3d & 2d Gaming.
In the relatively recent past, the gaming design was limited to 2D only. It was only in the mid-90s that 3D games started rapidly gaining traction. Back then, one could expect 3D games to put 2D completely out of business. However, almost three decades later, 2D games are still going strong.
The explanation is simple: both 2D and 3D have their own pros and cons and are applied in different situations. In this review, we will analyze the differences between 2D and 3D games, the areas of their application, and what you need to create them.
As most of us already know, the “D” stands for dimensions. 2D games are rendered in two dimensions – in other words, they are flat. 3D games, on the contrary, have depth and volume. This influences a number of things in the gameplay such as ;
Movement
2D games are linear. The character may move in different directions within the screen, but ultimately it’s a forward motion that has a start point and an endpoint. The movement in 3D games is, as a rule, unrestricted, and the character may explore the world in any direction.
Environment
3D games offer a rich visual experience, while 2D games do not focus on the landscape.
Controls
The controls in 2D games are simpler and easy even for a novice to figure out. 3D games may have a lot more complicated control options.
Goal
In 2D games, the goal is normally just as straightforward as the direction of movement. The mechanics are simple. 3D games offer more possibilities to explore.
Features of 2D and 3D games
There are advantages to both 2D and 3D, and some features that make them suitable for certain types of games only.
Benefits of 2D design
Simple controls – 2D games are more suitable for beginners, so they have a wider target audience.
Easy in making – not only is it easier to develop a 2D game, but it’s also much cheaper and faster. The same goes for any game updates needed later on.
Simple instructions – 2D games are perfect as time-wasters. The super-popular hyper-casual games are predominantly 2D.
Benefits of 3D design
Realism – hardcore gamers who devote hours to playing every day prefer the more immersive experience offered by 3D games.
High-quality graphics – some 3D HD games are real works of art where the players can spend hours just exploring the nuances of the world.
Versatility – 3D can be used to create games of different genres, and most of those games will give players some freedom of action. Compared to 2D games they have more complicated missions and just more options in general.
Types of 2D games
Single Screen
This type of 2D game was one of the original types of games and was made very popular with the release of the Atari. It is really easy to tell if you are playing a single screen game at each level, or sometimes the entire game will take place on just one screen. Another feature that is common with this type of game is that while the levels will get progressively harder, each one is basically the same thing as before. This means that new enemies or treasures may appear or that the landscape or setting may go through some changes; however, for the most part, it will be easily recognizable as the same level repeated over and over again.
Some popular single-screen 2D games include Dig Dug, Frogger, and Pac-Man. These screens don’t move at all when the game is being played and only the character who is interacting with the game will be moving around.
Side Scroller
These games are a little more advanced than single-screen games as the game will move from side to side, either from right to left or from left to right. They generally involve the player character staying in just one place during the game while the background moves around the character. The game is generally viewed from a side camera angle and they are often used in platform game genres. These games generally feature the main character running, climbing, and jumping through various levels. Super Mario Bros is the most common and famous type of side-scroller game.
Scrollers
Most early video games relied on scrolling technology in order to make it look as if the game was moving. These games had a character or object that was set in place but that appeared to have motion, thanks to the movement of the background scrolling by. One of the earliest examples of this type of game is a racing game. The vehicle was stationary in the road but the road moved.
In general, these games tended to scroll up and down rather than horizontally and the player had an aerial view of the level. Players had to learn how to react quickly to any changes that were in the background so that they wouldn’t crash and they could pick up any bonuses that were present on the level. While the first scrolling video game released was driving games, as it was fairly easy to create the road and have it pass by players, other common games included skiing and climbing skyscrapers.
Adventure
Adventure games grew very popular because they allowed players to explore their environment and a virtual landscape, which was something that was unheard of before. These games generally had a single screen and the player character could then choose to move in any of the four directions, which led them to a new screen that had to load. Players didn’t just explore and fight enemies; they often had to engage in problem-solving in order to find their way through various levels or to be able to find the equipment and items that they needed in order to progress and survive.
Platform Games
2D games moved from requiring players to simply move their characters to the left or to the right and allowed them to jump up and down on platforms. These are a special type of side-scroller or single-screen games but have a lot more movement and provide the players with significantly more control over their characters.
These games have suspended platforms that players can reach by jumping up or falling back down but they must do so while still trying to avoid obstacles and enemies, which makes this type of game a little more difficult. The platforms generally are not at the same height and make very uneven terrain that can be difficult for some players to easily traverse. Players have control not only over the direction in which their characters will move and jump but also the distance and height of their jumps, which helps them to try to land on the platform instead of falling, possibly to their death.
