Visual Styles of Video-Games and their Purpose
Photo-Realism
The Style of Photo-Realism in Video-Games, or indeed in other forms of media, is focused on creating Visual-Aspects in such a way that they look as close to reality as possible.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Crysis, Call of Duty, Battlefield, Heavy Rain and more.
Cel Shading
The Style of Cel Shaded in Video-Games, or indeed in other forms of media, is focused on the style often found in typical comic books and some cartoons, block colours and outlines are basically essential to this style.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Borderlands, Dragon Quest, XIII, and Legend of Zelda: Windwaker.
Exaggeration
Exaggeration is a Visual Style that focuses on taking every aspect of the game, even if it is based on reality, and turning it up another notch to add emphasis and a “Wow” factor to it, turning it up to 11, so to speak.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Gears of War, Disgaea, Final Fantasy and Street Fighter.
Abstraction
Abstraction is a famously hard to describe visual style, but it is also a very popular one that can often ruin a project if it is not used effectively or correctly. Abstraction is focused more on the feelings and emotions that the game portrays or that the player/developer feels, for example, an evil monster may be hard to discern in terms of its shape and features, but the style in which it is created and how it interacts will give the feelings of what it is without the Audience needing to be told.
Essentially, when creating an Abstract Visual Aspect for any media, you are trying to get across what the object, person or environment is, as well as avoiding simply drawing the thing fully. If the monster is perceived as a monster, then no more detail is probably needed etc.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Limbo, Psychonauts and more.
Photo-Realism
The Style of Photo-Realism in Video-Games, or indeed in other forms of media, is focused on creating Visual-Aspects in such a way that they look as close to reality as possible.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Crysis, Call of Duty, Battlefield, Heavy Rain and more.
Cel Shading
The Style of Cel Shaded in Video-Games, or indeed in other forms of media, is focused on the style often found in typical comic books and some cartoons, block colours and outlines are basically essential to this style.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Borderlands, Dragon Quest, XIII, and Legend of Zelda: Windwaker.
Exaggeration
Exaggeration is a Visual Style that focuses on taking every aspect of the game, even if it is based on reality, and turning it up another notch to add emphasis and a “Wow” factor to it, turning it up to 11, so to speak.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Gears of War, Disgaea, Final Fantasy and Street Fighter.
Abstraction
Abstraction is a famously hard to describe visual style, but it is also a very popular one that can often ruin a project if it is not used effectively or correctly. Abstraction is focused more on the feelings and emotions that the game portrays or that the player/developer feels, for example, an evil monster may be hard to discern in terms of its shape and features, but the style in which it is created and how it interacts will give the feelings of what it is without the Audience needing to be told.
Essentially, when creating an Abstract Visual Aspect for any media, you are trying to get across what the object, person or environment is, as well as avoiding simply drawing the thing fully. If the monster is perceived as a monster, then no more detail is probably needed etc.
Example Video-Games created in this style include Limbo, Psychonauts and more.