Left 4 Dead 2 and the Importance of Fog
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2024
- Dom discusses how fog play a major role in Left 4 Dead 2.
If you've read the title of this video like a Harry Potter book's title, then you've read it correctly.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:16 World Stops Rendering At A Distance
00:35 Fog Hides End Of Rendered Space
00:46 Walls Behind Rendered Space Look Like Fog
01:13 Fog Hides Props Vanishing
02:04 Fog Hides Low-detailed Areas
02:38 Fog Hides Low-detailed Skybox Elements
03:14 Fog Helps You Judge Distance
03:36 Fog Helps You See In The Dark
04:01 Fog Can Obscure Vision For Gameplay
04:43 Fog Reduces Visual Noise
05:17 Fog Enhances Atmosphere
05:50 Fog Effects The Feel Of Areas
06:35 Fog Has Phycological Effects
07:07 Fog & Lighting Gives Campaigns A Colour Pallet
07:27 Conclusion
07:47 Outro
08:01 Editing Fog For Fun
--
Thanks for watching. Like, subscribe and all that jazz. Au revoir. - Hry
![Why the Knife is the Worst Melee in Left 4 Dead 2 [Outdated]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aFF_Ey7Hjqw/mqdefault.jpg)
![[SFM] Infectious Stupidity](/img/n.gif)
The backstory to this video is: one day I was playing on the Blood Harvest campaign. I entered the corn field and noticed that the fog changed. It became thinker. This got me thinking: why? What followed was a domino effect of research on fog in L4D2.
I hope the information found in this video will be useful for people out there.
I forgot to mention the vision-obscuring effect of going underwater in L4D2 is a lot like fog with a super low fully-opaque distance value. I think the way the effect is pulled off is the same as fog but technically it's not fog so I just skipped it. Should muddy water be considered fog? What a weird question. This is probably the first time in human history it's ever been asked.
You know, L4D2 was an Xbox 360 game. I bet, the game wouldn't have run well on the console if it never utilized all these fog-based optimization tricks. Food for thought.
One interesting thing I discovered in my research is L4D2 is the first Source game to use fog that curves. It's intensity is cone-shaped, rather than head-on. What I mean is; ever notice how in Team Fortress 2 if you turn the camera you can adjust the intensity of fog? The sides of the screen have weaker fog than the centre. This is because fog is a flat plane that gets more intense with distance. In L4D2 it's not a flat plane, but rather a cone so the sides of the screen don't decrease in intensity like they would in TF2.
I really hope you all understood the gnome was something surprising. That was the joke.
At the end I tried to use fog colours that were fitting and subtle. It would be too easy to max out all the values and make intense glowing neon colours for fog but that's not the point. The point is to change the feeling/mood of the area with different fog.
Oh yeah, besides the walls in the skybox sometimes there's often also simple buildings that occupy the same space as real buildings in the play space. The point of them is so that buildings that are far away still leave silhouettes in the fog.
"Food for thought".
The underwater vision-obscuring effect is indeed the same technique as normal fog. In fact, in code it's even called "Underwater Fog". It functions the exact same way as normal fog, only difference being that it's forced to only render below the Z-value (height) of the water volume.
So cool to see places with different fogs. would love to have mod who would randomize fog; i think that could be fun : p
Chapter 14 is misspelled by the way
Just enough fog to keep you on the edge.
the nice thing about l4d2 fog . that even open areas environment feel claustrophobic (something that b4b failed to understand)
I feel like turtle rock made the game concept and valve made everything else
@@zachwhitaker. it sure feels like that .
@@zachwhitaker. Turtle Rock came up with the gameplay (mechanics, map design, infected, weapons, etc) while Valve basically did everything around the gameplay (all the neat technical stuff, the writing and characters, the finalized art direction/visuals, etc)
I really feel bad for the b4b developers, I mean, it's a not so big studio and they wanted to do something, but it didn't work. Perhaps they lacked the versus campaign mode and that the characters are somewhat generic. In the end they couldn't handle the hype
@@Ale-kc9pq i mean their advertising was pretty misleading, like only 6 left 4 dead developers worked on back 4 blood out of 200, i think they basically killed themselves by trying to be as good as left 4 dead and also not adding mod support, the game could of been made even better than left 4 dead if mod support was added
Black fog on Dead Center's mall is probably the most scary thing I've seen in L4D2
I wish I knew how to do that so I could play the campaign with this fog color, it'd be amazing
You can change the fog's colour in single-player. Use the console command "sv_cheats 1" and then when in-game use the command "fogui". An interface will appear where you can mess around with the slider to change the fog's attributes. (Colour, starting and ending distance, etc.)
