Assume all perspectives are in 3D.

 

This is a fairly basic question:

 

If you were going to design an Aliens RPG, what perspective do you think would be most appropriate for the game, given canon and previous Aliens media's atmospheres (the movies, AvP, etc)?

 

Do NOT respond with what perspective you think Obsidian should make it, or what perspective you speculate it will be. I want an answer independent from any current undertakings.

It's not a particularly easy question to understand. What's the difference between what perspective I think would be most appropriate and what perspective I think Obsidian should use? I would have thought that for most people those two would be the same.

To clarify:

 

For example, if you think 1st person solo would be best, but think Obsidian should do 3rd person squad based because Valve's already doing an FPS, you'd still vote 1st person solo.

Edited December 30, 200718 yr by Krezack

'kay. So I voted for 'Third-person squad based, as in Dungeon Siege or KOTOR'. I think it works best for two reasons - firstly, you should, except in very unusual circumstances, need a group of people to hope even to survive against, let alone kill, an alien. If you can go one-on-one with an alien and win on a regular basis, the alien isn't scary. I think having companions to worry about also increases the sense of jeopardy - their lives are at risk as well as your own. It adds to the atmosphere, as well as providing opportunities for humour, and for me, humour is a natural response to frightening situations and a vital component of any Aliens game.

I voted third person, but the camera similar to Splinter Cell's, Resident Evil 4, Gears of War and The Witcher's Third person camera

I voted third person, but the camera similar to Splinter Cell's, Resident Evil 4, Gears of War and The Witcher's Third person camera

 

Presumably you also voted for squaddies. Would you have that implemented like in Half-Life 2? That is: non-controllable?

 

I believe Steve's point about companions increasing tension as you have to worry about them is only really valid if they are not under your control and there's a fairly small number of them, no? I recall worrying about temporary squad mates in HL2 far more when there were fewer of them - it made them less expendable.

Edited December 30, 200718 yr by Krezack

Looks like I misread the topic, I thought it was refering to the camera system.

 

Non-controllable would be preferable with the exception of giving simple orders like aggressive, defensive, hold position and go here.

 

Special orders perhaps similar to Republic Commanda like: Man the turret, wedge the door, breach room + grenades, overwatch mode with those manning the Smartgun, revive fallen members.

 

As for the number of people in the squad, 3 is good enough without being too crowded. Though again with many people, it might affect the scary tension atmosphere with too many chattering in the party?

Edited December 30, 200718 yr by Zoma

Yeah, I'd personally see 3 as too much, preferring 1 or 2 max.

 

This thread IS about the camera system. But I think that squad-mates (or lack thereof) would be an important part of such a decision.

I reckon they should do it like how it's done in Mass Effect, whatever way that is. I think that'd be the Deus Ex way, but from what I remember you had that KotOR style box thingamajig too. And just to throw it in, I don't think it's a big deal if you can't control your party members in movement, combat and stuff but if you can, that's great.

I think they should give the player the ability to decide for themselves. If this is a truly 3D environment the game should be capable of toggling through 1st person, 3rd person over the shoulder, and 3rd person top down.

Poll needs a "your mother" option.

I vote for a third person over-the-shoulder camera. I chose the "Third-person solo, similar to melee in Bloodlines", even though I don't think Bloodlines is a very good example of TP. As for squadmates, I can take 'em or leave 'em. I much prefer the TP of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.

 

I'm currently replaying Gears of War, and I was actually thinking how much I'd like it's over the shoulder view in an Alien game. The characters move much slower (and more realistically) than in most FPS where you can float around really quickly. I also like how the camera shakes around documentary-crew-running-after-the-player style when sprinting, and I like the idea that moving too fast could leaved you disoriented.

 

Also, Sand is wrong in thinking that a 3D games should support a wide range of viewpoints. While it's fairly common for first person games to feature a third person mode, and vice versa. The two views can play quite differently, and a first or third person game does (and should) play very differently to top down game. Dedicated design is much better than jack-of-all-trades.

Everything is fine as long as it fits in and works properly. So First person solo, obviously.

I find role-playing really hard from a first-person perspective in games. Far from putting me 'in the shoes' of the protagonist, it makes me feel like there isn't a protagonist, only a floating camera. I used to switch to first-person in Oblivion when shooting ranged weapons, but I switched back to over-the-shoulder as soon as I was done.

I hated third person view in Oblivion and Morrowind. Jumping was just freaky.

I vote for new and revelutionary Pants-Vision.

Poll needs a "your mother" option.

You mean it's not there?!

 

I stopped reading when "Dungeon Siege" was referenced in the same vein as KotOR.

I for one am definitely against first person only. If there is to be only one view then 3rd person top down as seen in NWN2 needs to be it.

I for one am definitely for doing everything that Sand is against.

I for one am definitely against first person only. If there is to be only one view then 3rd person top down as seen in NWN2 needs to be it.

 

Yes, top-down view certainly works so well when creating horror and/or suspense.

 

First person view a la System Shock definetly. Although I suspect they end up doing RE4 stylish camera which is second best option.

 

Non-camera-related wish:

 

Please, no pause option of any kind

I for one am definitely for doing everything that Sand is against.

Then be prepared to change what you're doing on a frequent basis.

 

But in all seriousness, Sand is right. There's nothing wrong in having a 1st person view for all those FPS junkies, as long as they at least provide a 3rd person (if not isometric) alternative.

1st person is for shooters, 3rd person is for CRPGs. Games that bridge both should have both views available for use.

I didn't know being RPG depends on camera

1st person is for shooters, 3rd person is for CRPGs. Games that bridge both should have both views available for use.

 

I agree somewhat. While I would want FPS view as in Deus Ex or System Shock 2, I enjoy seeing my characters.

 

Now, Deus Ex actually got through this well enough by constantly showing cutscenes of the character in third person, as well as providing mirrors and tinted windows.

 

In Bloodlines and Morrowind, I'd often tab to 3rd person view to admire my characters and all their ph4t l00t and such. Heh.

 

Further, after having played Deus Ex and System Shock 2 in melee, I believe melee is viable in FPS. I think the restricted POV actually enhances tension - you can't tell what's behind or to the sides of you without a quick look around. AvP2 had the life signs detector, which was pretty sweet as it was in inaccurate enough to make scare the **** out of you oft times. Another option, as a synth, might be a camera/eye in the back of your head which gives a small view in the top right-hand corner of what's behind you. You'd have to keep flitting your eyes up to take a look.

 

EDIT: But really I'd be equally happy with the Bloodlines method of toggling between 3rd and 1st person at whim.

Edited December 31, 200718 yr by Krezack

I didn't know being RPG depends on camera

Well, what did you think RPG stood for?

 

"Right Perspective Game"

 

Now we just need to figure out what perspective is right!

 

I dislike first person perspective for anything but fast action shooters. Fast response time is important for twitch games, for stuff that has to do with exploring, experiencing or just moving around, I prefer at the very least third person perspective to get rid of the artificial "tunnel vision" of first person camera.

 

It might be easier to pull cheap (bad) stunts like having stuff spawn just next to you when you don't have peripheral vision, but that isn't really my kind of fun anyway. A good spooky feeling is one that builds up gradually over time, using your own imagination against you, not one that relies on the technical limitations of a flat camera lens.

 

In the end, my preference really depends on what kind of game it turns out to be (which we don't really know at the moment). Pseudo isometric for tactical combat games, third person perspective for single player exploration and adventuring type games and finally first person if it is a full blooded action game