Photo-Realistic Graphics: Out of Reach?

[Danglybits]

I don't really care, PS2 graphics were fine as far as I'm concerned. I don't want photo realism if they forget that I need to be able to easily pick out objects which is what is often sacrificed in the desaturated colors of realism. And if we're talking about relatable human characters if they're written and voiced well enough, as long as they are recognisible as people they can be interesting and sympathetic. Real life isn't always fun, so I think that it's a mistake to restrict games on any level to conform to it.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

There was a tech demo a couple months ago, I honestly can't find it as I don't remember what it was called, that used procedural graphics that streamed over a browser in order to create hyper-realistic graphics in a game. What it did was leave the calculating to the master server, and send the results to your PC to render the results, meaning that you didn't need a massive powerhouse.

This is where the future of photo-realism lies currently when it comes to sheer graphics. But as people have said, realism is more than looks.

 

[curlycrouton]

Oh it most definitely is possible. About 5 minutes of research would show you that.

 

[Theo Samaritan]

FOUND IT! [http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/11/liveplace-to-launch-photo-realistic-virtual-world-rendered-in-the-cloud/]

Looking shiny!

Looks like it has gotten better since... [http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/08/20/the-truth-behind-liveplaces-photo-realistic-3d-world-and-otoys-rendering-engine/]

 

[I3uster]

hmmmmm... i doubt that i want photorealistic graphics,
i mean there is a difference between killing a person that looks like a cardboard cutout and a person that ACTUALLY looks like a person

and if they revive VR (which they hopefully will with the wiis success) i dont think i could play such a game...

 

[Arachon]

I've seen some pretty amazing, near-photorealistic results that have been produced in the CryEngine 2 Sanbox (that came with Crysis)

A picture speaks more than a thousand words [http://static.flickr.com/98/236244629_5dd7469d4c.jpg]

 

[sirdanrhodes]

One day, my virtual avatar can punch your in the face, and the blood will look so real, you'll think it happened to you.

 

[WickedSkin]

The closest to photo realism I've seen might be Heavy Rain. At least in a "game"

 

[CoverYourHead]

I think the biggest problem is if developers will ever want to spend the kind of time creating photo-realistic graphics, I would expect making a game world like Fallout 3 photo-realistic would make anyone want to die.

 

[Arachon]

Come to think of it, Riven, Myst III and Myst IV has some pretty nice graphics too... But then again, they're all pre-rendered

 

[Darthracoon]

The thing about most next gen games is that the graphics have this strange glare behind them detracting from the "Photo-realism" making them look a bit cartoony (per say gears, GTA4 MGS4)
And they will never be able to get every intricate detail of peoples faces right because in every game most peoples faces seem plump like a child's not weathered and scarred like a adults(I'm looking at you fallout 3)

 

[owlet]

I remember when i was younger i found MGS2 really realistic because the animations were spot on, not because the textures had a billion dpi or whatnot. i think the secret is indeed in the animation, not the textures.

 

[Phantom2595]

This is an example of photo-realistic graphics:

...We are *nowhere* near rendering that at 60fps at 1080p.

We already did...

Well not that picture, but I think there are few games on the PS3 that render at 1080p with 60fps.(Wipeout HD being one)

 

[JimbobDa3rd]

as i see (as someone who actualy does alot of modeling and photorendering) its really up to the developers if we get photo realistic rendering and for them its not worth it. The computer running it would have to be more powerful than any desktop PC avalible but if you went and got a team of developers to set up a single room with still non-interacive objects and just had it so the camera can be moved then yes it is possible and not even that difficult (excluding needing lots of money for a CPU that was exesivly powerful and graphics card with unbelivable shader technoligy) but even if they did its a gimmic, just a hey look whats possible the bugatti vayron of gaming. and if you did that frame yourself well done eggo what program do you use

 

[smithy1234]

I think that one day we will see photo-realistic graphics in games, technology is advancing at such a fast pace. We'll probably see those kind of quality graphics in say, 20 years.

 

[Ago Iterum]

I think they can make a single screen shot look like a photo. I've seen a few games do it. But the animations it seems would to hard to replicate. I don't enough about programing to say this for sure but it's something I've noticed in cames.

Bingo. The graphics ARE photo-realistic. The character movements aren't. I've animated a 3D model myself, and it's harder than anything I've ever had to do to make it walk realistically. There's always fault you can pick with it.

 

[BallPtPenTheif]

Theoretically, it is definitely around the corner. If a photo is only a set resolution of pixels than a game can attain that level of detail by containing texture maps at that same uncompressed level of fidelity.

But there is another issue and that is of games looking too unreal due to excessive image clarity. This happened (still happens) in movies, where the visual clarity of the visual effect or CGI element exceeds that of the practical photography with the end result looking fake.

It's not just about photo realism, but also about cinematic flaws and artifacts, things like depth of field, proper contrast ratios and things like that.

As for animation, a lot of work is being done in physics based animation with clean transitions between rotoscoped routines. GTAIV, though not perfect, is a good example of that direction.

 

[Jursa]

Making the graphics isn't really the problem, actually using them for movies and gaming is the problem. The price of creation would be problem number 1 and the rigs to actually use such things would be problem number 2.

 

[Ace of Spades]

True photo realism will never be accomplished. No matter how much money a developer sinks into a game's graphics, there will always be a few glitches that remind you that you are in a game. I am impressed at how close some games can come to reality though.