Part 5/11:
The developer then turns to world building, inspired by a viral video of a night race in pitch-black conditions. They recreate this map over several days, emphasizing that the atmosphere contributes significantly to the sensation of speed and danger.
Lighting plays a pivotal role—ordinary headlights look artificial, so they incorporate a texture called IESS, which mimics real-life light dispersion and artifacting, akin to a dash cam footage. To enhance realism, they add a dynamic effect: headlights detect when the player isn’t moving, and bugs fly around to simulate real-world condensation or reflections.