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

I seetwo main trends emerging at present and two future responses:

- Firstly there is the drive from hyperrealistic or photorealistic graphics, this is currently underway.

- Secondly is the focus on the way the game is played, attempting to use more physical actions to add immersion whilst side-lining the typical cycle of increasing the horsepower every five years.

With these trends in mind I expect one or more of the following will happen duing the next two generations, assuming the games industry remains stable. I feel there will be a backlash against the drive for realism by some sections of the gaming community, and by developers who feel the technology and effort required is economically unviable. I also believe that some devs may actually reach the zenith of graphical capabilities, no longer able to use hyperrealism to wow gamers they will be forced to explore different s-tyles and focus much more on creativity and artistry.

Of course, there is alsways the possibility that the casual gaming boom will continue to expand and that devs will all but cease the push for hyperrealism as it does not appeal to this market and is therefore economically untenable. Another possibility is the realisation that as graphics become more realistic the wider the rift becomes between what we see on screen and the believeability of the actions, animations, physics and emotions and narrative of a game. It is this realisation I am counting on to spur on the push for more advanced AI and storytelling rather than the focus on visuals that currently dominates the time and resources of devs.

... a simplified take on things I know.

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

People always say that. Like the movie Beowulf -- if the graphics are almost real why not just use real people?

Personally I find computer animation more attractive -- because it looks so real but you can tell it's not -- and when you can't you get your mind blown.

[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.Koalakommander

People always say that. Like the movie Beowulf -- if the graphics are almost real why not just use real people?

Personally I find computer animation more attractive -- because it looks so real but you can tell it's not -- and when you can't you get your mind blown.

I honestly thought that alot beowulf looked terrible.

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.

Willy105

Yeah I dont want uncanny valley.

I seetwo main trends emerging at present and two future responses:

- Firstly there is the drive from hyperrealistic or photorealistic graphics, this is currently underway.

- Secondly is the focus on the way the game is played, attempting to use more physical actions to add immersion whilst side-lining the typical cycle of increasing the horsepower every five years.

With these trends in mind I expect one or more of the following will happen duing the next two generations, assuming the games industry remains stable. I feel there will be a backlash against the drive for realism by some sections of the gaming community, and by developers who feel the technology and effort required is economically unviable. I also believe that some devs may actually reach the zenith of graphical capabilities, no longer able to use hyperrealism to wow gamers they will be forced to explore different s-tyles and focus much more on creativity and artistry.

Of course, there is alsways the possibility that the casual gaming boom will continue to expand and that devs will all but cease the push for hyperrealism as it does not appeal to this market and is therefore economically untenable. Another possibility is the realisation that as graphics become more realistic the wider the rift becomes between what we see on screen and the believeability of the actions, animations, physics and emotions and narrative of a game. It is this realisation I am counting on to spur on the push for more advanced AI and storytelling rather than the focus on visuals that currently dominates the time and resources of devs.

... a simplified take on things I know.

Caviglia

Great post. I think that the backlash has to some extent already begun though. We need more developers like Will Wright, Shigeru Miyamoto and Goichi Suda that think outside the box in my opinion.

Im quite sure it was Miyamoto or maybe another Nintendo dev that claimed that graphics will only reach a certain point before they cannot go any further. When that happens, artistic rather than technical aspects will get more focus, as will gameplaymechanics (although power could still have its advantages, the economic disadvantages will probably outweigh them).

The difficult part however, is trying to balance between the cheap, moneymaking scams (i.e lazy ports and movie licenses, particularly on the Wii, although they have always existed) and the ultra expensive games that focus on graphics. There is definitelya clear division down the middle, with devs like Will Wright excited by the possibilities of the Wiimote, and others like Julian Eggebrecht etc. who want graphics and horsepower. My only worry is that people will no doubt see the hyperrealism as the 'hardcore' option, and simply forget what games are all about.

Great post. I think that the backlash has to some extent already begun though. We need more developers like Will Wright, Shigeru Miyamoto and Goichi Suda that think outside the box in my opinion.

Im quite sure it was Miyamoto or maybe another Nintendo dev that claimed that graphics will only reach a certain point before they cannot go any further. When that happens, artistic rather than technical aspects will get more focus, as will gameplaymechanics (although power could still have its advantages, the economic disadvantages will probably outweigh them).

The difficult part however, is trying to balance between the cheap, moneymaking scams (i.e lazy ports and movie licenses, particularly on the Wii, although they have always existed) and the ultra expensive games that focus on graphics. There is definitelya clear division down the middle, with devs like Will Wright excited by the possibilities of the Wiimote, and others like Julian Eggebrecht etc. who want graphics and horsepower. My only worry is that people will no doubt see the hyperrealism as the 'hardcore' option, and simply forget what games are all about.Quofan

Yeah the backlash has most certainly begun, with me at least. I think the role played by the DS and Wii is very important in all of this, aside from upending most conventions I feel Nintendo's strategy that seeks to target 'casuals' and 'non-gamers' also has the effect of dividing gamers. Of course that supposed divide between 'hardcore' and 'casual' has always been there but Nintendo's marketing strategy seems to have aggrevated it.

Your last point about hyperrealism being perceived as the 'hardcore' option is an excellent one, it seems more gamers are being drawn to the idea that if the technology is the more powerful and recent then it must be better and it must be aimed at them.

But as in the rest of society, just because time is passing and technology is progressing, it does not necessarily mean we are advancing. It seems to me gamers and devs are going to pursue the graphics road before hitting the wall and realising it was the wrong direction, its a shame that more people cannot pre-empt the inevitable and begin branching out in different directions now, those who do will be well placed for the future.

Stylized, people won't be able to handle photo-realism. Not only that but photo-realism opens up a whole new bag of worms for developers. Every little glitch, jaggy, framerate drop etc. is going to kill the immersiveness of a photo-realistic game. Plus you have to think about how much power photo-realism is going to use, its not just pretty lighting and textures but also animation and physics. And when you consider we as a race don't understand something as mundane as the physics behind water flowing out of a tap (really, physicists can't explain why the water becomes turbulent) what chance do developers have?PBSnipes

Have Both?

Saints Row would suck if they made it Ultra-real

I believe that there will be a point in the future when games can't get anymore realistic, and thus will have to become more stylized to stand out.dk_omally

Both wil be the way of the future, but I like the stylized looks more. I really adore Halo's lighting system. Whilst Crysis's may be technically more capable, Halo's stood out more (no, not with the bloom you funny people).FrozenLiquid

i would like to see games go more for interaction in them, then Ultra-Realistic. just like portal as shown us, you don't need to have great graphics to have a good game.jbisco25