Games

Speaker:
Mari Wang, Naughty Dog, United States of America
Abhishek Arora, Naughty Dog, United States of America

Abstract: When cinematics have to happen in real time, lighters have to face certain challenges. Due to the nature of the medium, the system has limited resources. Lighters need to evaluate the cost of each shot compared to the quality that can be achieved. There are several features that can be adjusted to achieve a good balance. Of these features, this talk will highlight how to optimize for runtime light shadows as well as for hair and skin. Additionally, depth of field plays a prominent role in The Last of Us Part II’s real-time cinematics. During the late stages of the project, the lighting team discovered numerous artifacts in many of the game’s cinematics, at which point we could afford to make only calculated fixes on the programming side. A deep dive into how these issues were analyzed and resolved will offer insight into the intricacies of this post process effect.

Speaker(s) Bio:
Mari graduated from the University of Hawaii and the Gnomon School of Visual Arts. She started her career as a lighter on Disney’s Wreck It Ralph. After concluding her stint at Disney, Mari joined Naughty Dog as a cinematic lighter for The Last of Us. Apart from The Last of Us, Mari has also done cinematics The Last of Us; Left Behind, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Mari is also the lead cinematic lighter for The Last of Us Part II.

Abhishek completed his Master’s Degree in Interactive Technology from Southern Methodist University Guildhall in 2019. He joined Naughty Dog as a Graphics Programmer shortly after. Born in Bangalore, India and always striving to apply technology towards artistic ends, Abhishek has always wanted to create immersive, engaging experiences for others to enjoy and be a part of. Video games, music and writing are an integral part of his life, and it is his goal to give back to the world while adapting to and contributing toward cutting edge technology that will take us far beyond reality.