Gaming Game-changing visuals?

[GeekyGuy]

I have to say -- and I doubt I'm alone -- the launch line-up ain't all that exciting. SSFIV? Sure, why not. I loves me some Street Fighter, but outside of the visual presentation, do I need that game on 3DS? Hardly. I'd much rather continue to play the game with my fighting stick.

Not going to bother rattling off the other games released at launch or, heck, even the ones we know about on the horizon. To me, the best and most impressive things I've seen the system do thus far are all related to the AR functionality. Face Raiders may be little more than a tech demo, but wow, does it get my imagination churning, as does watching a big hole appear underneath an AR card. It's entertaining technology, and though the 3D visuals are entertaining as well, they're a novelty that will surely wear off after the honeymoon.

Which makes me wonder...

Now what? What are you hoping to see Nintendo and other developers do with this system? Personally, I'm not sure, but I know the tech itself is mildly mind-blowing. I want more of that mental pop. As cool as 3D visuals are -- and they are -- it's the stuff that twists my mind outside of my comfort zone that has me hot for this system.

What do you want to see in your gameplay that will truly push that third dimension? What are you dreaming up that perhaps Nintendo have yet to stumble upon or reveal to us?

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I'm just waiting for a game that actually uses the 3D to do something other than "It looks cool" or "it's game X, but now in 3D!"

As of now, the 3D effect is basically a gimmick. That's a rather widely held opinion, but seasoned Nintendo fans and not-so-seasoned fans such as myself. Whether it's a good gimmick or a bad gimmick is a different story, but it still feels like basically just an eye candy effect. To me, I don't see how it's so impressive. I saw Avatar in 3D, in IMAX, and yeah, it was pretty cool looking. But every 3D movie I've seen since then that's been in 3D hasn't impressed. I've seen it once, it doesn't blow me away time after time. It's like watching the same horror movie over and over; eventually you learn where all the scares are. Personally I'm more blown away when you see high quality graphics in the palm of your hands. The PSP does, every now and then, really take me off guard with some nice graphics. The NGP is surely gonna give me the same feeling a few times.

I really doubt there's a way to make the 3D anything more than a visual trick, but if someone does, then kudos to them.

 

[Hells Malice]

It can do nothing.
It's just a gimmicky feature meant to bring in the 3D crazed crowd of today.
A game will never be good because of how it uses the 3D. Which is why I don't waste my batteries turning 3D on.

 

[granville]

I bought Rayman 3D and didn't expect the 3D to enhance the gameplay, but it did. Far from perfect, the effect is useless in cutscenes. But during the platforming, the effect actually improved my sense of depth and made jumping distances far more natural feeling.

3D platformers will make the best use of 3D if done properly. After beating Rayman 3D, i've been converted into a believer of 3D being used for gameplay enhancement. I didn't think it would do anything more than look cool, but it really ended up impressing me. And we're talking about an older game not even optimized to make use of the effect. I'm sure someone like Nintendo could make a REAL good use of the 3D in a 3D Mario game.

And yes i do realize i will get trolled by a lot of 3DS haters, but things need to be said, so whatever. Take your best shot.

 

[DiscostewSM]

3D is just one of the things that can be done, but here's another idea. Maybe in some detective game, you look at a wall, and think you see something odd with it, so instead of looking at it with both eyes, you close one eye, and see something different. Close the other eye, and see another different thing. This is only if the 2 separate renders to make the effect can take different input, so in a sense, they both have almost the same data sent to the GPU. As simple as an idea that is, they can always add some other elements to the mix.

 

[Ergo]

It can do nothing.
It's just a gimmicky feature meant to bring in the 3D crazed crowd of today.
A game will never be good because of how it uses the 3D. Which is why I don't waste my batteries turning 3D on.

Uh, no, this is spectacularly wrong.

The key thing 3D can do is bring actual depth to the experience meaning that, in theory, it would make navigating 3D worlds much more intuitive and natural than it is at present.

For example, in a boxing game, you would be able to judge the actual distance between your avatar's arm and the opponent's face, rather than learning the distance through trial and error or using, other, less-intuitive cues. The same goes for hitting a coin block in 3D Mario (no guessing if you're directly under it, a problem I've seen lots of non-gamer friends run into) or slashing an opponent with your sword in Zelda. Racing games would also benefit hugely from this as you'll know exactly when to exit a draft in a F1 game, say, rather than ballparking it and smashing into the other car's rear end.

As granville pointed out, this takes a lot of the guesswork out of navigating in 3D and is a huge leap forward, especially for non-gamers, but it also benefits those of us that have been playing games for decades.

 

[CCNaru]

Porn. what else?