@@s4videos im playing the game rn so imma check it out, thanks !
@@Beno_Beano so how is it
@@KanadeChiaki Got lost in the fog. RIP.
Damn our homie got lost in the fog
i counted, he said the word "fog" 64 times in this video
a stack of fog
Hmm... let me see. The word 'fog' appears 65 times in the script.
Close Enough
wish he said it "69" times :troll:
@@s4videos the lost bit of fog
You should do a comparison video of maps with and without fog, i think this would really drive the point home of just how important fog really is.
Also have you seen the glitch that makes the sewer fog from 2fort cover the entire map? I think it makes the map look much better, especially in the red parts of the map.
@@weegeequeviucoisas9854 I've had it happen to me before and it really does make the map look a bit better
Truzt me, I've used no-fog mods and the game looks really ugly and videogame-y without it. The fog is crucial for the aesthetic and atmosphere.
It's a feature so well implemented that I didn't even knew existed until I was looking for performance mods for my laptop.
It was a difference like night and day on blood harvest. Besides looking ugly it also felt choppy, laggy even if the framerate was fine.
If you implement a mechanic for mood or feel of a game so well almost no body will notice, that means you did fantastic job. Only downside is it may take a while for people to point out and give you praise, but that can take a long while, so you're "suffering from success" to put it accurately.
What's crazy is how long I've been playing this game, I've only noticed fog in Blood Harvest and Hard Rain
The map at 8:15 went from atmospheric to modern warfare's Hardhat real quick
Left 4 Dead fog system is more advanced than GTA: Trilogy’s, let that sink in 🤣😂
That's true and pretty funny. Also a good learning experience. Since GTA:SA Definitive Edition has no fog most of the time all the atmosphere the fog gave the original game is lost. Another downside is if you're in a plane you can see the entire map and it's just a mind-f. The perception of distance and scale is screwed up in a plane. You see everything and it looks like the entire map is miniscule.
@@s4videos Not only is fog a necessary element for optimization and setting for Left 4 Dead, it's also that way for the Grand Theft Auto games. The fact the "remasters" removed all instances of fog initially is just an awful decision. I don't care about draw distance if it makes the game feel unnatural.
@@DaRealBruner GTA ""Remastered"" made me lose hope in Rockstar. Imagine outsourcing the remasters of your oldest, most beloved games.
This is what I love about so many Valve games. They're so beautiful crafted with so many simple, unnoticed, but essential pieces that create the experience we love. I never ever thought about until now, but oh my god I couldn't imagine playing L4D2 without the fog now.
ALSO this video is the reason why I love cool youtubers such as yourself! Thanks for all your hard work!
I Though The Title Said "Left4Dead2 And The Importance Of Frog"
To be fair, Frog is very important
LUL
The frog update, the equivalent of snake tf2
The frog add ambient to Swamp Fever
That last segment where you changed the fog colors seemed to almost change the genre as much as it changed the mood. Very interesting
I also appreciate how the final section retained all of the locations' unique ambient sound profiles.
a fog is very important especially in Silent Hill because it just works and I think it's genius at how they implemented fogs. I myself played L4d2 at least 1600 hours.
It's not bceause it just works. I'm not an expert in this so CMIIW, it's because the Silent Hill was PS1 game. the fog was because of the Hardware Limitation, but yeah, the fog on silent hill is what make playing Silent Hill more intense.
@@rizalalbar The fog is likely innovative for Silent Hill I think and it's unique, hardware limitation ain't so bad on any parts if done right.
I had to do a double take because I was wondering what was so important about frog.
Same
Frog
It makes the map look bigger and helps to hide the infected to make it more difficult for the survivors.
(and is also a way to make the game run faster, lol)
To be fair it's also hard to notice all of these things when zombies are trying to chew your face off
I think that's why it works so well. L4D is filled with subtle details that add to make an amazing experience. No single element is what makes L4D the best.
And that's why its the best game ever period
I used to think fog was a lazy way to not fill in details (like seeing for miles on high-ground). But now I know this, I deeply appreciate its presence
This is honestly really interesting and i never knew fog plays such a important role in this game. Amazing video
Dead Center 4 with fog: Fun place
Dead center with no fog: *static noises.* Die.
One of the other applications used for is that it is used to create opaque water. Disabling fog makes the muddy water in the passing as clear as glass.
