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[dwemer|ruins]

I had a question/concern about DF.

After looking at different DF threads in random forums here and there, I saw a bunch of people discussing how the game is transitioning into 3D. I for one would hate this, as it would probably take a government supercomputer to display EVERYTHING that is going on in DF were it to be made into a fully 3D game. Those of us without a couple grand to drop on ridiculous beast of a computer would be out of luck. Is this going to happen? I understand that many prefer the ASCII, and the different graphical tilesets are great too. But fully 3D? Crazy thought.

I know there are 3D visualizers in existence. I guess my concern is that development would pour completely into a 3D version, and the older ASCII versions would be left in the dust, effectively alienating us poor people with standard computers. Is development going to stop on the ASCII version?

Forgive me, I don't have much time at the moment to surf the forums and try and find an answer to this, and I didn't see anything regarding it on the development page. Can anyone clarify for me? Please and thank you!

[Grimlocke]

I realy wouldnt worry about that. DF will stay at a very basic graphical level untill at least v1 is complete.

Right now even full support for tileset graphics isnt done, and it wont be next version either.

But even after v1 I dont think you will ever need much of a video card to run the game, and the ASCII graphics will most likely stay supported. DF is an ASCII game after all. At least thats how I see it.

[valcon]

I wouldn't worry about it unless you're planning on going into cryosleep for 20 years. 

Even so, I can't imagine that Toady would implement as a fundamental game function unless it was largely compatible with whatever the standard PC spec is 20 years from now. 

[pennybags]

I wouldn't worry about it unless you're planning on going into cryosleep for 20 years. 

Shit! There goes my plan.

[bombcar]

If anything, DF is moving towards being an engine that supports multiple front-ends with the *18 series.

Heck, we're getting close to a true ASCII front end! And by ASCII I mean UTF8.

[Syff]

To the best of anyone's knowledge, adopting a 3D graphical engine isn't one of Toady's priorities.  It seems to me that he'd much rather have interesting things going on in-game (such as more interesting sieges, ongoing diplomacy and trade agreements) than a fancy modern representation of the gameplay we have now, a stance most of us can happily agree with.

And since the addition of the z-axis, the gameplay is already 3D.  (even if the graphics are not)  Is it possible that the forum posts you've been reading are in relation to that?

[nenjin]

There will likely always be more interesting things for Toady to work on, or bugs to fix, than there will be motivation for him to work on graphics.

I could easily see that work getting "contracted" out to the fanbase, if people with the skills and the willingness to work for nothing are there. As it is though...vanilla DF likely won't ever require more than than an on-board graphics processor.

[dwemer|ruins]

To the best of anyone's knowledge, adopting a 3D graphical engine isn't one of Toady's priorities.  It seems to me that he'd much rather have interesting things going on in-game (such as more interesting sieges, ongoing diplomacy and trade agreements) than a fancy modern representation of the gameplay we have now, a stance most of us can happily agree with.

And since the addition of the z-axis, the gameplay is already 3D.  (even if the graphics are not)  Is it possible that the forum posts you've been reading are in relation to that?

I believe this may have been what I saw. My misunderstanding was what had me concerned in that case. Anyway, thanks for all the re-assurance guys. It is much appreciated. I've taken such an extreme liking to this game that it worried me greatly at the thought of not being able to play it.

[RichardTheWizard]

While I wouldn't like a 3D game as in 3D graphics and the like. I would like an isometric view of the game that you could play in, like pixel art isometric, it would certainly add alot of Depth