Cube (computer game)
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A screenshot from the game "Cube" |
Cube is a mostly (some data isn't)
open source Quake-like
first-person shooter computer game that runs on
Windows,
GNU/Linux,
FreeBSD,
Mac OS X and even
Pocket PC devices with 3D acceleration such as
Dell Axim x50. It uses
OpenGL and
SDL.
Cube features both single-player and
multiplayer gameplay. The game contains a built in level editor.
The latest (and probably final) update of
Cube was released on
August 29th, 2005.
Cube is a
game engine written by
Wouter van Oortmerssen and is under a
zlib license. Unlike both
Doom and
Quake it is an outdoor engine, i.e. its designed for maps that are outdoors rather than as in
Doom and
Quake are optimized for indoors.
It utilizes a world model somewhat similar to
Doom based on a 2D height map, which imposes some limitations (e.g. no rooms above rooms), but unlike
Doom it 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.
Another unusual fact that this 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 as noted by its author relies on simplicity and brute force instead of fine-tuned complexity. However, it does not sacrifice much performance.
Currently a new engine based on Cube, called
Sauerbraten is being developed. It shares most of design goals and philosophy with Cube, but using a new
6-directional heightfield world model, it allows much more complex level geometry (taking away most limitations) and promises to make level editing even simpler by allowing extrusion of any portion of a wall in any direction.
The single-player gameplay in Cube is similar to games like
Doom and
Quake.
As of the
August 29,
2005 release, there are 37
SP (
Single
Player) maps and 65
DM (
Death
Match) maps, for a total of 112 maps all together.
Multiplayer is very fast paced and almost lag free thanks to its unique networked game code (called ENet) that uses a thick
client/thin
server model.
Single player gameplay
Single Player gameplay includes two types:
A plain single-player mode (mode -1), which is a lot like
Doom, in that items and monsters do not respawn, and have a fixed position; and a deathmatch-style mode (where there is usually a fixed number of monsters, 10 per skill level) and items respawn.
Multiplayer gameplay
Multiplayer gameplay includes 15 modes:
* Free For All: (mode 0), often used for prewar and setting up teams
* Cooperative Edit: Players can edit a map with others in real time. (mode 1)
* Free For All: non-teamplay, meant for ffa and duel games (mode 2)
* Free For All: Teamplay, 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. (mode 4, non-teamplay ; mode 5, teamplay)
* Effciency: all players have 2 ammo packs each with 256 health (mode 6, non-teamplay ; mode 7, 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;
* Tatics Arena: Like Insta Arena, but each player randomly gets two out of the four possible weapons (with fist), and two ammo packs each.
Typing 't' followed by '/mode
' when the next game begins changes the mode. The command '/map 
