Conference bgsdev::open3d

1290.0. "OpenGL Quake for Alpha" by PKOPW1::DOTY (Russ Doty, Graphics and Multimedia) Tue May 13 1997 18:56

Quake, the biggest, baddest and bloodiest of the "first person action" 
(also known as "shoot 'em up") games now runs on Alpha!

See the Digital Workstation home page at 
http://www.imc.das.dec.com/workstation for details.

As part of a development exercise, Id Software (the authors of Quake) did a 
test port of Quake to OpenGL and Alpha.  Id has provided us with this test 
version, and given certain permission to pass this software on.

Why are we doing this?  Well, the main reason is that Quake is a showcase 
of 3D technology.  Quake is a full 3D texture mapped environment -- you can 
look up and down, move up and down, and travel around all sides of an 
object.  These OpenGL versions take full advantage of Digital's graphics 
hardware, including hardware accelerated texture mapping.  The 
result is exceptionally smooth performance when interacting with a full 
virtual world.

Quake uses a full 3D polygonal database.  It is fully texture mapped, with 
the textures using Trilinear interpolation for highest image quality and 
MIPmapping to enhance visual quality and performance.  Quake uses several 
advanced techniques to achieve effects such as lighting and shadows.
Thus, Quake does an excellent job of showcasing the raw graphics capability 
and performance of the Digital systems -- of showing the level of 
interactivity that can be achieved with Digital workstations.  It is also a 
full multimedia experience, with tightly integrated sound (including a full 
CD soundtrack).  And, the network play capability is fully supported, 
allowing interaction with players on other systems (including interaction 
with people on PCs).

The other reason?  After a day with spreadsheets, CAD systems, and word 
processors, it is a relief to be able to waste something...