2D Isometric Graphics (Warning: Large Pictures)

[Starglider]

While isometric graphics are fine, I do prefer being able to rotate the playfield in 90 degree steps so that I can see the whole environment. PS:T could have done this if it wasn't for 1999 memory limitations; the environments were 3D modelled and could have been rendered in four orientations no problem. With hand-drawn 2D graphics obviously this is more difficult and expensive.

[Waywocket]

Baldur's Gate Trilogy/Planescape/Icewind Dale and even Fallout still look great to date with High Res Patches:

That makes a nice desktop wallpaper but not a particularly playable experience, with everything scaled down to a fraction of its original size.

 

Try it out; it's very playable - more so even.

[Jozape]

Baldur's Gate Trilogy/Planescape/Icewind Dale and even Fallout still look great to date with High Res Patches:

That makes a nice desktop wallpaper but not a particularly playable experience, with everything scaled down to a fraction of its original size.

 

I actually find the screenshots D3xter posted to be much more playable than the default resolutions due to the increased visibility(I also play at the lowly 1440x900 resolution in D3xter's screenshots). It's bad when you go up to 1920x1200 though. Nevermind 2560x1600, heh.

 

One thing Obsidian can do is render the backgrounds for use at 1920x1200 by default, but offer a separate and much higher resolution download like Skyrim does for the textures. So offer 3840x2400 or even higher for those who want the game to look good zoomed in on high resolutions monitors.

[Zeckul]

Baldur's Gate Trilogy/Planescape/Icewind Dale and even Fallout still look great to date with High Res Patches:

That makes a nice desktop wallpaper but not a particularly playable experience, with everything scaled down to a fraction of its original size.

 

Try it out; it's very playable - more so even.

I did, it's unbearable. Especially for the UI where every button and clickable element is reduced to mere millimeters of my screen. When I use the widescreen mod I set it to something that respects both my monitor's aspect ratio and the designers' intent for scale: 960x600 for a 16:10 monitor or 1072x603 for a 16:9 monitor. Edited September 23, 2012 by Zeckul

[descalabro]

I voted NO, because most of these Pictures look like they were constructed as 3D models. It might look good, but depending on Obsidians approach to

creating areas it could be too time consuming and result in fewer content. Eternity is after all still a "low-budget" game - and (I hope) we all want it to be big.

 

If that is not an issue for Obsidian I am all for those graphics, but I don't want to loose focus here.

 

They constructed as 3D models, yes, the same way IE games were. And these were made by one person only, with his own money. So I don't think that will be a problem with 2 or 3 persons to do all the 3D modeling work.

[Chrząszczyrzewoszyczanin]

Don't miss the update on Thursday - Josh will be talking lore, and our first screenshot will be revealed. Everyone at the studio is really excited to show you what we've been working on.

So we will see how PE will look like in 2 days.

[ogrezilla]

Don't miss the update on Thursday - Josh will be talking lore, and our first screenshot will be revealed. Everyone at the studio is really excited to show you what we've been working on.

So we will see how PE will look like in 2 days.

[Emeraude]

You also have to make compromises with pre-renders; it becomes almost impossible to do dynamic lighting and shadowing; it is very difficult to represent depth convincingly with the orthographic projections they use; every animation has to be isolated' date=' looped and pre-baked which makes it much harder to get good-looking stuff that moves like water, foliage, clouds, haze, etc., leading to unnaturally static scenes. I think at the point we're at today, we get better-looking graphics, with more detail and artistic freedom, by going with a real-time than a pre-rendered approach: plus of course we get camera freedom and resolution independence.[/quote']

 

The problem I have with your argument is that you seem to assume that some of these things are inherently better because they are better from a technical standpoint.

 

There is a lot to be said about the power of well conceived static screens being actually more involving for erring more on the side of abstraction rather than representation, which brings tighter control of affects and pathos.

Edited October 9, 2012 by Emeraude

[rjshae]

Some day I'd like to see a game do real-time authentic crashing surf along a coastline. It's probably expensive to render, I know, and it very likely won't be in this game. But some day...

Edited October 9, 2012 by rjshae

[LadyCrimson]

Some day I'd like to see a game do real-time authentic crashing surf along a coastline. It's probably expensive to render, I know, and it very likely won't be in this game. But some day...

The best I've ever seen is a sort of ripple. It's not something that's necessary in a game but yeah, it would be cool to see.

[Osvir]

And this is why I want Fog of War, so I can wash away all that darkness and find the beautiful art behind it

[Gorth]

And this is why I want Fog of War, so I can wash away all that darkness and find the beautiful art behind it

It also gives those of us who are OCD about it something to do. I can't be the only one that systematically clears a map with FoW trying out every bend and corner to remove as much of the FoW as possible

[ogrezilla]

And this is why I want Fog of War, so I can wash away all that darkness and find the beautiful art behind it

It also gives those of us who are OCD about it something to do. I can't be the only one that systematically clears a map with FoW trying out every bend and corner to remove as much of the FoW as possible

you most certainly are not.

