Isometric 3D
This page is intended to complete the Category:Isometric 3D.
It will feature technics in creating Isometric 3D and graphics.
Isometric 3D is a representation of 3D with a total lack of perspective.
The proper concept is Parallel Projection, as some games are more Parallel Projection than really isometric.
Pac-Mania for exemple is not actually "isometric".
Yet the term Isometric is the most commonly used.
Contents
Masked sprites
A proper isometric render need to get masked sprites so they may appear upon the background.
A heavy job is needed to define the masks and sprites "priority" so the 3D effect works : the background elements being obscured by the foreground elements.
Shadows
Getting the sprites a shadow is a nice way to ease the player's comprehension of the 3D effect and environment, yet it was rarely used.
Head over Heels is notable because when your Sprite (mostly "Head" who could glide in the air) was in "altitude" you may not easily see were it is actually in the X,Z plane.
Yet putting a vertical shadow was heavier on the CPU and Ram consuming...
Video modes
The square pixels from Mode1 was usually prefered yet some games managed well in mode0 too.
HUD
a problem with Isometric was the need to put HUD in corners of the screen. As a result, it was rarely possible to add extra colours thanks to raster interrupts because the HUD often cross the games windows (horizontally).
Scrollings
Few Isometric games actually included scrollings as an Isometric engine is quite heavy for the system.
Yet PacMania is a notable exemple.
Pixel Art
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).
Level design
The background elements being obscured by the foreground elements, a proper level design is needed so most crucial elements remain visible.
Yet this can also used to put hidden features and secret passages too.
Modern day isometric
Isometric 3D is still used in modern day, mostly to get the old-styled Pixel Art flavour.
Online MMORPG "Dofus" is notable for it's use of isometric 3D.
Links
Wikipedias articles :
