Game view poll. Strategy interface and maps

muxec · April 24, 2003, 14:12

The most important part of strategy is strategical part (sounds ugly). And graphics, animation etc. are less important. For example some people still play Civ1 and enjoy playing. But game appearance affects your ability to see teh map. Some strategic games lost their popularity due to their full 3D and good graphics, that makes seeing strategic tiles harder. So graphics is also very important part of strategy game.
The first way of showing map is full 2D. You can see it in civ1 for example. The next ways of showing were different isometric and birds eye views. Some games provide special hexagonal isometry. Finaly modern games use 3D.
What do you prefer?

Static Universe · April 24, 2003, 16:01

I personally prefer the isometric view, but hexagonal isn't bad either. Can't really stand most 3d.

Nikolai · April 24, 2003, 16:18

The way Civ 2 and 3 and EU2 have it is fine IMHO(in that kind of game of course).

But what is that called?

Static Universe · April 24, 2003, 16:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai
The way Civ 2 and 3 and EU2 have it is fine IMHO(in that kind of game of course).

But what is that called?

That's the isometric view.

Nikolai · April 24, 2003, 16:26

Thanks!

My vote is in! BTW, out of 3 votes, 3 is for isometric. It'll be interesting to see if that changes after more votes or not.

Static Universe · April 24, 2003, 16:35

Quote:

Originally posted by Nikolai
Thanks!

My vote is in! BTW, out of 3 votes, 3 is for isometric. It'll be interesting to see if that changes after more votes or not.

Given that this is such a Civ-friendly site, I suspect isometric view will dominate the poll.

But let's see how it plays out...

Adagio · April 25, 2003, 05:03

I prefer Isometric... everything is better than 3D, since it's mostly done poorly... very poorly...

Dauphin · April 25, 2003, 05:08

Isometric. The ability to rotate the map through 90 degrees would be useful on a few occasions when there are graphical problems with a particular view.

muxec · April 25, 2003, 15:12

Quote:

Originally posted by Static Universe

Given that this is such a Civ-friendly site, I suspect isometric view will dominate the poll.

Civ1 is full 2D. And i voted it

yaroslav · April 25, 2003, 18:35

I've voted for isometric, but I also like Full 2D. I haven't seen a 3D game easy to control yet...

alva · April 25, 2003, 18:49

Isometric.

Too much time and enegy is waste on things as free-cam etc... you don't use it, it demands top of the line hardware...

DrSpike · April 27, 2003, 11:10

For TBS isometric is best.........don't really see how that will change much.

Felch · April 27, 2003, 14:19

Isometric looks nicer than straight 2D without sacrificing ease of use.

Adagio · April 27, 2003, 16:05

Could someone please tell me what Hexagonal isometry is? I'm not 100% sure about this one...

Felch · April 27, 2003, 16:19

It's where you have six-sided squares I think. Like in some classic board games and stuff. It's meant to make diagonal movements the same as straight lines, I think.

Adagio · April 27, 2003, 16:21

Ok... kinda like in HistoryLine and Battle Isle?

Jamski · April 27, 2003, 16:47

Exactly so. Do you remember those old chesnuts ADG? I still have them on my Amiga, and Historyline on my PC too

-Jam

Cruddy · April 27, 2003, 17:08

Best for me is the Harpoon latitude/longitude 3D projection - it's accurate and easy to use.

Hexagons are my next favourite. No extra movement going diagonal.

Isometric and squares are my least favouite, although Civ gives the best use of them.

Adagio · April 28, 2003, 05:50

Quote:

Originally posted by War of Art
Exactly so. Do you remember those old chesnuts ADG? I still have them on my Amiga, and Historyline on my PC too

-Jam

I still have both of them on my Amiga, though my Amiga doesn't work anymore

but I still got HL to my PC, too bad you can' play MP online

Jamski · April 28, 2003, 06:01

I'll get on the train up to Danemark and give you a game - its only about 7-8 hours with the ICE

-Jam

Adagio · April 28, 2003, 09:08

Great, I'll be expecting you

Daz · April 28, 2003, 09:57

Hex... panzer and battle isle left an impact i guess..

Lemmy · April 28, 2003, 10:08

Can anyone g ive an example of an "bird's eye"-view game?

Dauphin · April 28, 2003, 10:58

HL was a great game, I still have the game music on my PC.

The map is not isometric though. Its just Hexagonal 2-D.

You'd have to squash the map along the vertical (~60%) a bit and make the units stand up a bit to make it isometric. Almost identical to the process you use to make the Civ 2-D Squares isometric (except you don't rotate the grid through 45 degrees in the first instance).

St Leo · April 28, 2003, 15:12

I like the isometric hexagons in Age of Wonders II.

muxec · April 30, 2003, 05:06

WOW cool

Nobody voted banana, i listed all the possibilities

People, why do you dislike 3D?

DrSpike · April 30, 2003, 05:17

Quote:

Originally posted by muxec

People, why do you dislike 3D?

For TBS it just wouldn't feel right.

muxec · April 30, 2003, 05:55

Quote:

Originally posted by DrSpike

For TBS it just wouldn't feel right.

But 3D with tactical grid?

Urban Ranger · April 30, 2003, 07:11

2D. Don't care about anything else.

Adagio · April 30, 2003, 09:15

Quote:

Originally posted by muxec
People, why do you dislike 3D?

I've said it before, and will say it again:

3D for strategy games, means ugly'er graphics (compared to what it could have been done easier, in 2D), higher system requirements and in most cases: A worse interface...