Graphics for Alpha Centauri 2

[Urban Ranger]

I know there's a "Wish list" thread already, but I think this topic is important enough to warrant its own thread.

Okay, so what kind of graphics do you want for Alpha Centauri 2? Other than the normal sorts of improvements, such as higher resolution, more colours, etc.

Do you want 3D? Do you want more eye candy or servicable graphics? Do you want, for example, the ability to rotate the map?

Other than the "look and feel," what other new functions do you want? For example, pointing the mouse pointer at a base will bring up a nice little information panel.

What about the user interface? What kinds of improvements can you think of, given a higher resolution (1024x768)?

How about making your own custom "skin" and faction sets?

What do you think about an optional Civ I look (i.e. looking straight down)? A high resolution version can make this an attractive, light weight alternative.

[GeoModder]

3D, multiple planets/moons. (as proposed in the other thread)

[Lord Nword]

As long as it doesn't slow down the game when I have a massive terraforming effort underway (read hundreds of formers).

I think the zoom should be fixed so that the text size looks ok on non-default zooms.

[Alex]

I disagree about 3D graphics. I think that 2D graphics are good for TBS games, and they can be really beautiful when correctly done.

Keep the elevation thing, I think it added a lot of personality for SMAC. It can be improved, though.

More colours would also be nice. And units which can be clearly seen and distinguished from others on the map.

Some more eye candy on the main map: add some animation, better explosion and combat effects, these kind of things.

[sentry33]

3D, rotating camera etc is good - if they ensure that there's clear view on what's going on

[Googlie]

North-south circumnavigation, in addition to the usual east-west, would be awesome

[Zoetrope]

Two requirements for graphics:

(1) Fast.
(2) Customisable.

SMAC's graphics of course are neither. Brian Reynolds stated on a forum that choosing Caviar was a mistake.

[spartak]

which forum? and what is caviar?

[Bkeela]

No 3D. What is with the 3D fanboys? 3D is fine for first person shooters, but not strategy games. Civ IV looks crap in my opinion because of the lame 3D.

I would like a prettier game. Perhaps with an interface specific to the faction you are playing. A zoom in feature of individual colonies like with Civ would be interesting. Especially if the colonies grew in an organic way like with the new Big Huge Games title graphics.

Basically a prettier map, and nicer looking units, with an interface that lends well to the sci-fi theme. I want to feel like an emperor surveying his empire.

[GeoModder]

I want to have the feel of an interplanetary emperor surveying his parts of a solar system, for which 3D is a must IMO.

[muxec]

It's all about development speed. With modern advanced development tools creating customizable 3D is even easier than 2D. And 3D can usually be customized to top-down view.

[Xian]

Originally posted by Googlie
North-south circumnavigation, in addition to the usual east-west, would be awesome

I was going to say that in the wishlist thread, even though it seemed small; we should be playing on a PLANET, not a 2 dimensional wraparound, it woudl increase the tactical complexity to have to deal with a plante thats actually ROUND.

[Lord Nword]

Originally posted by Xian

I was going to say that in the wishlist thread, even though it seemed small; we should be playing on a PLANET, not a 2 dimensional wraparound, it woudl increase the tactical complexity to have to deal with a plante thats actually ROUND.

It's round, just not spherical :-p

I fail to see how 3D is easier to do custom for...

2D, anyone can edit in both their standard or high end graphics programs.

I'm not paying for a fully featured 3D graphics utility...

[Mark123jansen]

CIV IV engine!!! have you seen those screenies!

[Darsnan]

Re: Graphics for Alpha Centauri 2

Originally posted by Urban Ranger

Okay, so what kind of graphics do you want for Alpha Centauri 2? Other than the normal sorts of improvements, such as higher resolution, more colours, etc.

I did like what I saw of the cIV screen pics as far as the animation was concerned, as well as the general layout of the terrain (i.e. how it was represented).

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Do you want 3D? Do you want more eye candy or servicable graphics? Do you want, for example, the ability to rotate the map?

50% of the voters at the currrent Firaxis poll said "who cares about graphics". Eye candy is nice, gameplay is paramount! From a Creator's perspective it would be neat to be able to insert new terrain graphics and be able to customize what they mean to the game. So say instead of (or in addition to) the Unity Wreckage say you were able to insert a graphic for an ancient abandoned city, which had a working observatory (which tracked the descent and landing of all the Unity's Escape modules), a couple of serviceable units, and a cache of EC's. Similar analogies could be made for other current landmarks in the game.
Regardless, whatever graphics are used, why please make them easily modable.

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Other than the "look and feel," what other new functions do you want? For example, pointing the mouse pointer at a base will bring up a nice little information panel.

That when a war starts/ ends, or other major event happens, that the pop-up text have more flair to it. Say something like a pull-up CNN style screen that has all the headlines of the day, with whatever the major event was emblazoned across the top of the screen along with whatever other info is known at the moment. Subsections on the webstyle page would then have been customized to other events of the day, for instance:

- Drones at Base X become resistant to nerve stapling!
- Rumours of ancient civilization on Planet!
- Researchers at Base Y make major breakthru!

The player could then opt to click on these links for a full "article-style" op-ed if they so chose. From a Creator's perspective why if these files were then imprinted onto created SP games, why they could then be customized by Creator's for SP Challenges, which would add a new dimension of fun to players, for when these news events occur, why players would never know what to expect when they pulled up a certain link as to what the Creator may have inserted into the file!

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
How about making your own custom "skin" and faction sets?

As far as a "custom skin" is concerned, are you refering to giving the skin more of a feel for the Faction your playing? So say if it was a Morganite Faction that a player could make it look more pretty, or a Gaian payer could give it a skin that is more in touch with nature? That'd be kinda cool!

As far as custom Faction set are concerned why I think the community in general would be leary of adding new customized faction sets to PBEM. However from a Creator's perspective they can add significantly to gameplay. A very good example of that would be Chaos Theory's 2005 Solstice Challenge .

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
What do you think about an optional Civ I look (i.e. looking straight down)? A high resolution version can make this an attractive, light weight alternative.

Lightweight (from a processor intensive perspective) would probably be a good option for those not using high end platforms. It would broaden the player base.

D