At first, I thought it was just from viewing the art on the computer, but, now that I have the physical ships...

They just look soooooo computer-generated! So...videogamey and unrealistic. It isn't terrible, but next to the rest of the artwork in the game, it looks completely out of place. It isn't the same style, and it isn't the same quality (in my opinion). Anyone else feel this way?

It's just you.

The only ones I don't like at all are Blackmoon Squadron Pilot (shown above) and Onyx Squadron Pilot. The Onyx one is the worst for me.

The reason they look like that is because they are the actual 3D models used for creating the molds and even have molding concessions built in (look at the wing struts on the E-wing and the thickness of the parts, for instance).

It ain't just you.

The TIE Defender has some of the -worst- yet. Seriously.

Seriously.

The reason they look like that is because they are the actual 3D models used for creating the molds and even have molding concessions built in (look at the wing struts on the E-wing and the thickness of the parts, for instance).

Using existing CAD models is a good idea. They could have added some more detail, though.

Colonel Vessery, Shadow Squadron, and Whisper look fabulous.

When I look at the E-Wing, it does seem a lot different than the X-Wing and Z-95. I fact, the way the engines look always reminds me of the WWII ME-262. On looks alone, it is probably my least favorite ship of wave IV. I like the appearance of all three other ships, and think they fit nicely in the Star Wars theme.

But looks aren't everything. If the E-Wing plays well, I'll use it without hesitation. I need to get some games to decide.

Actually, I'm more worried about the Decimator. The ship itself is so huge and already looks like a low-poly 3D model. When scaling to the size that it is, they needed to bevel some edges to keep it looking consistent with the rest of the ships. (and it's $10 more than the other large ships.)

Actually, I'm more worried about the Decimator. The ship itself is so huge and already looks like a low-poly 3D model. When scaling to the size that it is, they needed to bevel some edges to keep it looking consistent with the rest of the ships. (and it's $10 more than the other large ships.)

V-19 is fine. Imperial stuff is usually pretty "BURGH I'M BIG AND GREY BURRRRGGGHHH" so it fits, if you ask me.

(Fun fact, the TIE cockpit looking viewport is actually just the observation deck.)

My wave 4 STILL isn't in. Can someone link Onyx Squadron art?

My wave 4 STILL isn't in. Can someone link Onyx Squadron art?

I want to make a list with a shadow squadron pilot just so I can see the art on the card while playing

The reason they look like that is because they are the actual 3D models used for creating the molds and even have molding concessions built in (look at the wing struts on the E-wing and the thickness of the parts, for instance).

No, the reason they look like that is because they were rendered by 1990s CGI software used by someone who just followed a 1990s "make a ship picture" tutorial. Even with low-poly models there's no excuse for the flat lighting and lack of shading on that e-wing card. I'm honestly surprised that FFG let something that shamefully bad make it into print. I guess there was a last-second deadline issue?

I actually appreciate the Onyx Squadron art, I think it's pretty retro. The Delta Squadron art bugs me because the top wing array is bent or something.

Gold SQ. Y-Wing has the worst art still.

Yeah, I see OPs point. Just don't care much because they're rebel scum ships. But yeah, Onyx squadron looks pretty bad. But again, don't care much because I very rarely run Generics that aren't TIEs or Bombers either.

The reason they look like that is because they are the actual 3D models used for creating the molds and even have molding concessions built in (look at the wing struts on the E-wing and the thickness of the parts, for instance).

No, the reason they look like that is because they were rendered by 1990s CGI software used by someone who just followed a 1990s "make a ship picture" tutorial. Even with low-poly models there's no excuse for the flat lighting and lack of shading on that e-wing card. I'm honestly surprised that FFG let something that shamefully bad make it into print. I guess there was a last-second deadline issue?

MF is right. FFG provides the same 3d models used for the molds for artists like me to use as a base. While I personally would've done more to fix the proportions of some parts and make it look abit more like a painting but I understand why some of the cards look the way they do. Sometimes artists feel that its just not worth the effort and time for the money they're getting for doing these cards so they just do enough for it to work as a card which it does IMO.

