# Computer graphics vs Reality

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-graphics-vs-reality/496691>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 17, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-graphics-vs-reality/496691 "2009-05-17T00:25:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-graphics-vs-reality/496691/21 "2009-05-18T09:53:06Z")

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> [@pilot141](#):
>
> It’s easier for us to believe an almost-human (as in The Incredibles) than a REALLY-almost human (umm…wasn’t it a Final Fantasy movie? Something did the “as-realistic-as-we-can” thing recently).

That’s interesting, because when I saw _Final Fantasy: Spirits Within_ I was tremendously impressed with the photorealistic characters, but at the same time it felt like there was something “off” about them. Apparently, some people had the same reaction to [_The Polar Express._](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Polar_Express_(film)#Reaction)

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**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2009, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-graphics-vs-reality/496691/22 "2009-05-18T09:59:06Z")

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> [@Casserole](#):
>
> I have noticed, however, that the farther we get from the human model, the better we get at approximating reality. Take the newest Gran Turismo game, with it’s spectacular graphics engine on the PS3. The [screenshots for that game](http://ps3media.ign.com/ps3/image/article/862/862827/gran-turismo-5-prologue-20080328045654594.jpg) were so amazing, I wasn’t sure whether I was looking at a real car or not. Granted, the photos may have been touched up.

I work in video games, and one question that I’m constantly asked is when will games become “photo realistic”.

The answer, of course is that they already have. Or they will tomorrow. Or in ten years time.

Because it depends on the compexity of the scene. A car is relatively simple to model compared to a human being (and, incidentally, another reason why GT5 looks so good: accurate car models are a bi-product of the motor industry).

Over time increasingly complex scenes can be rendered photo-realistically.

Will there ever be a time when we can render anything photo-realistically, within reason?  
Well I’d say yes, with two caveats: Firstly the “within reason” is necessary – even if computers could render anything we could imagine, they still couldn’t render _anything_. And secondly we would need new input methods – at the moment, most objects in a game are effectively “sculpted” by 3D modellers. Ultimately we need faster ways; 3D scanners and such.

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