Akihiko Taniguchi, practice for in-game photography / virtual photography, 2018
More by Akihiko Taniguchi: http://okikata.org/
Akihiko Taniguchi’s Alternative Photography course at Tama University (Tokyo) includes in-game photography:
source: https://okikata.org/altphoto/in_game_photography.html
source: https://okikata.org/altphoto/take_a_photo_in_game.html
#nofilter (jekagames, 2017)
A picture-taking toy where you take snapshots from a bedroom and post pictures to an Instagram clone with randomly selected captions and hashtags. Made for GAMERella 2017 with Jess Marcotte, Serena Fisher, and Diana Lazzaro.
source: http://squinky.me/2017/11/10/nofilter/
screenshot from game, played on 2018-07-05 (online)
Pictura (budha, 2017)
Pictura is a photography game where you use you phone as a window into different worlds. Take pictures to trigger events, find creatures, and progress through different settings.
[…]
Summary
Pictura is an exploration game where your phone acts as a window to a virtual world, supporting both touch and accelerometer controls
Gameplay
Using a virtual camera as a main gameplay mechanic, Pictura has you taking pictures which you can then sell to upgrade your camera, adopt new pets and travel to new locations. Each world is littered with hidden events, triggers, puzzles, simple story elements and easter eggs for you to find.
Style
Pictura has a general calm vibe combined with a few adventurous moments. The visual style is driven by photography elements, meaning it is rich in post-effects. Different lenses, filters and camera can help personalize the look and feel of each pic.
Worlds
Each world has its unique setting, challenges and moments of awe. Following a semi-episodic format, a new world will present its own set of challenges, puzzles, surprises, visual style and minimalist story line.
source: https://budha.itch.io/pictura
Tropix (cakenuckles and Lynnaira, 2017), submitted to Ludum Dare 39 (July 29th to August 1st, 2017).
what else is there to do on vacation but take pretty pictures to post on the internet?? try not to get distracted, and take the best pix you can before your phone dies! 💕
source: https://cakeknuckles.itch.io/tropix
Time Travel Selfies (Risin’ Goat, 2016) submitted to Ludum Dare 36 (August 26th-29th, 2016)
You have one goal: Taking selfies of ancient technology pieces in The Classic Greece Era to be the coolest guy of the Fakebook Science Community!
Of course, if a person from the past happens to see a cellphone, the Space Time Continuum will collapse.
source: http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-36/?action=preview&uid=111663
Yandere Simulator (YandereDev, currently under development).
Yandere Simulator is an upcoming stealth action video game currently in development by YandereDev and to be published by tinyBuild. The game centers upon an obsessively lovesick schoolgirl named Ayano Aishi, also known as “Yandere-chan” after the Japanese term “yandere”, who has taken it upon herself to eliminate anyone she believes is monopolizing her crush’s attention. Over the course of ten weeks, Ayano will eliminate ten different rivals.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yandere_Simulator
In Yandere Simulator photography is used to retrieve more information about the subjects snapped through a smartphone camera. Similarly to police identification, photographic capture act as a monitoring and control device that give more information to the player about specific NPCs.
Furthermore the “photography club” in the game may use picture taking activities to incriminate the player through photographic evidence given to the police.
Another role of photography appears to be that of “currency”, to exchange favours with pictures of questionable content.
Panty Shots: A certain character will perform important favors for you if you send them photographs of girls’ panties. Panty shots are a “currency” that can buy favors and give you various advantages.
Neko Atsume (Hit Point Co. Ltd., 2014)
Attract cats with food and then watch them romp with your toys! More than 40 varieties of cats—white and black, tabby and calico—might stop by. Rare cats are rumored to roam the neighborhood too, but you’ll need particular items to entice those elusive felines. Each visitor is logged in your Catbook. Become a master kitty collector and fill it up!
You can even make albums of your cat photos, or save them to your device and use them as wallpaper!”
source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neko-atsume-kitty-collector/id923917775?mt=8
In Yakuza 3 (Sega, Amusement Vision, Sega Sports R&D, 2009) the protagonist uses his smartphone to photograph and blog about some events, that allow him to learn something in the process. Camera simulation is basic (no zoom or framing).
Grand Theft Auto has incorporated an in-game camera in its franchise since 2002, growingly giving importance and expanding the capabilities of photography in the gameplay and as a free photo tool independent from the game missions. Camera simulation in GTA is always a first person view, with the frame of the camera viewfinder. The player has the ability to zoom, but no other control (like focus, aperture…) is available. Alternative to the camera, there is also a smartphone with a camera app, in more recent GTA editions (GTA IV and V).
[…] The device was also available in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, albeit with more functionality, allowing Carl to use it freely. It can be used in San Fierro to collect snapshots, which is required to achieve 100% completion. The camera has a capacity of 36 pictures per film, and pictures taken can be saved. If the player recruits a gang member, the player can give the camera to him by walking up to him and pulling the left trigger. After that, the game is viewed through the perspective of the gang member and pictures of CJ can be taken. The player can also aim the camera at a girlfriend and CJ will say something related to photo-shooting and she will wave. If you aim the camera at a gang member, CJ will say something like he says to his girlfriend, but the gang member will not respond or wave unless the player has recruited him.
