I'm new to game design and have been reading many of the recommended links here, trying to get a sense of what all I will need to do to eventually create a game. One issue I've continually come across is the 2d vs. 3d one. I don't necessarily need high-end graphics for the game I want to create, so I'm trying to understand each a little bit better.
I understand that old Nintendo games were 2d. I also understand that top-of-the-line modern games like Call of Duty, Halo, and Skyrim are 3d. But what are some of the most complex 2d games and some of the simplest 3d games?
How about old PC games like Tropico (the original)? Railroad Tycoon 2? Sim City 4? Are they 2d or 3d?
My main goal here is to figure out what the maximum potential are with 2d graphics. It's obvious in the extremes, but I'm curious to see if I can create what I want with a 2d engine.