Spider-Man Graphics Downgrade Controversy
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Overview
Spider-Man Grahpics Downgrade Controversy, also known as Puddlegate, refers to accusations that the 2018 PlayStation 4 game Marvel's Spider-Man received a graphics downgrade since it was unveiled at the 2017 Electronics Entertainment Expo.
Background
On August 3rd, 2018, YouTuber Cycu1 uploaded a video titled "Spider-Man PS4 2017 vs 2018 Early Graphics Comparison," which compared clips from the E3 reveal to new gameplay footage (shown below, left).
On August 20th, Twitter user @spiydaman tweeted two pictures comparing shots from 2017 to 2018 footage of the game. In response, the @insomniacgames feed replied that it was "just a change in the puddle size, there’s no downgrade at all" (shown below).
It’s just a change in the puddle size, there’s no downgrade at all
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) August 20, 2018
Developments
On August 21st, YouTuber ynSection uploaded a similar comparison video (shown below).
On August 26th, Twitter user @PSisChamp tweeted an image macro asking about "missing highlights" from the game, to which Insomniac Games Community Director James Stevenson replied that he confirmed with the game's engineering and art staf that there was "no downgrade" (shown below).
I am telling you I talked to the technical and engineering and art staff, and looked at the live code of this from the final build. There was NO DOWNGRADE.
— James Stevenson (@JamesStevenson) August 26, 2018
On August 30th, Redditor Ghulam submitted a similar comparison picture comparing E3 footage to release footage from the game to /r/gaming,[1] where it garnered upwards of 29,900 points (81% upvoted) and 3,100 comments within 24 hours. In the comments section, many Redditors mocked the difference in size between the puddles in the two images. Additionally, Redditor Kmart99 replied claiming to be a "3D Rendering artist" and argued that the differences were most likely attributed to lighting changes.[2]
That day, IGN host Brian Altano posted a tweet mocking gamers who took issue with the graphics, comparing the differences to promotional photographs from McDonald's (shown below, left). In response, Twitter user @GamingAndPandas accused media outlets of "stanning for large companies to imply that consumers at fault for being lied to (shown below, right).
Also on August 30th, the @HardDriveMag Twitter feed posted a tweet mocking the controversy juxtaposing a picture of a man in a Spider-Man costume with a screencap from the game (shown below).
Left image is from the demo, right image is from the full game.
— Hard Drive (@HardDriveMag) August 30, 2018
This seems like a major downgrade. The lighting and shadows on Spider-Man's costume are way off. His girth has been severely reduced. And his signature Spidey-Punch has been changed to a boring kick.
What the fuck? pic.twitter.com/1WNOx1tQwL
Meanwhile, Twitter user @Chinnerdomain tweeted a video of a flooded driveway being drained along with the message "Actual footage of the graphics in Spider-Man being downgraded" (shown below). In the coming days, the news sites Gearnuke,[3] Kotaku,[4] IGN[5] and USGamer[6] published articles mocking the controversy.
Actual footage of the graphics in Spider-Man being downgraded. pic.twitter.com/ZTAtBsbw0l
— Chinner (@Chinnerdomain) August 30, 2018
Search Interest
Not available.
External References
[2] Reddit – Kmart99 comment
[3] Gearnuke – Downgrade Controversy is a clear example of misinformation and overreaction
[4] Kotaku – People Who Haven't Played Spider-Man Are Mad The Developers Took Out A Puddle
[5] IGN – SPIDER-MAN FANS ARE ARGUING ABOUT PUDDLE SIZES
[6] USGamer – Spider-Man PS4's Dumbest Controversy Right Now is Over a Puddle
