Stylized or Ultra-Realistic: Which is the way of the future?

most people seem to think realsitic=better and only look at graphics.

Immersiveness is key though. realism is not required. believability IS.

I think we'll see games go both ways, depending on the artistic lean of the developers.

For example, Eternal Sonata takes an anime-esque cel-shading style, and it works well with the fantasy adventure.

OTOH, Crysis, set in a gritty near-future warzone benefits from looking realistic so that it helps absorb you into the story and pump you up.

Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

If 2007 has shown us anything, it's that we are making leaps and bounds in coming to ultra-realism with graphics on the latest games. Games like Crysis and Uncharted have wowed everyone who plays games, no matter what system they support. So then, I ask: What happens when we DO achieve photo-realism? Are games going to continually be pumped out looking like real life, or are developers going to go the way of games like Rez HD, LOZ: The Wind Waker, Killer 7, No More Heroes, and Okami? I personally don't think I would be able to stand graphics that look consistently the same on every game if that is something that happens. Thoughts?Screamteam411

There will always be variety in art direction, not just because devs wanna kind of have thier own signature work but buisness wise, its smart to seperate your product from the competition.

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.HuusAsking

How would you know what a photo realistic alien would look like?

"Photo-realiism" for things that dont normally exist, aren't so photo realistic.(to me)

I think scale will increase, huge living breathing cities, or even worlds.

Games could work with a combination of both sylized graphics and realistic graphics.

Imagine a game where when you dream in the game, it becomes a cartoon like cell shaded vivid world, but when your not in the dreamstate it looks normal, crysis crossed with okami or whatever.

More power = more potential thats all.

Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

Not everybody will have the chance to explore the real south american ruins of the great civilizations, or the real plains of africa, or the architecture of vatican city.

Photo realistic graphics could potentially create very atmospheric games.

Saying ' realistic graphics pift, ill just look at the hills and the trees outside ' is like saying, 'photorealistic car racing, pift, ill just go race a real car '

The point is, not everybody has the opportunity, videogames are a bit of an escape for alot of people.

Chances are, nobody on gamespot is ever going to get to explore space/the moon/mars, does that mean we should abandon all hope of a photorealistic experience, i dont think so.

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.iamsickofspam

Not everybody will have the chance to explore the real south american ruins of the great civilizations, or the real plains of africa, or the architecture of vatican city.

Photo realistic graphics could potentially create very atmospheric games.

Thats what internet pictures and google earth are for. Also like wise not everone will be able to play said games.

Games will never be able to completely replicate real life.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

How would you know what a photo realistic alien would look like?

"Photo-realiism" for things that dont normally exist, aren't so photo realistic.(to me)

[QUOTE="iamsickofspam"]

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

Not everybody will have the chance to explore the real south american ruins of the great civilizations, or the real plains of africa, or the architecture of vatican city.

Photo realistic graphics could potentially create very atmospheric games.

Thats what internet pictures and google earth are for. Also like wise not everone will be able to play said games.

Games will never be able to completely replicate real life.

Stylized.

Ultra realism is just a fad.

It can only get so close to realism before it's compltely messed up.

You can go forever with style.

Both.

/thread.

[QUOTE="Marth6781"][QUOTE="iamsickofspam"]

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.HuusAsking

Not everybody will have the chance to explore the real south american ruins of the great civilizations, or the real plains of africa, or the architecture of vatican city.

Photo realistic graphics could potentially create very atmospheric games.

Thats what internet pictures and google earth are for. Also like wise not everone will be able to play said games.

Games will never be able to completely replicate real life.

You cannot go beyond real life. It wouldn't be real.

Stylized will win out until they can figure out how to get around the uncanny valley.

both,

Awesome graphics with style is the key

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"]

But they can do what real life can't--go beyond real life.Marth6781

You cannot go beyond real life. It wouldn't be real.

Here, let me try another angle. If you were trying to decide on an art style for Call of Duty 4 (a war shooter firmly set in the present say), what would you pick and why? And then, what would you use for a sci-fi-themed game like Mass Effect?

But they can do what real life can't--go beyond real life. It's one reason Science Fiction is so attractive--it has a basis in reality but goes beyond it.HuusAsking

Ding Ding Ding, Give this guy a medal, exactly my point. A game wouldnt be a game if it was 100% realistic, it would be a simulator. big difference.

