Whats the point in 3d?

[unmerged(69618)]

In order to actually see the 3d animations you have to zoom so far in that you totally loose the oversight, well perhaps if you're Hesse or some other 1-province state it should be ok, but for every state with > 4 provinces, in my expirience zooming in for the 3d is just pointless.

As far as I can tell 3d just makes my game a lot slower, particularily when starting up the game, I mean jeez, when I was playing games intended for a 486 on my 286 like 15 years ago I didnt even have to wait that long...

So what do you think? Is 3d just a gimmick paradox can use for advertising the game or does it actually have a purpose?

 

[unmerged(25947)]

Gimmick. 3d hasn't brought anything good to strategy games.

 

[Jebus]

Not to mention 2D looks better in almost every possible way - the only exeption being that you can't model mountains as well.

But hey, making 3D models is a heck of lot less work than drawing 2D sprites. I guess that might've been a major factor.

 

[L'Afrique]

Not to mention the fact that 3D graphics can be offloaded onto your video card, freeing up the CPU for AI routines and the like. And the fact that 3D means Paradox actually gets shelf-space in stores instead of being ridiculously hard to find. But I'm sure it was only implemented to attract 14-year-old 1337z0rz with their fancy graphics. Speaking as one of them, I assure that we don't care one bit about gamplay.

 

[Varam]

3D is, in general, better than 2D in most ways. To the point that if you want to make a 2D game, you might as well actually do it in 3D engine. Paradox didn't take full advantage of the transition, but it was probably easier to develop. It's certainly made modifying the map much easier.

 

[unmerged(21148)]

I'm hoping one of the patches (or maybe an expansion pack or user mod) will come along to remedy a few of the graphical problems... I'm one of the people that preferred the old 2D EU II map, but can understand why the developers went with 3D for EU III. With a few bits of tinkering the 3D map could become superior

The bottom left hand window when you select a province shouldn't take up such a huge portion of the screen, and the 3D model of the town is huge but doesn't do much... covers up the message window as well...

The armies are a bit hard to see when I zoom out, and there isn't enough viewing area when I zoom in. Maybe the army model could be adjusted to make it stand out a little more...

Great game though, just hand to vent a few things since we were on the topic

 

[unmerged(70700)]

Gimmick. 3d hasn't brought anything good to strategy games.

I personally don't agree, but I'm not knocking your position. If implemented well, a 3D map is quite beautiful and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. Especially in the down times between wars when you're just improving your nation.

At first I thought the 3D map in EUIII looked worse than the 2D in EUII, as far as country borders--they seemed rough and angular. But I've grown to like the 3D much better, and in the future (EU4) think how better still.

 

[6354201]

The 3D map, espeically the terrain, is very well done and is much more pleasing to look at. The 3D doesn't really add anything of actual gameplay value, but it looks better and is easier to manipulate and use into the future (envisions German Panzers rolling through the EU3 style terrain in HoI3).

 

[NikkTheTrick]

Too bad I play almost always in political mapmode
As it was said before, 3D map allows CPU power used for AI instead of graphics, which are handled by a card.

 

[Black_Shade]

The 3D map, espeically the terrain, is very well done and is much more pleasing to look at. The 3D doesn't really add anything of actual gameplay value, but it looks better and is easier to manipulate and use into the future (envisions German Panzers rolling through the EU3 style terrain in HoI3).

I'd have to strongly disagree with your initial statement. Compared to the old maps in HoI2 or victoria, the new map is awful. Its painful to look at, and in political mapmode some of the color choices are less than attractive (anything thats bright green, blue, or pink needs to go). Luckily country colors are easily modable and I was able to remove all the fugly ones, but the map is most definately not pleasing to the eye (my eye, anyways).

 

[6354201]

I've played HoI2 extensively and the 'pink' (I know I know, it's light red) of UK has always driven me nuts. So I disagree with your statment

Really though, it's all in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Mierin]

Not to mention the fact that 3D graphics can be offloaded onto your video card, freeing up the CPU for AI routines and the like. And the fact that 3D means Paradox actually gets shelf-space in stores instead of being ridiculously hard to find. But I'm sure it was only implemented to attract 14-year-old 1337z0rz with their fancy graphics. Speaking as one of them, I assure that we don't care one bit about gamplay.

Im still trying to find the rocket launcher. I sent my soldiers through Denmark but so far all they found was another chain-gun.

 

[unmerged(36209)]

I'd have to strongly disagree with your initial statement. Compared to the old maps in HoI2 or victoria, the new map is awful. Its painful to look at, and in political mapmode some of the color choices are less than attractive (anything thats bright green, blue, or pink needs to go). Luckily country colors are easily modable and I was able to remove all the fugly ones, but the map is most definately not pleasing to the eye (my eye, anyways).

I was thinking the same. But when I strated playing HoI 2 after playing EU III for few weeks... Well... I think 3D is better after all. I spend most time on political maps(in both HoI and EUIII), 3D and high resolution helps a lot...

 

[ComradeOm]

You want to know the merits of a 3D map? Go to the mod forums and try to count the number of new user made maps that have already appeared.

 

[unmerged(14180)]

To me its a gimmick. I think the whole 3D thing has been a waste of time, especially since it has brought next to nothing into the gameplay equation. Don't mind the game now though...its shaping up fairly well, but honestly, there was no need for the 3D business from my point of view.

If you can make it do something for the game, add it. If not, don't waste the resources. I honestly prefer the 2D artwork that Paradox has come up with before. If I want a shooter, I know where to get them

 

[L'Afrique]

Have you not read the thread at all? 3D has added to the game, most notably by making map-mods easier and freeing up the CPU for AI routines and calculations. New artwork is also much easier to make in a 3D engine.

 

[unmerged(16773)]

3D what a total waste of time. I play fully zoomed out in political mode. Paradox if you are going to do 3D for god sake do it properly like Rome Total War.

 

[unmerged(12921)]

Agree that "3-D" is a total waste of time. Worse, it was time that should have been spent implementing "AI". What we got was a "prettified version" of a game that PLAYS even stupider than the one it replaced. I don't know about anyone else, but I spent money on a game..., not a map-maker.

 

[unmerged(14180)]

Have you not read the thread at all? 3D has added to the game, most notably by making map-mods easier and freeing up the CPU for AI routines and calculations. New artwork is also much easier to make in a 3D engine.

Mate, it has not added anything for ME. Ok? I am not interested in modding maps, and am not interested in modded maps. And as far as the CPU is concerned......Are you seriously saying that this games routines and AI are as good as that of Doomsday? If yes, then I strongly disagree. It may be on par in some areas, but ultimately it has made no difference...

The AI isn't too bad, but I see nothing that has made a difference freeing up all this processor power that you claim it does.

Except for adding in worthless 3D graphics to a strategy game that makes no use of three dimensions...to myself anyway.

As I stated before, I see nothing wrong with 3D if it has some use in a game, or some addition that can be added to the gameplay itself. I see none here though, sorry.

 

[Veldmaarschalk]

Like already stated many, many times.

A 2d EUII game wouldn't have had any exposure, it wouldn't have got many reviews, it wouldn't have received a prominent place on the shelfs in game-stores all over the world. So it wouldn't have sold as much as it has now (+150.000 copies 2 week ago)

So, no 3d hasn't been a waste of time, EUIII is the biggest hit for Paradox untill now