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When the sprite graphics in a Video Game are made by converting an external image (such as a photograph, CGI render, hand-drawn artwork, video feed, etc.) into a sprite, as opposed to the Pixel Art methods typically associated with the creation of videogame sprites. This can actually save a lot of time and effort in the production cycle, but the results are often not as pleasing (particularly when photography is used).
This was popular in the early to late 1990s (the 16-bit era) before processing power and tech prices could make Polygonal Graphics practical for home computers and video game consoles. It could actually make more detailed graphics than many of the early polygon-capable game systems, since it was taking more advanced CGI and converting it to 2D images.
Also, if a photo is used, it could be anything from Real Life pictures, to actors, to Stop Motion (e.g. Claymation models).
Compare Sprite Polygon Mix (and can overlap if the sprites or bitmaps are also digitized).
- The Mortal Kombat series started out this way, with sprites and animations based on filming live actor performances.
- Pit-Fighter
- The Sega Genesis game Bugs Bunny: Double Trouble
- The first three Donkey Kong Country games made all of its graphics (sprites and backgrounds alike) from pre-rendered 3D models.
- Killer Instinct
- Rise of the Robots
- Primal Rage using digitised claymation figures as sprites.
- Rollercoaster Tycoon used screencapped 3D for its vehicles, while everything else was standard sprites.
- Vectorman
- Eternal Champions X-Perts.
- Gargoyles on the Genesis
- Space Rangers
- Iji's sprites are 3d models from Blender, rendered with flat-shading.
- One Must Fall 2097
- Super Mario RPG, much like Donkey Kong Country, derived its sprite and environment graphics from pre-rendered CGI models.
- DK Jungle Climber
- The Enhanced Remake of Quest for Glory 1 used clay models for its in-battle monster graphics.
- Clay Fighter
- Some of the monsters from Doom and DOOM 2 were first created as clay or latex models which were photographed and then rendered into sprites.
- Likewise with Duke Nukem 3D.
- Blood also used detailed models for all the monsters.
- Deliberately averted in Yoshis Island. According to Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto, the reason why the game is drawn with a sketchy, storybook-like artstyle is because around the time the game was released, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was almost near the end of its life, and it was now mandatory for its last few games to be drawn this way. Miyamoto however, despised this artstyle, and as a result the game's graphics are actually drawn in its unique style today. Played straight in the prologue, however.
- Mario Kart Super Circuit
- Police Quest: Open Season
- The Batman Forever Licensed Game.
- The Golden Sun games on the Game Boy Advance digitized most of the sprites.