Graphical Evolution

[EpsilonX]

Lots of people put a lot of emphasis on graphics these days, and it's no wonder why. Gaming has advanced to an extremely visually impressive point. Just check out the evolution of the graphics in some of these games throughout the years

First Person Shooter:


Doom (1993)
http://takegame.com/shooter/pictures/doom1.jpg

Quake (1996)
http://mygaming.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/Quake1_782713243.jpg

Goldeneye (1997)
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01472/goldeneye_64_1472767i.jpg

Half-life (1998)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Halflife_ingame.jpg

System Shock 2 (1999)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovY1Duq5Zkg/TfJcrUlzydI/AAAAAAAAGM4/icAsmYeRXUo/s1600/SystemShock2_PC_32.jpg

Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)
http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/2003/pc/halo/0929/halo_screen018.jpg

Doom 3 (2004)
http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Doom-4-Announced-2.jpg

F.E.A.R. (2005)
http://guides.gamepressure.com/firstencounterassaultrecon/gfx/gallery/large/Screenshots/fear_sc13.jpg

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
http://steosphere.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/cod4-21.jpg

Crysis (2007)
http://a-1293.narod.ru/Crysis_1_for_mirasol/crysis1_for_mirasol_1.png

Killzone 3 (2011)
http://www.igr.me/images/Assets/Killzone%203/KZ31.jpg

Titanfall (2014)
http://www.gamepur.com/files/imagepicker/6/titanfall-direct-feed-image-1.jpg


Survival Horror

Haunted House (1982)
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GHoBnIBbnI/T0IaNL1C8sI/AAAAAAAAA08/voycndnMuLo/s1600/548884-haunted_house__1982___atari__6.png

Sweet Home (1989)
http://geekparty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Sweet-Home-game.png

Alone In The Dark (1992)
http://image.dosgamesarchive.com/screenshots/aloneinthedark4.gif

Clock Tower (1996)
http://i.imgur.com/lCOvZV8.png

Resident Evil (1996)
http://cdn.mashthosebuttons.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/resident-evil-1.jpg

Silent Hill (1999)
http://lparchive.org/Silent-Hill-1/Update%204/4_21_27_53.jpg

Dino Crisis (1999)
http://www.stealthybox.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Dino-Crisis_Returning.gif

Resident Evil: Code Veronica (2000)
http://media.gamerevolution.com/images/games/ps3/resident-evil-code-veronica-x-hd/resident-evil-code-veronica-x-hd_006.jpg

Silent Hill 2 (2001)
http://www.silenthillparadise.com/uploads/1/9/7/5/19757713/3212710_orig.jpg

Resident Evil (2001)
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h243/doctorsatan22/Dolphin%20Emulator/Dolphin2010-10-1803-58-25-20.jpg

Resident Evil 4 (2005)
https://www.developersaccomplice.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Resi4.jpg

Silent Hill: Homecoming (2008 )
http://www.juegomania.org/Silent+Hill%3A+Homecoming/foto/ps3/0/221/10.jpg/Foto+Silent+Hill%3A+Homecoming.jpg

Dead Space (2008 )
http://buttonmashing.com/wp-content/uploads/deadspace_1.jpg

The Last of us (2013)
http://media.psu.com/media/articles/image/infected%20runners.png

The Evil Within (2014)
http://www.justpushstart.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/The-Evil-Within.jpg



Feel free to add your own graphical evolution of a series or genre, or just discuss game graphics in general.

[paecmaker]

Nice, made me think of this pic

http://alexgolen.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/arma-evolution-2.jpg

[ROFLBRYCE]

It's amazing how far we've come in just the last 8 years, even. Look at Oblivion and how it was one of the most amazing games, http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/bAvQLE2UUPU/hqdefault.jpgcoming out in the early parts of last-gen consoles. Then compare it to what you get with just Skyrim and a few mods today. http://download.gamezone.com/uploads/image/data/874751/enb.jpgMakes you wonder what we're gonna be playing 5-6 years from now.

[paecmaker]

coming out in the early parts of last-gen consoles. Then compare it to what you get with just Skyrim and a few mods today. Makes you wonder what we're gonna be playing 5-6 years from now.

Yeah, Skyrim with mods looks absolutely stunning, I cant understand that some people complained over its graphics. 0o

[EpsilonX]

I feel like we're getting to a point where you won't really notice as much as graphics continue to improve. Of course, I said that when the PS3 first came out too, and look how far things have come since then.

I've always liked looking at the graphics of something evolve

[ROFLBRYCE]

I think realism in environments will get better and bigger, but we'll stay where we're at for people. As soon as a Call of Duty/Battlefield comes out where it looks like photorealistic people, that'll be when noone wants to play anymore.

[EpsilonX]

In the pic that paecmaker posted, I think I like the way the 2001 graphics look best to be honest

[paecmaker]

In the pic that paecmaker posted, I think I like the way the 2001 graphics look best to be honest

Wait until you see the faces :)

http://img3.gamespace.daemon-tools.cc/img/media/games/screenshots/min800x600/9/9d/9dd6a27253ba3bd0c3a172994bb6eec3.jpeg?v=1339061151

[EpsilonX]

I take that back hahaha.

