Before 2016, the best shot you had of getting a solid photo of a video game moment was whipping out your phone, iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7 was the newest at the time, and snapping a photo.
I had a few of these myself. Funny moments that happened in game or the occasional NCAA 14 score to trash talk my friends with.
But after 2016, when photo mode became a common occurrence in video games that all changed. It is now a necessary, wonderful treat that when a game does it right and good I can’t help but go in and try it.
For anyone who hasn’t used the mode before, photo mode freezes the game at whatever point you are at and allows the player to move the camera freely. You then can snap a photo at any time changing zooms, the height of the camera, angle, etc.
There are always a wide range of possibilities within photo modes that really take them from just a moment capture to their own game mechanic that adds a little fun.
The depth of camera options with filters, depth of field, aperture changes, focus, and a wide array of other intricate changes you can make that mimic real life cameras is astounding to have within a video game. Lighting and the time of day can also be manipulated to get the exact photo you are looking for.
In some games, different poses for the character can be set which adds a nice flair. The character can also be made to look at the camera always and really be worked as a subject of a photo.
It allows for pictures that are on the entire opposite side of the spectrum from the grainy, flip phone pictures of a jank CRTV setup that was the past of video game photography. Back then, it really wasn’t even worth the time to take a picture.
It really is one of the coolest modes that have been a recent addition to games. There are even full announcements that certain games have them and they are shown off at showcases.
Here is an example: https://blog.playstation.com/2021/09/20/say-cheese-announcing-kena-bridge-of-spirits-photo-mode/
Photo mode is also a great way to highlight communities in games. Every week different companies hold a photo competition for different themes or specific games.
Here is Playstation’s weekly photo competition last week:
Photo mode adds a sharable and interesting way to show other people the game you are playing and really highlight the world you are currently exploring. Sometimes it is hard to put into words exactly what about a game is so cool, but showing someone a picture really helps.
And in some games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons it is a way to get a photo with a friend especially during the pandemic.
Also, if you didn’t think I was going to take this opportunity to show off my own photos from different games I have played then I don’t really know why you are reading.
Did I write this entire piece just to show you my own photo mode pictures? Yes, so here is some stuff I have taken over the past few years: Slideshow
When photo modes first started coming out I never even really considered it a positive or a negative to a game but now I want every game to have it. I absolutely adore photo mode and think it is one of the best additions to games in a long time.
So now if I want to trash talk my friends about video games, at least I don’t need to pull out my phone and snap a picture. I can just take a picture in game and send it their way.
I really think photo modes will continue to be expanded upon and grow into the future. I really cannot wait to see what developers are able to do next to allow me to take photos in games any way I want.
Making this just for fun, awesome extra feature feel even more part of an integral part of the gaming experience.
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