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Notes -
I only read the developer diaries. I can't play the game, because I have a family and a career that would be destroyed by it. But I've heard this is the case.
There are a ton of 3D imitators in the genre, so it's 100% possible, and I know a couple people who can't play Factorio because of it. I think the devs are obsessed with the quality of the code and design in the game to such a degree that they believe 3D will never allow such precision and control of the player's viewpoint. I think they're right.
I mean, assuming you have a career and a family, you can moderate your heart's desire for freedom and also your gaming time. If you do some planning and analysis off-game, you can probably complete the game in 2-3 months of 1-2 hours in the evenings.
You can always just do a grid. Even if player POV was in a 3d grid, that'd still be improved. And 3d has way more options.
Especially in space, 2d just looks fucking weird. We are all flatlanders down here but up there?
Factorio is a uniquely addicting game for me. I love it - however I can't escape the fact that the time I spend playing it is the same muscles as programming (which has a high $ROI compared to gaming), and I just don't have the time right now. If my battletech group takes a sabbatical I may be able to schedule 1-2 days a week to play.
I suspect that most of the 3d games use a grid system somehow. My buddies have really liked Satisfactory if you'd prefer to get the 3d experience.
Also, speaking of factories, I watched an awesome little sci-fi vignette about it recently: https://youtube.com/watch?v=cntb3wcZdTw (Mid voice acting/writing but can't have it all)
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