I found a easy way to use the bloom shader effect in my prerenderd 3D backgrounds for an adventure game. I it looks kinda cool, but it is starting to be a little over-used in the gaming industry, so I was wondering what you people think of it, is it going to continue being a cool effect or is it going to be a fad that is as laughable as the photoshop lens flair in a couple years? If you don't know what effect im talking about click here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloom_%28shader_effect%29
It has already become quite a cliche for a next gen game to have massive bloom everywhere. It seems most developers have realised that it got a bit silly and have toned back the bloom, but not all.
It's a decent effect as long as you use it where appropriate. Think like a photographer, think about what your lighting being blown out like that is doing to a picture, and use it intelligently.
When used to the proper effect, bloom is gorgeous, otherwise, yeah, it's a bit like lens flare (which, to everyone's chagrin, I still enjoy using from time to time). It depends on the effect you want to get. I have no idea why bloom shading would be used in a game like, oh, I don't know... Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six... But in a game in that same genre, such as FEAR, which incorporates an otherworldliness, it can be used to create a terrible, washed-out feeling like you're not altogether sure if you're in this world or the next. In a game like, for example, Dungeon Siege, which is just a total hack-and-slash dungeon crawl, it would seem just a bit goofy, but in another game also in the fantasy genre, Fable, it was used to beautiful end effect, creating a fantastic fairy-tale feeling that still just about mists over my eyes every time I play it. Going into Dungeon Siege, you just want to kill things. Going into Fable, you want to be transported into a different world where things are just a bit... off.
the typical "massive blooms" are cheesy. but blooms are indeed realistic when used in the right amount. same as good lensflare plugins are good when used in the right amount
Yes. Bloom is great when going for a certain effect, or when used in moderation. I remember how you would get blinded in oblivion were you dumb enough to look at a sheep
hehe i wouldnt know about that. our sheep here are brown with black bellies
Bloom is a nice effect, but overused so it would get noticed.
Also:
VGCats #223: Gaussian Blur (http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=224)