Diablo 3: Point of View

[Menzer]

I was thinking about how I would want the PoV to be in Diablo 3, either a very omniscient 3rd person as in D1 / D2, 3rd person as in WoW, a close-up 3rd person as in Gears of War, or 1st person. I think each option has its ups and downs, and I kind of expect a similar PoV to the previous games, but take a minute to think about what the series would be like in a First person perspective...

Imagine that first time you played Diablo 2 on single player, getting into the Catacombs and seeing this huge ***** Andariel. Seeing her in first person (obviously with better graphics nowadays) would have scared me out of my seat more than my first encounter with her did already.

Duriel on the other hand, you get into his tiny chamber not really knowing what to expect. You've spent hours getting the staff so that you can finally get to Act 3, and this huge beast with enormous blades for arms, much like the executioner in 300 (when he disciplines the General), coming right at you, freezing you in place, and soundly destroying you in three hits.

Or how about Mephisto. You've spent your time going through the council just to find an enormous skeleton with a seemingly Meditation aura surrounding himself throwing lightning and frost balls all up in your grill. Walking up to him to find yourself standing at approximately his aura.

What about walking into the portal to get into Act 4? You walk down a short, narrow bridge that looks to be falling into lava, and embed yourself into a bright red portal, wondering where its taking you.

Obviously, all of Act 4 would have been epic, but put yourself in back in the days when you were first playing, your first experience with Diablo. You beat all the minions, you cleared the Sanctuary, cast your TP so you can get back, and you summoned the king. My heart races to imagine myself in first person walking up to Diablo himself, the Hero from the first game that sacrificed himself to save Tristram, the soul stone still blazing in his forehead.

I can't help but think about how awesome the first time playing through Diablo 2 was, and how incredible it would have been in first person. I'm not saying I dislike the PoV it was, nor do I think it should definitely change, but what about you guys?

Just my $.02 :)

[Angel_of_Wrath]

You make it sound pretty cool. :cool:

Just wondering if you had a chance to play Hellgate:London? It was made by the people who left Blizzard North and was meant to be a spiritual successor to Diablo. While they have both succeeded and failed in their endeavor - plagued with bugs and a premature release - it does give you a feel of what it would be like. They also said areas like the maggot lair just couldn't be done in top down view and give you the same feeling of constraint that they intended.

I found a couple problems with it though: the 'randomization' of 3d environments seems to be more difficult to seem random or like a labyrinth, and the 3d view requires lots of PC horsepower to render nicely. Also, teleport doesn't work the same.

It would be a hard thing to do right but, IMO, the diablo series wouldn't feel the same if it wasn't in isometric view.

[Menzer]

I never really got into Hellgate. I didn't like the concept or the story line of the game, so I was never impressed or left hanging with that game, though I know the point of view was altered from what Diablo was.

[Mestre Crjspim]

I strongly believe that if Diablo III has a first-person PoV, it will be much like Oblivion, although I expect an even more darkened aura. If the gothic magnitude of the game is negleted, all is lost... maybe some sort of DOOM 3 influence would be welcomed (I just played the demo).

I have also tried to picture it in a third-person PoV. If this is the case, I aspect something like a fast paced action, probably filled with combos in a Prince of Persia style or in a Severance: Blade of Darkness style. This last game has no really fast paced fighting style, but has some awsome combos with really cool weapon skins.

If Diablo maintains it's original PoV with new graphic conception, I belive it could keep a superb attractive aura for us fans. Diablo, like Final Fantasy ou The Elder Scrolls, has it's own features that make it unic.

Either way, I hope that the freedom of movement and action as well as a largely interactive environnement become important features of the game.

[Dorfoumous]

yeah, I'm afraid if it was First Person, it would look A LOT like oblivion. Which would be fine,until you get to Diablo and start twacking at the knees.

<mumbling> I do think there is a Oblivion mod out there that is diablo related </mumbling>

I honestly would love to see the current PoV and just way better graphics at 1024x768 resoultion.

[Nimbostratus]

I don't think first-person would be ideal for some skills (i.e. whirlwind).

Though why can't there be options for it? Have buttons to toggle between the usual Diablo view and a free-moving 3rd person view. Maybe another button to go into first person if you're a <zon equivalent> that needs good aim for something.

