Anara Rubric: VFX Shaders
Pillar Overview
The light-bending spirit of the vision. This rubric assesses the project's use of shader-driven visual effects to create impact, atmosphere, and cinematic flair.
Analytical Performance Matrix
| Criterion | Weight | SLOP (0-2) | FUNCTIONAL (3-5) | PROFESSIONAL (6-8) | ELITE (Visionary) (9-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Complexity | 35% | Basic 'Color-swap' shaders; simple noise patterns; static textures only. | Functional特效 (Dissolves, Outlines), but lacks 'Depth' or 'Energy' flows. | Advanced multi-layered effects (Distortion, Fresnel, SDF-masks); procedural noise. | Cinematic visual manifestations; vertex-manipulation mastery; hyper-dynamic VFX. |
| Engine Integration | 25% | Shaders require manual variable-updates in _process() every frame to 'Animate'. |
Using the shader TIME variable, but lacks synchronization with game-events. |
Driven by uniforms and signal-busses; shaders react to world logic (e.g. hit-flashes). | Seamless logic-to-GPU flow; compute-driven VFX; reactive visual ecosystems. |
| Performance (Fill) | 20% | Overdraw of 5+ fullscreen shaders; massive fragment-latency; low resolution. | Basic optimization via shader-complexity toggles, but still heavy on mobile/low-end. | Optimized fragment-pipelines (Step over Sin); screen-space-aware complexity. | Zero-latency effects; high-performance compute-VFX; minimal GPU cost per pixel. |
| Artistic Coherence | 20% | VFX look 'Stock' or out of place; different styles for different effects. | Consistent palette, but lacks a 'Signature' visual language or style. | Unified VFX style; consistent shader-libraries; shared noise-manifests. | Transcendent visual identity; the shaders define the vision's artistic soul. |
Visionary Diagnostic Hooks
- Is the 'Flame' a texture or a force?
- When the 'Spell' casts, does the GPU feel the magic?
- Does the 'Blur' reveal the depth or hide the machine?
🌟 Visionary's Final Decree
To reach Elite status, your VFX must be 'Generative'. They should not rely on pre-baked textures alone. Use VisualShader or code to create beauty from nothing but math. If an effect doesn't react to the world's light, it is Slop. A visionary effect is a bridge between art and math.
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