Catacomb 3D
Encyclopedia
Catacomb 3-D is the third in the Catacomb
series of video games (created by the founders of id Software
), and the first of these games to feature 3D computer graphics
. The game was originally published by Softdisk
under the Gamer's Edge label.
Catacomb 3-D is a landmark title in terms of first-person graphics
. The game was released in November 1991 and is arguably the first example of the modern, character-based first-person shooter
genre, or at least it was a direct ancestor to the games that popularized the genre. It was released for the PC
platform with EGA
graphics. The game introduced the concept of showing the player
's hand
in the three-dimensional viewport, and an enhanced version of its technology was later used for the more successful and well-known Wolfenstein 3D
. The game's more primitive technological predecessor was Hovertank 3D
.
by John Carmack for the PC and Apple II
. This is a two-dimensional
game utilising a third-person view from above, released in 1989-1990. It was followed up with Catacomb II, which used the same game engine
with new levels
. The first release of the 3D version was called Catacomb 3-D: A new dimension, but it was later re-released as Catacomb 3-D: The Descent, as well as Catacombs 3 for a re-release as commercially packaged software (the earlier versions had been released by other means such as disk magazine
s and downloads). The game creators were John Carmack, John Romero
, Jason Blochowiak (programmers
), Tom Hall
(creative director), Adrian Carmack
(artist
), and Robert Prince
(musician
).
id Software's use of texture mapping
in Catacomb 3D was influenced by Ultima Underworld (still in development at Catacomb 3Ds release). Conflicting accounts exist regarding the extent of this influence, however. In the book Masters of Doom
, author David Kushner
asserts that the concept was discussed only briefly during a 1991 telephone conversation between Paul Neurath and John Romero. However, Paul Neurath has stated multiple times that John Carmack and John Romero had seen the game's 1990 CES demo, and recalled a comment from Carmack that he could write a faster texture mapper.
Catacomb Abyss was the sequel to Catacomb 3-D, and featured the same main character in a new adventure. It was the only game in the series that was released as shareware
. It was released by Softdisk
in 1991.
The game was developed by Gamer's Edge. The credits are Mike Maynard, Jim Row, Nolan Martin (programming), Steve Maines (art direction), Steve Maines, Carol Ludden, Jerry Jones, Adrian Carmack
(art production), Jim Weiler, Judi Mangham (quality assurance), and id Software
(3D imaging effects).
Catacomb Armageddon is the sequel to Catacomb Abyss, set in the present day. It was later re-released as Curse of the Catacombs. It was developed by Softdisk
and published by Froggman.
and published by Froggman.
Catacomb (video game)
Catacomb is a 2-D game created by John Carmack. It was originally created for the Apple II, and later ported to the PC. It should not be confused with The Catacomb, which is the second game in the series . It supports EGA and CGA graphics.In the game you play the magician Petton Everhail...
series of video games (created by the founders of id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
), and the first of these games to feature 3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
. The game was originally published by Softdisk
Softdisk
Softdisk is a software and Internet company based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 1981, its original products were disk magazines...
under the Gamer's Edge label.
Catacomb 3-D is a landmark title in terms of first-person graphics
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
. The game was released in November 1991 and is arguably the first example of the modern, character-based first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
genre, or at least it was a direct ancestor to the games that popularized the genre. It was released for the PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
platform with EGA
Enhanced Graphics Adapter
The Enhanced Graphics Adapter is the IBM PC computer display standard specification which is between CGA and VGA in terms of color and space resolution. Introduced in October 1984 by IBM shortly after its new PC/AT, EGA produces a display of 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64 at a...
graphics. The game introduced the concept of showing the player
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
's hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
in the three-dimensional viewport, and an enhanced version of its technology was later used for the more successful and well-known Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D
Wolfenstein 3D is a video game that is generally regarded by critics and gaming journalists as having both popularized the first-person shooter genre on the PC and created the basic archetype upon which all subsequent games of the same genre would be built. It was created by id Software and...
. The game's more primitive technological predecessor was Hovertank 3D
Hovertank 3D
Hovertank 3D is a vehicular combat game developed by id Software and published by Softdisk in April, 1991. It is considered a significant precursor of the first-person shooter genre, made popular by id Software's subsequent releases, Wolfenstein 3D and DOOM...
.
Production
The origins of the games are CatacombCatacomb (video game)
Catacomb is a 2-D game created by John Carmack. It was originally created for the Apple II, and later ported to the PC. It should not be confused with The Catacomb, which is the second game in the series . It supports EGA and CGA graphics.In the game you play the magician Petton Everhail...
by John Carmack for the PC and Apple II
Apple II
The Apple II is an 8-bit home computer, one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products, designed primarily by Steve Wozniak, manufactured by Apple Computer and introduced in 1977...
