SWG - JTL - Anyone still playing it?

[mbilderback]

Again Leisher, I may have first spoken in glittering generalities. But I pretty much lump over the shoulder views and first person views together, because they really are alike. Mostly I'm saying I can't stand UO's and Diablo's view of god looking down upon the subjects....it just busts up the realism for me.

[Leisher]

In most situations, they are essentially the same from a gameplay standpoint.

See, I don't think that's true at all. I think from a view standpoint, you're on track, but not gameplay. FP games are completely different from 3rd person games.

I really enjoy the 3rd person view for my RPGs and that's, thankfully, the new trend for console RPGs. It usually has a flexible camera system that allows you to view in all directions, including down on your character. Its like the best of all worlds in one camera system. In fact, I'd say 3rd person is the ultimate compromise between FP and ISO.

The latest Zelda game has the best camera system I've seen in a game to date, not that it hadn't been done before.

Mostly I'm saying I can't stand UO's and Diablo's view of god looking down upon the subjects....it just busts up the realism for me.

Now that I understand and can agree with, however for games like Diablo and UO I find its so much more important for gameplay that you look down on the characters rather than through FP.

I guess my best example of why I don't like FP for RPGs is the Witchaven series. Melee combat using the FP view just plain sucks, and the public and press agreed. The game was a dud.

[TPRJones]

It usually has a flexible camera system that allows you to view in all directions, including down on your character. Its like the best of all worlds in one camera system. In fact, I'd say 3rd person is the ultimate compromise between FP and ISO.

Oh, I agree with that. There are things that a flexible camera system will do that locked-in FP won't. I'll take more choices over less any day.

I was thinking about strictly over-the-shoulder from what his post had said, though, instead of true 3rd person.

Anything but iso is good for me. Iso = icky, IMO.

Melee combat using the FP view just plain sucks, and the public and press agreed. The game was a dud.

I don't know about that game, but I'm enjoying playing CoH as a tanker in FP view. It makes it more interesting to be in the middle of a huge melee, and not be able to see behind you without turning around to look.

In the long run, when lighting physics in games get to the point where you can see the subtle shadows of the enemies behind you, and sound quality is good enough to hear where they are by their breathing and displays encompass enough of your field of view to take in peripheral vision, then FP will be an excellent choice for nearly every character-driven game. In the meantime, I much prefer the ability to choose 3rd person when it's needed.