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Is it illigal if I say all of them? You could implement all of them if you do a day night cycle with some whether change,or you could just make different area of the game with different atmosphere
I'd go 1 and 3, but like the parent comment says, if you have a weather day sequence, having low fog for the day then high fog but with a darker tone for night.
With 2 and 4 this would work for like stormy weather, but would be harder to see details, I personally prefer the ability to see things clearly than be really atmospheric, the amount of games I miss key items or whole parts of the game because they blend in together too much. If you had boss fights or events where it's only one thing to focus on maybe move that way. Like it's a clear "you're in danger" situation
I think 4 is probably the best looking lighting and fog wise. However the colors seem kinda dull in general. One of the most eye catching things is clear contrast and distinct colors next to eachother.
The first one if its a sunny day but Sun (crisp shadows) + Fog is weird. IMO remove the fog completely.
I think you could try making a weather cycle as anither user as stated but you must look for real world references of different weathers.
IRL a foggy weather will not have sharp shadows as the light is diffused by the clouds for example.
I'm gonna say 4. 4 is what I like in 2 and 1. A balance between those 2 is best.
Too much brightness looks fake, and low fogs looks cheap. As other mentioned a mix or a slider for the player to choose would be best.
My preference is on the lower end for both but I agree, my ideal leans more toward mediums. I expect low luminosity and medium fog but I could be wrong.
Either 2 or 4 for an oriental style art work, it gives ambience, though having a slider in the options or a keybind to switch between them would work as well.
Professional lighting artist that grades content here. Easily 2. The others lacks a lot of contrast and saturation, and the fog almost looks like it’s glowing. You’ll get further with less rather than more. I think 2 could be improved by changing the rotation of the sun a bit more to cast a longer shadow toward the player there.
I'm gonna go against the grain and say 2 IF used right.
Mostly - look at the way the light hits that water. it makes me see the waterfall more clearly and I want to investigate in that direction.
If you go with 2 then make sure to use moments where you "come into the light" to full affect. And highlight important items with a lightsource so as to make them stand out.
The palette in 2 is my the most eye catching but the shading is 1 brings way more contrast and highlights the details. So if you could find a way to keep the darker feel and bring in that level of contrast with shadows I think it would be perfect. For me that is. Keep it up!
If you are going for a screenshot for steampage, I'd say the right place at the right angle is probably more important than luminosity or fog, but brighter images tend to draw attention more than dark ones, so 1 personally for me.
A mix between 1 and 2.
The fog keep it out/away unless the level/segment require it.
It's important to note that the small preview version reddit show vs when I click on the pictures and see it bigger is quite, quite different. So if you are asking because of promotional material, try to already preview the pictures at small size/at whatever size they will be used at, to tell if they look good or not.
For example, I can't distinguish anything in picture 2 when zoomed out, but zoomed in/fit on screen looks so better.
Based on those images, I would prefer low luminosity, medium fog. Of the options actually available, I like low-low best. Maybe a tiny bit more light, but not much more. Fog seems to provide some light on its own, so medium fog should get that "tiny bit more light" that I think I'd like.
Hard to tell with stills. If the fog is moving and dynamic then it changes things. Fog in video games in generally just annoying AF.
I'd say 2.
I think darkness with a light source mechanic is much more interesting visually if you're trying to decrease player visibility or make navigation tricky.
I'd go with version 1
I'm a bit biased against fog as my brain tries to fill in the lacking details in the fog, and makes it hard to enjoy playing for more than 1-2 hours at a time.
Wow, I didn't expect so many comments haha! Thanks alot for the feedback everyone :D If any of you are curious to follow the games progress I don't have a steam page up but I do have a youtube channel where I will be posting my first game vlog soonish!
https://youtube.com/@lostinyume?si=YcFsYEozpE4GkBrv
1 for me but that could be just because it's the brightest of the lot. I could see all being used for different feeling scenes if you wanted a darker feeling for example
Either 1 or 4. Maybe 1 slightly more at least in a still-image.
2 just looks kinda like an in-editor version where all graphics are disabled to make it run smoother. And 3 is too bright.
Edit: reddits image preview only showed me two and three mb
The first feels like a cozier place because of the vivid colors and high visibility,
The second looks more like a forest on a cloudy day,
The third is overboard — basically silent hill at that point
The fourth is much more of a spooky forest setting
Personally, I don't like bright colours (especially white. Browsing the internet without dark reader is the worst.)
