The HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGiG) is proposing a draft of its HDR Game Content Production and Distribution Guidelines that it says “will help optimise the consumer gaming experience when playing game content in high dynamic range”. Volunteering companies in the gaming and TV display industries are jointly developing the guidelines.
A side-by-side comparison of Rise of the Tomb Raider in SDR and HDR. Image: Eurogamer
The group says it intends to further investigate additional best practices for improved technical standards relating to HDR gaming and plans to improve on the guidelines.
On August 15th, HGiG hosted a workshop in Vancouver, Canada to present the new guidelines and showcase HDR demonstrations. Many participants from the gaming and TV display industry joined the workshop. HGiG says it will further analyse consumers’ HDR gaming experiences and set directions for future improvements.
The guidelines are available for download here, but the guiding principles are:
1. Acknowledge difference
There is a wide variance in how HDR content is processed in HDR displays, and the assumption that “displays perform exactly the same” cannot be taken. Each display’s HDR capability should be utilized to the full extent.
2. Consistent and fair gameplay
Game design creative intent (e.g. a zombie appearing from the dark, an enemy shooter silhouetted in blinding light) needs to appear the same for consistent game playability, regardless of display performance difference.
3. Forward compatible
The existing HDR game experience should not be deteriorated, but stable or even enhanced with the improvement of future HDR display performance.
4. Easy to use and practical for developers and consumers
Practical and easy-to-use means must be prepared for game developers and consumers. For example, any processing should not consume resources that may affect real-time processing, and complicated manual setup operations (e.g. in-game calibration) should be avoided.
Companies in the group include
- Activision Publishing, Inc.
- AsusTek Computer Inc.
- Capcom Co., Ltd.
- Electronic Arts
- Epic Games
- HP Inc.
- Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- LG Electronics, Inc.
- Microsoft Corporation
- Panasonic Corporation
- Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Sony Visual Products
- Square Enix Co., LTD.
- Toshiba Visual Solutions Corporation
- Ubisoft
- Unity
- Vicarious Visions
- VIZIO, Inc.
- WB Games
