The vision
A lusher than lush evokation of the hazy ambience of tropical forest land. Note how the soft light diffuses gently through the canopy, contrasting beautifully with the sparkling detail of the water.
The reality
Flat, muddy textures smeared across sharp, chunky objects. Jaggy intersecting green polygons do not a canopy make.
The vision
The intense, brutal reality of war, as focused through the lens of ground-level chaos. Friends and allies rally together towards the smoke-filled hell of battle as another potential harbinger of the end rises demonically against them.
The reality
Some little faceless blokes run around a pristine white background firing off technicolor toybox weaponry. Three miles away.
The vision
One man and his trusty machine face off against looming insurmountable death. Tangible depth of field brings about a sense of scale which impresses and intimidates in equal measure. Post-apocalyptic decay is the only witness to this final battle.
The reality
A Gundam action figure on a string, jiggled about over a sandpit full of discarded LEGO.
The vision
A lone hero, baptised red in the flames of war, rises messianic against the growing hellstorm of weapons fire swelling against him.
The reality
An Iron Man action figure on a string, jiggled about over a flat, empty rockpool.
http://www.gamesradar.com/f/cool-concept-art-vs-crushing-reality/a-2009020411335750086
