I suppose this was going to be brought up eventually so I figure I should be the one to do it. Has the team considered giving the option to using art styles other than photo-realistic?
There are a advantages of not using an photo-realistic art style, such as it is much easier to avoid
the uncanny valley. Another is that it can reduce the polygon count by using more simplistic anatomy and textures in favor of
overspecializing in realism, there by reducing the load on the system.
I already know the logistical problems already adding another art style to a game this far along, which is why I started this thread in other instead of feature requests, but let's start a dialog anyway.
Let's get the obvious art-style to be brought up out of the way;
anime.
The Anime style is quite popular both only if you can find a way to stand out in a ocean. The first thing you need to do is avoid same-face-syndrome. But awhile back I reviewed a game called
Street Fucker 2, a game that I praised for its level of customizable detail (but criticized for its unfinished interface). All the premade characters that came in that game had unique faces, if not unique heads some cases such as with Haruhi.
One thing I did notice though that the models in street fucker 2 is that the facial features did not move like anime facial features but instead like those of a 3D object. I have noted however, that the faces made by pararbolica's work exactly like those found in hand-drawn anime.
As seen in this video that demonstrates the engine of their upcoming game.(Enjoy that video while you can, I have no idea how long that can stay up on Youtube.)
I don't know how erotic people with fine authentic anime eyes would be, I'd have to do some research on that one. Although, an alternate art style for X Story Player to use would not necessarily have to be anime to begin with. The style that
Kikebrikex used for the offbeatr page is most likely style that people would expect to be used of the team moved away from photo-realism. It removes the possibility of making an uncanny valley model while moving away from the anime proportions that can shy away new-comers.
Now ultimately, X Moon is going to do what they are going to do. But I would like to point out though that eventually, modders are going to start making custom models for that game that won't necessarily be in a photo realistic art-style. And if that mod doesn't match the rest of the game's art style? Chances are you most likely won't care because you get to bang Sailor Mercury with XSP's physics engine.
So don't worry, who ever you want to be in X Story Player will eventually be in there. And since I have been editing this post for 3 days now, I going to say "to hell with it" and publish it as it currently is. I don't care how off topic it got, I'm tired of thinking about this.