2D Sprites or 3D Models? [poll added]

[RyuRanX]

If Wasteland 2 is actually a top-down game with 2D backgrounds, what would you prefer?

3D Models -> low polygon 3D models, easy to customize and show equipped items on the characters. (example: Jagged Alliance: Back in Action)




Animated 2D Sprites -> more datailed, but it would be too hard making every item show up in the party due to the animations. (Example: Fallout, Arcanum)




Static 2D sprites => could be very detailed and every price of equipment would show up on the characters, but there wouldn't be animations, just like in a roguelike game. (example: paper dolls from Might and Magic VI)

[Citronvand]

Either static or animated sprites. I'm not really a big fan of 3D models. Besides, 2D withstand time much better than 3D and I'm hoping this game will be something I want to play long after it is released. Much like I'm still playing Fallout and Ultima.

[Brother None]

2D does have a certain charm, but more for backgrounds than for character models, in my experience.

I don't have a strong preference either way, to be honest. I do wonder if 2D is practical though, just in the sense of what kind of experience and specializations the InXile staff have.

[Gizmo]

Baldur's Gate (unlike Fallout), incorporated overlaid sprites (just a sword or axe in motion for example, over top of the PC animation), and that allowed the PC's [2d sprite] to use any weapon... where as in Fallout, some NPCs could not use the weapons that they did not have animations for.

True, most of the horned helmets in BG looked the same on the sprite, but this would certainly allow some degree of having standard equipment show on human PCs and NPCs, were the 2D sprite method chosen for the game instead of polygon models.

I have no real preference for one method or the other provided the results look reasonably professional and the method not too limiting.

[xbogx]

i'd rather have animated 2d sprites(preferably drawn, not 3d renders). i wouldn't want the character sprite to reflect every equipment change, maybe just major armor and weapon classes.

[Lexx]

*If* Wasteland 2 is going to be fully 2d, then I am begging for a modders pack at the end of development, which includes the original 3d models with animations, so that people can render themself new sprites. Just in case. Else it will end like with Fallout 1 / 2, where the only way to add new and "true looking" critters is to use a lot copy&paste and editing of 10.000+ frames. Even if Wasteland 2 officially won't get mod support, some people (probably russians) will figure out how to edit and add stuff... so, such a model / animation pack would come extremely handy in this case.

I personally see a much better future in 3d. You can show all clothes on the characters, you can show the equipment, stuff can be edited easily, if the game is aging at some point in life, a texture pack with high resolution graphics can be created, and so on and so on. Sure, 2d seems to have more charm, because it reminds a lot of the original Fallout and maybe Jagged Alliance 2, etc... but if I am honest, I'd like it more to see 3d graphics (besides, with the correct shaders and techniques, you can make 3d look like 2d).

[shamroxor]

3d models would scale well, easily accommodating various screen resolutions.
They looked pretty nifty on 2d backgrounds in The temple of elemental evil.

[Sobboth]

As long as the background is 2D and that you don't have to play with the camera (fixed view) i'm happy.
And 2 of those games are isometric view, one first person view, none are top down view

[Tanglebones]

I'm not keen on static sprites, but whether the sprites or the background is 2d or 3d doesn't matter much to me.

[infestor]

i'm a bit inclined to 2D here possibly because the best cRPGs were always 2D or 2D/3D mix. however...this time i would like to see a full 3D game doing the isometric perspective thing properly! (requiem for van buren? )

[Gizmo]

however...this time i would like to see a full 3D game doing the isometric perspective thing properly!

While it's not an RPG (by any stretch)... THIS (below) is (IMO) a grand [virtual] example of 3D "Isometric" done properly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzVlpUf7e5w

[Crooked Bee]

I would prefer 2D. 3D tends to age really bad.

[Bonecrusher]

2d ages too.
but 3d has the change for the models to be remade.
also 3d will be easy for the modders.

[UniversalWolf]

I think Temple of Elemental Evil did this the right way. 2D backgrounds like Baldur's Gate (merged with some 3D scenery objects here and there) combined with 3D player and creature sprites. It's a great looking game because it has the best of both worlds.

I like 2D sprites, but from a production standpoint 3D models have too many advantages to ignore.

[monocle]

I'm for all 3d with camera movement restriction to preserve the isometric view. 3d is easier to work with gamedevwise, +it's easier to modify.

[rogerdv]

Definitely I go for 3D. Isometric is not that hard to implement in 3D and you can have nice features like zoom and rotating the view.

[Tuco]

I would prefer 2D. 3D tends to age really bad.

Yeah, but we already past that line where there was actual difference.
Today a well modeled 3D chracter can easily sustain the comparison with a well drawn 2D sprite.
And when it comes to 3D renders turned in sprites (like in Fallout) it's a no-brainer that 3D model are a more efficient and cost effective solution.
Especially if you consider all the limitations that comes with 2D sprites, like the inability to show off what the character is wearing (unless you bother drawing new sprites), the impossibility to rotate in more than a few fixed directions, and so on...

Personally I think that they should look more at popular RTS than at previous RPG.
There are a bunch of them that really nailed down cool visual style in a quite resource-effective compromise: Starcraft II, Dawn of War 1 and 2, DOTA 2, and so on...
3D models over a fixed (or almost fixed) scenario, where polygons and bitmap mixes nicely.

Temple of the Elemental Evil is also a good solution. 2D background and 3D chracters, once again.

Also, as I'm already name-dropping it as much as I can, even an over-stylized art style like the one of Another World would be a very cool and-cost-effective compromise: characters so simple and yet so well animated that they just look GOOD.

[Citronvand]

I posted this picture in another thread but I think it is a good example how a 2D Wasteland 2 could look like:

[xbogx]

that looks really good, reminds me of shock troopers:

[Bonecrusher]

whenever somebody puts this image, i got excited and want to play it again.

i really love that background and usage of sun colors on the mountain.