4 ms·

The point of most video games is to be distinct, not to look like reality. Furthermore, they use high-contrast to help distinguish game elements. Games are no

The point of most video games is to be distinct, not to look like reality. Furthermore, they use high-contrast to help distinguish game elements. Games are not movies.

zanny 9y ago
Came looking for this. Unnatural contrast is good in games because it can help players distinguish different set pieces easier. This is also why a lot of people prefer older FPS titles or games like TF2 used stylized profiles of the characters that stand out. In some games, you want interpretation of the game scene to be a challenge, but in most games, you want players to easily tell what they are looking at. Using high contrast / distinct models / distinct animations / color differentiation all help to achieve that.
- desertrider12 9y ago
  TF2 is very pretty and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the color palettes and visual effects. The examples of bad effects in this article are the result of developers thinking “this is how games look”. I don’t think they got as far as planning how to guide the player’s attention.
- cousin_it 9y ago
  Photos and film need to be readable too. I think gaming culture has poor taste in art for historical reasons. Here's some games that were called "gorgeous": https://www.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/COW-IW_E3_Ship-Assault-Zero-G-Combat_WM.jpg https://www.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/COW-... http://assets1.ignimgs.com/2014/01/22/capture9png-e9804c.png http://assets1.ignimgs.com/2014/01/22/capture9png-e9804c.png http://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dust-an-elysian-tail-xbox-360-1345475788-020.jpg http://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dust-an-... But there's a small minority of games that do look great: http://cdn3-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/gallery/the-order-1886-release-day-screens/the-order_-1886_20150215102558.jpg http://cdn3-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/gall... https://www.gamegrin.com/assets/games/hollow-knight/screenshots/hollow-knight-screenshot-0.jpg https://www.gamegrin.com/assets/games/hollow-knight/screensh... https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/08/cupheadcarrot.jpg https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/...
  - PetitPrince 9y ago
    > Screenshot of Shovel Knight I don't think it's fair to put Shovel Knight in your list. Yacht Club Games tried really hard to recreate a NES aesthetics and constraints (limited color palette, sprites, etc...) with careful deviations when it is really necessary [1]. I don't think you'll find more aesthetically pleasant game in the NES library. [1] https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidDAngelo/20140625/219383/Breaking_the_NES_for_Shovel_Knight.php https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidDAngelo/20140625/219383...
    - cousin_it 9y ago
      Yeah, NES games looked pretty bad. I can find only a couple screenshots that don't make my eyes bleed: http://www.defunctgames.com/pic/review-batmannes-big-1.jpg http://www.defunctgames.com/pic/review-batmannes-big-1.jpg https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/k/kirby-s-adventure-epf/kirby-s-adventure_12.png https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/k/kirby-s-ad... Hence my mention of historical reasons that are holding game aesthetics back. I think making good art requires criticizing your childhood tastes, not following them.

The point of most video games is to be distinct, not to look like reality. Furthermore, they use high-contrast to help distinguish game elements. Games are not movies.

zanny 9y ago

Came looking for this. Unnatural contrast is good in games because it can help players distinguish different set pieces easier. This is also why a lot of people prefer older FPS titles or games like TF2 used stylized profiles of the characters that stand out. In some games, you want interpretation of the game scene to be a challenge, but in most games, you want players to easily tell what they are looking at. Using high contrast / distinct models / distinct animations / color differentiation all help to achieve that.

desertrider12 9y ago
TF2 is very pretty and it’s clear that a lot of thought went into the color palettes and visual effects. The examples of bad effects in this article are the result of developers thinking “this is how games look”. I don’t think they got as far as planning how to guide the player’s attention.
cousin_it 9y ago
Photos and film need to be readable too. I think gaming culture has poor taste in art for historical reasons. Here's some games that were called "gorgeous": https://www.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/COW-IW_E3_Ship-Assault-Zero-G-Combat_WM.jpg https://www.dualshockers.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/COW-... http://assets1.ignimgs.com/2014/01/22/capture9png-e9804c.png http://assets1.ignimgs.com/2014/01/22/capture9png-e9804c.png http://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dust-an-elysian-tail-xbox-360-1345475788-020.jpg http://www.gamesknit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/dust-an-... But there's a small minority of games that do look great: http://cdn3-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/gallery/the-order-1886-release-day-screens/the-order_-1886_20150215102558.jpg http://cdn3-www.playstationlifestyle.net/assets/uploads/gall... https://www.gamegrin.com/assets/games/hollow-knight/screenshots/hollow-knight-screenshot-0.jpg https://www.gamegrin.com/assets/games/hollow-knight/screensh... https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/08/cupheadcarrot.jpg https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/...
- PetitPrince 9y ago
  > Screenshot of Shovel Knight I don't think it's fair to put Shovel Knight in your list. Yacht Club Games tried really hard to recreate a NES aesthetics and constraints (limited color palette, sprites, etc...) with careful deviations when it is really necessary [1]. I don't think you'll find more aesthetically pleasant game in the NES library. [1] https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidDAngelo/20140625/219383/Breaking_the_NES_for_Shovel_Knight.php https://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidDAngelo/20140625/219383...
  - cousin_it 9y ago
    Yeah, NES games looked pretty bad. I can find only a couple screenshots that don't make my eyes bleed: http://www.defunctgames.com/pic/review-batmannes-big-1.jpg http://www.defunctgames.com/pic/review-batmannes-big-1.jpg https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/k/kirby-s-adventure-epf/kirby-s-adventure_12.png https://www.myabandonware.com/media/screenshots/k/kirby-s-ad... Hence my mention of historical reasons that are holding game aesthetics back. I think making good art requires criticizing your childhood tastes, not following them.