And why does everybody think there would be a huge problem with teleporting if the game is in 3D? All that would be needed is for the game to think "is this a floor?" and allow teleportation if it is, or disallow teleportation if it isn't. If you'd need to teleport up or down a floor, I guess just holding Shift and clicking above or below your character would work. The only thing difficult would be teleporting into open air, but why would you want to do that anyway? o_O;

[Angel_of_Wrath]

And why does everybody think there would be a huge problem with teleporting if the game is in 3D? All that would be needed is for the game to think "is this a floor?" and allow teleportation if it is, or disallow teleportation if it isn't. If you'd need to teleport up or down a floor, I guess just holding Shift and clicking above or below your character would work. The only thing difficult would be teleporting into open air, but why would you want to do that anyway? o_O;

It's not so much '3d' as it is first person perspective. How do you teleport backwards in a first person view (or over the shoulder cam) without turning around? It's not the same as looking top down and teleporting to whatever x,y location you want.

[Mestre Crjspim]

Different point of views mean, in my opinion, different styles of combat. For example, I find it really hard - if not impossible - to have a Prince of Persia combat system in a first-person PoV game. If Diablo keeps it's point 'n click style, leaving the combat system focused in the use of skills, different PoV's would definitly be a "must have".

[mjkittredge]

I think the current Diablo POV, with zoom in/out and rotate function would be great. Leave it at default and be fine, or pick your ideal angle with the controls.

For an idea how this would work, check out Darkstone on PS1 (decent Diablo clone btw). That game offers great camera control.

Another is Titan Quest. Zooming in close or further out can be fun and beneficial.

[Menzer]

Let me remark that I'm not actually *For* a first person view, I just wanted to run through what it would have been like had it been in first person. Personally, I'd like to see the classic Diablo PoV to remain.

[Llama8]

I think being able to change/move the camera (with some defaults corresponding to the original isometric view, first person, etc) could make it interesting, though as others have mentioned, some skills wouldn't be particularly workable from certain points of view (but then if you want to teleport behind yourself, why are you in first person view?).

If D3's done in 3d, I don't see why they can't allow the player to change the camera view point to whatever they want (first person, isometric, over the shoulder, chase, etc).

[Mestre Crjspim]

Every time somenone posts a new reply on this subject, I become more and more convinced that the PoV will directly depend on the general gameplay Diablo III will have, the skills available and the combat style...

[Magi]

Imagine that first time you played Diablo 2 on single player, getting into the Catacombs and seeing this huge ***** Andariel. Seeing her in first person (obviously with better graphics nowadays) would have scared me out of my seat more than my first encounter with her did already.

To heck with that! How about The Butcher from Diablo 1 in first person?!!?

ahhhhhhhhhhh.................fresh MEAT!!!

::shivers::

I ran like hell the first time I saw/heard that and creeped back ever so cautiously. :laughing:

[Mestre Crjspim]

I ran like hell the first time I saw/heard that and creeped back ever so cautiously. :laughing:

Reminds my personal experience... The voice The Butcher had was superb!!!

[robzombiesslave]

To heck with that! How about The Butcher from Diablo 1 in first person?!!?

ahhhhhhhhhhh.................fresh MEAT!!!

::shivers::

I ran like hell the first time I saw/heard that and creeped back ever so cautiously. :laughing:

Imagine when he runs up to you with his giant cleaver 10 feet taller than you!! Then he takes a swing and hits you with this giant cleaver. Now a couple things can happen here. The cleaver can be blocked by your shield thats 1/8th the size of the cleaver it would look silly and make me want to laugh. Or the cleaver can cut straight through you and split you in two which would look really cool!!!!(but wait, now what to do)!!!!! I vote no for first person, keep the view the way it is. If anything, make it so you can move the view around like in company of heros so that those who insist on playing up close can.

[Summerfun]

I really hope that they keep the "original" PoV.

I have to say that you make 1person d2 playing sound pretty cool!

[Drax]

Way too many games have went 3D over the shoulder view... it is nice, but it is getting old. I'd really like to see an updated version of an Isometric view that can be rotated/zoomed in/out (similiar to the Myth series) as the user desires (no more blindly moving the mouse to make sure you got all of those barrels).

[Shadowbrand]

D3 in FPS would result in an EPIC PHAIL, simply a lame incarnation of WoW.

[aishilee]

Anyone Played Granado Espada ?

well, wont it something like dat ?

[piggybank]

First person view? I would rather see it as a side scroller...

I'm not a fan of first person... :P

[Idiot Stick]

Way too many games have went 3D over the shoulder view... it is nice, but it is getting old. I'd really like to see an updated version of an Isometric view that can be rotated/zoomed in/out (similiar to the Myth series) as the user desires (no more blindly moving the mouse to make sure you got all of those barrels).

So, kind of like the latest Command and Conquer? Im pretty sure that was rotate-able.

