The Importance of Lighting for Games
The end goal of video game development is to create a world that the player becomes immersed in. While the characters and scene are important for setting the mood, it’s important to remember that lighting has a great impact on the mood, as well. It has one of the most influential roles within the world, and incorrect lighting can make or break the visuals.
Since games are interactive, the lighting will also need to change based on the character’s actions. For example, a player’s ability to shoot out a light and whether or not they will make that decision will change each scenario within the world. Lighting also changes based on the player’s position, perspective, and movement within the game. This is why lighting in games versus movies is drastically different.
Lighting in Games VS. Movies
Achieving ideal lighting in games requires skill from more intermediate to experienced artists. In movies, the amount of light in a scene is often determined by the camera angle, and it’s designed to look perfect for that particular situation. In a movie, the viewer doesn’t have the option to move the camera and get a different angle, but in video games, they do.
Light has a major impact on how the player perceives the game, so it is typically more complex to perfect than in movies. Lighting is also responsible for stirring emotion within the player. For example, horror games typically have many different deep shadows for hiding. If the lights suddenly came on, then it would drastically change the emotion within the game. Lighting is about more than just having an illuminating source.
What Video Game Lighting Artists Do
By now, you know that video game lighting is more important than what most people think. A lighting artist is responsible for the overall look and feel of the entire game (within their field). They are also responsible for ensuring that the player can see.
These artists create “man-made” lights such as light bulbs and candles, but they are also responsible for creating “natural light” that comes from the sun, sky, clouds, and more. They also may add some color grading and image effects to achieve the desired look.
While creating light sources sounds simple, you also must keep in mind that artists have the knowledge of the technical aspects of lighting since the game is interactive and moving. The artist will not only create the light sources, but also will work with render tech engineers to solve any frame-rate-related problems.
Many artists prefer to take lighting in phases – primary and secondary. With the primary lighting, the artists will address general visibility and natural light. These are also the “big shapes” within the frame. The secondary lights are smaller shapes, such as candles and flashlights. After general lighting is complete, the artist will look into color grading, bug fixing, and scene optimization.