Realistic graphics still allow scope for an unrealistic experience, graphics are just one element of the experience.

I think as long as a game is realistic within the context of the game's world, graphics are of no importance. I personaly play games to escape the real world - so for me I want stylised, artistically interesting games that allow me to explore new and exciting worlds, not cheap replications of the real thing.

Realism has it's place of course; it lets people experience things they would never dare do in the real world - which is cool.

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"]But they can do what real life can't--go beyond real life. It's one reason Science Fiction is so attractive--it has a basis in reality but goes beyond it.iamsickofspam

Ding Ding Ding, Give this guy a medal, exactly my point. A game wouldnt be a game if it was 100% realistic, it would be a simulator. big difference.

Realistic graphics still allow scope for an unrealistic experience, graphics are just one element of the experience.

my point is you cant go beyond reality, its fiction then.

Personally I would love to see the worlds expand to huge levels. Something epic like Spore.I want the extra power and memory not to go on graphics, but on the gameplay and game mechanics, and making them work, creativity should be key here. The point of games is the exact opposite of realism. I dont mind combining artistic and realistic graphics, but photorealism is not needed really. So long as it doesnt burn our eyes like sulphuric acid.

In fact since I cant accurately describe what im thinking, Spore is just the perfect example. Dont get me wrong, there should be more "realistic" games too, but I think the indusrty has focused on that too much recently. I dream of games going back to their roots, instead of aspiring to merely become interactive movies.

Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

You know, if I could usepsychic powersto rip a tree out of the ground and launch it at giant enemytanks that argument would actually have a bit of merit to it. As it stands, such feats are only possible through our imagination or video games. Photo-realism helps immerse players in the game and the closer we get to it the better in my opinion.

That said, I would prefer stylized graphics over games that are simply photo-realistic.Style can bring a game from a tech demo to an artform.

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.myke2010

You know, if I could usepsychic powersto rip a tree out of the ground and launch it at giant enemytanks that argument would actually have a bit of merit to it. As it stands, such feats are only possible through our imagination or video games. Photo-realism helps immerse players in the game and the closer we get to it the better in my opinion.

That said, I would prefer stylized graphics over games that are simply photo-realistic.Style can bring a game from a tech demo to an artform.

So what does what I said have to do with your first paragraph.

There is something about Half life 2 that makes it look realistic (i think more that crysis). I think Crysis took the route of Doom 3 and made super detailed environments but in the end it doesn't make it look more "realistic".

[QUOTE="HuusAsking"][QUOTE="Marth6781"][QUOTE="iamsickofspam"]

[QUOTE="Marth6781"]Games will should never reach photo realism. If every one wants photo realism so much they should just go outside and appreciate the trees.Marth6781

Not everybody will have the chance to explore the real south american ruins of the great civilizations, or the real plains of africa, or the architecture of vatican city.

Photo realistic graphics could potentially create very atmospheric games.

Thats what internet pictures and google earth are for. Also like wise not everone will be able to play said games.

Games will never be able to completely replicate real life.

You cannot go beyond real life. It wouldn't be real.

This is getting a little too metaphysical for SW's good..

Gotta love stylized ultra violence :)Epak_

I think photo-realistic ultra violence would be too much for people to handle...

Imagine if a game like Manhunt had graphics like Crysis, there would be an even bigger uproar about it.

And plus, if ultra violent game were photo realistic (i am talking ultra violence here like disembowling people, slitting open their throats, ripping apart their limbs...etc...) it would be no different then watching things like F.O.D. or ****d up **** like that. ... Plus i think there'd be (again) bigger potential for these types of games to be banned. (or at least an AO rating)

There is something about Half life 2 that makes it look realistic (i think more that crysis). I think Crysis took the route of Doom 3 and made super detailed environments but in the end it doesn't make it look more "realistic".

hoola

Stylized will win out until they can figure out how to get around the uncanny valley.

Riverwolf007

Just go over it in a really fast car.

I buy games for the game not simulation.

Besides some of these so called "real games" are less realistic then their predecessors (Rainbow Six for example).

I buy games for the game not simulation.

Besides some of these so called "real games" are less realistic then their predecessors (Rainbow Six for example).

Gunraidan