Free camera movement

[sgfan206]

Would this use too many game graphic resources ? Why not just have strategic zoom ? There are plenty of first person shooters . Does this game really benefit from having this low level third person perspective ?

Well, as I said - this was one of the reason GC 2 was that popular. And GC 2 isn't that different from TW. But don't ask me how they managed to make that game run at such low requirements:

OS: Windows 98/2000/ME/XP
Intel Pentium III / AMD Athlon, min. 800 MHz
128 MB RAM
1,5 GB HD storage
DirectX 9
min. 32 MB graphic card.

Compared to nowadays requirements, that's just nothing.

You can disable it but SAGE wasn't made to handle that.

Do you mean the visual border? And how can it be disabled?

Seriously. GC 2 was made seven years ago! Why shouldn't it be possible to make C&C like it (at least the graphics)?!

[Golan2781]

Seriously. GC 2 was made seven years ago! Why shouldn't it be possible to make C&C like it (at least the graphics)?!

It isn't technically impossible, but the better you know how much is visible at a time, the better you can optimize the engine and art assets to shows just that.

[sgfan206]

You mean because of the Fog of War? Yeah, it is missing in GC 2. Therefore it is hard to tell where the enemy is.

Also, there must not be any black borders in the game, which means you have to create the terrain way larger than it is accessable.

I know there are some issues to make it possible in C&C. But from the first moment I played GC 2, I wanted C&C to be like that. And everyone who played GC or WiC knows what I mean.

[Golan2781]

You mean because of the Fog of War?

No.

I know there are some issues to make it possible in C&C. But from the first moment I played GC 2, I wanted C&C to be like that. And everyone who played GC or WiC knows what I mean.

Played GC2. Didn't see much of a point in it after the first view battles.

[Lauren]

Well, as I said - this was one of the reason GC 2 was that popular. And GC 2 isn't that different from TW. But don't ask me how they managed to make that game run at such low requirements:

GC2 was optimized to run on bad PCs. TW was optimized to look great on max settings. Better compare it with Generals, they have about the same minimum requirements. Also check the unit and object count on the maps. GC2 is very low compared to C&C.

[sgfan206]

Hmmm ... Well, I see. But even Generals looks great with its cutscenes. It would be awesome if you were able to move the camera like GC2.

Main reason for FCM (Free camera movement) is, that the game is looking way better and more realistic. Also it is a great feature, allowing to admire the wonderful landscape aside from battle and base-building.

Anyone remember Empire Earth? Though there's no FCM, you can change the pitch and watch the sky. And eventhough the graphics are ... well ... let's say, not really good, it is extremely popular! Also because of the gameplay, of course - and cause there are 15 eras - from Pre-Age to Space-Age.

Solution to problems

No Fog of War: En- / Disable visible Fog of War
Gameplay: Free Camera Movement / Default RTS Camera
Requirements: Visual range border adjustable (like in Earth 2150 / World War 3 - Black gold)
Graphics: Sky background detailed / animated / high / low / blank
Performance option: Use FCM / RTS enviroment (black behind map borders / continuing landscape, low detail / high detail)

I guess this should solve a lot of problems. With low specs you can just enable C&C-view, while better specs allow you to enable FCM.
Also, with the option to switch between FCM-enviroment or standard CNC-view, it might reach a bigger range of players.

I take this as a compromise.

[sgfan206]

In order to know wheter this is liked or not, I've added a poll to the thread.

To make the results fair, I won't vote myself.

[sgfan206]

Sorry for triple-posting here,

but I just stumbled upon something in YouTube, showing how Generals would look like with FCM:

SAGE-Engine Tribute

[=LEVIATHEN=]

Also, there's an option to toggle free camera movement on/off. With RTS camera enabled, you are just playing from normal RTS perspective.

What?? WHAT?? SHOW ME HOW! SHOW ME HOW RIGHT NOW!!

[Klandri]

Hmmm ... Well, I see. But even Generals looks great with its cutscenes. It would be awesome if you were able to move the camera like GC2.

Main reason for FCM (Free camera movement) is, that the game is looking way better and more realistic. Also it is a great feature, allowing to admire the wonderful landscape aside from battle and base-building.

Anyone remember Empire Earth? Though there's no FCM, you can change the pitch and watch the sky. And eventhough the graphics are ... well ... let's say, not really good, it is extremely popular! Also because of the gameplay, of course - and cause there are 15 eras - from Pre-Age to Space-Age.

Solution to problems

No Fog of War: En- / Disable visible Fog of War
Gameplay: Free Camera Movement / Default RTS Camera
Requirements: Visual range border adjustable (like in Earth 2150 / World War 3 - Black gold)
Graphics: Sky background detailed / animated / high / low / blank
Performance option: Use FCM / RTS enviroment (black behind map borders / continuing landscape, low detail / high detail)

I guess this should solve a lot of problems. With low specs you can just enable C&C-view, while better specs allow you to enable FCM.
Also, with the option to switch between FCM-enviroment or standard CNC-view, it might reach a bigger range of players.

I take this as a compromise.

I pretty much agree.