Graphics is key to gaming industry
One of the most important things in a video game is its presentation, specifically the graphics. They set the tone of the game based on the style of graphics from, each huge object down to the smallest detail. It has been six years since the release of the Xbox 360 and five years since the release of the PlayStation 3. In those years, graphics have become better and better, surpassing anyone’s expectations.
When comparing the games first released when both consoles entered the market to today’s games, the biggest change is graphics. Most of the early games had decent graphics. The terrain of games looked very unprofessional to the point where mountains, hills and trees were not realistic and polygons could be seen through the multiple layers of detail. Characters were not as detailed and facial expressions were practically nonexistent.
Fast forward to this year. A game called L.A. Noire, a detective game made by Rockstar which will come out in May, features an interrogation mini-game where players are able to tell if a character is lying or telling the truth through facial expressions. Killzone 3 is the latest PlayStation 3 game exclusive and it uses the full capacity of the PlayStation 3 graphics. Compared to other first-person shooter games, Killzone 3 stands alone solely because of its graphics. From facial structure to the destroyed buildings, futuristic vehicles and of course, explosions, it is one of the best examples so far of how far graphics has evolved in only a few years.
In retrospect, the evolution of graphics is very fast-paced. Twenty years ago, most games were pixilated during the 8-bit era. The Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation were the pioneers in giving games height, width and most importantly, depth. After that, the PlayStation 2 and Xbox gave games smoother graphics, which greatly reduced the pixilation of games, but it was not until the PS3 and Xbox 360 when graphics reached new heights. With today’s technology, the sky is the limit for graphics. There have been so many technical demos of various graphics engines in conventions to showcase the power of each graphics system. In a highly competitive market such as the gaming industry, the demand for better graphics will always increase. Fortunately for gamers, there does not seem to be a shortage in graphics in the near future.
