HDR: Lack of realism?

Technology and Gaming
#1

In a previous thread I already asked about creating a HDR skybox.

But I already noticed since Lost Coast, that it’s not equivalent, if you compare it with the real life and how the eyes behave in reality.
In games, you seem to have an exposure adjustment at intervals of seconds, even if you’re not changing your position as coming out of a dark basement.

After creating my own one with HDRShop, I would say, it’s even more realistically not to make a hdr skybox and just to work with the env_sun entity.

What’s your opinion?

#2

Send it in an email to Valve and demand that they abandon HDR completely.

#3

I agree that HDR does not make a game look more realistic. IMO it just adds some ‘BLING’ to make it look like it’s got some “tottaly awesum grapiczz!!1one1!”
As for the exposure adjustment, my eyes take about 10-15 minutes to adjust to very dark or light areas.

I’m not saying HDR is evil and should die in a painful death. I just think that if you look at the screen and think “Wow, look at that HDR” then there’s way too much of it.

#4

HDR in Valve games are generally done tastefully(Episode 1 is an exception) and so personally I feel it’s fine.
Do you really want to wait 10-15 minutes waiting for your character’s eyes to adjust to the light or just a few seconds that doesn’t affect the gameplay?

#5

I assume this question was aimed at me. So… I’m more against becoming blind for a few seconds after coming out of a tunnel. Yes the eyes need time to adjust but people don’t go blind every time someone turns the light on or off. And IMO only direct light sources should be overbright. And if my eyes haven’t adjusted yet, I just squint and it’s no big deal. But hey, these are just my 2 cents on HDR, don’t take it personally. :wink:

#6

Then take a look at this video for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Iykz0gb7Q

You will note, that the brightness of the sky is changing permanently in every second, without any reason…and that’s really strange and also very annoying.

#7

the skybox is not VMT + VTF it is a picture in photoshop not a map how coud it be skybox HDR?

#8

The HDR in Lost Coast and Episode 1 really isn’t that good, they refined their values for Episode 2 luckily.

Didn’t take any of it personally, sorry if I came across that way.

#9

Gordon has special glasses that make his eyes super great at adjusting to light.

The only way to make it more realistic would be to actually blind players with death rays through the monitor

#10

I remembered this^

#11

HDR is better than no HDR. Compare the HL 2 and HL2 Ep.2 skys for proof.

#12

Did you use a tonemap controller and specify HDR values when testing your skybox? Try adjusting the values until your sky looks correct. It takes tweaking, nothing looks perfect on the first try.

#13

I agree, HDR in most video games is completely unrealistic. BFBC2 in particular. The desert levels were like “Wat.”

#14

The HDR fad isn’t as bad as the Camera Flare fad :meh:

#15

Motion blur is creeping up too.

My only input on HDR is that I have yet to enjoy it, but by screen shots. I feel it’s better than not having it.

#16

motion blur kicks ass and there just isn’t enough of it in any game.

#17

Motion blur is fine, it seems out of place because it is really new in games but movies have had it for awhile. Motion blur is good because it means the game will look smoother.

#18

You’ve obviously not played Medal of Honor: Airborne. Oh god the motion blur it hurts mommy it hurts

#19

Subtlety is realism’s best friend.

#20

Look at it this way: At least they’re trying to simulate retinas. It’ll take a while to get it down, but in the meantime, everything looks nicer, if not more realistic.

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