Half-Life 2 Panoramics 22
rgovostes writes "VRMag, an online panoramic magazine, has QuickTime VR scenes from Half-Life 2. The corresponding article, Half Life 2: A Panoramic Approach, explains how the images were made and relates photographic elements with the game's rendering engine."
What's the point? (Score:2, Insightful)
Why not just buy the game and get a better perspective? These "panoramic" screen shots don't do any justice to the game. The player's interation with the environment and its objects is what made the game stand out.
Unless his intention was to tease the users that can't afford the system required to play this game, it seems like a lot of work for nothing.
Re:What's the point? (Score:3, Insightful)
However if they were released before the game, they would have given a much better overall environment that screenshots provide.
These would have been great teaser shots. I think Prince of Persia released some, but they were pretty low quality to be any good.
Re:What's the point? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What's the point? (Score:1)
Unless his intention was to tease the users that can't afford the system required to play this game, it seems like a lot of work for nothing.
Or to tease Mac-only users, who can't play it now and never will. ;)
I should add the obligatory "I use a Mac myself, it's only a joke, please don't kill my karma!" line here.
Re:What's the point? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What's the point? (Score:2, Insightful)
The citadel (Score:1, Insightful)
That panorama itself may be a reason for some people to buy the game... Notably to fans of Science Fiction.
Re:The citadel (Score:2)
*SPOILERS AHOY!*
The two 'train' rides in the citadel were probably my favourite sections of the game by far - atmospheric, utterly terrifying, and startlingly well-designed.
I'd read a review [eurogamer.net] before playing the game which quietly alluded to this section - while playing, I assumed there'd be a train ride back from Nova Prospect into a war-torn City 17 (now that could have b
First Story In A Game Ever! (Score:4, Funny)
Apparently nobody ever tried to tell a story in a game before 1998!
Re:First Story In A Game Ever! (Score:2)
hl wasn't even the first game that told a 'story' while leaving the player in totally blind(almost all platformers did that).
it was very good at providing and illusion of a story though when there actually was very little story in it(and the game went to total fuckness with the transition to the alien world).
Re:First Story In A Game Ever! (Score:3, Interesting)
1) All non-POS cameras can produce HDR images. You just need to take multiple images.
2) Adding HDR to a game is quite trivial (it's pretty much like c
Re:First Story In A Game Ever! (Score:2)
Someone better tell Bungie to recall all sold copies of Pathways into Darkness and Marathon I and II then.
Virtual Panoramic (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Virtual Panoramic (Score:4, Interesting)
Using something that actually *works* like panotools and good wide angle lenses, you can whip up good looking shots with minimal effort.
Here's one of my first 360's [blurbco.com] made with two shots and a lens with a 183 degree FOV. There are some problems with the horizon due to it being in the extremeties of the picture, but aside from the lack of resolution, it is pretty much seamless except for one small area by the sailboat where I simply could not get panotools to bend things right. If I'd have had more altitude with the kite, it would have been perfect. Next time I shoot one, it will be
Re:Virtual Panoramic (Score:2)
A better solution is to use a reflective ball.. then use lens correction software to turn the spherical reflection into a full panorama.
Search for "Gazing Ball Panoramas" to get some examples.
Re:Virtual Panoramic (Score:3, Informative)
The other minor problem is the way QTVR maps panoramas. QTVR uses a cubic
Re:Virtual Panoramic (Score:2)
Re:Virtual Panoramic (Score:2)
I think the halflife image has the advantage of having been saved with a lower FOV. The aspect ratio is also a little better which also mitigates the effect somewhat. If you zoom into my kite pano quite a bit you can get the building corners and whatnot to
More HL2 Panoramas (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:More HL2 Panoramas (Score:2)
More importantly, he's found an incredibly straightforward way of creating them. I think I might make use of this trick for my own stuff [hylobatidae.org] - thanks!