Graphics Quality

[Caesar Alan]

Now we all know that CotN is going to be sporting a spanking new 3-D engine, with mind-blowing graphics. My question is, just how mind-blowing will they be?

Something that I found particularly disappointing about the later games in the CityBuilding series was their lack of support for higher resolutions. Even Emperor only supports resolutions up to 1024x768. While I'm sure that's fine for the majority of people, I for one would like to see higher resolutions supported. 1280x1024 is common enough these days, and I'm sure there are those who'd appreciate 1600x1200.

Please? Pretty Please? :D

[vovan]

1372 x 1050 would do it for me, thank you. :)

I am sure there will be support for multiple resolutions one way or another. As for "mindblowing" graphics, I'd wait to call that one, since keep in mind that the engine they are using for the game is pretty old. It all really depends on how much they changed it over. Then, agian, I, personally, am not too graphics picky. As long as all the graphics are nicely in style, as the citybuilders have generally been, as far as I am concerned, and not overly blocky models, I'm good. :)

[Elvenwarrior2001]

Hehe. I'm all for gameplay. I've actually bought old games, as old as 1989. So the graphics aren't anything compared to gameplay. ;) Some of those old games have the most amazing gameplay I've ever seen. :)

Elven

[Afterburner]

Hehe. I'm all for gameplay. I've actually bought old games, as old as 1989. So the graphics aren't anything compared to gameplay. ;) Some of those old games have the most amazing gameplay I've ever seen. :)

I still play X-COM, Master of Magic, System Shock, and Doom II nearly a decade after most of them came out.

Hell, I still play M1-A1 Abrams 13 years after it came out. :eek:

[Keith]

Hehe. I'm all for gameplay. I've actually bought old games, as old as 1989. So the graphics aren't anything compared to gameplay. ;) Some of those old games have the most amazing gameplay I've ever seen. :)

Elven
What the old games lacked in graphics the player generally made up for in their own imagination. The newer gamer's of today are generally spoiled by the graphics of today's games never having had to play those old games and would never even consider playing the old simpler games.
http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/horus2.gif
Keith Heitmann
http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/my-cartouche.gif
dheitm8612@aol.com (mailto:dheitm8612@aol.com)
Pharaoh Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/pharaoh.htm)

[drugmirko]

Speaking of graphic quality and 3D engine, does that mean that all objects in the game will be 3D? Will, for exsamp., houses be rendered from all sides or will they, if some kind of isometric wiew will be used for main game play mode, allways show just one side when map will be rotated? What computing power would be necessary to render them from all sides in real time?
I know that this realy eats resources&computing time, but in all Sierras CB games really anoyed me that I could allways see things only from one side, no mather how the map was rotated.

And our "coffie grinders" did evolve in small, but respectable beasts since the i386-486 ruled on our desktops. :D

[vovan]

Speaking of graphic quality and 3D engine, does that mean that all objects in the game will be 3D?

That's what it looks like from the screenies. It looks like there is free zoom and rotation, which means the houses and such will also be 3D objects, as opposed to 2D billboards, as in Rise of Nations, say.

[drugmirko]

Horay!
And wouldn't it be nice, if you'd be able to decend into your city and walk through streets, talking about problems with your people... ok. I know I'm stretching it... :D :D

[Atlantean Relic]

I've heard you may be able to walk the streets

[vovan]

I imagine you'd be able to attach the camera to a walker... Of course, if you zoom in a lot, and move around, I guess you'd have the impression of walking the city streets. I wonder about the first-person view though. I imagine not.

[Elvenwarrior2001]

Now that would be plain freaky! :eek: (And wicked kewl! :D )

Elven

[Keith]

I imagine you'd be able to attach the camera to a walker... Of course, if you zoom in a lot, and move around, I guess you'd have the impression of walking the city streets. I wonder about the first-person view though. I imagine not.
An interesting idea. I can picture it in my mind now. The camera or cameras could be attached to one person and you can follow any one of them in a small PIP window.
http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/horus2.gif
Keith Heitmann
http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/my-cartouche.gif
dheitm8612@aol.com (mailto:dheitm8612@aol.com)
Pharaoh Music Jukebox (http://members.aol.com/dheitm8612/java/pharaoh.htm)

[vovan]

An interesting idea. I can picture it in my mind now. The camera or cameras could be attached to one person and you can follow any one of them in a small PIP window.

Right. I was thinking something along the lines of Tropico when I said that. Only better. :)

[Jayhawk]

Alternatively they could do something like is done for Spellforce, where if you zoom in deep enough, the game view switches from god-view to third person perspective, looking over the shoulder of the selected character.
At that moment you'd be able guide the focused character through the city (or sit back and watch wheres/he goes).

[vovan]

Interesting solution. Never played Spellforce, I'll check it out then. :)

[Jayhawk]

It's fun, could tide you over while waiting for this gem to appear. ;)
A mix between Warcraft III and Dungeon Siege.