Weird dynamic shadows

[Margarine of Evil]

I just started playing this game, and while I like it a lot overall, I noticed that the shadows look really weird.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011925890
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011977837
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011977868
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011977891
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011977908

I was about to ask for a solution to what I assumed was a bug, maybe an issue with my graphics card. But then I searched a little more, and I found this dismissing reply from a developer:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/362890/discussions/0/1747892189247271310/

So are these shadows actually working as intended? I find them absolutely terrible. I can't even play the game with dynamic shadows on. I haven't seen anything like this before. The game is about to leave early access. Is this how it's supposed to look once finished?

[Terepin]

It's not a bug, it's a feature(tm). CC thinks this is how shadows are suppose to look like, so you're out of luck I'm afraid.

[Radiocaster]

Its because Gordon's flashlight is at his middle. Looks fine to me, honest.

[goxart]

Flashlight shadows do anoy me to a point but the blob shadows under each scientist (especially in the beggining) are making me crazy. Makes the game look worse than 2012 mod version in those levels.

[thray]

There are two Fixes.
1. Don’t Look Down
2. Ignore Them

[FireFly]

CC have said the flashlight is mounted on your chest, not your helmet. They did this, since if the flashlight was coming from your viewing cone, you shouldn't see shadows being cast at all.

[Radiocaster]

Originally posted by FireFly:

CC have said the flashlight is mounted on your chest, not your helmet. They did this, since if the flashlight was coming from your viewing cone, you shouldn't see shadows being cast at all.

No, you would see shadows, assuming flashlight shadows are realistic at all the light goes out in a cone shape, which means the shadows would appear larger than the objects, and thus, you would see them. The chest light was just an artistic decision.

[Ternet18]

It worked fine on HL2 and 2012 mod idk what happened, but the explenation that the flashlight was put on the middle of Gordon's suit rather than his face its OK I guess, I get more annoyed by the blob shadows on characters and the inability to pick up dead headcrabs :P

[Margarine of Evil]

Originally posted by RadioactiveTurtle:

Its because Gordon's flashlight is at his middle. Looks fine to me, honest.

It doesn't seem to be at his chest, though. It looks as if it's at his hips at the highest, sometimes even lower.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2011977952
And while it is hard to see why you would put the flashlight at your hips or knees in the first place, the position of it doesn't really explain all the weirdness with these shadows.

Originally posted by Maximum Derek:

There are two Fixes.
1. Don’t Look Down
2. Ignore Them

1. I don't have to look down. They look off even from farther away, but admittedly they get weirder when up close.
2. That's hardly a fix, is it.

I'm just surprised many people think they look fine. Reminds me of the black and blue/white and gold dress.

[Migz - DH]

Yep, the shadows are weird.

Here's a thread on the same topic from a couple of months ago

https://steamcommunity.com/app/362890/discussions/0/1747892189247271310/

[Radiocaster]

Originally posted by Margarine of Evil:

I'm just surprised many people think they look fine. Reminds me of the black and blue/white and gold dress.

I think its more of a personal preference rather than a debatable optical anomaly. I dunno, personally I think they look fine because that's what real life shadows look like in my experience.
If i held a flashlight beneath a chair, it would cast a big shadow on the wall, that's just how that works.

[Migz - DH]

Originally posted by RadioactiveTurtle:

Originally posted by Margarine of Evil:

I'm just surprised many people think they look fine. Reminds me of the black and blue/white and gold dress.

I think its more of a personal preference rather than a debatable optical anomaly. I dunno, personally I think they look fine because that's what real life shadows look like in my experience.
If i held a flashlight beneath a chair, it would cast a big shadow on the wall, that's just how that works.

Ya, but does the shadow look like it's floating in the air unconnected to anything else or does the chair's shadow extend all the way down to the chair legs?

In this game, the shadows just float there unconnected.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1951904339

[Venom415]

Looks accurate to me, orange is the floor and blue is the rail, you can see the rail is floating a bit anyways off the platform, and theres a large part that isnt lit; that is the floor.
https://i.gyazo.com/a2c1d44180063a06904520deb31ec557.jpg

[brewfest_]

At this point the thing that surprises me the most is the fact no one has created a mod to 'fix' this 'issue'. All that needs to be done to remedy, or at least try to remedy the situation is to move the flashlight up like ~50 hammer units. I've also thought part of the problem might be based on how the flashlight functions, like is the light coming from a singular point or an area? I'm not sure which one would right or wrong but wouldn't be surprised if it was part of the issue.

[Margarine of Evil]

Originally posted by Venom415:

Looks accurate to me, orange is the floor and blue is the rail, you can see the rail is floating a bit anyways off the platform, and theres a large part that isnt lit; that is the floor.

Where would the flashlight have to be to get that angle though. On your foot?

Originally posted by brewfest_:

All that needs to be done to remedy, or at least try to remedy the situation is to move the flashlight up like ~50 hammer units.

I agree that part of the problem seems to be that the flashlight currently cannot be higher than your crotch.

[Mars]

Doesn't look like a bug. Looks like the position of the flashlight, coupled with the fact that it's not exactly a modern engine anymore.