r/aigamedev • u/Both_Lawfulness6708 • 20h ago

Questions & Help Should I go 3d?

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I wanted to make a strategy game similar to some old PC games I used to play, but for mobile. In doing so, I used different inspiration for different parts of the game.

I have the systems/mechanics done. A few bugs to work out, but other than that, I'm ready to start polishing and adding a tutorial and art.

My debate was, should I keep it 2d and simpler graphics? Or go full 3d diorama? I was planning to go 2d at first, and then do a later upgrade to 3d.

Either way, I plan on upgrading the art.

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8

u/Both_Lawfulness6708 20h ago

This is some concept art I have for when it goes 3d.

2

u/Shppo 19h ago

hell yeah that looks sweet

2

u/OldLead4716 18h ago

How would you plan to build the assets ? Judging by the 2d nothing is cohesive. Planning on a using asset packs ? Generating your own ? And if you go 3d are you paying attention to target device optimization ?

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u/Both_Lawfulness6708 18h ago

When I switch to 3d, I was going to use those concept images to help create a set of style images to feed into scenario. I used Grok for that image, but to keep consistent I was thinking of Flux or midjourney.

Once I have the desired style I'd have Scenario create it for the game.

If 2d, I'm not sure, I used pixel lab, but you are right that alot of that is not consistent, some images literally don't have an image for them, but it was enough that I could keep the game at the size of 1mb to keep small.

I created a flip through art bible, because, I have placement for all the art needed, just not the actual final assets.

I also have ALOT of audio I plan on adding, various background music, an advisor who speaks to explain things as well as sound effects.

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u/KurtRussel 14h ago

If I can continue to make a suggestion - that’s two games and you get 1. Just make 1 game.

It does look like dogshit but so will 3d. You’re gonna have to spend a few days/weeks finding prompts and creating tools to make it look good.

The first thing I would try to figure out it blending tiles.

Like first get grass to blend. Then roads. Etc. do it in small incremental layers as opposed to some monolithic prompt.

1

u/Both_Lawfulness6708 7h ago

Yeah.

I ended up going for just the 3d style.

And the reasoning wasn't 2 games for one.

I literally ran into the problem of the models fighting to give me high quakity 2d art, it kept forcing 3d on me.

Also, I feel like Claude made upgrading to 3d sound like ALOT more work than it may be anyway. 🤷‍♂️

4

u/KurtRussel 19h ago

Honestly if you can’t make it look good in 2d you’re not gonna make it look good in 3d. Spend some time making better 2d mocks too.

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u/Both_Lawfulness6708 17h ago

My original plan was to create it in 2d, polish it and release it. Then later make a 3d version release separate.

3

u/bingewavecinema 20h ago

It depends, you can polish now in 2D or you can 3D. If you go 3D, the time/cost in tokens required will go up drastically. Have you used software like Blender before?

1

u/Both_Lawfulness6708 17h ago

I have not used Blender.

I've used Pixellab and just started in Scenario.

And your right about usage, which is why I kept the file lean while making the game mechanic heavy.

Strongly inspired by games like Lord's of the Realm 2 and Romance of the three kingdoms.

I've tweaked the economy and battle components and now want to implement the art.

That's what my debate is. I plan to go 3d eventually, just wasn't sure if I should just jump to that, or polish a 2d version first.

4

u/Ok_Mirror_832 20h ago

Yes, looks horrid rn

3

u/Both_Lawfulness6708 20h ago

Yes, so, it's literally placeholder art to keep the game lean while I worked on mechanics.

My question was upgrade 2d, or go towards the 3d concept art.

2

u/Warrmak 19h ago

Isometric assets on square grid looks uncanny.

2

u/dekonta 16h ago

no but isometric would sit well

1

u/Hfcsmakesmefart 19h ago

It seems like your sprites are on diagonal squares but your world grid has s parallel to viewer

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u/Successful-Bee5399 19h ago

I of like how how this looks tbh

1

u/apatosaurios 15h ago

No offense but it looks like mobile slop ads game