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[Poll] 2d vs 3d vs both, how many of there are you?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Disiple, Jan 9, 2013.

?

2d vs 3d vs both

  1. 2d only

    13.5%
  2. 3d only

    31.5%
  3. Both

    55.1%
  1. Disiple

    Disiple

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    I hear a lot of talk about creating mobile 2d games, 3d games etc. My question is, how many of you actually are creating 2D vs 3D mobile games? Or both types?
     
  2. yuriythebest

    yuriythebest

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    I clicked 2d only because 90% of our games are 2d
     
  3. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    I'm creating a 2D game that will see a mobile release but after this I have plans for a 3D one if I can figure out the mechanics.
     
  4. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    2D for me, 3d is just too much hassle and time consuming for me.
     
  5. EctoNecro

    EctoNecro

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    2d games are very popular on mobile right now, but more and more 3d games are starting to come out on mobile devices.
     
  6. Disiple

    Disiple

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    Agreed. But I from all the all the 2D talk on Unity, it was surprising to hear how much was actually being done in 2D.

    I think I read somewhere 85% of mobile games are 2D.... And given how dominating Unity is in mobile, I guess I'm just trying to understand use and or much it overlaps...

    I guess we'll see what the poll says
     
  7. ahaykal

    ahaykal

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    Most casual gamers I think go for 2d which is the majority of people. Hard core gamers tend to go 3d I think
     
  8. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    Do you have any logic, what so ever behind that? or any surveys to show that?
     
  9. ahaykal

    ahaykal

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    Not really, I told u its what "I" think :)
     
  10. HolBol

    HolBol

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    I enjoy doing both 2D work and 3D work.
     
  11. UnknownProfile

    UnknownProfile

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    I have done both. I feels as if 2D is more common and a bit less strenuous than 3D. I also feel as if it's easier to make look good and polished. I like the potential of 3D and the expanded possibilities. I make games in both styles.
     
  12. Disiple

    Disiple

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    Out of curiosity, is thinking that most casual gamers play 2d and that they are the majority of people, affect what games you design for?
     
  13. Dabeh

    Dabeh

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    2D is good.
    3D can be better in a lot of cases, but you need some actual talent and time to make it look good. You need to do 3D right.
     
  14. roger0

    roger0

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    I agree, that casual games have a tendency to be more 2d. Or if they are 3d, they are 2d in nature (top down shooter, restricted camera). If you type 'in ''casual game'' in google images, you'll get examples.
     
  15. KRGraphics

    KRGraphics

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    Well, my background is doing CG modeling, but I am making a game that is a on a 2D plane... I was thinking about doing a true 2D game but I hate trying to draw out every frame...
     
  16. TylerPerry

    TylerPerry

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    Look at top ten games in the app store.
     
  17. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    Fifa 13
    GTA
    Need for speed
    minecraft
    temple run
    the sims

    All these games have been top of the paid and/or free charts or very high up in them. All, wait for it, 3d!

    Why are there more 2d games in the charts you ask? because there are more 2d games.

    Why are there more 2d games you ask? because they are far easier to churn out as shovelware than 3d in this scale of gaming. Practically speaking it is easier to release a 2d title then a 3d title, you don't have a stressful workflow of:

    Modelling>Uv mapping>texturing>rigging>animating>implementing

    with 2d its:

    Draw>Draw a few more frames very similar to the first>Implement

    Now im not saying 2d by any means is easy, because its not, but it is a lot less work to release a mobile scale title in 2d. Feel free to fight me on that point, id like to know what people think.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2013
  18. TylerPerry

    TylerPerry

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    They are not the top 10 games though are they?

    No one said 3d games "can't" get there they are just not as common, also some of these would by some not be called "casual" games.

    Stats please.

    Your opinion, mine is different.

    Not necessarily true.

    Not necessarily true.

    It depends on the game.
     
  19. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    If you spend any amount in the app store at all it's pretty easy to tell for yourself that 2D games DRAMATICALLY outnumber 3D games and his list of reasons are pretty accurate.
     
  20. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    I am only going to respond to your first comment due to the fact the others are clearly a pointless battle.

    All 10 of them HAVE been in the top ten and many of them number 1 with in the past month.
     
  21. npsf3000

    npsf3000

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    Irrelevant - if the alternate hypothesis is that 2d games are better recieved your personal experiance is likely biased.

    Just sayin'
     
  22. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    Ugh, I think I accidentally deleted the quote when I used quick reply. I was replying to TylerPerry asking for stats showing that there are more 2D than 3D games on the app store.
     
