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Additional Features in Source Engine Unveiled

Cinematic Effects in Valve’s Gaming Engine

by Yaroslav Lyssenko

[ 12/15/2005 | 10:22 PM ]

Half-Life 2 the game became almost legendary long before its final release. Being based on the innovative Source engine, the new episode of the Gordon Freeman saga brought a lot of features that made gaming experience more realistic than before. However, even the Half-Life 2 could have been better with some more advanced graphics effects.

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In addition to the HL2, Valve also released Source-based Counter-Strike and Day of Defeat games. While with the switch to the Source engine the games acquired new looks, Valve has been for a while demonstrating certain new features aimed at enhancing the feeling of real-life experience inside the game. Bit-tech.net has managed to take a look at a range of new cinematic effects in the Source engine, such as depth of field, motion blur, film grain, dust, and color correction.

“Opinion on these new cinematic effects is split. On the one hand, there is no doubting that they’re pretty “cool” and in terms of making games more cinematic, they are definitely bringing movies and games closer together. However, there will be a significant number of hardcore gamers that will not welcome these changes, just as the resisted HDR. This vocal minority oppose any eye-candy that might get in the way of holding a competitive edge,” writes bit-tech.net.