"... bushes, fences, and cars"
*the car blinks*
That part got me hahaha
Spot on mate! I didn't realize this aspect of the game that also serves as a deep dive into game development, I gladly appreciate the effort you put into this and most especially the moment that sparked this endeavor, it's the little things eh.
Ngl, the edited fog in the mall looks way better than the original
I want that on the Workshop.
Silent Hill is probably the best example of using fog for both atmosphere and rendering
A few of the shots here invoked the feelings I had when I first started playing l4d
Love this video buddy, you deserve so many more views and subs
13 years later and we're examining the art of the fuaing fog dammit im glad i grew up with this
This gives me English class project vibes 😂
You pointed pointed out so many ways the fod is helpful! I like it. I wish you discussed the negative effects too though, such as areas feeling samey.
Original and entertaining, good video
you made this sound like a class topic
Look, it’s about midnight! Perfect time to *watch a video on Left 4 Dead*
This game is just so magnificent. And aged like fine wine. Can you imagine if they made a l4d3. Heck that game woulda broke the whole world
"Fog is a powerful tool"
Gta definitive edition developers: 👁👄👁
Very interesting. Thanks
this is so interesting it's unbelieveable
Fog sort of breaks the lighting a bit. In dark areas it effectively increases the ambient light value
This video is amazing
Showing behind the scenes of l4d and other valve games is really interesting so you get a subscribe!
Fun fact, L4D2 also uses some neat skybox tricks with some of its level design. In Dead Center, you pass by some rather tall buildings on the streets level that otherwise wouldn't have been rendered in the distance due to the fog. However, you can still see their silhouette from high points like the barricaded bridge. The reason you can see them is because the skybox has textureless miniature models of those geometrically made buildings placed right where the buildings are in the level, so despite always seeing them on the horizon, what you're actually seeing is just skybox assets that LOOK like further parts to the level.
I used to check out the miniatures underneath the map and spawn some random infecteds to make them look like they're giants.
More videos like this one boy
When you play the silent hill map and see a horde coming out from the fog is a nightmare
As always, great video!
Is this a 9 minute video about... fog?
LETS GOOOOO
I've played this game so much I don't notice it anymore. The only time I do is when it's a dark map.
this silent hill mod sure is something
Dead Center with black fog gives some nightmare vibes
Black fog is an awesome tool. I use a mod that tints it like that on all maps.
This is cool
When L4D2 came out I was excited to play campaigns set during the day but was disappointed that the daylight did not effect the draw distance.
The people who made the premastered GTA games should have watched this
Is coach holding an AWP in the thumbnail
removing the fog removes the visual effect of the water for some reason
I enjoy the game more without the fog effect :) it's more immersive and refreshing to play like this, although I have to find how to increase the draw distance because sometimes, the game itself "brakes" itself.
Without fog, I feel more motivated to explore and look around for details and how the maps are designed for it lineal path.
No fog and no glow effects are my recommendations. Cool video man!
1:58 i see them disappear in front of me because my pc is a potato and i use a cfg
8:53 Holy Mackerel! I thought that was ctf_turbine!
Fog is great and a great way to set mood. Unless it’s transit from BO2.
That bug was fix now
How much fog do you want ?
Morrowind : Y E S
Meanwhile Back 4 Blood got that Blue tint set as the default
Is there a way to increase render distance and disable the fog? Also, does fogui settings save for online?
Yes. The workshop has mods that do this.
I wish they did more to the fog instead of doing it Just For optimization.
Fog is a good tool For an atmospheric game.
I love this game
This is pretty much similar with the GTA definitive edition with the lack of fog making the world feel smaller
Dead center with black fog is something out of my nightmares
I love it.
Tranzit be like
s4videos: fog is very important for L4D2
Me: *uses a mod to make my game run faster via removing fog*
Did he really make a video about _fog?_ I know this guy's made videos about doors, but this... This is even weirder.
Wait... isn't that Columbus from Zombieland?
Fog looks good.
I though it said Frog instead fog
Phog on Tranzit
hehehhe of course the silent hill trope was there
The issue with fog in the game is that it makes everything feel very gamey.
take a shot when you hear fog
I fr thought he was gonna say hello every body do the whale dance
Everybody wants amazing draw distances in their video games, not realizing that's why their video games are now 100 GB and can only be played on Alienware technology, seriously you can play left for dead two on a crummy laptop from eight years ago and it will run perfectly
The draw distance isn't the reason for big sizes (it would affect other hardware). Textures, models, cutscenes, audio, etc account for it which most new games can achieve now that we have the technology. Alienware as a brand does not mean it will run an intensive game and actually having a computer built/prebuilt with the right specifications will allow to run the games. Left 4 Dead could run on almost anything because it was based off of an old yet impressive engine whereas nowadays newer and intensive engines are being used such as the upcoming Unreal 5. But honestly the huge draw distances and large file sizes are just a means for innovating the graphics and immersion of video games which is why we need huge graphical power to run newer games.
