As a software engineer and an indie dev, I’ve been working on a new lighting engine (The Hobby Project) that injects 32-bit HDR data and proper PBR + IBL (Physically Based Rendering + Image Based Lighting) into the game.
My goal is to eliminate that 'flat' legacy look and bring realistic light behavior, especially with reflections and atmospheric scattering. It’s still a work in progress.
Although the landscapes in the game are unique and stunning, the lighting is quite outdated by today's standards, and I wanted to bring this gem to light using modern graphics programming techniques. Because this game is almost 12 years old. But they have fantastic map designs, and with up-to-date modern graphics, I've always dreamed of traveling around Europe or America.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! What’s one graphical detail in modern games that you think is essential for immersion? Also, if you have any technical suggestions for a graphics nerd, I'm all ears. You can check my profile for more pictures and follow my progress.