Do we really need the 1st person perspective in games?

[112]

Im all about the 3rd person option - if a game has 1st person as a standard it tends to deter me....... It jus does not agree with me.

The option to be able to switch is a definate bonus, i dont think i would have enjoyed Fallout 3 as much if i wasnt able to flit in and out of both. In this day and age, i would say that the standard would be to have a number of perspectives in games.

112

[Number45]

Surely nobody actually uses the third person view in Oblivion or Fallout? They're awful.

[112]

I ALWAYS do....... it helped make the game playable for me

I luv how i can see my character change if i equip new stuff, and its always good to see the rag doll effect when you get obliterated, mutilated, or better yet, decapitated! lol...........

112

[Number45]

I tried both and it just looked horrible to me. Poor animation, floating over the terrain and the like - not to mention that one extra character to render has a performance impact as well. I agree it's nice to see what you're wearing though, but then you can just quickly pop into third person for that.

Mmm, all this talk of Fallout has me really looking forward to the PS3 DLC.

[Concrete donkey]

Surely nobody actually uses the third person view in Oblivion or Fallout? They're awful.

In Oblivion I use the third person when I'm on a horse, otherwise it's first person all the way.

[drmick]

So far the only postives posted for 1st person are:

1. Immersion
2. Line of sight in FPS
3. Technical stuff

But for me number 1 there, immersion, is the only one I accept. And it does not override the disadvantages I outlined in the first post.

And with regards to number 2, line of sight, that may be true. But it comes with the disadvantage of a narrower field of view. So, on that respect, the FPS view is better for a more linear environment, but less so if you're stuck in the wide open getting shot at! 1st person view is probably better for long range weapons, but most 3rd person games will revert into the 1st person or fall just behind the shoulder for those weapons.

And to whoever posts that they prefer the 1st person viewpoint for driving games: Sure it is faster, but there's no way you can see an entire bend. 1st person probably only works when you are INTIMATELY familiar with the track/course in those situations. So you're probably a die-hard racer rather than a casual racer if you choose 1st person in driving games, I'd wager.

[kernow]

Any 'FPS' title wouldn't be the same in 3rd person perspective. so yes, we need first person view.

[drmick]

Any 'FPS' title wouldn't be the same in 3rd person perspective. so yes, we need first person view.

But why not?

The physics would be the same, the aiming controls are the same, movement would be the same etc etc

[ezee ryder]

The first point is the key thing, far outweighs anything else (well for me anyway). Immersion is one of the key reasons why we play games. From filling the boots of a British/American solider in Call of Duty 4 to unravelling the mysteries in the destroyed utopia that is Rapture. If a gamer doesn't feel immersed in the game they are playing then they just won't enjoy it as much. I agree with kernow, some games just would not be the same without the first person perspective.

[drmick]

The first point is the key thing, far outweighs anything else (well for me anyway). Immersion is one of the key reasons why we play games. From filling the boots of a British/American solider in Call of Duty 4 to unravelling the mysteries in the destroyed utopia that is Rapture. If a gamer doesn't feel immersed in the game they are playing then they just won't enjoy it as much. I agree with kernow, some games just would not be the same without the first person perspective.

Due to the immersion aspect? As essentially the game is/could be the same in all other aspects.

That brings up an interesting aspect on the psychology of playing games and game characters. Just how much do you invest or intergrate yourself into the alternate reality, or what is required for you to do so.

Aaarrrrggghhhhh...... too philosophical...... head..... about......to......explode!

[ezee ryder]

Yeah, I think most people would agree when they play in the first person perspective they feel more immersed in the game world. Obviously this usually applies to shooters and racing games but recently we have seen developers experimenting a little, I think Mirror's Edge would be an example of that.

You're right, in terms of physics, controls and general movement there is not huge difference between a FPS and TPS but it's just the general look and feel of the game that changes. Like I said I just can't imagine playing a game like Bioshock in third person, I think it needs that first person view to drag the player into the protaganists shoes and make them feel like they are in Rapture.

[averybluemonkey]

The problem with third person view is that because of the wider field of vision it can make it harder to speedily and accurately turn and aim in more manic games. Titles like Quake 3 and the Unreal Tournament series that are very much twitch based games that require incredibly fast reactions simply cannot be done in third person due to the perspective shift affecting the turning speed and accuracy of lining up shots. With the camera pulled further behind the character you are further from the pivot of the rotation which means the developers have to do one of two things:

1) Slow down the turning speed to handle the wider shift of angle when turning thereby slowing down turning speeds.
2) Leave the turning speed the same but accept the fact it makes it difficult to line up precise shots, as each movement of the stick will result in the angle swing being greater.

Third person perspective also prevents you from accurately modelling the affect of recoil on the vertical aim in shooters.

Players of Counterstrike, Day of Defeat and COD4 Search and Destroy might argue with the statement that third person views equal a more strategic experience as well.

[drmick]

^^Never thought of that aspect. Good answer.

But not applicable to fallout 3 or Oblivion.

[rmoxon]

You complain about not being able to see whos shooting at you in a FPS, but is that really a bad thing?

Again its all to do with immersion, which is really the most important thing in manyy games really. In real life, if you were in the middle of a massive firefight, the first persoin perspective is a more acurate representation of how outnumbered and bombarded you would feel.

The only third person game that has really captured that same kind of intensity that I can think of off the top of my head is Gears Of War and even then, in that game, the feild of view is very simular to that of a first person game.

Also on a different note compare the story elements of half life with the ones in Dead space, both have main protagonists that dont speak, yet everyone loves gordon freeman while no one gave a crap about poor old issac.... The first person veiw makes you care about youre characther more, becuase you feel more like you are him, and not just controlling him.

[drmick]

Again its all to do with immersion, which is really the most important thing in manyy games really. In real life, if you were in the middle of a massive firefight, the first persoin perspective is a more acurate representation of how outnumbered and bombarded you would feel.

I disagree with this point. In real life I have a nearly 180 degree field of vision, and I can track targets out of the corner of my eye without moving my head. In a FPS my field of view is about 90 degrees, or just over. Targets move outside that range and I've lost them. Have to move the head/camera/screen away from what I'm currently looking at.

Do any footie games offer a 1st person viewpoint?