"Transition to 3D" Editorial Special-By Rylin

EatMeReturns · Oct 17, 2007

Rylin said:

[img width=500 height=150]http://imagenerd.com/uploads/headerSk3O.png[/img]

In the mid to late 90’s, a period where 3D graphics cards were becoming the ‘norm’, we began to see companies take a growing interest in the 3D aspects of gaming. No longer would we have to adapt to ‘flat’ game worlds, 3D cards now offered increased visual clarity and smoother game play that took the industry by storm. 3D accelerated video games were increasing in numbers but that didn’t seem to hinder the popularity of two-dimensional games.

[img width=350 height=200]http://imagenerd.com/uploads/shot27zOp.png[/img]

One such example is the hugely popular PC game, StarCraft. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1998, it rapidly became one of the biggest strategy game franchises of all time. Set in an alternate sci-fi universe, StarCraft gave gamers an unprecedented experience through three, very distinct races. The move to stick with a two-dimensional gaming experience offered its own benefits with its fast, well-balanced game play, coupled with its low system requirements; Making it one of the most popular and easily accessible strategy game for consumers of all PC ranges.

[img width=350 height=200]http://imagenerd.com/uploads/shot1nMEZ.png[/img]

Blizzard has always stood behind great game play over visuals and it certainly has stood the test of time, given the constant popularity StarCraft holds ten years after its initial release. With the recent announcement of StarCraft 2, the follow-up to its popular predecessor, we’ve seen an enormous change for the beloved series; the move to 3D. It’s a bold new direction, and despite the expectations of fans, eyebrows should be raised in regards to its impact on the original game play.

The obvious benefit is the level of detail found throughout the game. From the animated units, to the surrounding environments and effects, 3D brings a new level of immersiveness to the player. Units engaged in spectacular battles, worlds coming to life with animated doodads and distant scenery, all of which add to the entire scope of this new gaming experience. Various units now have multiple death and walking animations, which seems to further the variety and distinction among other units in the game. The inclusion of a physics-based system has also increased the believability of the 3D game world, with flying units falling to the ground in multiple pieces, to the huge explosions and particle effects of various weapons.

[img width=500 height=200]http://imagenerd.com/uploads/shot3afAp.png[/img]

Moving to 3D is not without its faults, as players will now have to contend with new mechanics that may or may not affect your gaming experience specifically. Things like camera rotation and elevation can leave players with more complex situations they wouldn’t otherwise deal with during a heated match. Its usefulness can certainly aid in situational awareness in most cases, but whether that will cause a few grumbles among the more competitive gamers who value those extra few seconds, is cause for speculation.

Another issue regarding the physics and 3D engine systems is how the weapon systems might function. In the original, you simply moved within range and attacked the targeted unit(s). With the extra dimension, one wonders if things like ‘line-of-sight’ will come into play here. Will a Terran Marine be able to hit a Zergling with a Thor unit standing in the line of fire? In the Protoss game play trailer, the Mothership used an ability that prevented missile projectiles from hitting its hull. Missiles travelling in a real-time 3d space environment, would assume other weapon systems follow the same set of rules. Whether Blizzard will ‘cheat’ some of its weapon physics to pass through other friendly units to reach its intended target for the sake of game play, remains to be seen.

[img width=350 height=200]http://imagenerd.com/uploads/shot4zjTU.png[/img]

With the recent announcement of StarCraft 2 back in May, Blizzard will no doubt spend as much time as needed to refine and balance the next chapter in the series. One thing is for sure - the move to 3D will definitely be an exciting direction for the StarCraft franchise and one which will be enjoyed and remembered for years to come.
Click to expand...

By: Rylin
From: StarcraftZone.com

Bonus 300 minerals for a great post

Z-BosoN · Oct 17, 2007

Ah, thanks for putting that up! That was a rather interesting article, and there will be more!

-LT- · Oct 18, 2007

Great article! :good:

BloodHawk · Oct 18, 2007

I just don't get the big controversy.
You know how damn hard it would be for a 2d RTS to be competitive on todays market?
I would love some great ultra hi-rez 2d graphics in SC2 (I believe theres a fairly recent fighting game called guilty gear that went that rout), but I grew up playing sega genesis.

Blizzard knows they have to capture a new market. Yes a lot of fans back in the day were loyal to blizz and sc, they would buy the game without giving a shit about the graphics. Yet they must consider that those people are 10 years older now; a great deal of them probably don't play games at all anymore. People buy X-box 360s and PS3s despite the lack of quality titles because of sheer hardware power.
Blizzard is a company not the PC gamer messiah.

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"Transition to 3D" Editorial Special-By Rylin

"Transition to 3D" Editorial Special-By Rylin

Discussion in 'General StarCraft 2 Discussion' started by EatMeReturns, Oct 17, 2007.

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"Transition to 3D" Editorial Special-By Rylin

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