Fancy graphical effect used to add extra depth.
Criterion has posted a brief update on the progress of development on the PC version of Burnout Paradise, including word that the game will support ambient occlusion.
"If you're not familiar with this term, it's an effect that uses soft shadows to add extra depth," explains the Criterion blog post. "Enclosed spaces naturally receive less light than open spaces and look darker - that helps us to see how close objects are to each other.
Advertisement"Some games already use AO but most rely on artists to build this into the environment. For Burnout this would be a nightmare, because we like to smash things up and move them around a lot! For this reason, we've implemented a dynamic AO system that affects fast-moving and destructible objects!"
Too see just what the people are Criterion are on about head over to the Criterion Games blog for a side-by-side screen comparison showing the ambient occlusion in action.
