3D is not better than 2D

[Saevus]

Don't stress to much, 3D probably gonna have the same problem when this magical '4D' comes out.

Excuse me, but should I be taking that with a grain of salt or a tablet of cyanide?

Anyways.

I'd say that I agree completely with Dexter, and the general voice in this thread that fancy 3D graphics are not always suitable, and often end up hogging time in the development cycle and lead to the gameplay itself being mediocre.

But who's fault is that, really? The majority of people love flashy graphics, and if it looks good enough to distract them from the gameplay itself, they're fine with it - that's why Crysis succeeded. If you give the mob a metaphorical shit sandwich that looks like the most delicious thing made, they'll eat it, savour it, and tell all their friends about how amazing it was.

 

[Alex_P]

On a serious note, if you're viewing 3 dimensional images on a 2 dimensional monitor, isn't it still 2D (isometric?) & not true 3D?

Isometric projection -- that's when two parallel lines will always appear parallel in the projected image -- is a technique mostly employed by what people call "fake 3-D" games. If you have some artistic talent, it's pretty easy to create this kind of thing with sprites (as long as you have a fixed camera, of course -- panning around in an isometric space can be downright trippy).

What we normally think of as "3-D" video games use perspective projection. That's where two parallel lines seem to meet at the horizon, basically.

Wikipedia has some decent articles on this stuff.

-- Alex

 

[Anarchemitis]

2D games seem to have more effort put into them.

3D games lack originality alot of the time.

Many 2D Sprites were actually pixelized and reduced raster paintings. When you put effort into painting, it comes out great. When you put effort into 3D Animation, it comes out mediocre; you have to put in somewhere inbetween dedication and obsession to make it good. Like Pixar.
[img_inline caption="think about how long this would take a painter to make, nevermind animate"]http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7643/90170525ba7.png[/img_inline]

 

[SimpleReally]

LOL at digging the QTE grave

This video explains why i wasnt too impressed when i recently played the following games

- Grim Fandango (everything except the dialogue trees sucks)
- Baldur's gate 2 and planescape torment (combat is BROKEN, battles are basically decided in the first 3 seconds when status effects are launched, if 2 or more guys get hit with that stun/hold/confuse/level drain/fear just reload, shitty AI and pathfinding only makes it worse)

 

[jamesworkshop]

Yes we need a 2D revival we are at the point now where 2D can be done perfectly I would happily play a new 2D sonic or even if diablo 3 was like diablo 2 but with better art and the same with BG + IWD > Neverwinter
The infinity engine was simply the best at translating D&D to the pc all it needs is better art to match what can currently be done

 

[PersianLlama]

As Yahtzee said, Bionic Commando Rearmed didn't need to be 3D. I like how MM9 is NES-style graphics, ah, nostalgia.

 

[Space Spoons]

Has anybody here seen that new Wario game for the Wii? I haven't played it myself, so I can't vouch for it's quality, but I can say it's one of the best looking 2D games I've ever seen. It really is just like playing a cartoon.

2D's not dead. It was just on hold while the industry explored the possibilities of 3D. It's coming back, I think.

 

[SimuLord]

3D for its own sake is pointless. 3D where it actually serves a purpose (as in a first-person shooter or WRPG...or a Total War game) is a delight.

 

[baba44713]

Heh, I love Yahtzees videos, but I like them a bit more when their points are valid.

I mean seriously, in this one it seems like he defends this modern everyone-must-be-able-to-finish-the-game-in-one-sitting-even-my-granny game design and insane recycling without an ounce of originality. I positively crave for some retro-ish games, not because of nostalgic reasons, but because I want my games to be challenging and fun. That's why I am nowadays more inclined to regularly check out the indie games instead of the regular commercial crap - for instance, one gem I've recently found called "Untitled Story", available for FREE, is hundreds times better then any of the recent "check out this new FPS with even MORE partical effects and exciting new ass-juggling mechanics!" commercial offerings.

 

[Caliostro]

I have to disagree with you in a way. Generally speaking 3D is better than 2D, it grants more freedom of movement, realism and consequently immersion.

- However - In some, few, contexts, I can see 2D being more adequate. Mostly in point and click adventures.

And off course, there's the "cardinal sin" of trying to convert established 2D titles to 3D, which generally is just depressing.

 

[anti_strunt]

Heh, I love Yahtzees videos, but I like them a bit more when their points are valid.

I mean seriously, in this one it seems like he defends this modern everyone-must-be-able-to-finish-the-game-in-one-sitting-even-my-granny game design and insane recycling without an ounce of originality. I positively crave for some retro-ish games, not because of nostalgic reasons, but because I want my games to be challenging and fun. That's why I am nowadays more inclined to regularly check out the indie games instead of the regular commercial crap - for instance, one gem I've recently found called "Untitled Story", available for FREE, is hundreds times better then any of the recent "check out this new FPS with even MORE partical effects and exciting new ass-juggling mechanics!" commercial offerings.

...and this isn't even a ZP thread...

 

[Steelfox1]

i like 3d, it overall looks better, you are right tho 2d does suit some games better, but you gotta admit, 3d looks good lol

 

[Zealot_Guy]

I like 3D games for the demention of depth. It's kind of hard to gauge it, or figure if it even exists with a game that dosn't render it. Like Splintercell. I tried to play it on the gameboy, a 2d thing, and it was aweful. Total crap. It needs the 3rd demention for it to even work.

Platformers are the only game that can be put on 2d and work. Metal Slug!!!!!

 

[Strafe Mcgee]

LOL at digging the QTE grave

This video explains why i wasnt too impressed when i recently played the following games

- Grim Fandango (everything except the dialogue trees sucks)
- Baldur's gate 2 and planescape torment (combat is BROKEN, battles are basically decided in the first 3 seconds when status effects are launched, if 2 or more guys get hit with that stun/hold/confuse/level drain/fear just reload, shitty AI and pathfinding only makes it worse)

...words fail me. Baldurs Gate 2 and Grim Fandango suck? What the hell's your definition of quality here? Grim Fandango is gorgeous, has (mostly) great puzzles and has the most original story and setting of just about any game I've ever played. Sure the controls are a little shonky and a couple of the puzzles are a bit lame, but you've got to remember that it was the first ever 3D adventure game. Considering what it achieved, it's positive points far outweigh the negative.

Baldurs Gate 2 is another masterpiece, though the combat system is something of an acquired taste. Still, once you learn to pause the game the instant you get into combat (something the game has thorough options for you to do by the way,) you can have some very strategic battles. Plus the depth, length and scope the game has still dwarfs just about any other RPG ever made.

Never played Planescape myself, though I think several members on this here forum might take offense at you saying it's rubbish.

Also, what video are you talking about? I assume it's not the Call Of Cthulu movie earlier on because that wouldn't make the blindest bit of sense...