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We need your opinion re: city build mode zoom options

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We need your opinion re: city build mode zoom options

from Elemental Forums

Hey guys!  First off, glad to see you seem to be (for the most part) enjoying the beta!  We have a question for you guys about a specific UI feature we have, the city build mode zoom option.  For those that don't know, in the general options there is an option to turn on "city build mode zoom".  What this does is make it so when you build something you get a transition into a different, birds-eye, view of the city in question.

Internally there are differing opinions on what we think of this mode and we would like to see what you guys think about it.  In order to see what I mean follow these steps:

 

1: Enable the mode in general options http://screencast.com/t/m0MsKHblJsQ 

2: Build something in a city! http://screencast.com/t/uERqR5q8U4I

3: This is what the standard build view is with the option off for reference http://screencast.com/t/E3H6fqsU

 

I would prefer if you guys actually try using the mode yourself for a while before you vote, seeing it static is different from in the game with animation and in different situations.  Obviously you don't HAVE to, but you may feel differently late in the game or something. 

 

As a final note, no matter what the result of the vote this feature (and the ability to turn it off) will remain in the game.  So however you feel about it, don't worry you will be able to play as you like; I mean this is a PC game, not being able to play how you want is more of a console thing ;)  this is just going to help us decide how our default experience is for new users.

Click here to vote

Thanks!

-Toby

72,808 views 64 replies
Reply #51 from Elemental Forums Top

Bug - if you go into overhead build mode, click on another city, then click out of cities you remain in overhead view. You can manually reposition the view, but I figure this isn't meant to happen.

Reply #52 from Elemental Forums Top

Had it off, turned it own for a game, got really annoyed by it, now its off again.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #53 from Elemental Forums Top

I like the city zoom option and now always play with it on.  I suspect newer players might find it useful.  As long as there is an option to turn it on I will be happy. 

Reply #54 from Elemental Forums Top

If you want to have a city build zoom option, have a option (maybe keyboard combination?) to turn it off if it doesn't turn off by itself.

Reply #55 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting seanw3, reply 1
I chose off, but what I think most people would really like is a close-up view at an angle that gives us a more personal perspective of the city. The current iteration is very good for placement, but I feel that cities are mostly taken for granted by the endgame. Giving us a little up-close spin around the city and then an angled view from which to build would remind us of all the cool stuff we have been building. 

 

I would love to have a Heroes of Might and Magic like view of the city in zoom mode. Or in detail window. All those lovely buildings and pessants. And cant get enough of that.

Reply #56 from Elemental Forums Top

I leave it off for now.

I don't like the 'directly overhead camera angle' so to speak.
Besides it doesn't do justice to the magnificent city either, because it makes the picture look flat.

It would be cool to have a different angle. More isometric and perhaps swoop the zoom in towards the finishing building with a slow animation.

Then I think I would leave it on. 

But I am also very much in favor of a HoMM-esque city detail view.

Reply #57 from Elemental Forums Top


I have tried it and never use it.  Until there is an actual need for building placement, I don't see the point.

Reply #58 from Elemental Forums Top

Tried the mode a bit, didn't like it (0.77).

1) It's buggy, if you cancel your building it sometimes stay stuck in the mode, looking at the city.

2) Doesn't really help, since city building doesn't matter.

Reply #60 from Elemental Forums Top

Just remove city improvements placement, please, and let us see a view of the city with its improvements in another screen, like in HOMM, please.

Having to place buildings is just cumbersome, has cheesy side effects, and zero interesting gameplay effects. Having it in the game just because it is coded does not make any sense. Otherwise, we should have spaceships by the same logic, because the code for them already exists in GalCiv 2.

Reply #61 from Elemental Forums Top

Please make city building matter, and zoom mode will be helpful.  If city building cannot be made to matter, either totally automate it or remove it altogether.  It currently takes an inordinate amount of time for essentially no benefit.

Reply #63 from Elemental Forums Top

So, I'm going to lump this with a recent thread I just read here: https://forums.elementalgame.com/420896/page/1/#replies

Several concepts are touched on:

1) Should the city be 1 square or multiple squares on the main map? Definately multiple squares, imo. I strongly believe that 1-sq cities would be a step backwards in game design.

2) Should a city be allowed to 'snake' on the main map? I would argue no. Being able to 'cheat' your units across squares through the use of a city should not be allowed. Units should not ignore the individual squares within a city. Granted, travelling these squares would be like traveling along a road that you know is safe...but you still would need to travel it.

3) How should a city be able to expand, in order to obtain nearby resources? I believe a system should be set up to partially limit the way a city is able to expand. An example of this could be: all building points around the first square must be filled before moving on to the second ring. Perhaps different buildings take up different amounts of realstate? This would give the player the ability to PLAN city expansion dependant on the types of building chosen for construction.

4) Should placing building locations within a city be optional? Absolutely Yes! Tied in with #3, if by placing a building on the one side of your city is able to grant you a resource sooner, than that most certainly be made an option to utilize.

5) Should there be a separate 'city window' for city development? I would argue 'yes' as FE is a 4X game. Expanding ones city is another unique part of the game and should be made as flavorable as possible. Should 'city window' be a checkable option? Sure, if it's been developed already, there is no harm in it....so long as those playing without the 'city window' understand that they may be missing out on some of the possible depth that the game can provide.

I hope everything said in my view is clear. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to reply.

Thanks.

Mike

Reply #64 from Elemental Forums Top

I tried playing with the City zoom mode on, but i found it altered my perspective too much, i found it easier just to place the building in my normal view mode since i like to do lots of camera rotation and cinematic views in my games.