I have a really unimaginative mind so I can't think of anything right now. If anyone's seen those "4D" shows at like Disneyland or Universal Studios, they had much more depth than what the 3DS could ever bring (though it's quite obvious... the money spent on that must be amazing), but that could be a possibility maybe? or online calling/chatting in 3d? that would be amazing.

I can't wait to see a Phoenix Wright game that would utilize 3D, but that's about it for me, anyways in terms of games...

 

[DiscostewSM]

It can do nothing.
It's just a gimmicky feature meant to bring in the 3D crazed crowd of today.
A game will never be good because of how it uses the 3D. Which is why I don't waste my batteries turning 3D on.

Uh, no, this is spectacularly wrong.

The key thing 3D can do is bring actual depth to the experience meaning that, in theory, it would make navigating 3D worlds much more intuitive and natural than it is at present.

For example, in a boxing game, you would be able to judge the actual distance between your avatar's arm and the opponent's face, rather than learning the distance through trial and error or using, other, less-intuitive cues. The same goes for hitting a coin block in 3D Mario (no guessing if you're directly under it, a problem I've seen lots of non-gamer friends run into) or slashing an opponent with your sword in Zelda. Racing games would also benefit hugely from this as you'll know exactly when to exit a draft in a F1 game, say, rather than ballparking it and smashing into the other car's rear end.

As granville pointed out, this takes a lot of the guesswork out of navigating in 3D and is a huge leap forward, especially for non-gamers, but it also benefits those of us that have been playing games for decades.

The Mario block example is usually dealt with (at least in SM64) by casting the shadow directly underneath it, so if Mario is in the shadow, then he's under the block. Of course it isn't a real shadow cast by a light source, so when that scenario takes place with no fake shadows, the 3D will help. People have usually calculated where they are against everything else (in a game) based on something like the ground, it's textures, and the shadows. The 3D is going to help in the same situation like the real world, where depth is constantly in your face.

 

[koji2009]

It can do nothing.
It's just a gimmicky feature meant to bring in the 3D crazed crowd of today.
A game will never be good because of how it uses the 3D. Which is why I don't waste my batteries turning 3D on.

Congrats for reading the topic and not reading the thread... Or did you choose to intentionally ignore the OP's comments on AR?

 

[sonknuck23]

I know it sounds strange, but I find the 3D makes the game more enjoyable. Maybe I'm one of those gimmicky types, but the game just looks cooler with the 3D, thus making it more enjoyable for me. I'm not a graphics person, but when the game is using the 3D visuals, it's for sure neat, and it actually makes enjoying the game more powerful for me since I only play games to pass time, usually.

 

[Hells Malice]

So far no one has properly defended how 3D adds anything.
Depth? Christ, I don't need 3D to figure that out. Especially 3D platformers. I've never once asked myself "Damn I wish this was actually 3D so I could consider the depth of what it is i'll be jumping to."
But *shrug* i'm oldschool. I'm used to, and quite proficient, at platforming in a 3D world without actually seeing it in 3D.

As far as AR showing what 3D can do...lolno. The AR cards are cute, and it was actually fun for a while to move the 3DS to make things feel 3D...but it's not like that adds a whole lot from a gameplay point of view. It's simply a "new" way one could eventually play a game. But it's not like its a groundbreaking and amazing gameplay mechanic. Personally it's a pain to have to move my 3DS to play a game, much like it becomes a pain to move the Wiimote to play some games.

3D is innovative in the same way the Wii's motion controls have been. It's cool, it's new, and it gets old quick.
Honestly as interesting and innovative as motion controls were...in the end it was just a crappy way to play a game, where conventional methods were still funner. I have a feeling 3D is going to take this route. It will add some new ways to play games, but it won't add much depth in the ways of improving existing gameplay mechanics, like 3D platforming.

 

[KingVamp]

That may be your opinions about the innovations, but do not go around making it seem like facts
specially when more people opinions differ.

 

[granville]

So far no one has properly defended how 3D adds anything.
Depth? Christ, I don't need 3D to figure that out. Especially 3D platformers. I've never once asked myself "Damn I wish this was actually 3D so I could consider the depth of what it is i'll be jumping to."
But *shrug* i'm oldschool. I'm used to, and quite proficient, at platforming in a 3D world without actually seeing it in 3D.

I grew up with 3d platformers and can be considered quite good at them. Been playing them for almost my entire life. Not once did i ever think that 3D would actually help me play them better, and i'd never used it before. I also have no issues playing 3D games either. I did not believe 3D depth would help either, right up the the exact instance where i booted the game up.

