Top Down vs Isometric View [poll added]

[DraygonZero]

Final Fantasy Tactics had an isometric view with a rotatable camera, 3D background, levels with several layers of vertical space and nice 2D sprites. It's also a 15 year old game. It helps a lot tactically to know what is behind objects. I dont know why they would resolve to making the camera stationary in this day and age. We're not in the 80s anymore it shouldnt be that hard to have a freer camera.

[agvkrioni]

Final Fantasy Tactics had an isometric view with a rotatable camera, 3D background, levels with several layers of vertical space and nice 2D sprites. It's also a 15 year old game. It helps a lot tactically to know what is behind objects. I dont know why they would resolve to making the camera stationary in this day and age. We're not in the 80s anymore it shouldnt be that hard to have a freer camera.

Agreed.

[Badunius]

You want to know why Grand Theft Auto doesn't do Top-down anymore?
Because they don't have to.

You want to know why we still play GTA2?
— It's top-down (it works for me and most of my friends)
— There is multyplayer
— It run well even on most crappy PC
— It's fun!

[Hiver]

Isometric of course.

As for free camera... why not make a compromise?
Allow the players to move the camera and tilt it but within reasonable constraints.

In most cases the totally free camera creates some sort of problems So why not just limit it to something usable?
As for being able to see stuff, NPCs or enemies that you shouldnt... well why not make them simply "invisible" based on our team perception range?

Its not rocket science....

[Mandemon]

If we are going to have 3D world I could see came moving and rotating on 2 plane. No zooming or tilting, so you always see from same distance/angle, but you can rotate to see different sides.

Tough this only for isometric parts of the game. Overworld is going to be top down, if even that. Maybe it's like in Fallout 1/2.

[Baneboss]

Im all for more options so i wouldnt mind isometric or top down. However i wouldnt like to have to change camera in order to gain advantage in the game. So isometric mode for me only.

[Fuzi0n]

ronin84: "Brian, could you tell us anything in regards to where you're going (or hoping to go) with the game engine? Obviously top down, but are you looking into isometric?"

Brian Fargo: "I probably have not been clear on this but the main city exploration and battles will take take place on an isometric view. There will be limited zooming but unlikely for full rotation. And the world map which gives you the larger scope of the world may or may not be isometric. Straight down for that may suffice but I want to experiment to see if there is a nice look we can achieve with a more isometric angle on that perspective. I should re-iterate that these are the kinds of things that we will throw samples up to the forums for feedback. Once we agree on the look is when I turn the artists loose."
No Mutants Allowed: AMA Q&A with Brian Fargo and Chris Avellone

Ok, so the game will have an isometric view with limited zooming. But what about rotation? Brian said, the game will probably not have full rotation, but what about limited rotation? This is not clear.

[Bungle]

But what about rotation?

I like a little rotation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJv5qLsLYoo

[mrbirdlick]

yes, please go for isometric.

[Cutter]

Never cared for top-down. Even the old gold-box SSI games were isometric-ish. I'd be a sad panda if it's not isometric.

[BadMojoRising]

Isometric all the way.

[duct-tape-king]

I actually like the idea of having a top down view in the big world and having an isometric view when in cities and in combat, etc.

[BadMojoRising]

I was previously against top-down. But now, whatever the devs think will best serve the mechanics is fine by me.

[Mandemon]

Isn't alreay pretty much confirmed that top down for world view, isometric for combat and town view?

[BadMojoRising]

Not based on an article I read. A lot of things are still up in the air whether its top-down all the way, top-down with a side of isometric. all isometric. we don't know yet and probably won't be confirmed for another 6 months yet I think.
it's way too early to tell.

[bushwhacker]

Isometric please...

[Gizmo]

Isometric (even 3D iso)
I would not mind a rotatable view at all (and would very likely make use of it), but it's also a bit superfluous.
I have no use for the top-down ("scalp-cam") view.

[sajber]

I think it would be cool if you could switch, but if not then I prefer isometric.

[Bryntse]

Flexible gets my vote.
Flexible in that sense that world/travel map is top down and location/tactical map isometric.