3D Map Idea

[CaptSpoogy]

This seems to be a popular discussion.

Someone mentioned that star systems are relatively flat - which is true - so maybe the system map should remain 2D. But, I would really like to have 3D maps for combat and galatic views!

[Aussie Gamer]

You should not knock the 3D galaxy, it looks fantasic. You can spin it around, zoom in/out.
Adds a real good feel to the game.

But the 3D combat would be great. I think that the programming for that would be very hard to do, to get it change which components are destroyed first depending on which part of the ship was hit.

The game "Ascendancy" did not really allow for behind shots and like that but it would be great to have different turrents which allow limited firing angles etc.

[CaptSpoogy]

3D Combat that follows the same rules as the current combat would be relatively easy. The only big changes would be using 3 location co-ordinates rather than 2. The programming would be similiar, but a little more complex. The hit caculations would be still based on distance (even though the formula would be a little bit harder!)...

[Arralen]

You may want to check out the 'Stellar Legacy' project at Sourcefourge.

Most information can be get from the mailing list, though, so look for mailing list info on the project home page at:
http://stellarlegacy.sourceforge.net...ling-list.html


Arralen

[dogscoff]

Anyhon remember Frontier: Elite II ? That had a good 3D galaxy map which you could grab hold of and view from different angles. It also respected the fact that the galaxy (our galaxy, anyway) is many millions of times wider than it is tall (ie a disc rather than a sphere.)

Adding a 3D map to SE would be nice but would not affct gamplay, since relative distance is unimportant (due to the warp point approach to FTL travel.)

Frontier also had very good physics - it was all very realistic with gravity, inertia, thrust etc. Unfortunatly that realism made the ships rally difficult to control, and it was almost impossible to intrcpt or fire on other craft. Coming into orbit around a planet and landing without the auto pilot was nigh impossible (I have managed it once or twice=-)

The thing is space travel is really complicatd and difficult (which is why I'm not wrinting this from my office on Mars=-), so in ordr to retain playability you hav to sacrifice a crtain amount of realism.

£0.02 (*Kerching*)

------------------
There is an exception to every rule. Including this one.

[zen.]

Does anyone remember the original Star Control? Before they added a storyline? It was mostly a space tactical combat game, but if you recall, the single player game showed a rotating '3D' map. You could click on the system and move ships from there to a connecting point on the system map. I think it was a nice compromise between 2D and real 3D, especially considering this was at a time waaaaaay before 3D accelerators came around. Or am I just geezin'?

I also really like the way the starmaps are done in Imperium Galactica II.

zen

[Suicide Junkie]

I still have that game. It runs on four outa six of my machines at home.
From 2Mhz 8086
to 486-66Mhz
under DOS
If you have a 10Mhz machine, you'll get full speed drawing SC's 3d rotating map.

Win 98 dosen't seem to support it, though. win gives an "Invalid instruction".

One sweet game. Trying to hit another Earth Cruiser with those seeking Nukes is tough!
That game has seekers, point defence, cloaking, fighters, shields, crew subVersion , regenerative "armor", inertialess engine, self-destruct, crystalline weapons, etc.
And the tactical combat is great. You can swing past the planet for a gravity assist, avoid the asteroids. A real cheap tactic is to go into a really low orbit around a planet and launch seekers each time you pop out, and the planet will absorb a lot of fire for you.

Ahh, memories.