Also being a "Miniatures Games" I'm pretty certain that the bulk of the budget goes into producing the miniatures and not the illustrations. Compare this to the stuff in SW LCG and SW RPG where the main feature of those games are the illustrations and you see the contrast in quality. In fact, most if not all of the good looking cards from X-wing are taken from those sources and other SW books where artists are paid a good deal more for the illustrations.

So yeah, they're not the best looking cards but they serve their purpose.

Probably because these are the Ships we haven't seen in the Movies.

All of the Ships we have had in the movies at one time with the exception of the HWK.

Because of that FFG has to start from scrap. If you take a look at the Art before most of them are scenes from the movies. Example take a look at the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo is in the Asteroid field, Lando Carlisian is fleeing the blast from the reactor of the 2nd Death Star, and Chewbacca is approaching the Weather Vane Luke is hanging from. All these scenes were from the move and at different times when the Falcon was being piloted by different people in the movie. Even the Outer Rim Smuggler is a scene when they are fleeing from Mos Eisly (spelling).

With these new ships there is no scene to go with. There is no backdrop that you could put and say that is the place where that pilot and that ship belongs. So not only does FFG have to start from scratch, we don't have a reference to match to it and that is hard especially with a franchise that has a well established lore as Star Wars has.

On a positive note, the graphics in Wave IV are still better IMO than what Whiz Kids provides in Attack Wing...

MF is right. FFG provides the same 3d models used for the molds for artists like me to use as a base. While I personally would've done more to fix the proportions of some parts and make it look abit more like a painting but I understand why some of the cards look the way they do.

No. Please go back and read what I said. This has nothing to do with it being a low-poly model, the problem is in the scene setup. It looks like it has been rendered with 1990s CGI software: flat lighting, no shadows, etc. Taking a few minutes to stick the exact same e-wing model in a basic HDRI dome in a modern CGI program would give you a much better image.

Sometimes artists feel that its just not worth the effort and time for the money they're getting for doing these cards so they just do enough for it to work as a card which it does IMO.

Then the artists should be fired and replaced with artists who aren't lazy and happy to publish shamefully unprofessional work. Unless FFG was in the middle of a serious deadline problem I have no idea why they accepted that "art" as acceptable for publication instead of sending it back and telling the artist to do a better job.

With these new ships there is no scene to go with. There is no backdrop that you could put and say that is the place where that pilot and that ship belongs. So not only does FFG have to start from scratch, we don't have a reference to match to it and that is hard especially with a franchise that has a well established lore as Star Wars has.

This has nothing to do with it. The "movie scene" art isn't just a shot from the movie, it's a completely new piece of art based on that scene. The art in the OP isn't awful because it didn't have good inspiration, it's awful because the artist did a terrible job of making it.

@iPeregrine: I can't speak for the artists that were responsible for those cards but clearly you think you can do way better. Why don't you apply for the artist job at FFG? I'd like to see what you can do. Till then your aggressive tone is unwarranted.

As long as the models look nice I can live with crappy art on the cards, could be worse they could have John blanche doing the art.

@iPeregrine: I can't speak for the artists that were responsible for those cards but clearly you think you can do way better. Why don't you apply for the artist job at FFG? I'd like to see what you can do. Till then your aggressive tone is unwarranted.

Meh, while I see your point on the tone, one doesn't have to be an artist themselves to see that other - presumably paid - people could have done a better job.

So I've been playing the 2002ish Star Wars video games because they're on steam for Mac and nostalgia--and I totally remember seeing art like this back then and earlier and being like 'ooo badass ships fighting yeahz'-12 year old self. I hope this is a nod to when artists didn't know any better, or else its agreeably totally trash.

I second that if its not a nod, its unacceptably bad and indicative of cutting corners, at least its not on something that changes real gameplay.

@iPeregrine: I can't speak for the artists that were responsible for those cards but clearly you think you can do way better. Why don't you apply for the artist job at FFG? I'd like to see what you can do. Till then your aggressive tone is unwarranted.

Meh, while I see your point on the tone, one doesn't have to be an artist themselves to see that other - presumably paid - people could have done a better job.

I'm not saying you can't critique just do it in a constructive manner and don't overstep boundaries by presuming to art direct unless you have the credentials to back it up.

On the other hand I could be wrong about him in which case you all can freely disregard what I said.