[BattleQueen]

First person view? I would rather see it as a side scroller...

I'm not a fan of first person... :P

Amen to that. :)
We've had so many D2-wannabes with supposedly better graphics, blah, blah, blah... they all score much lower on 'playability'. Then we're back to old faithful..D2.

[Mestre Crjspim]

We've had so many D2-wannabes with supposedly better graphics, blah, blah, blah... they all score much lower on 'playability'. Then we're back to old faithful..D2.


Right on... I've played Darkstone, Titan Quest, Loki, Kult, Dungeon Siege... but I ALLWAYS end up playing good old DII.

[Omikron8]

all i have to say is third person (over the shoulder camera) melee combat = fail every time

isometric forever, a lot more forgiving on the average gamer's PC as well

[Mestre Crjspim]

all i have to say is third person (over the shoulder camera) melee combat = fail every time

I can't agree with you 100%. I liked Severance: Blade of Darkness (action/adventure game). It had some good and simple combat system with low difficulty combos. In fact, it was the 3rd person game I liked the most concerning the combat system. I liked Drakan - Order of the Flame, but the combat system was somewhat lame.

[Wurmer]

I think I would also like a more modern iteration of the isometric view used in D2 but like a poster said earlier the PoV really will depends on the game play. I don't know if anyone would be interested in developing something around isometric since it's pretty old stuff but I think it could end up interesting nevertheless. After trying Guildwars, I don't see what would 3D bring to the table, obviously the graphics are much nice but I am sure the same could be done in isometric.

[Starlyght]

Isometric still has a lot of charm. The 3D available today lacks a certain atmosphere in my mind. It gives you too much control over what you can and can't see. I don't want to see pixelish textures up close, not even by accident. That being said, D3 will probably be in 3D, but that doesn't mean they can't fix the viewpoint to top-down in almost the same way as it is now.

[Omikron8]

and the big point is that you can't see what is behind you (to a decent distance) in the regular over-the-shoulder 3rd person view (or 1st person for ranged combat), in isometric you have an equal view on all sides simultaneously which is very good in particular for hardcore and PvP

[stillman]

I agree 100% with Omikron. Can you imagine what a pain in the neck it would be to have to push a button or do something with the mouse every time you wanted your char to turn around to see what's behind him/her? Were talking an accumulation of dozens of hours in the long run spent rotating your chr just to SEE stuff.
Also, the last thing I want is a huge, 3D chr blocking a third of the screen. I like the old Final Fantasy days and Diablo look where your little chr has enormus power. If you can't always see what's behind your chr, then there may be a huge problem with attacking mobs.
If they don't keep the bird's eye view, I think a lot of us will simply stop playing it.

[Llama8]

I can understand everyone's reluctance to move away from the isometric viewpoint & I think that if you're trying to change a (very successful game with a large following) game from 2d to 3d, it makes sense to make the isometric viewpoint one of the default views (so as not to piss off the pre-existing fans).

I think that moving from 2d to 3d offers the game (& gamers) a lot more freedom. After having played GW, I quite like the freeform camera view, but I don't see why Blizzard wouldn't keep the isometric viewpoint as an option for those who want it (same with Sacred 2).

[Omikron8]

I can understand everyone's reluctance to move away from the isometric viewpoint & I think that if you're trying to change a (very successful game with a large following) game from 2d to 3d, it makes sense to make the isometric viewpoint one of the default views (so as not to piss off the pre-existing fans).

I think that moving from 2d to 3d offers the game (& gamers) a lot more freedom. After having played GW, I quite like the freeform camera view, but I don't see why Blizzard wouldn't keep the isometric viewpoint as an option for those who want it (same with Sacred 2).

the 3rd person camera in GW works for the same reason it works in WoW, both games are based on slow-paced combat against one or two targets at most

throw in dozens of targets at various angles and elevations where you have to change direction multiple times a second and we'll see how much you love that 3rd person camera then

[Llama8]

the 3rd person camera in GW works for the same reason it works in WoW, both games are based on slow-paced combat against one or two targets at most

throw in dozens of targets at various angles and elevations where you have to change direction multiple times a second and we'll see how much you love that 3rd person camera then

Valid point, but I'd like the chance. I think that if they did change D3 to 3d, they'd almost certainly look at making the camera free-form, to see whether it's feasible or not.

Sacred 1 is almost as fast-paced as D2, and S2's going to be full 3d with a changeable camera, so it's going to be interesting to see how that pans out.

[Mythic]

1st person RPGs suck. They just play like weak-*** shooters.