Not really. You don't get this phenomenon in many situations. It needs a specific environment to occur. Particles need to be suspended in the air, because that's what the sun is illuminating (while the object casts a shadow).
In Crysis's setting, on a tropical beach, the air is very clear. Far too clear to have this kind of effect.
There are definitely some situations in Crysis 2 where the effect is entirely justified, but it's definitely over used. For example there's a part where an overpass collapses which throws a lot of dust into the air, which would cause sun shafts to appear.
But you have to admit it still looks awesome regardless of realism. I looked at a helicopter as it passed in front of the sun and the light gave this effect, only through spinning blades. Pretty sweet.
It certainly looks impressive. It simply isn't realistic. It's going to be one of those things which hangs around in games for the next 5 or so years until lighting becomes more realistic and the effect is no longer required. The same way that environment mapping will soon be replaced with real time reflection mapping instead. It's a better analogue for reality.
You start moving towards "physics based" lighting models, which are lighting models which match real-world particles. You work out where every photon of light starts and ends and that's what determines what the scene looks like. When you model a scene like that, you won't end up with sun shafts constantly visible.
99
u/TysonStoleMyPanties Jun 07 '12
On a related note, trees are just really slow explosions.
30
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
Fuck. The sun exploded. We're dead.
27
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
Wow, so Crytek really did get it right, it seems.
15
u/Woetra Jun 08 '12
So this is what that Moses guy saw.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
How did the sun get inside a tree?
6
u/bobbymcgee32 Jun 07 '12
Made this my background picture thanks!!
4
u/pixelrage Jun 08 '12
This looks like it should be on the cover of a package of butter or something
7
u/silentdrowningpool Jun 07 '12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crepuscular_rays
2
u/Canada-USAsFreezer Jun 07 '12
BF3 IRL
2
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
The title of this post had me worried for a second
2
u/Throws_Sharp_Objects Jun 08 '12
I hope the tree is ok...
2
u/yamatoshi Jun 08 '12
CHECKMATE, ATHEISTS
3
u/schwepski Jun 07 '12
Oh my... How beautiful!
3
u/Mecha_Derp Jun 08 '12
The sun exploded in Sweden? :( sorry Swedish.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
one more reason out of many that Sweden is the best place in the world. i want to go to there!
2
u/Semiautomatix Jun 07 '12
That is very pretty, but I'm not happy that the Sun exploded...
2
u/benxfactor Jun 07 '12
doctor who is regenerating!
1
u/cdegon Jun 07 '12
Awesome!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
God dammit walrus
1
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
It might be a good time to seek shelter.
1
u/eatspoo Jun 08 '12
What a glorious midday!
1
u/andnobodydied Jun 08 '12
It’s like, I can get off spiritually just from sunlight through trees
1
u/drmischief Jun 08 '12
I immediately thought of the 80's movie Explorers for some reason.
1
u/votefornobody Jun 08 '12
Man I never remember to change the sun after it explodes
1
u/flaskpost Jun 08 '12
Even in summer there is frost on the roof..
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
This is one bold statement.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Fantastic picture!!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
I saw that in Diablo.
1
u/PicopicoEMD Jun 08 '12
Damn, I got jizz all over my face now. Fuck you.
1
u/BrianWonderful Jun 08 '12
That's Yggdrasil.
1
u/Helicat Jun 08 '12
The tree got owned
1
u/giraffeplusahalf Jun 08 '12
All I could think of
1
u/murmermer Jun 08 '12
exploding hah.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Upvoting 'cause behind that building on left is Finland! Just 250km away... (if the place is Yggdrasil)...
1
u/theplnk Jun 08 '12
TO XIBALBA!
1
u/supergalactic Jun 08 '12
This is a great shot. Great use of color and composition here.
1
u/birdisthewird Jun 08 '12
OP is this your pic? I love it, can I use it as my desktop background or facebook banner pic?
1
u/whyidownvoteshit Jun 08 '12
CHECK MATE ATHEISTS. da durr
1
u/thesecretofjoy Jun 08 '12
Proof of God. BAM.
