Chapter 4 Perspective, Scene Design, and Basic Animation 95
of the player. Most two-dimensional games use either the overhead or plat-
form view. Platform view shows the character in profi le and a side view of
all obstacles, Figure 4-4. Overhead view shows the character and
surroundings from a perspective high overhead, Figure 4-5.
Changeable Perspective
Some games allow the player to set the camera perspective. Many
driving games allow the player to switch from fi rst person (behind the
steering wheel) to third person (overhead view that shows your car and the
cars near you), Figure 4-6.
A fi rst-person shooter game may show action from a third-person
perspective when moving through the battlefi eld. When the player gets to
the correct location, the perspective changes to fi rst person. The player then
looks down the sight of the weapon.
Scenes
A scene is the placement of objects on a game frame to create an
attractive layout, obstacles, and objectives that convey the story and mood.
Goals
Obstacles Player
character
Safe locations
Figure 4-5. This Frogger game from FreeOnlineGames.com uses a classic overhead view. The view shows a 2D
perspective looking straight down on the character and game environment. (www.freeonlinegames.com)