Source Engine Adapting... Again

[Varsity]

Bit-tech have a preview (http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/12/09/source_film_effects/1.html) on Valve's plans to update Day of Defeat: Source's visuals further:

They feel that the next step is to improve the cinematic experience in Day of Defeat: Source with effects such as Depth Of Field, Motion Blur, Film Grain, Dust, and Colour Correction. Over the next few pages, we'll be covering these new technologies and how Valve intends to integrate them into Day of Defeat: Source to make it even more cinematic than it already is.The full article has comparison images, high-defenition comparison videos and detailed descriptions for each effect. Note that the film grain was exaggerated for bit-tech's demo: the image below and on the left gives a better representation of what the final product will look like.

Source and more information (http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/12/09/source_film_effects/1.html)
http://www.btinternet.com/~varsity_uk/evilavatar/dod/dod_dof_thumb.jpg (http://www.btinternet.com/~varsity_uk/evilavatar/dod/dod_dof.jpg) http://www.btinternet.com/~varsity_uk/evilavatar/dod/dod_dof_mb_thumb.jpg (http://www.btinternet.com/~varsity_uk/evilavatar/dod/dod_dof_mb.jpg)

Download the full 204MB high-def effects trailer! (http://www.filerush.com/download.php?target=dodt_tech_videos.zip)

It's incredibly cliched to say you can't wait, but what the hell. I can't wait!

[TheKeck]

My buddy was just showing this to me. It's pretty amazing.

Although, I'm questionable about some of the techniques. I guess part of it is a debate between making it look like film from the 1940's and making it look real.

Field of View, Motion Blur, etc. make things look more realistic, but I don't believe "The 1940's" had Film Grain, nor were they black and white.

[Captain Awesome]

I just got through every effect clip and then to the final DOD: Source trailer.

Fucking amazing!

Source is a living, transforming engine :)

[Citizen Philip]

This is very exciting stuff, DoD is...one of the reasons i want to upgrade.

[kickmybum]

I wouldn't say these features would make it look "better". Just different.

[Varsity]

Crud, Fileshack keeps giving me corrupted files!

Edit: aha, they added a second local mirror.

[UnderHero5]

Neat looking, it indeed is very cinimatic, but I will probably not use them for a few reasons.
1, I can see these effects REALLY getting in the way of gameplay. It'll become more and more difficuly to spot enemies/keep your bearings with the more effects you turn on.

2, I'm almost certain the game would run like crap at 1280 x 1024 with all those effects on (that's the res I run at, and I'm not dropping it) even on my 6800 GT overclocked.

If you have a 7800 GTX SLI setup, this should be right up your ally. For us people stuck with just "good" videocards... I don't see this being a very good option to turn on. Unless you run at 1024 or lower.

Oh yeah, and I know people are expecting to hear this, and they should. Valve should FINISH the game and give some more maps before adding useless graphical effects!!!! /rant

[TheKeck]

Studying for finals. . . I don't really know what I will play. . . mostly I think I'll call my local Gamestop and harangue them for not having my X360 in yet. I got Condemned in from Gamefly, so I just might head over to a friend's house to check that out.

This is probably a good weekend for getting my Christmas gifts bought and shipped. *shrugs*

I don't think you were in the thread you thought were in. :p

[TheKeck]

I wouldn't say these features would make it look "better". Just different.

I think Depth of Field and Motion Blur will make it look unquestionably better. As mentioned in my first post, though, the other things are a matter of opinion.

(OK, I guess the whole thing's a matter of opinion, but whatever.)

[Nefs]

I'm in a cinema program at my college, so that means I watch a lot of old films, and I'm quite certain that old film grain does not look like the film has some sort of crusty infection. Thats a stupid and pointless filter that will hog up my mediocre video cards memory.

[Varsity]

Note that the film grain was exaggerated for bit-tech's demo: the image below and on the left gives a better representation of what the final product will look like.post lengthener

[Nerv]

Fuck me softly with a chainsaw, I've never seen Donner looking so awesome.
I'm not too hot on the film grain, but the depth of field and various motion blurs look fantastic.

[Nefs]

Ok after further inspection of the video after it finally downloaded, I like the dust and scratches effect, but again, too grainy.

While it may look good, especially for this type of video, where it's supposed to look like a german propaganda film (not a very convincing one...) I feel like it will have some negative impacts on gameplay.

"Toss a grenade at them!"
"I can't tell which one is 'them'! Its too blurry!"

[bean19]

I don't think you were in the thread you thought were in. :p

*blush*

yeah.

[bapenguin]

Looks good...pretty much all the XBox 360 games I've played support depth of field and motion blur. It's really heavily used in the sports games and the racing games.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

Yes well, are those games updates of an old mod of an old game which can also be considered free?

[bryan]

Looks good to me, the really hardcore players never turn on effects anyway. Effects never help actual gameplay, nor are they intended to. Just to add to the experience.

[Hewie]

I'm all for motion blur, but completely against film grain.

[Stormeh]

Wow, cool! Looks kind of like CoD2 now. =D

[mister_slim]

This kind of thing is why I respect Valve so much. Hell, maybe I'll win that PC in the giveaway so I'll actually be able to play their games.

[UnderHero5]

Wow, cool! Looks kind of like CoD2 now. =D
Umm... CoD2 doesn't have Motion Blurr, Film Grain, or a Depth effect...

You make no sense, sir!!!

[Mason]

These are great effects, and would do very well in a SP game. Most people won't use them for DoD, since of course you need every advantage online. Still, major props, you don't see free graphics upgrades like this everyday.

[Parsifal]

What I think is strange is how are you going to decide what the "camera" will focus on? When I watch a movie, it is decided for me, when I look around, I can adjust my eyes myself. But what about in DoD? Will the focus always be at x meters in front of me or will we see two new buttons, "focus in" and "focus out"? Hmm, maybe the mousewheel could come in handy...

[raVen]

I agree Parsifal, that is a tough one. You could say that whatever you are aiming at is the object that is in focus, but then you may want to keep your reticle on one point (eg the doorway of a building) but scan around the doorway every now and then with your eyes. The only way I can see this working concievably would be if you had a device that calculated where you were looking onscreen (which isn't going to happen soon obviously).

[Varsity]

The article says it's based on what is happening in the scene. Either way, the area of focus will presumably be quite wide.

[DeadPixel]

As long as they let me turn off these features, I'm happy.

[Pluvious]

HEY! How working on AI technolgy and stop it already with the pretty graphics !!!!! I'd much rather hear they are going to make GAMEPLAY better. >sigh<

[Varsity]

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7884

[fitbabits]

http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7884
Thanks - I just merged the two threads.

[Xerxes]

Didn't know i was beat to it.

[fitbabits]

Didn't know i was beat to it.
If you're not fast, you're last! At least I think that's what my mum used to say! :)