Genres of Game
Action
The action category has some sub-categories and they are listed below:
Stealth Game: These games lean towards emphasizing trick and precision in striking over the more obvious and unconcealed shooters. Examples are the Metal Gear series, IGI series, etc.
Survival Games: These games start with a minimal resource with the player, in a hostile condition, along with an open-world situation with the objective to collect resources, craft tools, artilleries, and arms & protection, in order for survival of the player as the game proceeds.
Shooter Games: In these games, players draw on a range of weapons for contributing to the action that takes place at a distance.
Platform Games: These games are set in a three-dimensional (3D) environment where the player guides the character through the obstructions for advancement in-game.
Adventure
Just like adventure movies, games with the storyline of adventure are full of fictional landscapes, characters, etc. These games portray a different way of gameplay without excessive reflex, hardcore challenges, or actions. The focus lies on the player in solving puzzles or mysteries by interacting with the environment. Mario, Tin-Tin are examples of adventure games. Some categories of adventure games are:
Graphic Adventures
Visual Novels (based on novels and stories) - Harry Potter (played using PlayStations, X Box, and other gaming consoles)
Interactive Adventures (based on movies) - Tin-Tin, Batman, etc
Real-time 3D Adventures - Shadow of Memories
Role-Playing Games
In such games, a player is chosen who plays the major role in the storyline full of numerous adventurers and specializes in particular skill sets, and that player progress in the storyline incrementing his skills and powers. This category is one of the most famous genres and is played by gamers worldwide. Here's a list of some sub-categories of role-playing games:
The roguelike Game: It is a sub-genre and its name comes from the gameplay elements of the 1980 computer game Rogue. Nethack is another example of a roguelike game.
Fantasy Games: Games such as Diablo, Final Fantasy, Prince of Persia have a world full of unusual characters and villains and the player has to complete the levels full of challenges and mysteries and there lie some hidden routes which need to be unlocked to proceed with the game.
Sandbox RPG (Open World RPG): These are modern games where the player is given full freedom and can freely roam around and do anything (i.e. the player is not restricted to a single path by rocks & fences, single objective, etc). Examples of such games are the famous Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, Watch Dogs Series, etc. These games provide a large geographic area to explore along with the primary objectives and tasks of the game.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG): This term came into existence commercially in the year 1990s and had existed since 1978. This involves more than hundreds of players interacting and cooperating with each other on the same platform in real-time.
Simulation Games
These are primarily designed and developed to closely simulate(replicate) all the aspects of our real-life or fictional setup. The various sub-categories of simulation games are: -
Farming Simulation
Vehicle Simulation
Life Simulation
Management Simulation
Strategy Games
Here the main focus lies on the gameplay which requires a cautious and skilled mindset and a good plan for being victorious. In the majority of the strategy games, Andrew Rollings, a famous game engineer said that "the player is given a god-like vision of a game and the world exists with respect to it, and in some way controlling the units under his command."
4X Game: 4X games refer to a genre of a specific form of strategy video games having four primary goals which are-
eXplore
eXpand
eXploit
eXterminate
Real-time strategy (RTT) and War Games: Real-time strategy games are characterized by acquiring resources, building bases, and other assets within the game, and the player has to make specific decisions and perform certain actions constantly in order to cope up with the changing game state. For example Age of Empires etc.
Tower Defence: Tower defense games have a very simple format and gameplay. Make your tower strong by deploying a suitable defense system to demolish the enemy troops.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA): MOBA games are also called the action real-time strategy (ARTS) games, which is a sub-genre of strategy games which was originated as a real-time strategy game wherein a player takes control over a single character in one of two teams.
Sports Games
These games emulate the gameplay of any traditional physical sports to be played on a device. Real-world sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, and more are available in the form of PC games. As you grow your skill levels, your game will also engage in mimicking real professional athletes and the way they move and play. Its sub-types are:
Racing
Indoor Sports
Outdoor Sports
Fighting
Competitive and Misc
Scientific and Educational Games
There are several cases where many parents and teachers complain about children playing video games, but there are a handful of great educational games out there which can actually help children and kids, and even grown-ups to learn new things and gather knowledge.
2D and 3D both have their own place in the online game development industry. Some of the most popular games of all time are made in 2D, and of course, some 3D games are real masterpieces virtually indistinguishable from movies. There is no right choice to make between 2D and 3D game development: everything depends on your goals.
No matter what your goals or your budget is, talosmart can help you bring your project to reality. We specialize in both 2D and 3D development. contact us for a free quote. Let’s create the next big hit game together!
