For those looking for a straight-to-the-point retro filter, ShaderGlass is here!
This handy Itch.io bit of software can turn your computer screen to a Game Boy color instantly.
But why use this one over inbuilt shaders, and why do so many people care?
ShaderGlass Filter
Firstly, check out the website here and download it. Then use your preferred extractor to get it out, and you are sorted once it’s running.
Also, ShaderGlass itself and everything included is only 33 MB! Once it’s running, a magnified screen with a shader running will appear. From the drop-down list, we can adjust the filter to a specific type and dimension.
It even has a VHS and tape recorder filter, giving you that cheesy retro look instantly. But you may be wondering why to use this one over inbuilt shaders in emulators and games.
Well, mainly ShaderGlass is free and independent of other software. As a separate panel, it can overlap not only your games but your normal screen output as well. So add this with a screen recorder like OBS, and you can achieve an easy retro look from a simple straight recording.
Included with this package are hundreds of console-focused shaders like Game Boy and CRT. Also some extra shaders for more modern consoles like the original Xbox. When emulating or even playing modern games, you can achieve an older look with half the processing power.
But you may be wondering why you would use a program to make a retro game look worse. Well, it’s not so much people wanting to make something look bad to achieve a visual style they prefer or are nostalgic to.
Also, there is an argument to be made that sprite-based games were designed around screen shaders. Although not specifically called shaders, I mean more so they designed sprites and models around the limitations of the screen technology they were using.
CRT Argument
One reason to use ShaderGlass is to achieve a CRT look. For many retro game fans, this is a must, as the games were designed around CRTs. Meaning when someone says an upscaled or HD version of a game sucks compared to the original release, they are referring to how they saw it back in the day on their screen better.
Some argue that certain games like Sonic 2 lose depth of field when not played with a CRT filter. Or take other sprite games like Streets of Rage and Castlevania. But what ShaderGlass does is it gives us plenty of options to choose from. Also a wide range of ways to adjust the shaders themselves to our liking.
I’m not going to throw my hat into the CRT vs. LCD argument because that hat will not come back! But I will say whether you prefer either or not, it’s your choice, and you have the right to explore ways of achieving that wanted look.
I mean really, I like both if held at gunpoint, but I think style trumps filter any day. Look, pixel art in and of itself just got bad after a while since we lost the skill and technology to make it like we used to.
However, there are games every now and then that get pretty close.
