1. [n]  the appearance of things relative to one another as determined by their distance from the viewer
2. [n]  a way of regarding situations or topics etc.; "consider what follows from the positivist view"

Perspective
Perspective

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1. \Per*spec"tive\, a. [L. perspicere, perspectum, to
   look through; per + spicere, specere, to look: cf. F.
   perspectif; or from E. perspective, n. See {Spy}, n.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the science of vision; optical. [Obs.]
      --Bacon.
   2. Pertaining to the art, or in accordance with the laws, of
      perspective.
   {Perspective plane}, the plane or surface on which the
      objects are delineated, or the picture drawn; the plane of
      projection; -- distinguished from the ground plane, which
      is that on which the objects are represented as standing.
      When this plane is oblique to the principal face of the
      object, the perspective is called oblique perspective;
      when parallel to that face, parallel perspective.
   {Perspective shell} (Zo["o]l.), any shell of the genus
      {Solarium} and allied genera. See {Solarium}.
   

2. \Per*spec"tive\, n. [F. perspective, fr. perspectif:
   cf. It. perspettiva. See {Perspective}, a.]
   1. A glass through which objects are viewed. [Obs.] ``Not a
      perspective, but a mirror.'' --Sir T. Browne.
   2. That which is seen through an opening; a view; a vista.
      ``The perspective of life.'' --Goldsmith.
   3. The effect of distance upon the appearance of objects, by
      means of which the eye recognized them as being at a more
      or less measurable distance. Hence, a["e]rial perspective,
      the assumed greater vagueness or uncertainty of outline in
      distant objects.
            A["e]rial perspective is the expression of space by
            any means whatsoever, sharpness of edge, vividness
            of color, etc.                        --Ruskin.
   4. The art and the science of so delineating objects that
      they shall seem to grow smaller as they recede from the
      eye; -- called also {linear perspective}.
   5. A drawing in linear perspective.
   {Isometrical perspective}, an inaccurate term for a
      mechanical way of representing objects in the direction of
      the diagonal of a cube.
   {Perspective glass}, a telescope which shows objects in the
      right position.
   

In computer games, the virtual position from which the human player views the playing area. There are three different perspectives: first person, second person, and third person.

First person perspective: Viewing the world through the eyes of the primary character in three dimensions. e.g. Doom, Quake.

Second person perspective: Viewing the game through a spectator's eyes, in two or three dimensions. Depending on the game, the main character is always in view. e.g. Super Mario Bros., Tomb Raider.

Third person perspective: a point of view which is independent of where characters or playing units are. The gaming world is viewed much as a satellite would view a battlefield. E.g. Warcraft, Command & Conquer.