[Osvir]

And this is why I want Fog of War, so I can wash away all that darkness and find the beautiful art behind it

It also gives those of us who are OCD about it something to do. I can't be the only one that systematically clears a map with FoW trying out every bend and corner to remove as much of the FoW as possible

you most certainly are not.

 

Most certainly not. That's why Obsidian should make a Clairvoyance ability for us so we can explore every nook and cranny (only usable outdoors). Or perhaps get a pet Hawk that can fly and explore those areas you can not (Man I'd be so mad if some ranger shot that Hawk down whilst I'd explore with it *whistles*).

[Falkon Swiftblade]

the main thing I hope they improve upon with this version of game is I want really well rendered lighting and shadows. I also want them to take advantage of things like tessellation so environments have some texture and its not just a bunch of circles and boxes with painted textures. It doesn't need to be photo real, but if the tech is out now, and the games gonna be coming out in 2 yrs, lets use the resources available to us now. Icewind Dale games looked pretty for their day, but we can really push things now a days with programs like Zbrush, and improved tech.

[GhostofAnakin]

I thik Mote's pictures are quite stunning.

 

This echoes my thoughts. If PE looks anything like the OP pictures, it'll look really spectacular.

[Ywerion]

I always loved these from Revenant game, sorry for small resolution it's bloody hard to find decent screenshot from this game.

 

 

 

http://www.rpghry.cz/Img/Games/Screenshots/498/498_4.jpg

 

http://gamereviewgroup.com/scrImages/revenant_1_orig.jpg

Edited October 10, 2012 by Ywerion

[sesobebo]

It also gives those of us who are CDO about it something to do.

 

better.

[limaxophobiacq]

I'd be nice, but I'd be perfectly fine with something that looked like the old IE games just scaled for modern resolutions.

[Haerski]

Baldur's Gate Trilogy/Planescape/Icewind Dale and even Fallout still look great to date with High Res Patches:

They look great, but I think they look much better in their original size because characters and objects get too small in bigger resolutions. Original size then again is frustrating because of very limited view and constant need of scrolling around map. Claustrophobic experience. This is my main problem with old 2D games: I just can't find the perfect balance between those two and it doesn't help that IE widescreen mods seem to cause crashing on some resolutions. They worked best on my monitors native res 1080p which is far too big for this kind of games. Almost all others were nearly unplayable because of constant crashes.

 

Hopefully they figure out some kind of zooming system in PE so you can get smaller view on situations you need to be more precise like combat and then again wider view for exploration and finding important places in cities etc.

Edited October 10, 2012 by Haerski

[KennethTopp]

I don't know which examples of cel-shading you dislike. I come from a background based on anime and animation, so that colors my preferences - but then, everyone has preferences, so no suprise there. Here are games that I have played and enjoyed cel-shading for:

 

*Okami

*Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

*Persona 3 & 4

*Paper Mario: The 1,000 Year Door

 

A rather short list, but to be honest I haven't gotten the chance to extensively play most modern examples of the style. I am hoping to get a crack at Valkyria Chronicles someday.

 

the cell shading for Zelda was fantastic, and close to ageless. But, I really hated the art direction. except Ganondort. He looked pretty bad ass.

[teknoman2]

what the 2d brings to the table is the ability to reshape by hand the 3d model's imperfections, thus adding a 118x antialiasing, a 216x anisotropic filter, and completely removing the corners created by the use of a limited number of polygons on curved surfaces, making them smooth, without having to make your video card render bilions of polygons per second to make the same image in 3d

[Haerski]

what the 2d brings to the table is the ability to reshape by hand the 3d model's imperfections, thus adding a 118x antialiasing, a 216x anisotropic filter, and completely removing the corners created by the use of a limited number of polygons on curved surfaces, making them smooth, without having to make your video card render bilions of polygons per second to make the same image in 3d

I don't think that's really good argument in favor of 2D. It's like building an ordinary house and making front look like palace, but if you look it from different angle it's still just the same dull and boring ordinary house. So you make it so people won't see anything else but the front wall and everybody's happy?! Yay!

Edited October 10, 2012 by Haerski

[ogrezilla]

what the 2d brings to the table is the ability to reshape by hand the 3d model's imperfections, thus adding a 118x antialiasing, a 216x anisotropic filter, and completely removing the corners created by the use of a limited number of polygons on curved surfaces, making them smooth, without having to make your video card render bilions of polygons per second to make the same image in 3d

I don't think that's really good argument in favor of 2D. It's like building an ordinary house and making front look like palace, but if you look it from different angle it's still just the same dull and boring ordinary house. So you make it so people won't see anything else but the front wall and everybody's happy?! Yay!

we will only see it from the front. so ya, yay indeed.

[dlux]

Baldur's Gate Trilogy/Planescape/Icewind Dale and even Fallout still look great to date with High Res Patches:

Check out Baldur's Gate 2 in HD, 1920 x 1200:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl9A4bSTsTo

 

It's like playing Sim Ant. ^^