The future of KSP2 graphics

[Dantheollie]

Quick little discussion here:

If in ~10+ years, KSP went from looking like this:

 

To looking like this: (Modded)

 

What do you think KSP2 will look like in 10+ years through modding and development?

Could we expect the graphical fidelity of, say, the KSP2 cinematic advertisements?

[Guest]

I think it's highly likely that stock KSP2 will eventually land pretty close to the cinematic in graphical fidelity. The part models and terrain from orbit already look very good, but we will see major improvements in all other areas and I have no reason to doubt that the rest of the game will hit that level over the course of EA.

They said they're taking HDRP into use; once they've done the work to get there, it'll be much easier to take all kinds of graphical bells and whistles into use. It'll be incremental, and in the short term I expect they'll be focusing more on performance than visuals. 

So I'm very optimistic about KSP2 visuals, they're the easiest thing to add and optimize last and then keep improving for years and years. It will look really good, even if they leave extra bling like dynamic weather, particle accretion, lightning storms, auroras, and what have you to modders!

[Dantheollie]

[snip]

Unlike some, I would prefer the conversation for this topic doesn't devolve into "KSP2 good / KSP2 bad". There are plenty of places in the KSP forum we can discuss that, and retread the same arguments, over and over, and over again

 

I think that in 10 years there will still be people modding KSP2, even if official support for it would end. Graphical fidelity increased tremendously in the last 10 years, so who knows what we will see in 2033!

It would take KSP2 not getting any updates forever starting NOW, or modding as a practice totally dying out for KSP2 to not see a graphical enhancement mod in the near future

Edited April 3, 2023 by Vanamonde

[Bej Kerman]

3 hours ago, Dantheollie said:

Quick little discussion here:

If in ~10+ years, KSP went from looking like this:

 

To looking like this: (Modded)

I think that is a dishonest comparison. The bottom screenshot had nothing to do with Squad. That's unofficial, that's modded. That's not Fur Elise, that's a remix done by someone other than Mozart.

The graphics actually went from this:

To this:

Personally, I don't think that's very impressive for 3 years, forget a decade. They did some improvement with terrain contours and water, but look at the atmosphere. It looks washed out (that's besides the fact it was originally blindingly bright, which is worse depending on what hurts your eyes more - RIP the mod that fixed this). But overall the graphics were stuck in 2010.

[Dantheollie]

This discussion covers the topic of KSP2 Graphical fidelity in 10 years, modded and un-modded. It's not so much about what Vanilla KSP2 will look like, but what KSP2 can look like. If modders were able to build upon KSP1's code to produce the leap in graphical fidelity I presented with the screenshot examples, then what may the modding community do with KSP2's code, 10 years in the future?

I apologize if the last line in my introductory topic post did not make that sentiment clear

[Starhawk]

Several off-topic remarks have been removed.

The topic of this thread is the future of KSP2 graphics rather than the past of KSP1 graphics.  Please keep your remarks on topic.

Thank you for your understanding,
Forum Moderation Team

[RocketRockington]

I don't think there will be as much of a difference between current KSP2 and future KSP2 modded as there is between past KSP1 and current modded KSP1.

The KSP1 modding community probably put in 2 to 3 orders of magnitude of time building mods than went into the base game.  That's unlikely to happen with KSP 2 for several reasons.

1. The base game should have 10 times more labor invested in it than KSP1, and it's unlikely to attract a modding community 10 times as large 

2. KSP2 has non of the indie zeitgeist or espirit d'corps that KSP1 had.  The current modding community released a letter politely saying they're in a wait and see mode, and future modders are less likely to want to get involved with a very commercial Take2 franchise vs an indie darling 

3. KSP2 isn't unique on the marketplace like KSP1 was.  KSP1 itself is a competitor for modding attention.

Also, personally, if I was a modder, I'd be a little annoyed with the sentiment I've often seen that there's an expectation of mods. Being heavily modded isn't a right that games get just for being moddable, they earn it by building a good community and being popular.  

This may be another post that gets removed, but comparing past KSP1 and sentiment about it does directly affect expectations people should have of future mod development for KSP2.

