Changes
Yet the term Isometric is the most commonly used, as it suit for most of those pseudo 3D games, so we'll use it as a whole, despite sometimes unproperly.
=Inaccuracy on with old school Computers=
The isometric and most parallel projection originate from engineering, Architecture, design and technical drawing.
Parallel projection is quite suitable for many kind of games.
*'''Beat'hem All :''' a clever way to get good looking backgrounds.
*'''Shooters :''' diagonal shooters were quite popular yet despite being more difficult to play than Horizontal or vertical ones, they have a special graphical flavour.
*'''Platformers :''' they more rely on exploration than manic reflexes.
*'''Strategic games or RPG :''' parallel projection is perfect for good looking turn based games, the turn based element being also a good point as such engine may be quite heavy for a realtime action game.
A Projection based environment can be used as 2D or 3D environment/engine.
*'''Horizontal Oblique Cavalier Perspective :'''
Because it still have some traditional Horizontal and vertical axis, this projection often stick to the up/down and left/right way to move the Player's sprite. as As a result, this projection if more than often only cosmetic : the background looks like 3D but the game and the sprites are clearly 2D.
**'''2D :''' As in most Beat'hem'all like Renegade. Or even some shooters like MagMax. They are indeed 2D games. The vertical axis being only limited to jumps on the X axis (left/right) if available.
The problem often happens in action 2D games and in many 8-directional games (square grid).
This leads to a strange and odd sensation as the levels are designed in "diagonals" on screen but the player would instinctively move mostly in up/down/left/right 2D fashion (X+Z axis at the same time).
you can visit CPCpowers to get a list thanks to the "3d iso" keyword.
====='''Isometric examples :'''=====
(X and Z axis are oblique/diagonal on screen, Y axis is vertical on screen, diagonal ratio for the X/Z plane is 2x1)
====='''135x135x90'''=====
(a narrower isometric, rarely seen on Amstrad CPC, diagonal ratio for the X/Z plane is 1x1, mostly possible in Mode1 unless you use 1x2 Mode0 pixels)
====='''Flattened Dimetric examples :'''=====
(an even more flattened isometric, diagonal ratio for the X/Z plane is 4x1)
**Black Land
===various symmetric==Various Symmetric=====
Those can tend to look messy, especially in Mode0.
====='''Horizontal Oblique examples Cavalier perspective :'''=====
(X Axis is horizontal on the screen, Y axis is vertical on the screen, Z axis is oblique/diagonal on the screen)
====='''Various Oblique /Trimetric examples :'''=====
(X and Z axis are both oblique but with different angle = asymmetric...)
**Crystal Castles (Diamond Plateaus In Space).
Isometric is often used in classic Pixel Art and is emblematic of it as it was the best way to display good looking pseudo 3D FX on old computer 2D systems.
(in opposition to the modern full-real-3D).
Isometric 3D is still used in modern day, mostly to get an old-styled "Pixel Art" flavour.
*'''Baldur's Gate''' (and some spin-offs like Planescape Torment) featured perhaps the last great 2D engine ever produced for a Commercial super-production game : the '''Infinity Engine'''.
'''Wikipedia's''' articles :
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isometric_projection| Isometric projection]
'''CPC-Power :''' Just type "3d iso" in the research field to get a list of "Isometric" games. [[http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=jeux| There it is]]
[[Category:Isometric 3D| ]][[Category:3D]][[Category:Stub]][[Category:Graphic]]