[Mizel]

I feel like we are still so far from graphics being "perfect," but obviously not far enough for us to notice as drastic of improvements like we've seen in the past. At times I feel like we are close to the point where improvements will be minimal, almost to the point of not even being noticeable... but then I just compare graphics from today to a year or so ago and no longer feel that way. Hell 2 years ago I thought stuff looked amazing and wouldn't get much better and here we are now and some of the advancements blow my mind.

I mean just comparing games voted best graphics for the last gen console:

http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/06/8269863373b38cf74f57opng-48a31b_640w.png-610x343.jpg

compared to games voted best graphics on the new gen:

http://i0.wp.com/gearnuke.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/20131023-003427.png?resize=798%2C451

Such a vast improvement in such a small period of time. Looking at graphically stunning games from a year or two ago, you'd think to yourself that it can't get much better. And then you see what's released a year or two later, you're like "Wow."

[EpsilonX]

Maybe i'm crazy, but I think the last gen image you posted looks a lot better than the current gen one.

[Mizel]

Really? I feel like the second one is drastically better than the first. The first one, there is still something weird about her face that makes it obvious that it's graphics. The color and depth is... flat and blends/runs together. Like her face looks like one single element - her lips and teeth sort of mesh together into one, her eyes mesh in with the rest of her face. It doesn't look like skin stretched over a skull with individual parts like eyes, eyelids, etc. and depth - but more like a single unit? If that makes any sense lol But that second pic... I thought it was a real photograph.

[paecmaker]

While the eyes looked much better in the second one I didnt really like the light.

(the second pic is it from killzone?)

[EpsilonX]

Really? I feel like the second one is drastically better than the first. The first one, there is still something weird about her face that makes it obvious that it's graphics. The color and depth is... flat and blends/runs together. Like her face looks like one single element - her lips and teeth sort of mesh together into one, her eyes mesh in with the rest of her face. It doesn't look like skin stretched over a skull with individual parts like eyes, eyelids, etc. and depth - but more like a single unit? If that makes any sense lol But that second pic... I thought it was a real photograph.

Completely opposite for me. The first one almost looks like a photograph, but the second one looks more like a game

[Ziek88]

I'd also say the first one looked significantly better. Second one looks weird. The graphical evolution has been pretty drastic. I'm happy too see it but it also makes me sad to a point. It feels like too much pressure is placed on making it look pretty and not enough put in to making it full of good content. The lapse in good games seems to be coming to an end though. I've noticed better releases of late.

[EpsilonX]

I feel like this generation has the smallest jump in graphics. Some last gen games are looking better than next-gen ones.

Check out this comparison video for the MGS5 graphics:
Metal Gear Solid 5 Graphics Comparison PS4 Vs Xbox One - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7gzCRe_flw)

The next gen ones look better, but you have to really look to figure out in what ways

[paecmaker]

I feel like this generation has the smallest jump in graphics. Some last gen games are looking better than next-gen ones.

Check out this comparison video for the MGS5 graphics:
Metal Gear Solid 5 Graphics Comparison PS4 Vs Xbox One - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7gzCRe_flw)

The next gen ones look better, but you have to really look to figure out in what ways

And look between bf 3 and bf4 as well. BF 4 got much better graphics but its not apparent until you start to look closer at things.

The days where the difference between two games are massive is probably gone, pressed deadlines with many changes being more subtle makes up for that.

[EpsilonX]

It's amazing how much the Ultima series has changed over the years

From
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/89/Ultima1-3.gif
to
http://ultima1.ultimacodex.com/files/2012/05/era.jpg

[Trunks]

What about the elder scrolls series.

Arena
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e83/walkertollet/the_elder_scrolls__arena_screen_19_zpsb3d250ab.jpg

Skyrim
http://th04.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2013/110/a/0/in_the_sun_skyrim_screenshots_by_karmela_lkl-d62edws.jpg

Arena was considered the best graphics of it's time, back in 94.

[paecmaker]

But you know, sometimes old graphics are just better.

http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/p/pacman_game-1973.gif


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_QElRoElruow/THc9wtzb3pI/AAAAAAAAANM/DFmOe6Zpuc0/s1600/pacman003.jpg

[EpsilonX]

I had a pacman game for the gamecube and it was awful. I almost beat it, but gave up when my memory card got corrupted

[Thomas1]

I think that even though the games look a lot better, there is something missing in a lot of them. I really liked The Last of Us for example, not because it had amazing graphics (which it did) but because it could actually draw me into the game with the story. Same thing could be said for Red Dead Redemption. I just feel that many games have a lot of sizzle but no steak.

[Shalidor]

Graphics is very important for open-world games, i think. Like Skyrim.

[EpsilonX]

Graphics is very important for open-world games, i think. Like Skyrim.

I'd be just as okay with playing a game like that if it didn't look very good.