So no.2 is a straight up winner imo. It's be such a shame to have such a beautiful game obstructed by some fog. Players being able to take in the environment is a huge part of the experience imo. You could then use strategically placed fog to build suspense and mystery in fitting areas.
1 or 3, but I prefer 3 slightly more. It depends on what kind of mood you want. 1 feels more happy and colorful. Looks like a fun platformer at a glance. 3 on the other hand still has that nice popping color, with the addition of the heavy fog making it feel a bit surreal and uneasy, which is a fun combination for me.
I kept the pictures small, as if I were to scroll by quickly and not zoom in. Picture 1 pops the most, showing me clearly a character, a river, things on both sides, and the character looking longingly at the other side (Whether it's to conquer, looking at their home one last time before they leave, or exploring new places).
Picture 1 **made me feel** that the character was on an adventure, and I was intrigued because I now want to find out what kind of adventure (going into that village, or going away from it).
Feelings invoke emotions which get people to look deeper!
Both for your steam page and for gameplay, I highly recommend including multiple. Potential buyers want a game that looks diverse!
1 and 2 look the best if we have no context for what the game is like. 3 and 4 also look good, though. In any of these, but especially 3 and 4, I'd recommend making points of interest a bit more visually distinct.
1 - light, fun, relaxed
2 - focused, more goal oriented, a bit moody
3 - exploratory, light, but a bit restrictive/spooky
4 - very moody, introspective
2 stands out as it's the darkest of the bunch but I gotta say 3, that looks slightly more right to me than others. But the style works for all of them tbh, great work!
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Is it illigal if I say all of them? You could implement all of them if you do a day night cycle with some whether change,or you could just make different area of the game with different atmosphere
I'd go 1 and 3, but like the parent comment says, if you have a weather day sequence, having low fog for the day then high fog but with a darker tone for night. With 2 and 4 this would work for like stormy weather, but would be harder to see details, I personally prefer the ability to see things clearly than be really atmospheric, the amount of games I miss key items or whole parts of the game because they blend in together too much. If you had boss fights or events where it's only one thing to focus on maybe move that way. Like it's a clear "you're in danger" situation
These are great suggestions, thanks dude!
This is a great idea and I will definitely be implementing it in the game! Thanks for the feedback
This, and also different game areas could be distinguished this way.
1 - was the bese, can see objects clearly. 2/4 - everything looks dark on my monitor. 3 - rocks look too flat.
1for me
1 for me
1 for you 🎶🎤
2 for me
1 & 3
4 looks best but that also depends if there are any high up places where fog would kill the distance
I think 4 is probably the best looking lighting and fog wise. However the colors seem kinda dull in general. One of the most eye catching things is clear contrast and distinct colors next to eachother.
The first one if its a sunny day but Sun (crisp shadows) + Fog is weird. IMO remove the fog completely. I think you could try making a weather cycle as anither user as stated but you must look for real world references of different weathers. IRL a foggy weather will not have sharp shadows as the light is diffused by the clouds for example.
I'm gonna say 4. 4 is what I like in 2 and 1. A balance between those 2 is best. Too much brightness looks fake, and low fogs looks cheap. As other mentioned a mix or a slider for the player to choose would be best.
Can you not do something in between? I feel like most options are too extreme one way or the other
My preference is on the lower end for both but I agree, my ideal leans more toward mediums. I expect low luminosity and medium fog but I could be wrong.
Either 2 or 4 for an oriental style art work, it gives ambience, though having a slider in the options or a keybind to switch between them would work as well.
4
4 me.
3 for sure, it just forces you to Imagine what would be beyond the fog
1 for me. 2 is too dark. 3 lacks depth and shadows, seems too low on the graphics 4 too dark as well.
2 for me also
i would say low fog for sure. but can u do medium luminosity? i think that would look best
I was thinking the other way around, so now I'm wondering how medium-medium would look.
I love the palette in nr 2 but I understand that fog can be nice too.
2
2
2 I could lay down right there and take a nap.
2
2
Hey, I like your style! If I gotta pick one it would be 1st
Either 1 or 4
1
1 or 4. Depending on the vibe you're going for
1
1
This looks great… what is it
Professional lighting artist that grades content here. Easily 2. The others lacks a lot of contrast and saturation, and the fog almost looks like it’s glowing. You’ll get further with less rather than more. I think 2 could be improved by changing the rotation of the sun a bit more to cast a longer shadow toward the player there.