I didn't PLAN on having a borderline-cripplingly overwhelming sense of dread and despair today, but I guess I just am. Thanks >:V
left4dead liminal spaces
THERE'S FROGS IN LEFT 4 DEAD??
Yes
fauk doesn't even sound like a word anymore
I misread the title as "Left 4 Dead 2 and the Importance of Frog" 😂
I hate the fog indoors look, it reminds me of empty tf2 maps rather than intimidating
Drink everytine he says fog
Could you make a video "All l4d2 weapons reviewed"
Maybe someday. The more I think about it, the more I want to make it.
Drink a shot every time he says "fog"
L4D is indeed foggers
I like the part he said fuck
?
tranzit
所以L4D3 何時要出 ??
Damn, I've watched several of your videos and you keep saying "excetera". I'm not a native English speaker but I'm pretty sure "et cetera" is not pronounced as "excetera"
I have a feeling that you used or are art student.
Fog epic B)
Bruh the weapons on the thumbnail are either tf2 or csgo
and?
Fog is just the map doing an emote
Interesting info. I'm sure ill use it to do f*** all as always.
i remove it for fps
ok bye
You sound a lot like 3kliksphillip
fug
I actually hate the fog lol when your playing survival I want to see what’s in the distance
You can use mods for remove fog
“Fog of comradery"
I’ll never understand why ppl on yt feel the need to make ridiculous claims to support their takes
What's so ridiculous about attributing emotions to colours? It's part of human psychology to associate a feeling with a visual. Emotions and colours are deeply intertwined. Could humans even appreciate art if they couldn't have any sort of emotional connection to it?
Let me assure you, any claim I ever make about the aesthetics or artistic nature of something comes from an informed background. I didn't spend years getting a bachelor degree in painting and drawing for nothing.
Blue is often associated with tranquility, intelligence and purity and has a stress reducing effect on the brain
(so you often see it used for adverts for Hotels, cleaning services or religion).
Though too much blue can create a effect of sorrow.
Red is often associated with danger and pain (blood/fire) and thus is used on warning signs in order attract attention and convey importance.
It also induces a form of stress which is why you see it on "SALE" signs or fastfood chains trying to make you feel like you're hungry or longing for a meal so you will buy it as fast as possible.
Green is associated with nature hence why its used for products that are supposed to be eco friendly.
It is also associated with benefits which is why in some games health kits are green or why money gained is displayed in a green font in GTA and CS
(or why some of the good guys use green lightsabers in starwars or why its used to say "you're free to go" in traffic)
Yellow is the colour of the sun and thus we associate it with energy, optimism and creativity. It makes your brain swim in dopamine. Hence why all low level clickbait youtubers use yellow arrows & circles in their thumbnail to make your mind think it did the right choice by clicking a video with "so much creativity you just cant miss".
Because of that i now associate yellow with lies, shallowness, exaggeration and objectification.
Even if isnt powerful enough to control you against your will as you are still free to create your own connections and reactions, it has been shown that colours do have a small impact on our psychology.
Since our brain associate them with past experiences involving the same colour.
This is something artists, cooperations, clickbaiters, propaganda and mental health care are aware of and try to fully exploit in order to reinforce the response they desire on top of more direct methods.
Clickbaiters want you to be curious by blinding you with yellow.
Dictators paint their posters red to make common people fear either their leader (to make people "know their place") or their enemy in war to display them as a threat.
Mental health hospitals or certain prisons sometimes paint their walls pink or light blue to help the inhabitans stay calm & concentrated. Its a small attempt to reduce aggression.
Comics/anime usually depict the environment in dark blue during sad scenes to convey sorrow even without words or music.
There are of course many more examples or some cases with exceptions, (many colours can invoke completely different feels depending how bright and dark they are or the viewers ability to tell between different shades) but these were some common colour tropes that exist for a reason.
good vid, but the guy's voice is a bit annoying with that explainer (tm) tone
5:11 "This is how it appears without fog"
Me : "Wow, this would SO MUCH better to see where you're going"
Dom : "It becomes genereally harder to navigate and unpeasant on this eyes".
Me : "Hum.... No ?"
idk why, but it looks ugly without the fog, so it does become unpleasant.