It’s all perspective, so it’s definitely possible to do in any game engine.
One of the reasons we don’t see true isometric perspective is because it is a perfect 30 degree angle, used to represent an object with all three dimensions being in full scale. Perfect symmetry like that can actually be fairly jarring, surreal even, to the average viewer. A noteworthy example in games, Monument Valley, uses this to great effect to create intricate puzzles. In art, M.C. Escher uses this perspective to accomplish a surreal effect. Fun fact: Isometric comes from Greek, meaning “of equal measure”.
Any who, it’s all down to how they want to depict gameplay. The main reason AoE 2 looks that way is because the camera is locked in that perspective (a limitation of a 2d sprite based game engine). AoE 4 accomplishes the same effect… that is, until you change your camera’s perspective!
In particular, the measures I propose specifically would not harm the playability of the game.
The proportion mods for AoE4 fail because they don’t address the real problem. The solution inevitably involves redesigning some buildings. For example, if we compare AoE4 with AoM Retold, both being 3D games, we’ll see that the proportions in AoM Retold look much better.
The issue with AoE4 is that the buildings are too large relative to the areas they occupy. An AoE4 house in Tier 4 isn’t smaller than an AoE2 house. But let’s take the Ottoman example—a two-story house with a terrace, etc.
Because the series has never been proportionate, and “more proportionate” is an infinitely-moving target.
How much more proportionate? 10%? 20%? 50%? This subject has been done to death and I believe it is commonly agreed that nobody wants “perfectly” proportionate dimensions.
And it’s commonly agreed that it could look better.
So where is the sweet spot?
There’s a “free cam” game mode that gives you complete freedom with camera movement. I can’t remember from my phone what win conditions, etc, it comes with. Presumably the defaults.
The main issue is you then can’t stack other modes on top (e.g. the current seasonal gifting game mode).
AoE HAS NEVER, EVER, IN ANY UNIVERSE, BEEN THIS HORRIBLY OUT OF PROPORTION. The point of proportions should be in a place where it deceives the viewer in such a way that it doesn’t immediately jump out as WRONG.
It shouldn’t be made smaller. It was just an example of how bad the proportions are. Elements of the building, like doors, windows, etc., should be redesigned. For more information, check the initial post.
The 3D perspective is the same as in AoM, and the buildings look fine there. Are they 100% proportional? No, but unless you analyze them meticulously, they look good at first glance
Yes, and the OP that you created all that time ago aims for things to be close to 100% proportional (see: your door examples).
In doing so, you change building layouts and their existing readability, and you also change their textures and models. I prefer the latter far more than the former.
If all it takes to make IV noticeably better is to make so the doors look more proportionate, then that’s a better win than changing how the entire building looks.
I regret involving myself again, I forgot this was your thread, but I’m just trying constructively to understand the shortest distance from where the game is, where other games in the franchise are, and where it could get to.
I don’t have Retold so I can’t answer this myself, but what does Retold do that IV doesn’t? Is it mainly the doors and windows? Or is it mainly the building footprints? Or both?
I know it’s long. But in the initial thread here I describe the entire problem. As well as the solution. There are no playability excuses
I explain this carefully in the initial post.
Buildings in AoM were designed for the current unit size. Buildings in AoE4 were designed for a different unit size. In the final stages of development, the villagers were made larger, and the production buildings smaller. I’ve explained all of this in detail in the initial post. I know it’s long, but read it to understand.
So it does seem that the windows and doors relative to unit size is more important than any of the other suggestions.
Height is a more complex topic because we have Landmarks in IV that 100% use a lot of height in a lot of cases (and even had adjustments made to make certain Landmarks stand out visually in some of the game’s post-launch updates). The contrast is likely intentional, in my opinion.
I asked about Retold, which hadn’t been released when you made this thread. If you’re going to insist on being rude, I’m going to assume it’s because you have nothing of value to support your argument beyond being personally invested.
Basically, this is it. Then there are some height increments like the houses in Tiers 1, 2, and 3 (I explain in the initial post how and why this is not a matter of legibility or playability).
And then a slight rework specifically for the production buildings, which were changed from a 4x4 surface area to a 3x3 one without a compensatory visual adjustment.
You’ve developed a good compromise. If implemented, it will help players play AoE4 better from across the living room 40 feet away, as most do, and make out the buildings better, for sure, to better match the giant scale of the units.
I do wish, though, more people played AoE4 at a desk while sitting in an office chair a foot or two away from the screen so the units and buildings could be smaller, more proportional, and more in-line with, say, AoE2’s approach to scales and cam zoom.
That’s just a fantasy, I know. AoE2 cannot be played from a recliner across the living room. Everything is just too tiny and unreadable. No reason to have AoE4 suffer the same fate
Edit: In the meantime, I really do like your ideas! My post is just being facetious about AoE4’s decision to have such weird scales. Reminds me of Civilization franchise games