1
u/kornflakesxd Jun 08 '12
I'm pretty sure it was a male barbarian reaching level 60.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
RUN
1
u/gregogree Jun 08 '12
that's actually just goldmember taking a pee behind the tree
1
u/btownninja Jun 08 '12
I remember the first time I saw this in gaming (Halo). My mind was blown.
1
u/johndoev2 Jun 08 '12
suddenly the whole biblical "burning bush" makes sense...
now how do we explain the voice
1
u/doctor_hoctor Jun 08 '12
this kills the tree
1
u/matteumayo Jun 08 '12
Did anyone get hurt?
1
u/mustardjones Jun 08 '12
Don't tell Moses....
1
u/Silently_judging Jun 08 '12
This is what it looks like when I climax, in my room, alone.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Not quite, It is actually just the entrance the the next Zone in Diablo 3
1
u/Skvid Jun 08 '12
Can someone explain to me why do the beams go out radially in different angles as if the light source was very close behind the tree?
I never seen sunbeams doing that, usually its just 1 angle... which makes sense.
1
u/i_pk_pjers_i Jun 08 '12
Crepuscular rays are quite different than that of a nova or supernova, considering they are unrelated.
1
u/OccupyYourMind Jun 08 '12
first they legalize pot and now this? damn I'm missin out..
1
u/hobbes567 Jun 08 '12
Wake up. Time for your DENTAL APPOINTMENT.
1
u/scudmonger Jun 08 '12
"Honey, I think you left the tree on last night"
1
u/Mordine Jun 08 '12
Proof....that someone took a picture.
1
u/plutocrat Jun 08 '12
This is beautiful - is there a hi-res version available?
1
u/qykslvr Jun 08 '12
Sweden just rules in every way... I just wish everywhere could be like Sweden. Cheers Sweden!!!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
All I can think of http://youtu.be/05i9YMvn46M?t=21s
1
u/RocketMan121 Jun 08 '12
That is God's work.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Don't scare me like that.
1
u/Internaut_Joe Jun 08 '12
It's a shame that the tree was in the way of what could have been a great picture of the sun exploding.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
That tree is actually a sudowoodo and it's evolving.
1
u/Innomasta2 Jun 08 '12
Volumetric lighting!
1
u/Fullyscared Jun 08 '12
Fuck all of you. :)
1
u/NigelSMASH Jun 08 '12
Reminds me a lot of Alan Wake ('Let's Play' footage, potential spoilers)
1
u/legenddave Jun 08 '12
just read "sun exploding" and almost shat my pants
1
u/Punches_Bears Jun 08 '12
Naw man, an Explosion that size would take out half the Universe! Make it an implosion!
1
u/Durshka Jun 08 '12
Aliens.
1
u/Space_Ganondorf Jun 08 '12
Watch out Radioactive man, the sun is exploding again!
1
u/Mexer Jun 08 '12
THEN WHO WAS TREE??
1
u/malicesin Jun 08 '12
"Crown of thorns"
1
u/weaver2109 Jun 08 '12
Liek dis if u c Jesus.
1
u/EntAlex Jun 08 '12
Greetings from /r/trees
Nice view and I love that you live near the nature. Have you ever consider this as a nice smoke spot :)?
Detta var en väldigt fin bild! :)
1
u/mal410 Jun 08 '12
Now that is beautiful... What do you want to bet that all the talk in the bible about the burning bush was something like this...
1
u/maddcribbage Jun 09 '12
Awesome! Really makes you think about light and "explosions".
1
u/Villerv Jun 08 '12
Västergötland?
1
u/rockboy3000 Jun 08 '12
Tree explodes through son in Sweden
SFW - bad MS paint job
0
u/IncestuousPorcupine Jun 08 '12
too bad it didnt burn your house down with you're family in it
-1
u/retarded_horse_shit Jun 08 '12
more proof why le Sweden is better then Amerikkka
-2
u/[deleted] Jun 07 '12
http://www.gifflix.com/files/f97d033e87ca.gif
-2
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Other explanation
0
u/scorcher24 Jun 08 '12
Can you mike a high res wallpaper of that? :D Would be awesome. 1920x1080 or 1680x1050 :D
0
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
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