I'm not sure that the camera can be changed... the game was designed to be played with the top-down view. You might want to look at the .ini file for the game (this is probably in the game's install directory, but there's a chance it is actually in something like "My Games") to see if there's camera settings there.

If it turns out that the camera cannot be changed, I hope that won't dissuade you from playing the game, because it's actually quite good. Once I got used to the unusual viewpoint I was very pleasantly surprised at how fun the game is.

Wish I had known this before purchasing the game. I feels like I have an agonizing cramp in my neck.....my fingers keep manipulating the mouse wheel, desperately trying to get the view changed. RUINS the game, completely. Why don't they make games with POV like the old "Dino Crisis"?!

I must disagree with this; I thought the camera view actually worked really well in the game. I'm sorry it's not to your taste though.

One last thing you might want to try is checking the manual for camera options. I vaguely remember that the game can be played in two different modes, although they are probably both still top-down. The one I used basically played like an FPS, with my character centered on the bottom of the screen, but I think there might be a "free camera" mode where you move around more like a traditional third-person game.

You should have a PDF copy of the manual in your game directory, or you can download it separately by going to your GOG account page, clicking on Shadowgrounds, and looking under the "additional content" menu.

Thanks, I will take a look, though I'm discouraged. A game should feel "natural"......line of sight should include looking out forward many, many yards. I'm thinking of a good game such as "Cold Zero". The feel was very natural, with the ability to "TILT" the camera with the mouse scroll wheel....a vital and essential feature.

Shadowgrounds gives me that rotten "fingernails down a chalkboard" feeling.....as if you were being forced to use your left hand to open doors all day, because your right hand is broken. This is the kiss of death for a game......very stiff feel to it/

ugh. Will go check now to see if camera can be changed.

Nope:

BASIC CONTROLS
Ok, so now you've got something in front of you. The very first thing you should do, is to get familiar with the camera. Use the right mouse button to rotate and adjust the camera view. Simply move the mouse cursor over the terrain, and then keep the right mouse button pressed down and move the mouse to any direction.

That business about "use the right mous buttion to rotate and adjust the camera" is very misleading........pressing the right mouse button doesn't do anything, it's exactly the same as if you just move the mouse on the pad.

There is a pair of check boxes for "free camera mode" and "axis"......these both do literally nothing.

Is it really so much to ask that POV be flawless, intuitive, exciting, fun and cinematic, as it was in the Dino Crisis games?

If I factor in the cost of the games I bought from Gog that turned out like this, deeply flawed and unplayable (Sacrafice's camera angle also killed the game) the net cost of the games I do play is around $90

The close-up camera is part of this game, just like the dark corners and limited flashlight. Because you can't see more than a few meters in front of your character, you have to fight the aliens up close, you can't snipe them from safety. Adds tension to the game IMHO. But it's a matter of taste I suppose.

I actually know how to do this, but it's really complicated to get it to work right. I'll try and post the solution soon.

Ok, here goes:


To play Shadowgrounds in a good, high 3rd person view without autozooming camera, do the following:

Unpack Data1.fbz (rename it to Data1.zip first).

Open the Data\Misc\default_game_options.txt

edit the following lines so that they have the following values:

camera_scrolly_enabled = 0
camera_scrolly_amount = 50
camera_scrolly_speed = 50

camera_min_beta_angle = 30
camera_max_beta_angle = 30
camera_default_zoom = 10
camera_default_zoom_player_inc = 10

camera_default_fov = 120

camera_autozoom_enabled = 1
camera_autozoom_indoor = 10
camera_autozoom_outdoor = 10



Now, edit the Data\Missions\Common\camera_autozoom_area.dhs (and dhps)

Find these values:
// used camera autozoom indoor values...
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_CLOSE 8.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_NORMAL 11.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_FAR 14.0f

// used camera autozoom outdoor values...
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_CLOSE 8.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_NORMAL 11.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_FAR 14.0f


Change them to:


// used camera autozoom indoor values...
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_CLOSE 10.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_NORMAL 10.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_INDOOR_FAR 10.0f

// used camera autozoom outdoor values...
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_CLOSE 10.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_NORMAL 10.0f
#define CAM_AUTOZOOM_OUTDOOR_FAR 10.0f

Oh yes, back up your files beforehand. After you do all of the above, save everything and then repack it in a new zip file and name it Data1.zip. Then rename that to Data1.fbz. Put that file in your main Shadowgrounds directory.