So far, the most we've seen from next generation graphics is primarily from Sony's Playstation 4 reveal event. We've seen the machine supposedly running game engines that look pretty close to CGI visuals that you would sometimes see in an animated movie. Technologically speaking, it's pretty cool. It certainly has many Sony fans excited, with many wondering where that leaves the upcoming new Xbox console.
However, I feel there is a risk here with this kind of hype. What I would not like to see is what happened with this past generation when Gears of War came out. There is not THE way to make a game look great, but many different ways. Thankfully, during the same generation, Journey on the PS3 and Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii were releasrd. A downloadable indie title and a Wii game, both of which looked stunning at the time. This sort of stylization has almost universally always appealed to me far more than realistic graphics in video games ever have.
That isn't to say that I was not impressed by the Killzone or InFamous demos, mind you. Both trailers looked really impressive from a technical standpoint. But like with Gears of War, I am not interested in a multitude of copycat games to follow. Around that time, shooter games were released almost annually, with many unoriginal concepts and bland, boring visuals being brought to light. I'd prefer not to see this happen again.
Now before you start typing onto your keyboard how "wrong" I am or how I am "being bias" or this or that, just think about it for a moment. First and foremost, I'm not saying we're necessarily heading into that direction right now, but that we can head in that direction if developers start to believe that ultra realistic and violent games is all the industry wants.
Second, I'm sure the obvious implication here is that I'm worried about seeing less Nintendo games. Well, let me put that retort to rest like so; Nintendo makes Nintendo games and I don't need that from Sony or Microsoft. But Nintendo doesn't produce all of the games I like to play; Splosion Man is one of my favorite games of the past generation and Tearaway is a magnificent looking game that's only on the Playstation Vita. Portal 2 from Valve is probably one of my favorite games in the past decade. Games with stylized and fun visuals as oppose to gritty, ultra realistic ones are typically what appeal to me most and I would like it much more if the industry does not lose sight of this.
I suppose we'll see in about two or three years.
"The Montreal-based (Canada) indie games developer Blindspot Games (the indie studio founded by veteran developers from online tactical multiplayer titles like Blood Bowl and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege) today announced with great excitement and happiness that their turn-based sci-fi strategy game "The Hexadome: Aristeia Showdown", is coming to PC via Steam in 2024." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
"The Seattle-based (Washington, the US) indie games developer Spiderweb Software, are today very happy and excited to announce that their open-world CRPG “Geneforge 2: Infestation”), is now available for PC (Windows and MAC) via Steam, with an iPad version coming in the near future." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
"VoxPop Games Inc. and Ratalaika Games S.L are today very happy and excited to announce that their indie horror hit "OUTER TERROR", is coming to consoles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch) via digital stores on April 12th, 2024." - VoxPop Games Inc. and Ratalaika Games S.L .
Good read, I agree we don't want to see stagnation of any kind unless it's a 'not broke, don't fix it' situation.
Funny you should use the Killzone: Shadowfall pic in an blog about visual stagnation when it's a widely adopted opinion that SF has taken the series in a much brighter, colourful direction. The cityscape of Vekta seems almost alive and so well lit with vivid colour unlike the browns and greys of this generation.
Judging by the various PS4 trailers, one of the biggest stand out upgrades (besides resolution) in visuals is with particle effects. The flaming embers of InFamous: Second Son, the dust and debris of KZ:SF, the fire and ice particles in the Unreal demo, all look stunning.
Did you just call Infamous realistic im just asking? Cause Infamous 1,2 are pretty far from realistic and have their own unique artstyle. Is Infamous 2 a very good looking game "yes" but realistic graphics "no". So i doubt you wil see Call of Infamous:second son and just expect they will continue the old artstyle from the 2 former games.
The reason last gen was like it was, is because of the Unreal 3 engine everybody used it and made everything look the same except for a few titles like Bioshock,Batman franchise and Borderlands and their are probably a bit more but alot of games looked a like.
I don't think there's anything to worry about. Games don't have to be realistic and overly detailed or gloomy to look great. Who's going to argue with more real-time lighting/reflections and anti-aliasing? Or anisotropic filtering? They do nothing but make the game look better. It's up to the developers whether they decide to use the extra power to produce super detailed textures. And I don't think they will.
Realistic graphics are how they show off a system's power. That is obviously the most intensive graphical style. Other art styles don't really do that so much, so it's why indie developers often end up going for a particular art style because games with realistic graphics tend to be much more expensive to make.
Arty games won't die out, but the realistic games will probably get more realistic as time goes on.
Games will be realistic and life like and there still will be 2d scrollers and games like journey being made for the next gen gaming bro because sony and Microsoft have the technology!!TYJG