Are standards in the industry higher than they were in the 00s? I'm looking through my old Age of Conan (2008 MMO) art book and a lot of this art is not very good. Now that I'm thinking of it though, a lot of this 00s game art has that merc wip high beg / low int feeling to it.

I can't picture this making it into a modern day concept art book for a new game.