. This is a two-dimensional
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
game utilising a third-person view from above, released in 1989-1990. It was followed up with Catacomb II, which used the same game engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
with new levels
Level (video gaming)
A level, map, area, or world in a video game is the total space available to the player during the course of completing a discrete objective...
. The first release of the 3D version was called Catacomb 3-D: A new dimension, but it was later re-released as Catacomb 3-D: The Descent, as well as Catacombs 3 for a re-release as commercially packaged software (the earlier versions had been released by other means such as disk magazine
Disk magazine
A disk magazine, colloquially known as a diskmag, is a magazine that is distributed in electronic form to be read using computers. These had some popularity in the 1980s and 1990s as periodicals distributed on floppy disk, hence their name...
s and downloads). The game creators were John Carmack, John Romero
John Romero
Alfonso John Romero is a game designer, programmer, and developer in the video game industry. He is best known as a co-founder of id Software and was a designer for many of their games, including Wolfenstein 3D, Dangerous Dave, Doom and Quake...
, Jason Blochowiak (programmers
Game programmer
A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebase for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer"...
), Tom Hall
Tom Hall
Tom A. Hall is a game designer born in Wisconsin. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he received a B.S. in Computer Science. In 1987, he worked at Softdisk Inc., where he was both a programmer and the editor of Softdisk, a software bundle delivered monthly...
(creative director), Adrian Carmack
Adrian Carmack
Adrian Carmack is one of the four founders of id Software, along with Tom Hall, John Romero, and John D. Carmack . He had worked there as an artist. He was a major stock owner of id Software until he left the company....
(artist
Game artist
A game artist is an artist who creates art for one or more types of games. Game artists are responsible for all of the aspects of game development that call for visual art...
), and Robert Prince
Robert Prince
Robert Prince, also known as Bobby Prince, is a composer and sound designer. He has worked as an independent contractor for several gaming companies, most notably id Software and Apogee/3D Realms....
(musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
).
Texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for adding detail, surface texture , or color to a computer-generated graphic or 3D model. Its application to 3D graphics was pioneered by Dr Edwin Catmull in his Ph.D. thesis of 1974.-Texture mapping:...
in Catacomb 3D was influenced by Ultima Underworld (still in development at Catacomb 3Ds release). Conflicting accounts exist regarding the extent of this influence, however. In the book Masters of Doom
Masters of Doom
Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture is a book by David Kushner about id Software and its influence on popular culture, focusing chiefly on John D. Carmack and John Romero.-Content:...
, author David Kushner
David Kushner
David Kushner is a writer who has contributed to publications including Wired, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, IEEE Spectrum and Salon. From 1994 to 1996 he worked as a senior producer and writer on the SonicNet website. The first edition of his non-fiction book, Masters of Doom, was published...
asserts that the concept was discussed only briefly during a 1991 telephone conversation between Paul Neurath and John Romero. However, Paul Neurath has stated multiple times that John Carmack and John Romero had seen the game's 1990 CES demo, and recalled a comment from Carmack that he could write a faster texture mapper.
Catacomb Fantasy Trilogy
Catacomb 3-D was followed by three games, in the so called Catacomb Fantasy Trilogy. They were not developed by id Software, though they were credited in some of the games.Catacomb Abyss
Shareware
The term shareware is a proprietary software that is provided to users without payment on a trial basis and is often limited by any combination of functionality, availability, or convenience. Shareware is often offered as a download from an Internet website or as a compact disc included with a...
. It was released by Softdisk
Softdisk
Softdisk is a software and Internet company based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 1981, its original products were disk magazines...
in 1991.
The game was developed by Gamer's Edge. The credits are Mike Maynard, Jim Row, Nolan Martin (programming), Steve Maines (art direction), Steve Maines, Carol Ludden, Jerry Jones, Adrian Carmack
Adrian Carmack
Adrian Carmack is one of the four founders of id Software, along with Tom Hall, John Romero, and John D. Carmack . He had worked there as an artist. He was a major stock owner of id Software until he left the company....
(art production), Jim Weiler, Judi Mangham (quality assurance), and id Software
Id Software
Id Software is an American video game development company with its headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The company was founded in 1991 by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and artist Adrian Carmack...
(3D imaging effects).
Catacomb Armageddon
Softdisk
Softdisk is a software and Internet company based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 1981, its original products were disk magazines...
and published by Froggman.
Catacomb Apocalypse
Catacomb Apocalypse is the final game in the Catacomb Fantasy Trilogy. It was later re-released as Terror of the Catacombs. It was set in the distant future and mixed fantasy and sci-fi elements, pitting players against robotic necromancers and the like. It is also the only game in the Trilogy to have a Hub system. It was developed by SoftdiskSoftdisk
Softdisk is a software and Internet company based in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 1981, its original products were disk magazines...
and published by Froggman.