This project is a simple 3D raycasting engine, written for GNU/Linux- and
DOS-based systems. I wrote it as part of a college project a while ago.
Due to it being old, it will not work in its current state under NT-based
operating systems (for the same reason the original Quake wouldn't - the use
of DJGPP's far
pointers for video access). I also don't think many modern GNU/Linux
distributions will run it without modifications either, since it uses the
SVGALib video library and not X. As a result, there is a 1.44MB floppy
bootdisk image that can be used if you just want to see what the engine looks
like - see readme.txt in the bootdisk.zip file for
instructions on creating the floppy.
Despite the shortcomings, this isn't a bad little engine - OK, so raycasting
is a very primitive technique, but it wasn't a bad technique as a first stab
at a complete 3D engine. The engine has been written to make extensive use
of configuration files, and the world files themselves are just plain text.
Download the archive and see the docs directory for some short
examples.
From memory, the engine code is separated from the logic used to control the
world - there is a control directory that would be used to house
any AI, game logic, etc. if it was implemented. Currently the engine just
moves some old DOOM sprites around. I also seem to remember that I stuck a
really poor splash-screen in there when the engine first loads, and that you
need to hit ENTER (or was it the SPACE BAR ?) to enter the world - but there
are no instructions !
The engine is an old college project, I can't really remember that much about it in terms of functionality, etc. so there's not much to write about. Just download the archive (which includes the bootdisk, C source, configuration files, makefiles and some documentation) and you should be good to go. I did have an old page with pictures and some more text, but I lost it when that machine died - just never got around to writing another homepage until now.
Download the archive either as a zip or tar.gz - they both contain the same files, just compressed in different ways for your convenience. Note that these downloads should contain no virus (obviously), but it's worth a little disclaimer anyway - I have not checked these files with a virus checker, so you download at your own risk; just remember to check them at your end before opening if you want proper peace of mind.
