The Daily Click

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Plat vs. Bird. It matters

Author:

Shangri La

Submitted:

18th January, 2003

Views:

3863

Rated:

***THE DEAL***

Okay hello my fellow klikers. This is my first article, and one topic I have comptimplated many a time whilst lying in bed staring at my A Clockwork Orange poster (I'm a sad boy

) Well anyways, back to the topic.

Sidescrolling (Platform) and birdeye's view (Whatever you personally call it) are really important and relevant to the feel, presentation and overall quality of your game.

***SIDESCROLLING***

For instance, if you were to make a horror game, and you really wanted it to shock and scare some fellow players, you have a very difficult decision to make. Sidescrolling offers better graphics, a 'scarer' feel, and generally doesn't work well for a SUPRIZE THERES A FAG BEHIND THE CORNER type game ( Bad guys = fags. I dont have anything against homos just i like to call bad guys fags

)
It really cuts down the scare factor, because really theres only left and right. But the fags can look scarier so it might compensate. But also, its extremely linear. So heres where bird's eye comes into play

***BIRD'S EYE TYPE VIEW***

Now this type of 'interface' (if i can call it that) rips out the linearity out of the ass sideways, allows more fags, more action, better movement, and also can possible allow multiplayer features to be added. However, often the game memory size is bigger, is more prone to lag on big levels, fairly reduces the scare factor, and in my opinion, making the graphics/animations/bgs etc is a bit harder. Theres also a fair more amount of coding involved if you want it to be diablo-like.

***THE CHOICE***

So which will you choose? (I know theres others, but these are the main) More freedom or better graphics? More scare/suprise/etc or more enemies? Its an important choice.

One final thought for ya'll. For those whom have played Diablo 1 and 2, would it really be the same if it was sidescrolling. Which would you prefer? ( I can't wait for a 3d diablo like morrowwind

)

Thanks for reading this, and I'll probably think of a million better points and stuff to add to this after I click dis Add button, but ahwell.

Catch yas in mIRC

Posted by Daniel[Crazy_Productions]

19th January, 2003

when you are making a plattform game you could just make things come alive, like if there where a dead budy hanging in a tree you could make it fall down an become alive. Oh and one ore thing dont make to much enemies because if there are lots of them you dont get scared. you should make them hard to kill then you dont need so many and you get more scared when you meet one... i bet you will!

Posted by Shangri La

19th January, 2003

Ahh true true, i believe platformers can be extremley scary, if done right. Like the example you just gave.*starts dreaming up some good scenes for next game* I personally prefer platformers anyways

Posted by Shangri La

19th January, 2003

Well i would start my next game, if i could fudging do a walking animation right!

jeez, this is the hardest thing to do. Someone told me to do the feet and then the legs, but then i forget the rythm of how to walk!!! :@:@:@

Posted by OOOPPPs

19th January, 2003

U should also consider the difficulty of making games using these perspectives. Like now, im making a horror game in isometric view point (diablo like), but implementing the 'scare' factor, all the collision and ordering is very difficult to make right. Also generally birds-eye view games are quicker to make because all u need to make is just one direction (and also a lack of walking animation)and use the rotate animation button in MMF/TGF.

Posted by Duncan

19th January, 2003

Fags, rofl

Posted by Daniel[Crazy_Productions]

19th January, 2003

I agree walking an animation is the hardest thing to do.

Posted by Pete Nattress

19th January, 2003

hmmm... surely you decide the type of game (e.g. platformer, top down) as the most important aspect. all this article has done is confuse me. i work like this:

1) I am going to make a game about Lara Poodle
2) It will be a platformer

not

1) I am going to make a game about Lara Poodle
2) If I make a platform game, will it be scarier than top down? Hmmmm.

You probably don't get what i mean. it's kinda hard to put it into words.

Posted by OOOPPPs

19th January, 2003

Well, the type of game (platform or Top Down) will impact greatly on certain aspects (such as the overall feel) of a game, well wat this article tries to do is show this using a horror game as an example... rite???

Posted by Clint Davis

20th January, 2003

I agree with Pete, you usualy know what perspective the game your going to make is in.

Posted by Nioreh

20th January, 2003

Er.. I don't get this article.

Hmm, i have chosen to make some mashed potatoes tonight. How do I choose wether I will fry them or nuke them...

You don't coose the game type after you make up everything else!!! What is this article all about really? Well. You have to go deeper, read between the lines.

The trained eye can get a clear picture of the disturbed person and its troubled mind. According to Dr. Shogomatzu, who has helped hundreds of people from falling into unescapable depressions, this type of article is 9 times out of 10 really something else. The writer could suffer from dramatic childhood experiences or the loss of someone near. Maybe a pet.

Shangri, do you have a cat? Are you sure?

I will not be forced to choose between sidescrolling and birds eye! I WILL NOT! Those fearsome beasts can only TRY to bring me down! They will taste my evil fags and burn in hell.

And around the corner there's a.. cigarette? A gay person? A Fag? diablo as a platform game? Then it wouldn't really be diablo would it? I don't get you nor this mystical aticle.

My head will explode. .. soon..

"Sidescrolling (Platform) and birdeye's view (Whatever you personally call it) are really important and relevant to the feel, presentation and overall quality of your game."

Duh

Posted by AfterStar

21st January, 2003

No comment!

Posted by Ted Boomerang

23rd January, 2003

Okay, let me give an opinion on this:

First of all, let's not mention the "Fag" thing agian. I don't like the way he used it either, but blasting it's only going to make it worse.

Continuing, I'd say the differance between a sidescroller and a birdeye view is like the differance between a live action and an animated film. Your basic live action film and your basic sidescroller are pretty easy to make. I mean, sure it's no bowl of cherries, but all you have to do is plop a character down and boom! you have a challenge. It's not that easy in bird's eye. The thing is because it's that easy, tons of people make both live action and platformers, and many come out horrible, not because the entire idea of live action and platformers are horrible, of course. But there are just too many of them, mostly becuase, it dosn't take as much careful planning to make one.

Bird's eye view, on the other hand is sorta like an animated film. Sure it's somtimes neat, but if your not careful, you end up only being able to keep up a five minute short. Think of old disney and looney tunes cartoons. would you want to spend hours watching a huge guy walking around with rubber arms singing? Hopefully not! At the same time, you don't want a game where you walk into new a room and have to fight ninjas over and over again for how many hours?
That may work for a live action movie (hence the comparison), but in an animated movie, people would just walk out of the theature. an animated movie needs so much more than just that (that's whay Final Fantasy Bombed), you have to kick it up a notch. The emement of surprise has to be found ANOTHER WAY. tresure chests that scream, breaking floors below you. Just watch the people tweak out!

Ted Boomerang

Posted by Ted Boomerang

23rd January, 2003

Of course, thats just if you want either one. Like every one else says, you ususly have the idea out when you make the concept of the game. But whatever.

Ted Boomerang

Author Info

Shangri La

Registered
18/12/2002
Points
106

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