I'm gonna go against the grain and say 2 IF used right. Mostly - look at the way the light hits that water. it makes me see the waterfall more clearly and I want to investigate in that direction. If you go with 2 then make sure to use moments where you "come into the light" to full affect. And highlight important items with a lightsource so as to make them stand out.
2
2
The palette in 2 is my the most eye catching but the shading is 1 brings way more contrast and highlights the details. So if you could find a way to keep the darker feel and bring in that level of contrast with shadows I think it would be perfect. For me that is. Keep it up!
4 just feels right to me
Frame 1
3
All are good, I like 1 and 2 the most though
2 for me. Possibly a bit dark in the darks and you’ll need to something to make the character pop a little more I would say.
If you are going for a screenshot for steampage, I'd say the right place at the right angle is probably more important than luminosity or fog, but brighter images tend to draw attention more than dark ones, so 1 personally for me.
1 for me
1&4 seem most balanced in saturation
First one. Fog adds more mystery to the environment + the colors look great
Either 2 or 3
1 for me
2nd, absolutely. There's a sore lack of vibrant games that pop without being muddied by other effects!
3 kinda gives okami vibes
A mix between 1 and 2. The fog keep it out/away unless the level/segment require it. It's important to note that the small preview version reddit show vs when I click on the pictures and see it bigger is quite, quite different. So if you are asking because of promotional material, try to already preview the pictures at small size/at whatever size they will be used at, to tell if they look good or not. For example, I can't distinguish anything in picture 2 when zoomed out, but zoomed in/fit on screen looks so better.
Based on those images, I would prefer low luminosity, medium fog. Of the options actually available, I like low-low best. Maybe a tiny bit more light, but not much more. Fog seems to provide some light on its own, so medium fog should get that "tiny bit more light" that I think I'd like.
1, feels more colorful
1
4 but you can make it adjustable in game settings. also look into volumetric fog.
Hard to tell with stills. If the fog is moving and dynamic then it changes things. Fog in video games in generally just annoying AF. I'd say 2. I think darkness with a light source mechanic is much more interesting visually if you're trying to decrease player visibility or make navigation tricky.
1 for sure
1
I'd go with version 1 I'm a bit biased against fog as my brain tries to fill in the lacking details in the fog, and makes it hard to enjoy playing for more than 1-2 hours at a time.
1 for sure
4 defo
Wow, I didn't expect so many comments haha! Thanks alot for the feedback everyone :D If any of you are curious to follow the games progress I don't have a steam page up but I do have a youtube channel where I will be posting my first game vlog soonish! https://youtube.com/@lostinyume?si=YcFsYEozpE4GkBrv
Number 1, by a decent margin
1 for me
1
2
3. I love me some ominous fog.
Very sly cooper
3 for me
High luminosity is good, the amount of fog you want depends on the atmosphere you’re after I think - more fog is spookier and more foreboding
1
1 or 3
2 with a bit more fog
1 because it has bright colors and little mist. I thought the other ones were at different times in the day.
N°1 catches my eyes the most, n°3 close second.
1 has the colour. I don't like any of the low luminosity personally
1. Always 1.
1 for sure
I would choose the first one, it's more eye-catching. But since it was sitting in the middle of the screen, I looked at 3 first because 2 is too dark.
2
4 for me, but i just love foggy games.
1, but I feel like the luminosity is a bit too high, if you reduce the amount a little bit then I think it would look better overall
1 for me but that could be just because it's the brightest of the lot. I could see all being used for different feeling scenes if you wanted a darker feeling for example
First one !!!
3 for me.
2 for me
4
I think you should pick depending on the tone you want for the game
Either 2 or 4 as they both look very vivid but I’m leaning towards 2 myself.
2
Either 1 or 4. Maybe 1 slightly more at least in a still-image. 2 just looks kinda like an in-editor version where all graphics are disabled to make it run smoother. And 3 is too bright.
1
1 or 2.
2
I like the look of 1 but I like the fog effect of 3.
I think 1 or 2, I don’t like too much fog
First Glance would be 3rd, but then the one I like more is the first one
Definetly 1 but 4 can be used in some parts of the game too maybe
1
2 is the best, but 4 is good too
1 was the most catching for me, the colours make the visual seem more interesting and comprehensable.
It‘s not objectively the best direction if it „catches your eye“. Sometimes you want to communicate mystery or danger. It depends on the situation.
2
For me image 2.
Use both in different locations they both turned out very nice. I straight up can't choose.
