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Cube (computer game)
Encyclopedia
Cube is a first-person shooter
video game that shares the name of its free and open source engine
. Engine and game were developed by Wouter van Oortmerssen
.
It runs on a variety of operating system
s, including Microsoft Windows
, Linux
, FreeBSD
, Mac OS X
, AmigaOS 4
, iPhone
, Nintendo Wii and even Pocket PC
devices with 3D acceleration such as Dell Axim
x50v. It uses OpenGL
and SDL
. Cube features both singleplayer and multiplayer gameplay. The game contains a built-in level editor.
First release with singleplayer mode was in January 2002. The latest update of Cube was released on August 29, 2005.
The Cube engine was designed as an outdoor engine, i.e. it's designed for maps that are outdoors rather than Doom and Quake, which are optimized for indoors.
It utilizes a pseudo-3D world model similar to the Doom engine
, based on a 2D height map. This imposes some limitations (e.g. no rooms above rooms), but does permit slopes and 3D props which in turn can be used to make up for most limitations, for example to create bridges with a passage below.
The engine is based on zero-precompilation philosophy—all map data is interpreted dynamically, with no need to recalculate such as shadowmaps or BSP
data. This makes realtime in-game map editing feasible. Cube supports multi-user, realtime map editing.
The engine is compact and relies on simplicity and brute force instead of fine-tuned complexity.
Multiplayer uses a networked game code (called ENet http://enet.bespin.org) and the use of a thick client
/thin server
model.
in 2002 and awarded with the "Happypenguin Award" for "Best Free 3D Action Game" by The Linux Game Tome
in 2003. MacUpdate
rated the game's latest release 4.5 stars out of 5.
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...
video game that shares the name of its free and open source 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...
. Engine and game were developed by Wouter van Oortmerssen
Wouter van Oortmerssen
Wouter van Oortmerssen, also known as Aardappel , is a Dutch computer programmer notable for his work in game programming as well as having designed several programming languages...
.
It runs on a variety of operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
s, including Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
, FreeBSD
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free Unix-like operating system descended from AT&T UNIX via BSD UNIX. Although for legal reasons FreeBSD cannot be called “UNIX”, as the direct descendant of BSD UNIX , FreeBSD’s internals and system APIs are UNIX-compliant...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, AmigaOS 4
AmigaOS 4
AmigaOS 4, , is a line of Amiga operating systems which runs on PowerPC microprocessors. It is mainly based on AmigaOS 3.1 source code, and partially on version 3.9 developed by Haage & Partner...
, iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, Nintendo Wii and even Pocket PC
Pocket PC
A Pocket PC is also known by Microsoft as a 'Windows Mobile Classic device'. It is a hardware specification for a handheld-sized computer, personal digital assistant , that runs the Microsoft 'Windows Mobile Classic' operating system...
devices with 3D acceleration such as Dell Axim
Dell Axim
The Dell Axim family of personal digital assistants was Dell's line of Windows Mobile-powered Pocket PC Devices. The first model, the Axim X5, was introduced in 2002, while the final model, the Axim X51, was discontinued on April 9, 2007....
x50v. It uses OpenGL
OpenGL
OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
and SDL
Simple DirectMedia Layer
Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform, free and open source multimedia library written in C that presents a simple interface to various platforms' graphics, sound, and input devices....
. Cube features both singleplayer and multiplayer gameplay. The game contains a built-in level editor.
First release with singleplayer mode was in January 2002. The latest update of Cube was released on August 29, 2005.
Game Engine
It utilizes a pseudo-3D world model similar to the Doom engine
Doom engine
The Doom engine is the game engine that powers the id Software games Doom and Doom II. It is also used by HeXen, Heretic, Strife, Freedoom, and HacX, and other games produced by licensees. It was created by John Carmack, with auxiliary functions written by Mike Abrash, John Romero, Dave Taylor and...
, based on a 2D height map. This imposes some limitations (e.g. no rooms above rooms), but does permit slopes and 3D props which in turn can be used to make up for most limitations, for example to create bridges with a passage below.
The engine is based on zero-precompilation philosophy—all map data is interpreted dynamically, with no need to recalculate such as shadowmaps or BSP
Binary space partitioning
In computer science, binary space partitioning is a method for recursively subdividing a space into convex sets by hyperplanes. This subdivision gives rise to a representation of the scene by means of a tree data structure known as a BSP tree.Originally, this approach was proposed in 3D computer...
data. This makes realtime in-game map editing feasible. Cube supports multi-user, realtime map editing.
