Understanding Digital Graphics used within Computer Games

Nathan Bolton

BTEC Level 3 Games Design

Unit 78: Digital Graphics for Computer Games

Assessment 1: Understanding Digital Graphics used within Computer Games

I have done some research on different art styles used in many different kinds of games, such as cel-shaded and photorealism. I have also researched other aspects of games, such as pixels, files etc. Here are two games, one 2D and one 3D to differentiate between the two.

The 2D game is Corpse Party.

The 3D game is Life is Strange.

Corpse Part is a 2D game with a manga/anime kind of style for the PC. It is mainly an exaggerated version of humans and other beings. Mostly the facial features, just like most anime, shows characters with extremely large eyes, tiny noses, a weird shaped mouth and extremely sinister facial expressions. More exaggeration is shown specifically with the female characters are kind of over sexualised.

Life is strange is a 3D game with a photorealism/cel-shaded feeling to it. The game is for the PC, PS4 PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Though the characters look like they should be photorealism, it doesn’t fully look real, but more like a cartoon, a mix between the two styles.

No image capturing was used to design these two games, it is completely made from scratch on a computer.

Corpse Party probably doesn’t use as much pixels as they use in Life is Strange, as Corpse Party gameplay is quite grainy and you can see the little squares quite extremely.

In Life is Strange, because of the detail placed into every corner of the game, it would be easy to understand that this game uses quite a bit of pixels to create the atmosphere as well as the characters themselves. All the colours seem to merge together in an object to give it its 3D effect and you can’t see any graininess, like you do in Corpse Party.

Both games have been optimised for different platforms. Corpse Party has been optimised to work on the PC and their controls.

Life is Strange is optimised to work on the PC, PS4 and PS3, XBox One and XBox 360. The game is compressed for platforms such as PS4 and XBox One. It is less compressed for the PC. Corpse Party is also compressed for the PC.

Life is Strange uses Storage of Image Assets because they need to release 5 episodes in a year and they have to meet a specific deadline. Corpse Party might use storage of image assets as the game is also episodic. Life is Strange probably uses more as it has more pixels and therefore larger amount of space needed, and also because it uses vector images.

Corpse Party uses Raster images because it uses more pixels than Life is Strange uses. Life is strange uses more pixels and so when you zoom into the image, it still looks clear, making it use vector images.

Concept art for Corpse Party was basically drawing everyday anime characters with slightly different skin tones and hair.

Concept art for Life is Strange showed the two main characters of the game, the concept art was shown in colour.