Tell me how you play computer games

[andrewducker]

[Poll #1826802]

Today's poll suggestion is courtesy of bracknellexile who will no doubt be mining the data to see if his thesis is correct.

Edit: Please take a look at bracknellexile's comment further down, as he'd really appreciate your replies!

Comments

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

The issue with third person (whether console or PC) is that even at the best of times the camera can drive me mad.

The best games for me are those that use first person at times and third person at others (eg. Rainbow Six: Vegas that used a third person camera in cover).

[bracknellexile.livejournal.com]

Not played Rainbow Six:Vegas but I think that's the reason for my general dislike of third-person too although now that you mention it you've reminded me that Deus Ex: Human Revolution blended the two so well (third-person for cover) that I barely notice it these days.

I still wouldn't play DX:HR 3rd-person all the time but there's clearly a knack to it that some game developers have got and some don't, some of which, I guess, is down to level design. All the cover in DX:HR is positioned so that there's room for the camera and it doesn't clip objects/walls behind it - makes for a much smoother experience, less camera-jumping (unlike some games that move the camera to avoid clipping - I'm looking at you here, Tomb Raider) and a less intrusive feel to the switch of angles because you know exactly where your point of view's going to be when it changes.

(edited for typo)

[recycled-sales.livejournal.com]

Actually DX:HR did the same thing and probably did it better.

Third person works brilliantly for melee combat however.

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

DE:HR did it very well. Also the way it had separate UIs for KB&M or joypad, and switched immediately if you touched the other control method. That was awesome.

I was very annoyed in Assassin's Creed 2 that they manage to have the focus of the game be on free-flowing cool movement, and then completely fuck up the camera for timed puzzles that needed quick reflexes in the temple puzzle bits.