Poll: The Perspective War

[Emperor Inferno]

This one's simple. I love shooters, and I love both perspectives: first person and third person. Thing is, they are very different and I do prefer first person. For example, I turn third person perspective off to play Star Wars: Battlefront II. I was wondering, which do other Escapists prefer? Is there any particular reason that you like your pick better?

 

[KarumaK]

I prefer third myself, no real reason. I'm a style before function person so even if it royally fucks over my gameplay I'll still use third if it's available.

Provided the character is fun to look at.

 

[ygetoff]

I prefer first person, because of "immersion" or whatever else you want to call it.
Also, is it just me, or is the tread misleadingly named? I expected a spirited debate over perspectives on political philosophy, or a bunch of people saying that the nazis were good because they want to seem "individual".

 

[Ace of Spades]

I like first person. It contributes to the immersion, which I place very high on the list of things that make games good. I like third in Battlefront II though.

 

[Beffudled Sheep]

I prefer whic ever one has more gore. I really dont care which.

 

[Avida]

Third, it always tends to be more fun. Immersion is both overated and misunderstood since about the time yahtzee bitched about it - for all you people talking about it above me.

 

[Yuriatayde]

I prefer third person for one reason; First Person, while more immersive, CANNOT give you the level of awareness that you have in real life. You end up having to check everything visually. The better games have the red marks telling you "your attacker was in this direction" but what about simply brushing up against something?

A dimmer blue mark for non-pain awareness would be nice, and no; direct contact should not be required. The mark should get darker the closer you are to something, but you should be aware of it within a fair distance. Why? Your character caught it in the corner of his eye, or maybe brushed up against it, or can maybe hear it clearly, whatever. Maybe not for directly behind you, but 3rd person doesn't do that either; it just gives you a slightly more realistic eyesight coverage.

I know it's kind of a shallow complaint, but I feel clostrophobic in 1st person views, like a horse wearing that eye-visor thing preventing it from seeing to the sides. Take Mount & Blade for example, I dare you to master 1st person view! It looks fantastic and is immersible as hell, but actually fighting in that view? HA HA! No.

 

[Jandau]

Funny enough, I find third person to be more immersive than first person. To me, first person always felt a bit artificial. I don't have any feel for the movements of my character. In fact, for the most part I feel like a floating camera with a gun attached.

3rd person allows me to get a feel for the character I'm controlling. I can see him performing all the actions and I have a better perception of my surroundings. Either way, I'm controling a character and that's something I'm constantly aware of, no matter the perspective. At least in 3rd person I fell more connected to the character I'm leading.

 

[Sewblon]

First Person because in third person my avatar gets in the way of Sniping and other attempts at precise shots.

 

[Axolotl]

3rd person, when done well. Immersion I find is far more dependent on mood and interesting character, places, missions and well written dialogue, currently I'm getting deeply immersed in Fallout 2. 3rd person provides me with some idea of my surroundings meaning I can better complete jumps, navigate buildings and generally maneuver, also due to the way FPS's work it feel like I'm controlling a camera as opposed to a person, and lastly after 2007 I feel no urge to play an FPS any more.