Cube (video game)

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Cube

Developer(s)	Wouter van Oortmerssen
License	zlib license
Platform(s)	Cross-platform
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Multiplayer, Singleplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Not Rated (NR)
Media	Free download
Input methods	Keyboard and Mouse

In computer gaming, Cube is a Quake-like first-person shooter.

Cube runs on a variety of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, 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 singleplayer and multiplayer gameplay. The game contains a built-in level editor.

The latest update of Cube was released on 29 August 2005. Released under the zlib license, the game engine is free and open source software.

Cube was used in a computer science course at Brown University.^[1]

1 Description
2 Further development
3 Gameplay style
- 3.1 Single player gameplay
- 3.2 Multiplayer gameplay
4 Community
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Description

Cube is a game engine written by Wouter van Oortmerssen and is under a zlib license.^[2] Unlike both Doom and Quake it is an outdoor engine, i.e. its designed for maps that are outdoors rather than Doom and Quake, which are optimized for indoors.

A screenshot from the game Cube

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.

[edit] Further development

A new engine based on Cube, called Sauerbraten also known as Cube 2 has been developed. It shares most of design goals and philosophy with Cube, but, using a new 6-directional heightfield world model, it allows a much more complex level geometry (taking away most limitations) and makes level editing even simpler by allowing extrusion of a portion of a wall in any direction.

[edit] Gameplay style

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 (SinglePlayer) maps and 65 DM (DeathMatch) maps, for a total of 102 maps all together.

Multiplayer is very fast paced and almost lag free, thanks to its unique networked game code (called ENet [1]) and the use of a thick client/thin server model.

[edit] Single player gameplay

Single Player game play 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.

[edit] Multiplayer gameplay

Multiplayer gameplay includes 15 modes:

Free For All: Often used for prewar and setting up teams (mode 0)
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)
Efficiency: 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;
Tactics 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 <mode number>' when the next game begins changes the mode. The command '/map <map name>' can be used to call a vote.

[edit] Community

The ease that the engine brought to mapping help create a community dedicated to improving the game. This was shown though the many user created maps and mods that followed the game. Examples are the partial conversion Death Illustrated, the total conversion AssaultCube[2] and the add-on mod pCube[3]. While the sequel was released, the game has still been used by many followers due to lower system requirements and a smaller installation footprint.