Chapter 1: The Graphics Race

The gaming industry, much like other forms of entertainment, is perpetually chasing the latest trends. Developers often scramble to replicate successful formulas, especially when a new genre captures public interest. A successful title can spawn numerous sequels, only for the excitement to wane after a while, leading to inevitable reboots.

This trend-chasing extends to visual technology. Initially, advancements are introduced to encourage consumers to invest in costly new hardware. Subsequently, game developers must release engaging titles that showcase these new graphical features, lest they fade into obscurity. The original Xbox era introduced techniques such as bump mapping and normal mapping, while Nvidia’s RTX cards brought ray tracing to the consumer market, enhancing reflections, shadows, and lighting effects.

In the realm of modern gaming, Death Stranding notably emphasizes detailed rocks, highlighting this visual trend.

The marketing of Unreal Engine 5 has brought attention to a technology called “Nanite.” This feature utilizes the tessellation capabilities of graphics cards to efficiently manage geometric detail, significantly reducing issues like pop-in while allowing developers to optimize their extensive art assets on the fly. Notably, it excels at rendering realistic rocky surfaces. Many recent games showcase these high-quality rocks, including Lords of the Fallen, which employs Nanite to enhance both its fantasy landscapes and the pulsating goo in its netherworlds.

Section 1.1: The Kojima Influence

Hideo Kojima, a visionary in game design, has been pivotal in popularizing the focus on detailed graphics, particularly with his 2019 title, Death Stranding. While it doesn't utilize Unreal Engine, it employs Sony's Decima engine, which also powers the Horizon series. In contrast to Horizon, which highlights lush environments, Death Stranding directs its visual resources towards intricately designed rocks.

Unlike other games, the rocks in Death Stranding play a crucial role in gameplay. Players must skillfully traverse uneven terrain while balancing physics-driven cargo. One misstep can lead to catastrophe, creating a magical blend of visual appeal and gameplay mechanics. This integration elevates the aesthetic into an essential gameplay element, a practice I wish more developers would adopt.

Subsection 1.1.1: The Diablo IV Experience

While Diablo IV utilizes a more traditional engine, it still features an impressive array of detailed rocks. The game employs a top-down view and fast-paced action, relegating rocks to the background, primarily serving to impress players rather than enhance gameplay.

I find this approach acceptable, yet it raises questions about the necessity of such detailed graphics. Even with hardware advancements, the resources dedicated to these rocks could potentially be redirected to enhance characters, effects, or animations that would contribute more meaningfully to the gaming experience. While it’s visually appealing to see more realistic environments, we may have reached a point of diminishing returns. I would love to see developers use these surfaces as integral components of gameplay or storytelling, perhaps even introducing quirky villains centered around rock collection—though I say that half in jest.

Chapter 2: The Limits of Detail

Hardware-accelerated tessellation is not a novel concept; it has been attempted in the past with varying degrees of success. For instance, Dragon Age II offered a feature that added new geometry, enhancing some areas while causing glitches where characters would clip through the ground due to unassigned collision properties.

Recent implementations have improved significantly. During gaming sessions with friends, we often comment on the impressive rocky details we see, suggesting that this technique has sparked interest, at least among a niche audience. However, I find that static, hyper-detailed rocks don’t provide the same enjoyment as the interactive physics-rich environments of games like Half-Life 2 or Bioshock.

I would gladly trade some of the intricate details in a game like Dragon’s Dogma 2 for more vibrant character animations and a seamless world where characters don’t pop into existence a few feet away. Early design decisions influence these outcomes, and I can't help but wonder if executives, seeing the visual success of Unreal Engine titles, feel pressured to prioritize rock detail at the expense of other gameplay features or the well-being of artists.

While I’m not advocating for a decline in visual quality, I believe that utilizing tools thoughtfully holds more value than simply checking boxes for features. The prevalence of “detailed rocks” across many games might signify a shift in visual trends, especially since technologies like Unreal Engine 5 are now accessible to indie developers, expanding the reach of this graphical trend.

Perhaps, in the next generation, Nintendo will surprise us with a “Mario but also Rocks” game, sparking a new trend in the rocky surface genre. I initially wrote that as a playful comment, but I’d genuinely be intrigued to see it come to fruition.

In this episode of The Retro Hour, the hosts discuss the significance of the evolution of graphics in gaming and its impact on game design and player experience.

Join the conversation on how intricate visual details, such as detailed rocks, shape the future of video games, with insights from industry veterans.