Photorealism and Fallout 3

Klosterman dedicates chapter four to “The Illusions,” meaning the look of modern technology such as computer interfaces and video game art. Video game art is what I will be targeting in my blog this week. In The Language of New Media, Klosterman talks about the history of “photorealism” in the computer world. As early as the 1970s, people were developing such techniques as Phong shading, bump mapping, and other methods that are still used today in games like Fallout 3.
In an article I found on MSNBC.com, the author is explaining that Fallout 3 is the front-runner for game of the year. He states that a main reason for this is the design and look of the levels. As he writes in the article, “One of the greatest accomplishments in Fallout 3 is the gloriously detailed, unbelievably vast world of the Capital Wasteland.” He goes on to say that the game is full of knockout cinematic moments. Without these elements that were created a long time ago (as far as computer graphic technology is concerned) Fallout 3 would just be another Pong.
In the past couple years, most if not all games with 3D graphics have involved depth of field effects (even South Park uses this often for a great effect), linear perspective and different kinds of tonal and color range. Fallout 3 is one game that uses this tonal and color range that Klosterman mentions very well. The whole game has a dirty, rugged feel that is gained through the use of a dark green/brown filter over the whole world that gives the player a feel of something other than cleanliness.
Although there have been great leaps in the realism established in computer graphics, it is almost impossible for there to ever be a completely realistic image in a computer generated image. There will always be some level of illusion in it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27478884/