  23. npsf3000

    npsf3000

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    Exactly... Anecdotal evidence is skewed by rating ranking systems, 3d games be produced at a rate of 10:1 but not well recieved hence leading to the perception of greater 2d game production. In short, his request for stats is valid.
     
  24. TylerPerry

    TylerPerry

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    --This post didn't make enough sense so I deleted it as it would serve as a burden to my cause--
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2013
  25. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    Alright, fine. I'll do this with a simple, small sample using the first 12 results in the "new games" listing for each category. Not top selling, new. In the event that there aren't 10 results, I've either removed erroneous listings, doubles, or lite versions of the same app appearing at the same time as their full versions. Erroneous listings like "FREE BIRD SOUNDS", for instance. For the sake of fairness, if I'm not able to tell, I will err on the side of 3D.

    ACTION (six 3D, six 2D)
    Fantasy Adventure - 3D
    Metalstorm Aces - 3D
    Ghostbusters - 2D
    Repulze - 3D
    Lego City Fire Hose Frenzy - 3D
    Stickman Wave Racer - 2D
    Zuko Monsters - 2D
    A Little War - 2D
    Benji Bananas - 2D
    Catch the Ark - 3D
    Run 'n' Gun - 3D
    Galaxy Jump - 2D

    ADVENTURE (two 3D, seven 2D)
    Dragonstorm - 3D
    Dark Strokes: Sins of the Fathers Collectors Edition - 2D
    The Zombie Dash - 2D
    Who is the Killer: Episode III - 2D
    Greg's World - 2D
    Action Heroes Free - 2D
    The Dark Hills of Cherai: The Regal Scepter - 2D
    Santa vs. Oogie - 3D
    Amazing Jigsaw Game Pro - 2D

    ARCADE (five 2D, two 3D)
    Hundreds - 2D
    Shape Wars - 2D
    Om Nom Candy Flick - 3D
    Infinite Prime - 2D
    Sea Combat Multiplayer Free - 2D
    Dark Area 3 Lite - 3D
    Charred - 2D

    BOARD (twelve 2D)
    Puzzle Retreat - 2D
    Jewel Star Charming - 2D
    Tri-Angulate - 2D
    IQ Puzzler HD - 2D
    Snakes and Ladders Unlimited - 2D
    Image Puzzle - 2D
    Aletteration - 2D
    Jigsaw Puzzle Free - 2D
    Solitaire Duo - 2D
    Tick Tack Toes - 2D
    Brain Touch - 2D
    Dog City Maze Game Free Version - 2D

    CARD (nine 2D, two 3D)
    Spider Deluxe - 2D
    Classic Freecell Free - 2D
    Marvels: Anne Geddes - 2D
    Casino Slots - 2D
    Solitaire DX - 2D
    Video Slots Deluxe - 2D
    Fairway Fever by Big Dish - 2D
    Betfair Casino - 3D
    Tripeaks 3 - 2D
    Spellstorm - 2D
    WPT Poker Trainer - 3D (has 3D elements, so I'm giving it to 3D)

    CASINO (eight 2D)
    Mega Space Slot Machine - 2D
    Bingo Slots - 2D
    Slots Seasons - 2D
    Blackjack by iAppStreet - 2D
    Slot Machine Adventure: Atlantis - 2D
    Slots by Gamehouse - 2D
    Touchplay Video Poker - 2D
    Blackjack Drill - 2D

    DICE (ten 2D)
    Tiny Dragon - 2D
    79979 - 2D
    Abc Voyage - 2D
    a Classic 9 Dice - 2D
    Action Diamond Free - 2D
    10000 - 2D
    Aakkozll - 2D
    3a Bubble Burst - 2D
    across Japan - 2D
    Action Egypt - 2D

    EDUCATIONAL (nine 2D, one 3D)
    Define It - 2D
    Free Quiz - 2D
    Adj Opposite: First Words - 2D
    Abby Monkey Animated - 2D
    Compil Quizz - 3D
    The Braingear - 2D
    Itsy Bitsy Spider Activity Centre - 2D
    Geo Dash - Wild Animal Adventure - 2D
    100 Rooms - 2D
    Alphabet Aquarium School - 2D

    FAMILY (eight 2D)
    Paint Ponies - 2D
    Cherche et Trouve Asterix - 2D
    Burger Restaurant Race - 2D
    Gangnam Style City - 2D
    Flip Tile Challenge - 2D
    Play With Santa - 2D
    Big Movie Quiz - 2D
    Unblock Red Free - 2D