The engine is compact and relies on simplicity and brute force instead of fine-tuned complexity.
Gameplay style
As of the August 29, 2005, release, there are 37 SP (SinglePlayer) maps and 65 DM (DeathMatch) maps, for a total of 102 maps all together.Multiplayer uses a networked game code (called ENet http://enet.bespin.org) and the use of a thick client
Client (computing)
A client is an application or system that accesses a service made available by a server. The server is often on another computer system, in which case the client accesses the service by way of a network....
/thin server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
model.
Single player gameplay
The single player game play includes two modes. A plain single-player mode in which items and monsters do not respawn and have a fixed position; and a deathmatch-style mode (where there is a fixed number of monsters, ten per skill level) and items respawn.Multiplayer gameplay
Multiplayer gameplay includes twelve modes:- "Free For AllDeathmatch (gaming)Deathmatch or Player vs All is a widely-used gameplay mode integrated into many shooter and real-time strategy computer games...
": Often used for prewar and setting up teams. - "Coop Edit": Players can edit a map with others in real time.
- "Free For All": non-teamplay, meant for ffa and duel games.
- "Teamplay": Like Free For All, only allied with those whose team variable is the same as yours.
- "Instagib": All players spawn with full rifle ammo and 1 health. No items are available (non-teamplay and teamplay).
- "Efficiency": all players have 2 ammo packs each with 256 health (non-teamplay and teamplay).
- "Insta Arena": when the player is fragged (killed), he/she stays dead until there's only one player remaining, and then a new round begins; each player only has the rifle and fist (non-teamplay and teamplay).
- "Tactics Arena": Like Insta Arena, but each player randomly gets two out of the four possible weapons (with fist), and two ammo packs each (non-teamplay and teamplay).
Critical reception
Cube was reviewed positively by LinuxDevCenterO'Reilly Media
O'Reilly Media is an American media company established by Tim O'Reilly that publishes books and Web sites and produces conferences on computer technology topics...
in 2002 and awarded with the "Happypenguin Award" for "Best Free 3D Action Game" by The Linux Game Tome
The Linux Game Tome
The Linux Game Tome is a website which provides a comprehensive list of games for Linux.- History :The site was started by Tessa Lau in 1995...
in 2003. MacUpdate
MacUpdate
MacUpdate is an Apple Macintosh and iPhone software download website, started in the late-1990s. As of summer 2009, it is the 114th fastest growing privately owned company in the USA, according to Inc. Magazine, which lists MacUpdate as the #1 fastest growing company in Michigan, and the 5th...
rated the game's latest release 4.5 stars out of 5.
Further development
- IntelIntel CorporationIntel Corporation is an American multinational semiconductor chip maker corporation headquartered in Santa Clara, California, United States and the world's largest semiconductor chip maker, based on revenue. It is the inventor of the x86 series of microprocessors, the processors found in most...
ported the game to OpenGL ESOpenGL ESOpenGL for Embedded Systems is a subset of the OpenGL 3D graphics application programming interface designed for embedded systems such as mobile phones, PDAs, and video game consoles. OpenGL ES is managed by the not-for-profit technology consortium, the Khronos Group, Inc.- Versions :Several...
to demonstrate a new mobile 3D chipset at the Game Developers ConferenceGame Developers ConferenceThe Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in 2005. - Cube was used in a computer scienceComputer scienceComputer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
course at Brown UniversityBrown UniversityBrown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
2006. - A new game and engine based on Cube, called Cube 2 has been developed.
- A free mod of the game Cube, called AssaultCubeAssaultCubeAssaultCube is a free multiplayer first-person shooter game, based on the CUBE engine. It takes place in realistic environments, with fast, arcade gameplay...
was released in November 2006. - A Cube port, intended as a technology demo was submitted to the iPhoneIPhoneThe iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
in 2008, and was released to the iPhone App Store on November 18.
See also
- List of free first-person shooters
- AssaultCubeAssaultCubeAssaultCube is a free multiplayer first-person shooter game, based on the CUBE engine. It takes place in realistic environments, with fast, arcade gameplay...
- Cube 2: Sauerbraten