Nevertheless, once i booted up Rayman 3D and played for about 5 minutes with the 3D on, it felt miles better than it did without it. I didn't realize what i was missing. I can only speak for myself here, but the level of depth here eliminated any guesswork i had with how far platforms were from each other, even if i didn't realize i was missing out on something. If you don't want to believe me or trust me, that's your problem and keep on believing what you want. But as someone who had no prior feelings about how the effect would work beyond just making the game more striking, i was converted very quickly. I'm making the best explanation i can, but there's only so much i can explain in text. I was a total skeptic beforehand that 3D would help platforming, and i never thought i would admit i was wrong. But here i am, doing so. Take that however you wish.

I can easily see improvements that can be made for more precise platforming using the 3D effect. Two such games that will likely benefit are Mario Bros 3D and Kingdom Hearts DDD.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

I feel like depth issues with 3D platformers were basically gone once shadows were in games. They're surprisingly more than a minor graphical touch, watching your shadow lets you know precisely where you're going. Plus there's some games like Spyro that I've never really followed the shadow with but had no issues with depth.

 

[granville]

It sort of depends. I agree in some respects that shadows helped. But at the same time, when the 3D added enhanced depth, i wasn't having to watch my shadow anymore at all. Just seeing the character and the platform was enough to judge the distance between them.

Anyways, i'm done explaining. Not because i'm mad at other opinions (of course not), but i just don't feel i can explain this properly in text. I've played games all my life, 3D platformers among them (and some of my favorites). As someone who had no prior conceptions of how 3D would benefit, i never thought it could help any and never thought i would need it. But having played it, i feel it really does benefit. Take that how you will, i won't say this will be the same for everyone, but it's certainly how i feel. It's far exceeded my expectations. I was planning on disabling the 3D effect if it looked cheap, but it didn't IMO and i keep it on almost all the time.

 

[KingVamp]

I feel like depth issues with 3D platformers were basically gone once shadows were in games. They're surprisingly more than a minor graphical touch, watching your shadow lets you know precisely where you're going. Plus there's some games like Spyro that I've never really followed the shadow with but had no issues with depth.

OK if shadows was more than a graphical touch to you then why can't 3D be more than a graphical touch to people?

3D may not help you, but it may help others.

 

[Ikki]

I feel like depth issues with 3D platformers were basically gone once shadows were in games. They're surprisingly more than a minor graphical touch, watching your shadow lets you know precisely where you're going. Plus there's some games like Spyro that I've never really followed the shadow with but had no issues with depth.

OK if shadows was more than a graphical touch to you then why can't 3D be more than a graphical touch to people?

3D may not help you, but it may help others.

Both shadows and 3D are graphical touches that help with precision. If you have one, you don't need the other. I think that's where Guild is going to.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Guild.

 

[KingVamp]

I feel like depth issues with 3D platformers were basically gone once shadows were in games. They're surprisingly more than a minor graphical touch, watching your shadow lets you know precisely where you're going. Plus there's some games like Spyro that I've never really followed the shadow with but had no issues with depth.

OK if shadows was more than a graphical touch to you then why can't 3D be more than a graphical touch to people?

3D may not help you, but it may help others.

Both shadows and 3D are graphical touches that help with precision. If you have one, you don't need the other. I think that's where Guild is going to.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Guild.

What wrong with having both to help judge distance?

 

[altorn]

I bought the 3DS so that when a 3DS Pokemon game gets released, i don't have to bump into a lot of shit in every turn anymore. (like Pokemon Black)

and yeah, i dont think this whole 3D thing will last as long/longer than motion control. Motion control of the Wii lived like 3+ years(?) and only now current gen consoles finally copied Wii's motion control.

I hope motion control will last and built upon by developers creating NEW refreshing games, f*** FPS's, f*** sports and dancing games.

Touch controls also is a very popular control style especially in new smartphone games (and the DS, 3DS and NGP games). This is definitely a long lasting control style like buttons.

3D is just a graphical enhancement. I dont even see how the GYROSCOPE and MOTION SENSOR in the 3DS will help in gameplay if 3D is paired with them. Tilt the unit a bit, you lose 3D. WTF,F,F,F***?
In SSF43D, i turn off the 3D when fighting online. (very hard opponents, i get pressured a lot)

ALSO:
If 3D can be used only for enhanced depth perception for platformers, then should we expect only
platformers? coz i know SS43D dont do anything, Samurai Warriors also help in depth when attacking enemies, etc.

 

[KingVamp]

Not going argue the 3D usefulness because I already mention it.

If both 3D and tilt is in the game then just follow the 3DS screen while tilting.

Not just tilt and sit there.

But I guess I wait to try that myself so it just a imo statement.