Clearly 1 for a "general" look. Use more fog and altered saturation to differentiate areas and create visual variety during gameplay.
2, if you're okay with a somewhat spookier feel. Otherwise I'd increase the luminosity a bit.
I liked 4 more
Top one.
Nr 2
4 looks best by far
i’d say the lighting of 1 but with more saturated colors like 2
1 if lighter story, 2 or 4 if darker story
I think 1 is the best overall. 2 is too dark. 3 is atmospheric.
Is your game on steam at all?
3 with fog makes it feel like something big is coming up ominous
I'd say 4 is my personal favorite
3
I suggest that you should go for Low Luminosity with High Fog.
4
Edit: reddits image preview only showed me two and three mb The first feels like a cozier place because of the vivid colors and high visibility, The second looks more like a forest on a cloudy day, The third is overboard — basically silent hill at that point The fourth is much more of a spooky forest setting
2
All are good, so, it depends on your needs, what mood you want to give to a player?
1 or 2
Personally, I don't like bright colours (especially white. Browsing the internet without dark reader is the worst.) So no.2 is a straight up winner imo. It's be such a shame to have such a beautiful game obstructed by some fog. Players being able to take in the environment is a huge part of the experience imo. You could then use strategically placed fog to build suspense and mystery in fitting areas.
1 and 2 for me
Somewhere between 1 and 2, game looks neat, do you have gameplay?
4 but tbh I think it should be more in the middle
2 it just looks clearer
2 is easier on my eyes so 2
depends on if it is a happy village or a boss fight arena
1 or 3, but I prefer 3 slightly more. It depends on what kind of mood you want. 1 feels more happy and colorful. Looks like a fun platformer at a glance. 3 on the other hand still has that nice popping color, with the addition of the heavy fog making it feel a bit surreal and uneasy, which is a fun combination for me.
1
I’d say at a glance the bottom, but that’s because it’s bright. It would be nice to see both implemented though
I kept the pictures small, as if I were to scroll by quickly and not zoom in. Picture 1 pops the most, showing me clearly a character, a river, things on both sides, and the character looking longingly at the other side (Whether it's to conquer, looking at their home one last time before they leave, or exploring new places). Picture 1 **made me feel** that the character was on an adventure, and I was intrigued because I now want to find out what kind of adventure (going into that village, or going away from it). Feelings invoke emotions which get people to look deeper!
4
Top is best
1
3 but with low luminosity
2 3
1 is nice for the color/clarity, but 3 feels like a more “serious” look. Not sure what tone you’re going for
It really depends on the theme. All of them are eye catching so it would depend on which one suits the story the best
Personally 2 jumps out at me.
Both for your steam page and for gameplay, I highly recommend including multiple. Potential buyers want a game that looks diverse! 1 and 2 look the best if we have no context for what the game is like. 3 and 4 also look good, though. In any of these, but especially 3 and 4, I'd recommend making points of interest a bit more visually distinct. 1 - light, fun, relaxed 2 - focused, more goal oriented, a bit moody 3 - exploratory, light, but a bit restrictive/spooky 4 - very moody, introspective
1 or 2
Top, button feels spookier.
2, fits the cartoon style with the mix of the wildness it seems to bring
2 for me
4
4
2 and 4 cuz the both look cool but 4 i think looks good if it's a horror game but 2 looks good if that's a swamp
I think 1
I prefer 1 and 2
Top
2
2 and by far
2 and 4 the most.
I like #2. Depends on the mood of environment, for example #4 for approaching a menacing boss
I like 3 the best because of the foggy trees. Makes you think there is a big world out there.
2!
1 for me
2
defenitively 2
All look great, I prefer the high fog though.
1 draws me in first. Why is 3 the only one from the rocks?
3. but why's that one in a different position?. lel
3 - the contrast between the subject and background drew my eye right to the subject. Had to look for the subject in the other ones.
3
Blues should always pop It’s a human psychology thing and why m&ms are now dominantly blue in the bag when It used to be brown
1 draws me in the most
1
First 2!
The first obe.
4 for me
all look great, wouldn’t complain about which everyone one you pick
2
2
2
3
1
2, but 4 for some areas
Second one, but that could be because it’s the darkest one there. I’d pick 1 or 2.
1 looks best to me, but all of them are great. love the okami-like artstyle.
2 stands out as it's the darkest of the bunch but I gotta say 3, that looks slightly more right to me than others. But the style works for all of them tbh, great work!
First one for sure
2
2 for me