What to call "bird's eye view"/"isometric" games?

[rusty_shackleford]

Thread title.
The majority of these aren't, and never have been, actually isometric. There are only a handful of true isometric RPGs, most are some form of dimetric, Fallout being a very obvious example due to having such a low angle camera.
Additionally, this term is often applied to games with freely controllable 3D cameras for lack of a better term.

I've seen "isometric" used to describe games from Fallout to Planescape Torment to ATOM to Baldur's Gate 3.

[TKVNC]

Well, top-down comes to mind. Tactical view is also one I have seen before.

[1998]

Well, top-down comes to mind. Tactical view is also one I have seen before.

If I hear top-down I think more of a near vertical perspective. I don't mind isometric. I know its not technically correct, but I also know what to expect.

[wndrbr]

Well, top-down comes to mind. Tactical view is also one I have seen before.

top-down would be something like this

[WhiteShark]

Wikipedia says it's "dimetric projection" if 2d and "perspective projection" if 3d: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isometric ... s#Examples

[asf]

calling 3d stuff isometric is peak ******** zoomerism

[Tweed]

[Tweed]

https://lilura1.blogspot.com/2020/07/Wh ... op-10.html

Fallout is Trimetric.

[Demonic Fate]

"Bird's eye view" is spot on in every way except for the distance - it's a movie term originally, and in movie a BEV is typically shot from a crane or a helicopter so it's a bit further away.

If we are making terms up, I suggest "drone view" as a closer-range version of bird's eye. Especially since in modern 3D games you can move the camera around freely much like a drone.

[rusty_shackleford]

https://lilura1.blogspot.com/2020/07/Wh ... op-10.html

Fallout is Trimetric.

Yeah, you're right, baldur's gate etc., are dimetric, Fallout is trimetric.

fun fact: you can calculate the angle used for rendering by finding a circular object in the environment. Here's a picture back from when I calculated ToEE's angle from a partial screenshot using the circular(elliptical, calculated the stretch factor) pattern in the floor.


ToEE is true isometric

[Irenaeus]

I don't mind most parallel projections (e.g. isometric) in games. It's mostly a problem when something is blocked by walls or objects, but game designers have worked around this limitations by drawing the maps accounting for this or using outlines.

[J1M]

I would refer to them as isometric because even if it is mathematically wrong it communicates the idea clearly to other people.

No different than using "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena" as a genre name instead of something more accurate like Real-Time Tactics in contrast with Real-Time Strategy. MOBA's literal meaning describes basically all competitive online games, but everyone knows what it means.

There's probably other examples.

[Val the Moofia Boss]

It's isometric. That is what people mean. People use words all of the time to mean something other than the textbook definition. That's how language works; it moves on.

[rusty_shackleford]

It's isometric. That is what people mean. People use words all of the time to mean something other than the textbook definition. That's how language works; it moves on.

@WhiteShark I don't like this

[Irenaeus]

It's isometric. That is what people mean. People use words all of the time to mean something other than the textbook definition. That's how language works; it moves on.

@WhiteShark I don't like this

They are types of parallel projections.

[Magick]

Ehh top down. It's just a camera angle at the end of the day. Which sometimes affects control a bit.

[rusty_shackleford]

Ehh top down. It's just a camera angle at the end of the day. Which sometimes affects control a bit.

Affects the entire design of the game.

[Oyster Sauce]

Calling games iso/tri/bimetric is needlessly autistic. They all play the same. Gears of War is a Third Person Shooter, it's not a Camera 15 Degrees Above Parallel And About Ten Feet Behind the Person Who Himself Is Situated Somewhat Off Center Shooter.

They're just Top Down.

[rusty_shackleford]

Calling games iso/tri/bimetric is needlessly autistic. They all play the same. Gears of War is a Third Person Shooter, it's not a Camera 15 Degrees Above Parallel And About Ten Feet Behind the Person Who Himself Is Situated Somewhat Off Center Shooter.

They're just Top Down.

Gears of War is a cover shooter.

[Magick]

Ehh top down. It's just a camera angle at the end of the day. Which sometimes affects control a bit.

Affects the entire design of the game.

It's certainly a style, but some of them can even go first person or whatever with console commands.

I don't think it's AS vast of an impact as you say, there. A bit of control differences and graphical elements affected.

Regardless, you have first person, 3rd person, top down. This is the latter, doesn't matter whether it's straight vertical or angled.

[WhiteShark]

[Tangerine]

This gives military shooters a whole new meaning.

[Tinky Winky]

op get contacted with Lilurautism, R.I.P.

[rusty_shackleford]

PCGamingWiki separates "bird's eye view" from isometric and just tags games that are both with both(using 'isometric' to simply mean axonometric projection, not strictly isometric)
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Categ ... s-eye_view
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Category:Perspectives

[orinEsque]

One of the most autistic thread on this forum.

[Lord of Riva]

I would not be able to differentiate Isometric, trimetric or dimetric perspectives, thanks, whiteshark for posting the graphic, though nonetheless I am not sure what the distinction would be for when talking about games.

Isometric is fine as a genre.

[asf]

actual isometric looks good

[Norfleet]

PCGamingWiki separates "bird's eye view" from isometric and just tags games that are both with both(using 'isometric' to simply mean axonometric projection, not strictly isometric)

The real question is, is Pigeon Simulator a "bird's eye view" game or a "first person" game when you play from the viewpoint of the pigeon?