Ever had trouble finding the right background for your computer or iPad? Searching can be a pain, as you’re at the mercy of whatever Google images can conjure off your merciful few keywords. Worse yet, you find a website full of ads or one that will make you pay for the higher resolution backgrounds.
Fear not, friends. If you’re a fan of video games, cool backgrounds for electronic devices, or just pretty pictures in general, DeadEndThrills is the site you’re looking for.
Is it free?
One hundred percent. No strings attached. You find the picture you want, you download the picture you want.
How are the site’s wallpapers created?
The games in question are run on a high end PC, given mods to enhance their visuals, then a moment in the game is frozen. Using a free roaming spectator mode, a screenshot snapped in high resolution. Thus, a wallpaper is born.
So it’s screenshot… photography?
Essentially. As you can see above, he does scenery and surprisingly emotional portraits. The composition of the pictures are astounding and are sure to amaze anyone who catches a glimpse of them, gamer or no. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a debate rise from these pictures over their merits as works of art.
Who is this screenshot photographer?
The site is run by Duncan Harris, whose screenshots have received the praise of game designers from titles such as Dishonored, Mirror’s Edge, and Alan Wake.
Alex Garland, director of the upcoming film Ex Machina and writer of Dredd, has also praised Harris’ work, “In his exceptional screen capture work, Harris finds and superbly accentuates landscapes, fragments, moods, and ephemeral moments. He makes the viewer see the source game through fresh eyes, and reappraise what they thought they understood about the game. The pictures also exist as incredibly striking images in their own right.”
Which games does he have backgrounds of?
Dozens. The full list can be viewed here.
Which are some of the best games to check out?
My personal favorites are (in alphabetical order) Alice: Madness Returns, Alien: Isolation, Batman: Arkham City, Bioshock Infinite, Dishonored, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (probably his best), Half-Life 2, Mass Effect 2, Mass Effect 3, Middle of Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Mirror’s Edge and The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings.
Does the site have anything else?
Indeed it does! Aside from the customary forum, Harris also writes features that center around the people behind the art direction for many visually striking games including Mirror’s Edge, Amplitude, Alice: Madness Returns, and even the 1997 Blade Runner adventure game.
Wait, there was a Blade Runner adventure game in 1997?
That’s the subject of another article, but sufficed to say it’s worth your time. Until then, enjoy the wallpaper!
Glad you like them!
Yes.. these are some of my favourite video games as well. I just love these wallpapers