Catacomb 3-D

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Catacomb 3D
Developer(s) id Software
Publisher(s) Softdisk
Release date(s) November 1991
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single Player
Platform(s) MS-DOS
Media floppy disk (1)
Input keyboard

Catacomb 3-D is the first in a series of 3-dimensional computer games (after two earlier 2-D games) in the Catacomb series created by the founders of id Software, published by Softdisk.

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. Catacomb 3-D is seen as the prequel to later id published games Heretic and HeXeN in a similar vein as Wolfenstein 3D is seen as the prequel to Doom.

Contents

[edit] Production

The origins of the games are Catacomb 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 commercial re-release. The game creators were John Carmack, John Romero, Jason Blochowiak (programmers), Tom Hall (creative director), Adrian Carmack (artist), and Robert Prince (musician).

Catacomb 3D screenshot
Catacomb 3D screenshot

[edit] Catacomb Fantasy Trilogy

[edit] Catacomb Abyss

Catacomb Abyss title screen
Catacomb Abyss title screen

Catacomb Abyss was the only game in the series that was released as shareware. It was released by Softdisk in 1992.

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).

[edit] Catacomb Armageddon

Catacomb Armageddon screenshot
Catacomb Armageddon screenshot

Catacomb Armageddon is the sequel to Catacomb Abyss, set in the present day It was later re-released as Curse of the Catacombs.

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

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