Atmosphere in games

[Korten12]

When someone says a game has good atmosphere like games like Demon's souls and HL2, I always wondered what makes a good atmosphere in a game? I play demon's souls and its atmosphere I believe is good but I dont really know make makes it good, is it art style, music, graphics combination of them all or something else.

 

[Wolfram23]

I think a combination of art style and music do the most for atmosphere. Gameplay has some effect on it, such as if it's a stealth game vs an all out in your face FPS there's a different feel to it.

 

[Iwata]

Good question.

I was playing Homeworld 2 last night and found myself completely engrossed in it, to the point where I "blacked out" the world around me.

Why? No idea. But it's how I want my games to be.

 

[Georgie_Leech]

Subtle details. The little things like a particularly well-written piece of music, to small bits of the environment, coupled together in a theme that brings everything all together.

 

[Meggiepants]

It's all in the details. It's the details that draw me into worlds like Rapture and the Wasteland.

Adverts, radio stations, overheard dialog, a good score. These are the things that make me forget I am playing a game and make me feel like I am actually living in that world. Albeit through a digital avatar...

 

[Seldon2639]

When someone says a game has good atmosphere like games like Demon's souls and HL2, I always wondered what makes a good atmosphere in a game? I play demon's souls and its atmosphere I believe is good but I dont really know make makes it good, is it art style, music, graphics combination of them all or something else.

Depends on the game, and what atmosphere is trying to be evoked.

I had another thread about the use of annoying characters to create atmosphere, so I can tie it in.

For me, I never forget I'm playing a game, so atmosphere is being given the emotional experience of the characters.

Sharing in their triumphs and failures, their joys and sadness and annoyance. I can't become immersed in the sense of "I forget I'm playing a game", but I can be immersed in the sense of seeing the characters as legitimate beings in their own right. Music helps, but can be a distraction at times. Lighting (and artistry in general) if done subtly can help reinforce things, but the biggest thing for me is the characters.

If I can relate to the characters, and see the people I'm watching (whether it's a first-person or third-person game) as being sympathetic and "real", I can get into their heads, and care about them. The game can create an emotional atmosphere. I can be scared for the character's safety, I can be angry at their enemies, ect.

 

[Lordmarkus]

Anything that draws you in. Sound and music that blocks out the rest of the world and suits the game, visuals that you need to keep looking at, immsersive gameplay. Anything that means you are totally lost in the game.

Damnit, couldn't have said it better.

 

[epiconionz]

I find that games that have a good atmosphere are usually the ones that use less cut-scenes and are more immersive. Bioshock, Half Life... it's much less atmospheric to see your character walking through dark, blood stained rooms than it is when you're walking through the nightmare yourself, studying the cryptic messages and dead bodies. So, my general opinion is the more immersive, the easier it is to create atmosphere.

 

[ghirmeshk]

Old school, I used to love the atmosphere in some parts of Black Isles console games like Dark Alliance 2--not a great game--but some really cool atmosphere. Right now, I love the atmosphere of the Orchard of the Macabre in DDO. It is down right eerie and sullenly beautiful.

 

[mazeratti]

I like the music/sounds and visual artistry the only thing that spoil the atmosphere is the stupid DM's talking stupid talk.

My fav would be Trollshaws in LotRO - music and autumn leaves, I luv wandering around in there

 

[RDL_Razor]

Everything that draws you in, makes you aware of your surroundings and options and basically makes you want to believe in what you see. Pretty much like a good book, but on a higher level since the videogames have interactivity.

Personal favourites from the top of my head are Fallout 1/2, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
Mirror's Edge could do really well with it's dynamics, but failed at story and freedom.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

I think that a good atmosphere is a game that makes you feel immearsed in the game itself. Dead Space itself for example, had a great atmosphere as it felt like you really were on the Ishimura.

 

[topraman517]

Quite possibly the most atmospheric game ever made is Super Metroid. It's comparable to the movies Alien and Aliens. The amount of detail in both the sound and the visuals is insane for its time. The dark synthesized music score certainly doesn't hurt, either.

Just watch the intro for the game on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.

 

[ghirmeshk]

Not the greatest graphic quality, but this you tube vid shows the orchard. Lots of atmosphere there: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs_FmDiXbeU&feature=related

 

[ScruffyTheJanitor]

Lighting, suspense, anticipation and most importantly, music/sound. It's how it all goes together.

 

[Tharwen]

One thing that will certainly kill it is poor acting. If you hear someone say something and you think 'that was never actually said in conversation', then the immersion is broken and has to be rebuilt. Assassin's Creed 2 did this to me. I ran into the room with the Animus 2.0 in it for the first time and suddenly, I was hit by a wave of disgustingly bad voiceovers.