Developers Corner

1.  Immersion, of course.  First person view is like looking through your own eyes, while third person view is like controlling a playing piece in a game.

2.  Grandness of the world.  If you are in a big hall and using first person, you are looking straight ahead or up, and with the latter you can see the grandess of the room you are in and appreciate the total awesomeness of that place.

With third person view, you are looking down, so the majesty of the zone design is diminished.

Film makers have known this for a long time, and if you notice that any viewpoint in a film that is designed to impress or to show towering awesomeness is done through an up angle camera view (i.e., the camera is placed low and pointed upward).

In contrast, to diminish any view (i.e., make a hobbit look really weak and insignificant), the camera view is pointed down.

In modern MMO's, with their 3rd person view, the camera is almost always angled down, so no matter how grand the zone designs or fearsome the monsters, there is a diminished effect.

We really need 1st person views to return to gaming.

However, a first person view makes it very difficult to attach to your character, which is an important part of many RPGs.

I would personally have to disagree. Being able to see my character on screen before me creates a much greater feeling of attachment and immersion. I can see him/her wearing the armour I've worked so hard to gain, wielding that big-ass sword or casting spells and actually interacting with the world.

Another benefit of third-person is that you have a greater perception of what is happening around you without having to constantly pan the view. Something which is vital in an MMO.

Originally posted by nezroy

However, a first person view makes it very difficult to attach to your character, which is an important part of many RPGs.

I agree First person view has and never will be a hallmark of a game that has anything to do with RPG. Sure some games will do it like DF and MO but First person view will not take over the genre. I personally do not like it in RPG's thats why I never could get into oblivion. On the other hand in shooters, I cant live without it.

Have to disagree. I prefer third person I want to play my character in the game. If I want a 1st person experience i will go outside.

Originally posted by nezroy

However, a first person view makes it very difficult to attach to your character, which is an important part of many RPGs.

I disagree.  From my gaming experience, in the first person view, you feel like you ARE you character.

As far as wanting to see your armor, they could have a little side panel that shows that as you play.  But to see the game world through your eyes kind makes you feel like you are there.

Try it. Use the mouse wheel in WOW or some game and scroll up to first person view and see how different the world seems.

You could always tilt the cam up/down using the mouse, common in most good/bad 3d mmorpgs and most 3d mmorpg's give a basic version of first person by scrolling the mouse wheel in and out, also going thru the keyboard control's,( found in the option panel of your fav game) will let you know what the keyboard command are as well.

Personally I like using both, by themselves there a bit lacking and restrictive, but together they give so much more depth to my fav game.
 

Originally posted by pencilrick

Originally posted by nezroy

However, a first person view makes it very difficult to attach to your character, which is an important part of many RPGs.

 

I disagree.  From my gaming experience, in the first person view, you feel like you ARE you character.

As far as wanting to see your armor, they could have a little side panel that shows that as you play.  But to see the game world through your eyes kind makes you feel like you are there.

Try it. Use the mouse wheel in WOW or some game and scroll up to first person view and see how different the world seems.

I have tried it and I don't like it. I prefer 3rd person.

 I much preferred 1st person in original EQ but haven't liked it since then.  I honestly think the reason I liked it in EQ is I didn't like the third person camera in EQ. *shrug*  In my current mmo's I much prefer 3rd person.