The interview gives clues that interface and design issues have been high on the agenda since we saw it last. Graphically, it looks more like Homeworld, yet the gameplay will be more akin to Armada. Everything in Dominion Wars is 3D. From the ships to the camera control. However, movement takes place along a set plane. So we've duplicated that in Dominion Wars.
Players can rotate, pan, zoom or pull out the camera viewpoint to play from any angle they like.
But the ships will essentially stay on the plane, occasionally climbing above or diving below the plane when a specific attack pattern or evasive maneuver calls for it. The decision to have movement be restricted to a plane rather than be fully 3D was to keep the learning curve down. Homeworld was a great game, but had a huge learning curve that put some people off. Since Star Trek appeals to everyone, we also wanted DWars to appeal to everyone, rather than to just the hard core gamer. D.C. Fontana is bringing her flare for otherworldly adventure to Activision s upcoming PC title, Star Trek Bridge Commander.