    KIDS (three 2D, one 3D)
    Hello Kitty Bubble Mania - 2D
    Lego Legends of Chima - 3D
    Dr Panda's Daycare - 2D
    Crazy Coaster Ride - 2D

    MUSIC (six 2D, one 3D)
    Country Music Quiz - 2D
    Tap Tap Revenge - 2D
    Gangnam Santa - 2D
    8-Bit Gangnam Style - 2D
    Virton - 2D
    Animal Roadkill Road Racing 2 - 2D
    Plum Nut - 3D

    PUZZLE (two 2D, two 3D)
    Dimensions Unblocked - 3D
    Dodge Ball - 2D
    Spirit Fencer Arena - 2D
    Flipagon - 3D

    RACING (three 2D, five 3D)
    Motorcycle Racer - 2D
    Cycle Racing Challenge - 3D
    Fun Speed Boat Race - 2D
    Nitro Racing Highways - 3D
    Superstar Streetz MMO - 2D
    Driving Challenge - 3D
    Monster Truck Moto Chase - 3D
    Popular Moto Death Rider - 3D

    ROLE PLAYING (six 2D, three 3D)
    Salon Boss - 2D
    Undead Slayer - 3D
    Isles of Min - 2D
    BATTRIX Floating Continent - 2D
    Stickman RPG - 2D
    Temple Escape - 2D
    Alien Zone - 3D
    BAROQUE - The Dark Twisted Fantasy - 3D
    Clash of Empires - 2D

    SIMULATION (four 2D, one 3D)
    Downfall: Clash of Factions - 2D
    Airliner Deluxe - 3D
    Football Manager Handheld - 2D
    Popstar Boyfriend - 2D
    The Investor - 2D

    SPORTS (eight 2D, two 3D)
    Yahoo! Fantasy Hockey - 2D
    Mini Sports - 2D
    Dead Basketball Madness League - 2D
    NFL Shuffle - 2D
    Shred Neffland Featuring Deadmau5 - 2D
    EA Sports Game Face 3D Avatar Creator - 3D
    Archery: Legolas - 2D
    Football Quiz - 2D
    Clara Run - 2D
    Cliff Diving Champ - 3D

    STRATEGY (three 2D, one 3D)
    Freebuild Warfare - 3D
    Fridge Frenzy - 2D
    Wordworthy - 2D
    Wordfeud Analyzer - 2D

    TRIVIA (six 2D, one 3D)
    Nomi Cose Citta 2 - 2D
    Game of Nerds for iPhone - 2D
    Questionary Free - 2D
    Animal Logos Quiz - 2D
    Football Quiz - 2D
    Island Escape - 2D
    1 vs 100 - 3D

    WORD (one 2D, one 3D)
    Wordspot Challenge - 2D
    Lost Treasures of Infocom - 3D

    If the results aren't obvious enough, here's the final tally of this small sample:
    116 2D games compared to 32 3D games.
     
  26. npsf3000

    npsf3000

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    Excellent work :)
     
  27. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    Thanks marigold :) commitment to cause! ;)
     
  28. Starsman Games

    Starsman Games

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    Crazy you had to do this (but nice to see numbers.) I think its obvious that there are more 2D games than 3D ones. I don't think it has anything to do with popularity or demand, not even what the devs WANT to do, but what they think they CAN do.

    It's not uncomon to see here posters claim that 2D is easier than 3D, the opositie opinion is extremely rare, and even more rare to come from some one that can do both, art and code for his own game. Since so many coders cant do 3D modeling (or are stuck at modeling and cant do UV mapping and/or animation,) we end up with one-man teams just doing 2D. I think 3D does help a game get noticed (if it looks clean or shiny enough) precisely because of this. That's a reason why my current and every single project I do going forward will be 3D (likely still side-scrolling, but 3D.)
     
  29. Starsman Games

    Starsman Games

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    According to AppAnnie, Minecraft is #2 in games, but that’s Minecraft and it has near-Angry Birds levels of popularity. I bet they could have done a 2D game, call it Minecraft and it would be in the same position.

    Temple Run has lost popularity (in part due to the darn excellent clones, some that actually improve drastically on the visuals and smoothness) but it was #1 for a long time. GTA was on the expensive side always, and that gets in the way of sustaining a high position, but it also was top of the list during it's first few weeks.

    In my opnion, all that is easier than do frame-by-frame 2D animation (especially if you suddenly want to add one more motion and find your sprite sheet has no more room, or if you want to do some subtle change that forces you to entirely redraw half the sheet.) There is a reason why Misu's legs were just floaty round poofs in Misu Misu Kaboom.
     
