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Do Videogames Need More Graphical Grit?

Posted by simoniker on from the pixelation-grunge-teakettle dept.

Thanks to GamerDad for its editorial discussing whether some recent videogames, such as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, look "too sterile and perfect" . The author explains: "The animation is fine but the world Snake runs through is too sharp edged. There's no dirt and grime in the graphics because they're perfect versions of what was seen in the original game. Somehow, these better graphics have detracted somewhat from my opinion of the newer game." He continues: "DOOM 3, for as great as it looks, suffers from a lack of grit in still shots. I'm hoping the final game will not have the plastic look of the current pictures. Even the highly polished Quake III Arena didn't come across as being plastic to me." Do other gamers share this perception of graphical sterility in some recent games?

5 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Realism by nadadogg · · Score: 2, Informative

    Oooh, I didn't even think of that. Having your character get all dirty after going prone in the dirt or mud would definitely be nice. Maybe occasional water drips from your hair/hat if it's raining. Actually, the new Metroid on the gamecube actually had some nice water effects, with droplets on the visor, and a reflection of your eyes due to glare.

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    i use linux and windows oh god how can i have an opinion
  2. Re:Just like System Shock 2... by jcenters · · Score: 2, Informative

    Well ConceptJunkie, the future's been here for a while. Both of the Red Faction titles use a system called "geo-mod" which does just what you specify.

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    vi ~/.emacs

  3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. by k-hell · · Score: 2, Informative
    Yeah, I agree with the poster. Take Battlefield 1942 for instance. Great multiplayer game, but too sterile with all those sharp edges, imho.

    I have hope that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. might introduce some much needed dirt and grit! Check out this picture for instance, or the gallery in general.

    1. Re:S.T.A.L.K.E.R. by nautical9 · · Score: 2, Informative
      I agree with most of your critque, except for "The background should be just slightly out of focus".

      The problem here is that you can't know at which part of the screen the player's eyes are focused. In real life, if you were staring at the railing, then everything behind it would be out of focus. But if you were staring at the ground behind the railing, the railing would be out of focus.

      Just a standard problem when trying to render a 3D scene to a 2D surface.

      If you just assumed everything out a certain distance should be slightly blurry, then it would get quite annoying when aiming at distant objects, and wouldn't really be realistic (at least not to people with 20/20 or better vision).

  4. A game ahead of its time... ZERO TOLERANCE by Stormwatch · · Score: 2, Informative

    : When is the blood going to run down
    : the wall when you shoot somebody?

    Blood running down a wall? Hey, I know a first-person shooter that had this effect - back in 1994! It is Technopop's Zero Tolerance for the Sega Genesis.

    Shoot an enemy close to the wall: blood stain. Shoot the wall: damage texture. Animated wall textures. An animated, interactive landscape. Tons of weapons and various items like motion scanners, fire extinguishers, and bulletproof vests. Immense, multi-floor levels. That game - along with Ranger X, Alien Soldier, and Thunder Force 4 - pushed the good old Genny to its limits. If a first-person shooter ever really, REALLY deserved a sequel, Zero Tolerance is the one!

    (actually they tried to make one, but it was never completed and Technopop no longer exists. The beta's ROM is out there, though)

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    Circumcision is child abuse.