HA1 - Task 2 – Artistic Styles

Photo-realism:

Photorealism is an extremely realistic style of painting and drawing, in which the artwork is based entirely on a photograph. Photorealist art is most appreciated for its huge WOW! factor. People often mistake photorealist paintings for actual photographs. It sometimes takes a second look to realize that the artwork is actually a painting!


http://www.art-is-fun.com/photorealism.html

Photo-realism is also used in many games today so that they can have the best graphics on the market. Games such as The Last Of Us, GTA V, Batman and Forza 5 all use photo-realistic scenes to improve the overall gaming experience for the player but taking things in real life that are almost impossible to have and giving it to the player. It creates an escape to a world where all your dreams come true without any of he risks that could be involved. In my opinion photo-realistic graphics in games are the way forward and I enjoy them the most with exceptions for Minecraft but over all graphics are important to me because thats what you focus on the most and they get you amerced into the game itself.  

http://www.forzamotorsport.net/en-us/games/fm5

Source: http://attackofthefanboy.com/news/last-us-remastered-screenshot-comparison-shows-major-changes/ 

Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/games/grand_theft_auto_v/b/ps3/archive/2013/05/02/the-art-of-the-heist-in-gta-v.aspx 

Source: http://www.moviecricket.com/batman-arkham-origins-review-top-5-moments-28657/


















Cel Shading:

Cel-shading, sometimes misspelled as 'cell shading', is an animation technique in which three-dimensional objects are rendered to appear two-dimensional, as if hand-drawn in the same manner as a cartoon or comic book. The first video games to feature such a style include Doctor Hauzer for the 3DO in 1994 and Parappa the Rapper for the PlayStation in 1996. However, it was in 2000 that the style first gained prominence, with the release of Fear Effect for the PlayStation and especially Jet Set Radio for the Dreamcast.

Source: http://www.giantbomb.com/cel-shading/3015-173/


Jet Grind Radio was announced at Tokyo Game Show 1999 and gained much attention due to a revolutionary style of graphics called "cel-shading". Jet Grind Radio was the first video game to feature this cartoon-like graphical style.




Text Source: http://www.giantbomb.com/jet-set-radio/3025-376/


Image Source: http://www.jeuxcapt.com/Jet-Set-Radio-Xbox-360-images-12240.html

Personally I don't like this type of art style with the exception of the borderlands franchise because it just looks too childish and I can't into the game as much as i would want to because the graphics distract me from the story and the game play. Also I feel that this type of graphics isn't easy on the eye and you have to really focus to see what is meant to be what, it looks like the game is in alpha and not fully developed. Finally if the game is meant to be serious or dramatic then this graphic style would definitely take away from that and make the game boring because it can't be what it was meant to.

Abstraction:

Abstract art can be a painting or sculpture (including assemblage ) that does not depict a person, place or thing in the natural world -- even in an extremely distorted or exaggerated way. Therefore, the subject of the work is based on what you see: color, shapes, brushstrokes, size, scale and, in some cases, the process (see action painting).

Source: http://arthistory.about.com/od/glossary_a/a/a_abstract_art.htm

Abstraction in used in games such as geometry wars (shown on the left) because these games are purely just for mindless fun and enjoyment by just using the simple things such as lights, colours, sound, movement and shapes an addictive fun game can be created. With no story or levels these games are created to rest your brain as you don't have to follow any story line. Its clear that the characters and player are not representing anything at all there is no age target market on these games but are just fun for everyone of all ages. Having played no complete abstract games (closet I've come is playing guitar hero) my overall feel is that these games are usually fast paced and straight to the point which I personally enjoy because you don't have to worry about dying and having to restart a mission or anything like that but they are purely just made for fun.


Source: http://www.mywiinews.com/tag/high-voltage/

Exaggeration:

Exaggeration is used in games, mostly in RPGs, this art style is used for animé and manga typically, this art style is where the artist exaggerates many things within the game, mostly games with a Japanese influence, for example, in the game "final fantasy 7" the character "cloud" has a huge sword.
Exaggeration is also used for emotions, as the characters have bigger eyes when sad, and strong characters are muscular etc.

A lot of designers exaggerate things like weapons or vehicles the characters can use to make the player like them more as they look, feel and shoot more awesome. This gains more interest in their games, as would you rather drive a ford focus..... or a mustang with rocket launchers, nitros, machine guns, shields and hover car capability.

Source: http://ragingflame62.blogspot.co.uk/

Another game which uses exaggeration is the Tomb Raider series which always make the main character of Laura Croft to be this inconceivable woman who does these impossible operations like crafting weapons or grappling hooks from materials which are found on this island in the middle of nowhere. She can also survive these death defying plunges to the floor without a scratch or bump in sight. The most well know thing to be exaggerated about Laura Croft is her looks and her breast size, these have always been exaggerated just to attract more players to the franchise but they were just ridiculous to the point where it was ludicrous. Also the clothes she wears are not suitable for any situation but its revealing which is what they was going for.

   As you can see the body proportions are completely exaggerated to the extent where the character becomes impossible to relate to which ruins the gaming experience for the player.








Source: http://videogamewriters.com/tomb-raider-and-the-scene-which-may-define-the-games-maturity-47907