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2013
  30. Jessy

    Jessy

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    You can't make a 2D game with Unity. Seems like the wrong forum.
     
  31. npsf3000

    npsf3000

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    Lolwhat?
     
  32. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    ...I'm MAKING a 2D game in Unity. There have been MANY 2D games made in Unity, including the spinoff to Angry Birds, "Bad Piggies."
     
  33. CharlieSamways

    CharlieSamways

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    I think there was sarcasm in that :)
     
  34. drewradley

    drewradley

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    Do you have colliders? Then it's fake 2d and not actually 2d.
     
  35. Disiple

    Disiple

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    I would agree as it sounds counter intuitive, but it is being done. I wanted to post on this forum, because I specifically wanted to see how many people using Unity are doing 2d vs 3d etc... So far poll results are pretty interesting.

    Also see this tutorial (one of many) describing how to make a 2D game in Unity
     
  36. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    No, I don't, and even if I did, it'd still be 2D because the operations would be occurring on a 2D plane (which you can do)
     
  37. Jessy

    Jessy

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    So, I think you all are saying, if I use a texture map in my 3D game, then it's really a 2D game? :-/
     
  38. MarigoldFleur

    MarigoldFleur

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    So 3D!





     
  39. Starsman Games

    Starsman Games

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    Yea... that’s what I do... every time I open the App Store and see a game like Angry Birds or Bad Piggies I use my Omega Vision Psychic powers and see the colliders all over the fake 2D game and then I scream "aha! That's a 3D game!"
     
  40. Starsman Games

    Starsman Games

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    If the game looks like this:



    It's 2D. It does not matter how you reached the result, its the result that defines if it's a 2D or a 3D game.
     
  41. The-Spaniard

    The-Spaniard

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    I wonder what's the split between "2D", "3D" and "2.5D" (ie. 3D graphics, 2D gameplay)? I imagine that full 3D gameplay is pretty rare on the app markets, with 3D graphics being much more prevalent, but is this the case? And how does this distribution correlate to success?

    As for the original question: I'm making a big 3D game, have made (bar some additions I'd like to make eventually) a 2.5D game, and would like to make a little 2D game some point soon.
     
  42. Disiple

    Disiple

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    No idea about success, but based on many of this threads comments I'm thinking that if we were to use your definition of 2.5D, the % doing it would be pretty significant.
     
  43. KRGraphics

    KRGraphics

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    After playing the new Mortal Kombat so much, I wanted to work on a 2.5D game... and REALLY push the level of detail in my game...
     
  44. Disiple

    Disiple

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    I'm really starting to think I should have included a 2.5D category in the poll...
     
  45. vivi90

    vivi90

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    Once in a while I stop working on my 3d sidescroll game and think, it would be so much easier to do in 2d.
    -Then I spend the whole day creating some sprites and backgrounds. (Usuallly not something that resembles flash games, but more in the style of Rayman Origins or Fly'n)
    -Then comes the point, where I realize that I have to animate this stuff. Every. Single. Frame. Every. Single. Character.
    -Then, the next morning comes. I stop doing 2D and am back working again on my 3d game.

    This happened 3 or 4 times already. Doing 2D is not easy, but the first results come faster. : (
    At least for me, the first 2d assets are usually easy. But if I start doing animations, it gets harder and harder to achieve and maintain quality over time.
    Whereas I find it time consuming to model, unwrap, texture, and rig a 3d character. But after I've done that, the smooth animations come (nearly) free.
    So I will probably stick to 3d (or 2.5D)...
     
  46. Dabeh

    Dabeh

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    Basically what I said on the first page.
     
  47. Disiple

    Disiple

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    I'm assuming your doing all this in Unity only? If not, isn't a lot of work to go back and forth between tools and convert/redo work to adjust for changes in your game design plan?
     
  48. AdamWaters

    AdamWaters

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    I voted both. There are mechanics that better suit 2D and some for 3D.

    We went with 3D buildings so that when the camera pans the isometric view won't feel so flat. We can also rotate the buildings and terrain so that they look a little different even though it's the same model.

    We also have 2D units so that we can have very detailed soldiers without murdering performance.

    $Cairn_Units_and_Landmarks.png
     
  49. cCoding

    cCoding

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    3D only. I find 2D game development extremely difficult and at times impossible for me to understand.
     
  50. UnknownProfile

    UnknownProfile

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    I feel as if the exact opposite would be true for most people. 3D has one more dimension to worry about.