Edited April 4, 2023 by RocketRockington

[Lyneira]

I'm hopeful for this, so assuming for now that KSP2 will have a long life ahead of it with both official support and a lively modding scene, I do think we'll see some graphical improvements to several areas like those of KSP1. But we also have to be mindful that KSP1's graphics were so barebones that modding improvements gave comparatively enormous improvements in fidelity by improving the atmosphere and water (scatterer), skybox and rocket plumes. And of course mods to give stock parts better looking make-overs, or just adding new, better-looking parts.

With KSP2, the baseline for quality is going to be set much higher. A better atmosphere, water, skybox and rocket plumes than KSP1 are already built in. Parts have much more detailed textures, and modded parts will need to be at the same quality level and be made with the paintjob system in mind. New planets and stars will need to have their own dynamically adjusting music to feel unique and up to par with the stock planets.

Efforts to improve any of these with mods won't look like the night and day difference that they did with KSP1. That's not to say they won't be worthwhile if and when they happen - far from it! But I do think with the raised quality bar we'll be seeing a bit less mods in this area.

13 hours ago, Periple said:

So I'm very optimistic about KSP2 visuals, they're the easiest thing to add and optimize last and then keep improving for years and years. It will look really good, even if they leave extra bling like dynamic weather, particle accretion, lightning storms, auroras, and what have you to modders!

The ones mentioned here, I am looking forward to seeing mods for though!

[Wheehaw Kerman]

I played KSP1 stock all the way to the end.  So long as the graphics are acceptable, there’s a lot more that matters to me: the game’s Cartoony Verisimilitude(tm), variety of parts (I really hope we get a massive assortment of historical parts - I like Soviet style builds), working decouplers, good gameplay in Science and Exploration modes, life support… nice graphics are nice to have but not critical.

[Ferio]

Graphics wise KSP2 could improve a lot by todays standards. For a 2023 game the graphics are waaay behind to what's possible today.  In a game like this I think it's one of the most important aspects as you can get so many visually awesome views, who wouldn't just wait to lay back and enjoy the views for a bit.. but if the graphics aren't up for that.. :-/ 

Graphics now should be at cinematic level, current graphics are years behind.

 

If the original developers can't do this, I sure hope the modders are able to. They did a great job with KSP1!

Edited April 5, 2023 by Ferio

[Dakitess]

I'm very very very pessimistic regarding the graphics potential of Vanilla KSP2. We are miles away from the 2019 cinematic trailer, which is OK to not get 100% of course, but we are, like, 5-10% at most of we've seen. I've been hopping for 25-35% and I don't think it will get that good in a decade of Vanilla dev. Apart from performances and bugs, it's my main disappointment, it really does not look good by any standard, except... KSP Standard, actually, haha. This is why people seems to be okay with it, used to Vanilla (?) KSP1, and it does not push the dev and artist to offer something up to date.

Now, mods : quite hard to guess. It's day and night when it comes to KSP1. Modders really unlock the potential of KSP1 and managed to offer something more beautiful than a "from scratch Pro Dev 2023 KSP2" which really is a shame. So they could be capable of miracle, really, but not by the same margin if the basis of KSP2 is completely out-dated. Future releases might help with HDRP and all the hot subjects that I don't know about, but I frankly doubt.

Anyway, they will probably be able to offer some good enhancement that will help the game to look like a decent 2020+ game, in about 2-3 years, finger crossed and thanks in advance, modders !

Edited April 5, 2023 by Dakitess

[Ferio]

31 minutes ago, Dakitess said:

I'm very very very pessimistic regarding the graphics potential of Vanilla KSP2. We are miles away from the 2019 cinematic trailer, which is OK to not get 100% of course, but we are, like, 5-10% at most of we've seen. I've been hopping for 25-35% and I don't think it will get that good in a decade of Vanilla dev.

I'm afraid so which is a huge disappointment. A game like this needs the cinematic graphics, man if only the game looked half like that... imagine... visually blown away.

[JeanRenaud]

Considering that framerate is still not at its best for me, I really do not wish any better graphics than what is currently here with KSP2.

[pandaman]

My biggest  'gripe' graphics wise is the render distance for the trees etc.  How can you possibly look for a clear area to land in if the big rocks and trees don't even exist until you get close to them.  There needs to be some kind oof representation and 'fade in' from much further away to at least indicate the presence of large deadly obstacles.

I know it's not currently collidable, so not mission critical, but it has been said that larger obstacles will be at some point.