Imperium Jaskini Behemota

Ururam Tururam

SUMMARY
of a poll and a discussion
that took place in the Behemoth's Lair community
(http://heroes.net.pl)
on the topic
"Should the Heroes V graphics engine be 2D or 3D".

Prepared by
Ururam Tururam (ut@heroes.net.pl)

The community of the Behemoth's lair organized a poll and a discussion on
the question "Should the graphics engine of Heroes V be two- or three
dimensional". Only the members of the Community
were allowed to vote in the poll. Both members and guests were allowed
to express their opinions in the discussion. The results follow.

There were 34 votes in the poll:
1 (2%) vote for a High-end 3D engine
8 (24%) votes for low requirements 3D engine
16 (47%) votes for a quasi-3D engine
8 (24%) votes for a 2D engine with some extras
1 (2%) vote for a flat 2D engine

The distribution is a perfect bell curve as we can see.

There were 53 posts in the discussion.
Please note that many of the posts by guest who did not have the right
To vote in the poll was for 2D graphics.
Here are the key arguments for various options:

---
HIGH END 3D

- I want full power of the graphics even in a turn-based game. The better
view – the better feel.

---
LOW REQS 3D

- I would like to see the battlefield from different points of view
(possibility of rotation). But I don’t want a high-end graphics for
I don’t want to buy a new machine because of Heroes.

- I like the graphics of all the parts of Heroes. I bet 3D, the world
goes forward.

- I want a rotation on the adventure map too. Battle map could remain flat.

- I don’t want 3D for 3D itself but for using it for introducing additional
possibilities in the game.

- Who does not go forward goes backward. The engine should be 3D.

- When Heroes V are released the 3D requirements should not be high.
So I vote for a 3D engine.

- Methinks 3D is a necessity for a modern game.

---
QUASI-3D

- Full 3D will destroy HoMM. I am afraid it would come into another
punch’n’slash game. I suggest isometric view. It would allow making
good views.

- It should be enough. I think that it would be better to focus on AI and
playability than on graphics.

- Maybe mixing 2- and 3D is the best solution? Not everywhere 3D views
are better than 2D ones.

- 3D does not suit the climate. I’d prefer isometric view.

- Quasi-3D is OK, but the strategic and gameplay aspects are much more
important.

- The battle map should be in 3D or quasi-3D for sure! I want more tactical
battles too.

- Quasi-3D is enough. It happens often that a sequel to a good game is
spoiled just because of graphics.

- All but the interior of the castles should be quasi-3D or 3D. The interiors
should be 2D as usual.

- The terrain elevation in H4 was good. Things should be kept like this.

- 3D like in new Warcraft is the thing I will accept.

- I like the graphics solutions used in Heroes IV. Number five should go in
this direction but farther.

---
2D WITH ADD-ONS

- The way it was done in Heroes III was the most climatic one.

- I want High-end 2D, and if it is not possible a high-end 3D. Isometric
quasi-3D is the worst. The silhouettes are too small there is no chance
to see mimics etc.

- I prefer 2D. Please do not make Heroes focused on High-end graphics.

- I prefer 2D. But a 3D engine like in Disciples or Earthlords is not so bad.

- 2D. Many of the 3D games just pushed me out of the monitor because
of its graphics.

- Live it 2D. There are too much 3D games now and they all make my
head spin.

- Well done 2D should be enough. In 3D games it is harder to measure the
distances for vertical arrows are much shorter than horizontal ones.

- Two-dimensional adventure map is much easier to navigate.

- I am afraid that 3D graphics would not work on many players’ machines.

- 2D graphics defines Heroes. I don’t think that only 3D games can top the
market.

---
FLAT 2D

- Flat 2D with a lot of cell shading – this is what I really like most. And it
suits the overall Heroes mood.

---

Summing things up: People who want 3D generally want the engine to progress
in the direction most games do. People voting for 2D mostly want to conserve
the unique look and feel of the series, and make Heroes somewhat different from
the rest.