Alpha 0.5: Global illumination (screenshots and discussion about new lighting)

Sorry for late answer, I have been on vacation :slight_smile: I have fixed that issue with the shadows by installing the newest drivers :slight_smile:

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One thing that bothers me about the lighting in KC:D (and similar 1st person games) in general is that it does not simulate human eyesight. Just watching yesterday’s livestream, it was glaring obvious again, e.g. when entering the house to loot some equipment from a chest. Outside, it was bright daylight, and naturally the interior was much darker. However, human eyes will adjust to the darkness fairly quickly, but in the game the interior lighting remained the same level no matter how long it took the guy to open the chest. The same effect can be seen when entering a forest. It’s darker than under open sky (naturally) initially, but there is no change to the level of illumitation that would account for the eyes adapting to the darker environment.

To me, it often feels that game graphics strive for visuals that you may find in a movie, which is okay for 3rd person or isometric games, but it seems out of place in a 1st person perspective, espeicially when the developers otherwise go to great lengths to show everything as seen through the eyes of the player character.

The other thing is contrast, although I think that may not be as big an issue with KC:D. But I’ve recently been playing Witcher 2 and the mixture of bright and dark spots in forest areas really messes up my vision.

it might have not benn visible in the live stream but there is an light adjustmen when entering buildings.
Not sure about the forest though.

Yes light adjustmen is there. It’s not very noticeable but that is realistic you don’t really notice it in real life.


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Hm … I see. I guess I’ll have to wait until I can try for myself ingame (Linux, only, so not able to run the Alpha).

Just from looking at the 2nd image, I’d still say the interior is pitch-black. What I’d love to see (and I’d believe that would be realistic) is a 3rd picture with the same scene as the 2nd, just 10 seconds later, with more details visible.

It may appear darker on the screenshot, in game you can see indoors just fine.
Problem is that if it would by brighter windows would be overxposed almost white and that would look more like movie.

Have to say that the images look more bright on my monitor at home than they did back in the office. Guess that display hardware and settings seem to play quite a big role on the perception.

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I love the lighting. Don’t know, how it might have been before, since I started with 0.5, but the game looks just beautifull…

I think The Last of Us did something like this but I can’t be sure. I recall seeing the colors reflected onto an adjacent surface if a wall was illuminated by flashlight. Great stuff.