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    HDR *Does anyone actually like it?*

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Bungalo Bill, Nov 15, 2008.

  1. Bungalo Bill

    Bungalo Bill Notebook Deity

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    I loved the idea when they started thinking about dynamic lighting. How awesome would it be to have realistic sun?! Then valvE started using HDR and boy was I disappointed. Woo, dynamic screen washout! It just looked terrible, but I had hope. I just left it off and hoped for future implementations. Now today I have seen it in fallout 3 and other games. It still looks terrible. Just washes out parts of the screen. I realize the sun is bright, but it's just unrealistic. Graphics have come a logn way in lighting, but HDR is a step backwards. I think it needs to be entirely rethought...or scrapped til hardware improves...or something. So, anyone agree? Am I just crazy loopy go nuts?
     
  2. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

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    hdr is nice in some cases, like lighting in dark environments.
    I think it really depends on how it's implemented, in nfs:mw, the bloom/hdr is just terrible, ruined the game.
     
  3. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

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    it does sh!t all in far cry 2, so no, i much prefer bloom
     
  4. JCMS

    JCMS Notebook Prophet

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    Depends. In Oblivion I love it.
     
  5. pacmandelight

    pacmandelight Notebook Deity

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    Current HDR in games makes me nauseous. HDR in photographs make me sick too. HDR would be good if it was not so overdone.
     
  6. SmoothTofu

    SmoothTofu Inspiron 1420 Owner

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    I like it in moderation, but it gets annoying/blurred/washed out when it's too extreme.
     
  7. mrsamsa

    mrsamsa Notebook Evangelist

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    HDR depends completely on the implementation. If it's well done it's an amazing effect. It does a lot more than you'd think at 1st glance. It's more than straight up lighting. The commentary in Lost Coast does a good job explaining it and I think it's silly to say it does nothing or is worthless.
     
  8. TehSuigi

    TehSuigi Notebook Virtuoso

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    HDR in TF2 makes me cry - really does a number on my framerate.
     
  9. Harper2.0

    Harper2.0 Back from the dead?

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    I like fish sticks :p

    Since my video card isn't strong enough to handle HDR with newer games, I have to vote I like fish sticks(aka neutral). I have not had much experience with it, though the pictures I've seen do like nice!
     
  10. cathy

    cathy Notebook Evangelist

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    I like HDR, but I guess it depends on how well it was done on the game. I love the HDR in TF2. It kinda makes everything look much more vibrant.
     
  11. ahl395

    ahl395 Ahlball

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    I love the way HDR makes Test Drive Unlimited look.

    Although, i cant use it because im stubborn and need Anti-Alaisting on Max, at 1440x900, and Details on High, so no room for HDR as well. :(
     
  12. anarky321

    anarky321 Notebook Deity

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    i think its way overdone; i turn it off on every game i play, bloom too

    HDR is why i wear sunglasses outside, i dont want it in all my games too
     
  13. StormEffect

    StormEffect Lazer. *pew pew*

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    I like HDR in Farcry 2 and Souce Engine games. I can't remember if there is any in Gears of War 1 or not...might just be grain.

    Anyway, I actually like it quite a lot, but mostly for the added realism. It is one of the few graphical features that can make me feel more immersed into a game when it is active. Besides. it is a dynamic graphical effect, it changes the look of the frame based on current lighting conditions, recent (past) lighting conditions, and time between said lighting conditions. Works like a pupil, just like it is supposed to, while in certain parts of FarCry2 it can get a little bit exaggerated, I think it is tasteful nonetheless.
     
  14. Aeris

    Aeris Otherworldly

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    I like HDR (High Dynamic Range) in the source games, it just looks really good, like the reflection of the sun on the rocks in the beach of Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, and on the Fisherman, comparing Non-HDR to HDR, I prefer HDR.

    Off-Topic: I got 113.9 FPS average on Half-Life 2: Lost Coast's Video Stress Test @ 1920x1200 W/ Everything Maxed-Out, on the computer in the Sager NP9262's link in my sig, the experience was cool.
     
  15. emike09

    emike09 Overclocking Champion

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    HDR helps give a realistic look to lighting, such as when entering a building or going outside, but in all reality, High Dynamic Range would mean absolutely everything is exposed properly. The correct term for how games use HDR, is in fact LDR, Low Dynamic Range, where only certain things are exposed properly, such as landscape, or a sky.
     
  16. p1990

    p1990 Notebook Evangelist

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    I dont like HDR...my 9600M GT cant handle it too well...I take defeat sportingly.. :p
     
  17. Pranalien

    Pranalien Notebook Veteran

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    I like the lesser intensive bloom. It is less taxing on the GPU.