"Alan Wake" in-game graphics (2010 release)

[Bob The Skutter]

Re: Alan Wake

Lots of games have day/night cycles now, Burnout Paradise, Red Faction, GTA4, are they ones that just spring to mind this second.

The things they should a couple of years back did look impressive, dynamic weather cycles, etc. But until I have the game in my hands, running on my xbox smoothly and see what it's like for myself, I'm not going to get that excited about what now looks like a slightly above average game.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Re: graphics 2006-2009 vs Alan Wake

Sorry I misread the Gamespy website and thought it said June 2009 not June 2008.

I was just going to say "hey, is this a sequel to last year's AITD?"

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Alan Wake light comparisons

Lots of games have day/night cycles now, Burnout Paradise, Red Faction, GTA4, are they ones that just spring to mind this second.

thanks.

In the sunlight daylight scenes I was speaking of about Alan Wake:

Crackdown (X360) starts to approach it
http://media.xbox360.gamespy.com/media/773/773714/imgs_3.html

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) starts to approach similar lighting but it looks fake.
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...es/grand-theft-auto-iv-20070525014328794.html

Gears of War 2 has some great atmospheric effects which help.
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20081014043351308.html
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20081014043400542.html
and some good lighting
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20080904115316466.html
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20080626102922224.html
Actual different lighting for the same location based on sunlight:
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20080626103054177.html
http://xbox360.gamespy.com/dor/obje.../images/gears-of-war-2-20080626103057786.html

Even the 2005 game Battlefield 2 had some good sunlighting effects:
http://pc.gamespy.com/dor/objects/677882/battlefield-2/images/battlefield-2-20050614102532646.html
http://pc.gamespy.com/dor/objects/677882/battlefield-2/images/battlefield-2-20050617045200231.html
http://pc.gamespy.com/dor/objects/677882/battlefield-2/images/battlefield-2-20050302020345027.html

When debating visual graphics comparisons specific examples [with links] are a must.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I was working on the assumption that you'd likely be a gamer who'd played newer games often. Plus I can't really be bothered to go looking around for screenshots and videos to show the right conditions.

I was just mentioning to a friend a few days ago how graphics seemed to stagnate for a while a few years back, to the point where we saw graphics from current gen systems and assumed they were pre-rendered. But now we expect that level of graphics as a minimum. Times change, what was impressive a year ago can look dated now.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

we expect that level of graphics as a minimum. Times change, what was impressive a year ago can look dated now.

I agree.

 

[Jim Steele]

When debating visual graphics comparisons specific examples [with links] are a must.

I think everyone having access to google is more than sufficient.

Every engine has its strengths and weaknesses, but in a broad sense, I'm not seeing anything being done in this that Source, Cryengine, Gamebryo, Unreal 3.0, RAGE and even *renderware* isn't demonstratably capable of. Also, the Naughty Dog engine that powers Uncharted 1&2 - that's one impressive bit of software.

It all boils down to the execution, and the optimisation. If Wake can consistently look as good as, for example, Fable 2 while running in 1080p on 360 hardware at a stable 30fps (AHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA like hell) then I'll be damn impressed. Until then, it's going to look and feel like a pretty average current gen title.

Red Faction

I've found Red Faction's graphics to be bloody good, especially for an open world game with *that* destruction engine. Seriously, run up to a brick wall and smash it with the hammer. Then note that every piece of the wall tumbling to the ground (with Havok physics, naturally) has its own soft shadowing, rendered according to the day/night cycle.

That's not to mention some of the high resolution texturing (although not all of it is that crisp), the weather effects (no rain of course, but dust storms and lots of subtle touches to the lighting).

It's a very nice looking game. Certainly not the *best* looking title out there, but impressive nonetheless when you consider the open world nature of it and the GeoMod aspect.

 

[clint g]

Re: Alan Wake

Lots of games have day/night cycles now, Burnout Paradise, Red Faction, GTA4, are they ones that just spring to mind this second.

