Underwater Visuals

JimmyLander

Updated description after full release:

This post was generally talking about the lack of bloom and saturation in the game, using some avatar images as examples of nighttime lighting. I’m glad to say the final release significantly improved the visual aesthetic of the game.

Here are the reference images:

Here are some pictures from the night jungles of Avatar:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/09/75/630975b6b087e529cc07c708653682de.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/98/ad/b1/98adb1dc1942af2ae45a83c9dbe1f13d.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/26/5d/39/265d396167791fd82a06e1792238611f.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/9c/66/d3/9c66d3a9d0478331c79695a831184f84.jpg

PS: Big fan of Subnautica, looking forward to its official release!

scifiwriterguy

I see where you're coming from and agree the visual would be striking, but part of the game atmosphere - particularly at night - is specifically to be dark and scary. Plus, sealife that is bioluminescent generally produces even less light than we already have in Subnautica. So, while I am in total agreement that the visual effect would be downright awesome, I'd have to disagree with implementing it in game.

Just my two cents' worth, though.

JimmyLander

scifiwriterguy, you have a valid point, but let's consider for a minute that maybe this can be implemented in just one (or a few) biomes. Like (this is totally a random example) the safe shallows. They are shallow and meant to be the safe starting zone for the player - why not boost their already stunning and tropical visuals a bit more? It would be cool to have something like that even if in a small area.

scifiwriterguy

Good point. Perhaps an isolated cave? Pocket ecosystems have been observed in sequestered environments even here on Earth, and they can get pretty interesting from a biological standpoint. Isolated evolution can do weird things. It might be a powerful moment when, after swimming through midnight-dark cave, you come upon a large chamber with the organisms you describe.

Okay, you sold me.

SnailsAttack

The ocean is kind of.. supposed to be a bit dark? There are already tons of bioluminescent plants in every biome. I don't feel like the ocean should be oversaturated with tons of light-producing plants.