[…] [In Grand Theft Auto IV] The camera is used in certain missions where a picture is required. Outside of missions, snapshots can be taken, but there is no way of saving them.
[…]In Grand Theft Auto V, the camera is replaced by the Snapmatic app on smartphones. Snapmatic has the same function as regular cameras, but allows users to take selfies or use filters. In the mission Paparazzo, Franklin follows Miranda Cowan’sLimo so Beverly Felton can take pictures of the actress consuming drugs. Subsequent Paparazzo missions also feature the use of cameras. In the mission Casing the Jewel Store, Lester givesMichael a pair of glasses fitted with a camera, to study Vangelico’s vents and security systems, which can’t be used outside of missions.
Prominent appearances in missions
GTA: Vice City
GTA: San Andreas
GTA: Liberty City Stories
GTA: Vice City Stories
GTA IV
- Photo Shoot
- First mission from Jeff
- …I’ll Take Her
The Lost and Damned
GTA V
- Casing the Jewel Store
- Paparazzo
- Paparazzo – The Highness
- Paparazzo – The Meltdown
- Paparazzo – The Partnership
- Paparazzo – The Sex Tape
- Scouting the Port
GTA Online
source: GTA wikia, http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Camera
[selected missions featuring photography]
GTA VICE CITY – “Martha’s Mug Shot”
Grand Theft Auto Vice City was the first GTA to feature a camera mode in its gameplay. In one mission the player had to take incriminating pictures of a politician.
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Martha’s_Mug_Shot
GTA SAN ANDREAS – “Photo Opportunity”
In this mission, the player has to get on the roof of a building to take pictures of each target.
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Photo_Opportunity
GTA LIBERTY CITY STORIES – “Snappy Dresser”
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Snappy_Dresser
GTA VICE CITY STORIES – “The Mugshot Longshot“
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/The_Mugshot_Longshot
In one mission in GTA IV called “Photo Shoot”, the player has to take pictures of gang members and send it to another character, to individuate the target for an assassination. The photo is taken with the character in-game camera phone, which allows zooming.
GTA V – “Paparazzo photo missions”
In GTA V, all of the three main character has a smartphone with camera capability, and the player has the ability to take pictures freely and indipendently from missions and gameplay objectives. Photography however is also integrated in missions related to the “Strangers and Freaks” side storyline. Here the player works with a Paparazzi to get pictures of specific targets.
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Paparazzo_-_The_Meltdown
http://gta.wikia.com/wiki/Paparazzo_-_The_Highness
A selection of videogames that attempt to incorporate photography (or better “photographing”) as game mechanics to a certain degree.
Polaroid Pete (Gekisha Boy Gekibo)
Gekibo: Gekisha Boy – screenshot of the 1992 PC game version
Gekibo: Gekisha Boy – screenshot from the 1992 PC game version
In this PC game from 1992 (ported to PS2 in 2002, and with a a sequel titled Gekisha Boy 2 released for PS2 in 2001), photography plays a big role in both story and game mechanics. This makingGekisha Boy one of the earliest examples of videogames to incorporate a camera and the act of taking pictures as core game mechanic. In each level the main character has to take snapshots of events happening around him, with points being assigned according to the player’s ability to catch the “decisive moment”.
Fatal Frame
In this series, the game takes inspiration from the Victorian born art of ‘Spirit Photography’. It lets the player capture images of spirits through a Camera Obscura, while exploring abandoned ruins and fend off hostile ghosts.
Dead Rising
the main character of Dead Rising is a photo journalist, Frank West, who has to survive a zombie-infested environment while documenting the events with his camera. Shots taken with the in-game camera are evaluated (genre of the photos is analysed, e.g. brutality, drama, …) and rewarded through a point system.
Spiderman 3
Spiderman 3 lets you play as Peter Parker, and in some missions you are required to get pictures for the Daily Bugle. A basic camera interface allows you to zoom and frame an image before taking the shot. Pictures are given points (photo score).
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
in an easter egg within Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the player is transported to a white environment where it is possible to take pictures of the female character, posing as if in some sort of weird erotic photo shoot.
Grand Theft Auto V
Camera Sim 3D is a DSLR simulator, developed with the purpose of teaching the basics of photography and how to operate a DSLR camera. It is still in production at the time of writing, but a live demo is available online.
play a demo here: http://camerasim.com/apps/camerasim/
an early camera simulator demo from 2011 (this one uses video footage instead of in-game textures): http://camerasim.com/apps/camera-simulator/
source: http://bokeh.digitalrev.com/article/10-games-about-photography
more Photography Games covered in this previous post: https://ingamephotography.wordpress.com/2015/03/04/photography-games/
note:
the original article included “Life Is Strange” as one of the games about photography, but it was not featured in our list because the mechanics for taking a picture in the game offer very little control or similarity with the act of photographing (no possibility of framing, zooming, focusing).
in-game photography 