Camera

[ArcaneBoozery]

In the early 2000s, as most RPGs and RTSs transitioned from 2D to 3D, one of the things that really bugged me was how the camera in the 3D games was allowed to zoom in and out, rotate, and change the angle. In 2D isometric games, backgrounds were just images, so the camera was entirely fixed in terms of zoom distance, angle, and rotation (with some rare exceptions). As 3D games became popular, I'm sure the developers were excited about the chance to show off their three dimensional worlds from different angles, and at first, this sounds like a good idea, giving this flexibility to the player. But what I found in practice is that this camera freedom was actually extremely detrimental to the gameplay experience. Since these games were designed with the free roaming camera in mind, different camera angles were optimal (or even required) at different times. Sometimes you would want to zoom in to check out your new weapon graphics (badly visible from distance), other times you would need to zoom out to see the entire battlefield. Sometimes, you would need to tilt the camera up to see inside buildings, toher times down to see where you are going. Rotation also became a necessity to see around obstacles. In the end, I found myself spending half the time fighting against the camera, as opposed to actually enjoying the game, and missing those days of 2D games when camera was transparent, and not something you had to think about. So because of that, I am really hoping that with Project Eternity, Obsidian will go back to the fixed cameras of older games. What do the rest of you think?

[ilhdr]

I can't see how those two things are antagonics.

 

BTW, 2d is confirmed on the game

[rjshae]

Completely agree with the OP, but it's not a concern with this game.

[Hassat Hunter]

Yup...

 

So yay for 2D!

[mstark]

I am really hoping that with Project Eternity, Obsidian will go back to the fixed cameras of older games.

You'll be happy to know there'll be no such thing as camera angles. Possibly limited zooming (for a better strategical overview of a battlefield), but that's it.

[Sugarjaye]

I still want to zoom in behind my character..... but that is just personal preference.

[nikolokolus]

I still want to zoom in behind my character..... but that is just personal preference.

 

Well lucky for you there are a million and one other games where you can do just that.

[Ieo]

I am really hoping that with Project Eternity, Obsidian will go back to the fixed cameras of older games.

You'll be happy to know there'll be no such thing as camera angles. Possibly limited zooming (for a better strategical overview of a battlefield), but that's it.

 

Actually, from my experience across different game genres, zooming OUT is always favorable for a tactical view of the field. Zooming in is only useful for either precise aiming or LOS. And ego shots.

 

(Of course, I'm assuming that the default PE camera view is fully zoomed out with the option to zoom in a bit. That's not confirmed, though.)

[Sugarjaye]

I still want to zoom in behind my character..... but that is just personal preference.

 

Well lucky for you there are a million and one other games where you can do just that.

 

 

I know.... I'm not complaining. I'm extreamly happy with how PE is going etc, But I am allowed to have a small little wish that I could.... Even if I could have a close up shot in the inventory/character screen I would be giddy.

[ddillon]

I loved the rotating camera with mouse-wheel zoom in DA:O.

 

I realize that we won't get a rotating camera in PE because of the 2D isometric graphics, but I very much want mouse-wheel zoom.

 

If the character models are going to be 3D as previously indicated, I'd like a rotatable close-up view in the inventory/character screen.

 

And I'd prefer PE do without the classic black "fog of war" (or at least have a console command to clear it as in BG2). Walking around every single bit of the map just to get a good look at the beautiful background art is annoying.

Edited October 13, 2012 by ddillon

[mstark]

Limited zoom has already been mentioned, it'll all depend on at what resolution they end up exporting the final game graphics at. The higher the resolution, the longer the generation of the environments will take... if they have enough time to generate it at extreme resolutions, I'm positive we'll get the ability to zoom in (assuming PEs default camera view is fully "zoomed out").

 

I am really hoping that with Project Eternity, Obsidian will go back to the fixed cameras of older games.

You'll be happy to know there'll be no such thing as camera angles. Possibly limited zooming (for a better strategical overview of a battlefield), but that's it.

 

Actually, from my experience across different game genres, zooming OUT is always favorable for a tactical view of the field. Zooming in is only useful for either precise aiming or LOS. And ego shots.

 

(Of course, I'm assuming that the default PE camera view is fully zoomed out with the option to zoom in a bit. That's not confirmed, though.)

This, is what I wanted my post to say. Feel like I left OUT the word OUT. Edited October 13, 2012 by mstark