The things they should a couple of years back did look impressive, dynamic weather cycles, etc. But until I have the game in my hands, running on my xbox smoothly and see what it's like for myself, I'm not going to get that excited about what now looks like a slightly above average game.

Hell they've been doing day/night cycles since Ocarina of Time back on the N64 lol

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Dec.2009] has some nice depth-of-field control and daylight lighting, texturing, and even Dutch angles.
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000202913.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090203014827973.html
and far depth to the screen
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000217834.html


and the just released this month Red Faction: Guerrilla (PS3)
has some great locations that could pass for alien planet sets
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044040537.html
Really. This structure and location could be found in a Star Trek TV episode on a planet.


as well as some nice lighting effects (specular highlights and halo glows)
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044052317.html

and some epic wideshots
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044002492.html

as well as some depth-of-field control
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044049693.html

and atmospheric effects and lighting
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044026569.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104723829.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104726375.html

They are different than Alan Wake but I am starting to see a nice movement towards better lighting and use of atmospheric effects.

 

[clint g]

Re: Alan Wake

Lots of games have day/night cycles now, Burnout Paradise, Red Faction, GTA4, are they ones that just spring to mind this second.

The things they should a couple of years back did look impressive, dynamic weather cycles, etc. But until I have the game in my hands, running on my xbox smoothly and see what it's like for myself, I'm not going to get that excited about what now looks like a slightly above average game.

Hell they've been doing day/night cycles since Ocarina of Time back on the N64 lol

 

[LightningStorm]

There was even night and day WAAAAY back in Castlevania II: Simon's Quest on the original Nintendo.

 

[Jim Steele]

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Dec.2009] has some nice depth-of-field control and daylight lighting, texturing, and even Dutch angles.
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000202913.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090203014827973.html
and far depth to the screen
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000217834.html


and the just released this month Red Faction: Guerrilla (PS3)
has some great locations that could pass for alien planet sets
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044040537.html
Really. This structure and location could be found in a Star Trek TV episode on a planet.


as well as some nice lighting effects (specular highlights and halo glows)
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044052317.html

and some epic wideshots
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044002492.html

as well as some depth-of-field control
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044049693.html

and atmospheric effects and lighting
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044026569.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104723829.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104726375.html

They are different than Alan Wake but I am starting to see a nice movement towards better lighting and use of atmospheric effects.

I suggest you seek out some actual direct feed footage (in HD, Gametrailers is a good bet) of these things running rather than looking at screenshots released by the devs, which are almost always "photoshots" (photoshopped screenshots). Or better yet, actually play the titles in question.

Screenshots, as you well know, do not tell the whole picture and often distort it.

That goes for Alan Wake too. You don't know what it's *really* going to look like until you have it running on a screen in front of you. Until then there's really very little basis for declaring it revolutionary.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3) [Dec.2009] has some nice depth-of-field control and daylight lighting, texturing, and even Dutch angles.
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000202913.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090203014827973.html
and far depth to the screen
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/...harted-2-among-thieves-20090123000217834.html


and the just released this month Red Faction: Guerrilla (PS3)
has some great locations that could pass for alien planet sets
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044040537.html
Really. This structure and location could be found in a Star Trek TV episode on a planet.


as well as some nice lighting effects (specular highlights and halo glows)
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044052317.html

and some epic wideshots
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044002492.html

as well as some depth-of-field control
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044049693.html

and atmospheric effects and lighting
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20090320044026569.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104723829.html
http://ps3.gamespy.com/dor/objects/.../red-faction-guerrilla-20080717104726375.html

They are different than Alan Wake but I am starting to see a nice movement towards better lighting and use of atmospheric effects.

I suggest you seek out some actual direct feed footage (in HD, Gametrailers is a good bet) of these things running rather than looking at screenshots released by the devs, which are almost always "photoshots" (photoshopped screenshots). Or better yet, actually play the titles in question.

Screenshots, as you well know, do not tell the whole picture and often distort it.

That goes for Alan Wake too. You don't know what it's *really* going to look like until you have it running on a screen in front of you. Until then there's really very little basis for declaring it revolutionary.

