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Full 3d Maps

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Full 3d Maps

from GalCiv2 Forums
I think i posted this before, but as good as the beta is getting for TA I think I need to post this so you guys have more reason to make a GalCiv 3.

Anyway, I would love to see 3-D maps. It could be simple like each sector be 3x3x3 cubes and a small map could be 3 x 3 sectors big, so you can move in any direction, to any bordering cube. It could make for some interesting trade routes, keeping your ships out of enemy airspace.

OR

You could go for the total grand scale. Have the planets orbit their star. While this is a double edged sword, it would certainly add a bit a timing to invasions and the like. And you could take that a step further and have the solar system move slowly as well. This seems like it would be really off the wall. as the traditional grid system just plain works!

Keep up the good work, Stardock ROCKS!!

70,247 views 28 replies
Reply #26 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think, that video cards would not have a problem with it. The real problem would be user interface and how to determine collision courses of ships.
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Also, wasn't the galaxy map in MoO3 in 3D as well? Of course, you could only travel from star to star, but still. I found it pretty easy to use.


I Moo3 you ordered ships to move from star A to star B. Nothing ever happened in the middle as far as I remember as you couldn't intercept fleets, only fight at the star system that was their destination. Even if you didn't use the star lanes to move and cut across deep space there was no interception. So the 3D map was eye candy with no real strategic importance.

In gal civ you can can intercept enemy fleets anywhere, in orbit of a planet or not. This means that the AI needs to think in 3D and calculate which location to move into for best effect. Currently the AI calculates it's route to target and moves along the shortest distance, if it encounters a threat in the squares ahead it may recalculate and retreat. Add in 3D and it has to calculate alot more variables as there may be hostile units in front, above, below, to left and up, to the left and down....

There comes a point where the AI has to stop making calculations and act. With all this extra info to take into account we'll either see a big leap is processing demands and a slower game or a dumber AI failing to respond intelligently. The player will have an even greater advantage as we have a greater spatial understanding than the AI ever will.

But what are we gaining? Ok, it looks good. Does it add extra strategy? Does it matter if you attack a planet from above or below? Or the direction you approach a fleet from? Surely they can turn around when they see you coming across space? The UI will need a total redesign and careful implementation as you're going to miss-click one helluva lot more trying to select an empty volume in 3d space to move to.

It may work in Homeworld, but Homeworld is real time and plays nothing like gal civ, you get to twak movement as your ships are en-route, in gal civ you can move a long way off course in the space of a turn with no chance to correct. I'd rather see another graphics upgrade for the development time/cost of working out all these issues. The game would look better and you don't have to redesign the core gameplay to accommodate for a visual nicety. Gameplay and usability over visual gimmicks!
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Reply #28 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Then, lemme use a bit of sarcasm to dilute the issue at hand.

-- The tactical advantages of true 3D are beyond whatever TBS can achieve on a single plane for a simple reason; REALITY.
-- The strategic implications gap is enormous between 2D and 3D from another even more complex logical standpoint; ACTIVITY.

Now, these two "arguments" may sound extremes but i'd also prefer challenging conditions rather than visual gimmicks (as you put it)... then again, sure it is a visual difference only and yet, at the same time provides huge tactical options at the cost of extensive memory demands. High end PCs could (and eventually will or have to) handle that much.

All i know is that Polaris is directly above Earth and that the Crab nebulae is about 225 degrees off (as perceived from the North pole) the "normal" ecliptic. Alpha Centauri is almost 4.3LY away from us all and NOT within a straight line (either horizontal or perpendicular) trajectory. Thus, Space is 3D.
But, GC2 is a game. ;)

Maybe we'll get computers that can do that much calculations in March 2039 when an Asteroid skims our atmosphere... or even, before!

- Zyxpsilon.