In this article, we instead explore the use of lighting and cinematography in crafting some of history’s most beloved video games, and why the future’s bright for this enduring medium of entertainment. We’ve already explored how these same lighting principles have evolved over time to manifest throughout early forms of entertainment, such as cinema pre-computer graphics and, more recently, animation. Lens choice, use of shadows, tailoring of form and atmosphere, if done just right, can combine to create something truly breathtaking, underpinned by fundamental cinematography principles such as light color, intensity, quality, and placement. It’s no dark-kept secret: much like real life, a huge component to a game’s aesthetics rests in its lighting. Players can enjoy locations, environments and landscapes with rarely a pixel out of place. When it comes to video games, there’s something for everyone-whether that be friendly competition, puzzling over platformers, or simply a sense of escapism.Īnd as games get prettier thanks to advancements in GPU capabilities to real-time rendering techniques, so too does their immersive quality increase.
Or perhaps even through eSports-participant or spectator, it makes no difference. Or that particularly massive role-playing game. It might be through your favorite first person shooter. Whatever your preferred gaming platform of choice, there’s one thing that unites every level of player: a love of being transported to an entirely new world.