Pretty much my point too. You can't judge it until you play it. Does it run smooth, does it tear or stutter? blah blah blah.

Games can look fantastic, but play like shit. You can only tell when you're actually playing it.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

"Alan Wake" in-game graphics rendering technology

Max Payne developer Remedy Entertainment has licensed rendering technology from Umbra Software for use on its upcoming game, Alan Wake.

"Umbra gave a significant boost in rendering performance on the Xbox 360, and at the same time made our content creation faster," said Remedy development director Markus Mäki. "With Umbra's culling technology, Remedy's team can add more details to Alan Wake's world and concentrate on the cool visuals while minimizing tedious work such as adding portals."
Alan Wake joins a long list of high-profile titles that employ the tech, including CCP's EVE Online, BioWare's upcoming Dragon Age: Origins, and Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/alan-wake-development-boosted-by-umbra
from a June 5 announcement

Umbra is a GPU accelerated rendering optimization middleware available for PC, Xbox360 and PS3.

http://www.umbrasoftware.com/index....icleid=20&cntnt01origid=51&cntnt01returnid=54

 

[jefferiestubes8]

"Alan Wake"

Remedy responded to the comparison to Atari's Alone in the Dark – which plays out in a similar episodic style, by asserting that they prefer to take inspiration from media other than games.

"We look at films, music, books... so a TV series works out well," said Myllyrinne. "Twin Peaks has been a favorite. So if you look at the location you can see that kind of quaint, small town with deep, dark secrets underneath."

2009 Q4 release date.

Alan Wake is set to be released on Xbox 360 this fall

SOURCE

the new gameplay footage video [Length: 4:29] here.

 

[Goliath]

Cannot wait for Alan Wake, I've been waiting too far long for that game.

Indeed. I've started calling it Alan Wait.

Or maybe Alan Wakem Forever.

 

[PKerr]

Something interesting that was implied at MS's press conference and now confirmed is that their framing mechanism is emulating a TV show

Jeez, are they TRYING for Alone in the Dark comparisons?

I thought that when I read about it.

I thought Alan Wake looked fantastic 3 years ago, now it looks nothing special.

My thoughts exactly.
The longer this game takes to come out, the less and less I become interested in it.
Honestly (IMO) E3 didn't do the game any favors.
When I saw the footage my first thought was "Didn't I already play this game?" Oh wait no that was Alone in the Dark, last year.

I'm certainly not trying to down the game, I too was very excited about playing it (several years ago) but now it feels like been there, done that...several times.

The day/night lighting and such that is being argued, again has been done it several newer games and again is nothing to jump up and down about.

As has been stated here (again several times) until the game is closer to release or better yet, in our hands I reserve my excitement for games that I know that will be released in a timely manor this year.

Wolfenstien
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Section 8
Darkest Of Days
Dark Void
Halo 3:ODST
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Borderlands
Modern Warfare 2
Left 4 Dead 2
The Saboteur

I'm talking to you.

 

[JonathonWally]

Guess I've been living under a rock, first I've heard of the game, looks awesome!

Any chance there's a hi-res version of that clip around?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Guess I've been living under a rock, first I've heard of the game, looks awesome!

Any chance there's a hi-res version of that clip around?

I think Gametrailers.com has a hd version.

 

[JonathonWally]

Guess I've been living under a rock, first I've heard of the game, looks awesome!

Any chance there's a hi-res version of that clip around?

I think Gametrailers.com has a hd version.

Thanks Bob, game looks awesome!

 

[gh4chiefs]

The best looking visuals I've seen so far that approximate reality have been from the trailers and walk through in-game tours I've seen of "Alan Wake".
The lighting and atmospheric effects approach a feature film. This is a major shift in quality.
What do you guys think of the in-game visuals from the posted youtube videos so far?

"Crysis" being the next best simulation of the real world.

Is it ever going to come out though?

You mean it's a real game? I thought it was a mythical beast, somewhat like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.