tons of footage of the game, as he is part of a group-run Youtube channel (which I might be joining myself). But he's had no motivation to do so. And he can't think of anything he'd enjoy recording or watching (luckily, another member of his channel loves the game, and is going to handle it). And he agrees with most of what I say about the game. Again, are these criticisms still "stupid" and "laughably invalid"?
This is the last post from me on this subject, because I can't motivate myself to debate with someone who's going to get overly personal (and therefore, off the topic of the debate) with me. It's fine if you think the game is a masterpiece, I never had a problem with that. I don't want to change your opinion on the game. I was just expressing mine, plain and simple. But getting personal, and trying to damage control (which I never did, I always provided a direct counter-perspective), and trying to say my points are invalid without even explaining why, is crossing the line of credibility. Hopefully we won't have a situation like this again. Because quite frankly, on the other forum I'm on, I developed personal relations with some people, both positive and negative. For now, I'd rather be a neutral member of this site. I don't want to be everyone's therapist again, I don't want people to try and "rival" me again, and I don't want to be part of discussions involving personal jabs over video games, like what you started here. I don't question your overall position as a mod over this one thing, just in case you get that impression. I merely hope that this isn't your general way of discussing with others, because that WILL leave a negative impression on guests and newcomers (me being the latter).
But yeah, I'll forget about all of those personal accusations about me this time, so I won't even ask for an apology. They never happened, as far as I'm concerned. And I won't bother continuing this discussion, or addressing the rest of your points in your previous post.
Hope we can have more pleasant interactions in the future.
EDIT: And I forgot to mention that I don't hold a grudge or anything over this. And interactions with you have been better outside of this topic.