13 replies to this topic

[S-Chuck]

I was pondering the creation of a game that stuck within the same genre but changed to  many possible views. The first game that comes to mind that does this is Contra for the SNES. Most of the levels are viewed from the side, but one or two are viewed from the top. The controls change slightly and manovering is different. It all worked very well together.

But what about taking that a step further? What if the game was primarily 3D with 1st person and 3rd person views and switched back and forth between that and a 2D side scroller or top-down view?

Do you think that sort of game would work if done well or would it be too confusing?

How do you think transitions would work from one to the other (a quick and dirty loading screen, zomming from one to another with odd effects...)

In a game where all views are used, which would probably take the primary focus?

[TurquoiseStar]

The last place I saw this was Aladdin: Nasira's Revenge (PSX). It's a 3D game, but for part of one stage, switched to 2D platform view, and the transition was a simple angle rotation of the screen.

Sometimes it can be tricky to get used to a sudden change in view (control-wise), but it shouldn't be to hard, as long as it doesn't completely change the gameplay style. The thing I'd recommend is not to go overboard with back-and-forth view changes, because if there's too much, it can become a little annoying.

[Dan1]

rapid or not, the view shouldn't change because although it makes more possibilites for the game it makes the user need to get used to even more and a whole new interface too early in the game can completely confuse the user. Although if done EXTREMILLY well then I would need to see an example and consider it but I wouldn't have thought that it would be a good idea.

[1337-n00b]

Most games these days have view changes, even if just going from first person to third person when you enter a vehicle. Metal Gear Solid goes from third person, almost 2D, overhead gameplay to first person when you fire a gun. Even the Zelda games move from third to first based on the item you're using, and Ocarina of Time had an overhead segment that played like a Metal Gear game. All these seem completely natural to us, but if you think about it they're actually sort of weird. So I would say yes, you can use multiple views in the same game.

[YourFace]

They are not as bad as cross-view movies.

[r1k]

only place Ive seen something like that has been the ultima series. THe game was entierly overveiw except for the dungeons which where done in first person mode (the games where from the early 80s so it wasnt really 3d) but I kind of liked the way it worked out. SO I suppose it could work depeding on how you do it.

[davidp]

Well Contra had that view changing thing done pretty good and was only a pro to the whole overall feeling about it. So if you do it properly, why not?

David

[gymnastdaniel5]

I am doing a game like that so of course i think that view changes should be done but anyway mine is 5 Levels face a Boss in that view then go to the next view saying in a popup or something (havent decided just using popup for now) You win or something and you go to the place he says thats how i did it up to you though!

[KC LC]

I think the multiple view idea could work well. But rather than simply changing the view with each level, you might consider giving the player different capabilities with each view.

For example, you might allow the play to interact with other characters only in the side view. But then the player could switch to top-down view to see a larger part of the "game world" without interacting with it.

This might make some interesting game play and strategy.

[Jabberwock]

only place Ive seen something like that has been the ultima series.  THe game was entierly overveiw except for the dungeons which where done in first person mode (the games where from the early 80s so it wasnt really 3d) but I kind of liked the way it worked out.  SO I suppose it could work depeding on how you do it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Man, those were great games. However, overall this is not a concept that I would endorse, especially for independent developers. It's best to focus on getting a single view-point just right, I think, plus it tends to be disorienting. Especially if the change were from 3D to 2D. I mean, having minigames with a different view is okay because they aren't really part of the main game. However, overall, unless you can do it very well, I'd suggest you don't do it at all. KC-LC's idea also might be effective.

Edited by Jabberwock, 10 January 2007 - 03:10 PM.

[killer991011]

I was pondering the creation of a game that stuck within the same genre but changed to  many possible views. The first game that comes to mind that does this is Contra for the SNES. Most of the levels are viewed from the side, but one or two are viewed from the top. The controls change slightly and manovering is different. It all worked very well together.

But what about taking that a step further? What if the game was primarily 3D with 1st person and 3rd person views and switched back and forth between that and a 2D side scroller or top-down view?

Do you think that sort of game would work if done well or would it be too confusing?

How do you think transitions would work from one to the other (a quick and dirty loading screen, zomming from one to another with odd effects...)

In a game where all views are used, which would probably take the primary focus?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A bit like Gears of War but the other way round

[Juju]

I remember the first Legend of Zelda on the Gameboy. That had view changes from the traditional Zelda view to a platformer view. It was a very good game, made far more interesting because of it.

[Aedious]

I have to disagree. I mean, switching between views is okay, but it'd be too confusing to switch between dimensions. From what I can see, that can create some awfully annoying gameplay.

[ChevyRay]

I was pondering the creation of a game that stuck within the same genre but changed to  many possible views. The first game that comes to mind that does this is Contra for the SNES. Most of the levels are viewed from the side, but one or two are viewed from the top. The controls change slightly and manovering is different. It all worked very well together.

But what about taking that a step further? What if the game was primarily 3D with 1st person and 3rd person views and switched back and forth between that and a 2D side scroller or top-down view?

Do you think that sort of game would work if done well or would it be too confusing?

How do you think transitions would work from one to the other (a quick and dirty loading screen, zomming from one to another with odd effects...)

In a game where all views are used, which would probably take the primary focus?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If not already mentioned, this reminds me of the Crash Bandicoot games for the Sony Playstation. The games were played 3D, but if you went into a bonus stage, the view turned sideways and you played like a side-platformer. But it was still 3D.