Quake II engine explained
Quake II engine |
Developer: | id Software (John Carmack, John Cash, and Brian Hook) |
Replaces: | Quake engine |
Replaced By: | id Tech 3,GoldSrc |
Latest Release Version: | 3.21 |
Repo: | github.com/id-Software/Quake-2 |
Programming Language: | C, Assembly (for software rendering & optimization) |
Platform: | Windows, Mac OS 8, Linux, PowerPC Macintosh, Amiga, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, Xbox, PlayStation 2 |
Discontinued: | yes |
License: | GNU GPL-2.0-or-later |
The Quake II engine is a game engine developed by id Software for use in their 1997 first-person shooter Quake II.[1] It is the successor to the Quake engine. Since its release, the Quake II engine has been licensed for use in several other games.[2]
One of the engine's most notable features was out-of-the-box support for hardware-accelerated graphics, specifically OpenGL, along with the traditional software renderer. Another interesting feature was the subdivision of some of the components into dynamic-link libraries. This allowed both software and OpenGL renderers, which were selected by loading and unloading separate libraries. Libraries were also used for the game logic, with consequences including:
- Since they were compiled for specific platforms, instead of an interpreter, they could run faster than Quakes solution, which was to run the game logic (QuakeC) in a limited interpreter.[3]
- id could release the source code to allow modifications while keeping the remainder of the engine proprietary.[4]
The level format, as with previous id Software engines, used binary space partitioning. The level environments were lit using lightmaps, a method in which light data for each surface is precalculated (this time, via a radiosity method) and stored as an image, which is then used to determine the lighting intensity each 3D model should receive, but not its direction.[5] [6]
id Software released the source code on December 22, 2001, under the terms of the GNU General Public License v2.0 or later.[7] [8]
Games using the Quake II engine
Games using a proprietary license
Games based on the GPL source release
Ports
- Jake2 – a Java port of the Quake II engine's GPL release. It has since been used by Sun as an example of Java Web Start capabilities for games distribution over the Internet.[17] In 2006, it was used to experiment playing 3D games with eye tracking.[18] The performance of Jake2 is on par with the original C version.[19]
- Quake2Forge – one of the earliest community produced source ports. [20]
- Quake2xp – a port of Quake II to modern operating systems.[21] [22] [23]
- KMQuake2 – an upgraded engine for Quake II.[24] [25] [26]
- Quake2maX – OpenGL focused source port.
- Quake 2 Evolved – early graphically enhanced game engine.[27] [28] [29] [30]
- Quetoo (formerly Quake2World) – multiplayer focused port derived from Quake2Forge.[31] [32]
- Berserker@Quake2 – graphically enhanced Quake II port.[33]
- Yamagi Quake II – a port of Quake II to modern systems which aims to preserve the original gameplay.[34] [35] [36] [37] [38]
- vkQuake2 – the original Quake II engine with additional Vulkan renderer created by Krzysztof Kondrak, a programmer from Poland. It was originally released in December 2018 under the GPLv2.[39] [40]
- CRX Engine – custom version for .[41] [42] [43] [44]
- Qfusion – a modification of the GPL version of the engine. The engine was used in the 2012 game Warsow.[45] [13] [14]
- Q2Pro – a mutliplayer oriented port, which was also used as the basis for Quake II RTX.[46] [47]
- R1Q2 – another multiplayer focused port.[48]
- DirectQII – DirectX oriented source port.
- Fruitz of Dojo – a source port aimed at Mac OS X.[49] [50] [51]
- Q2DOS – a backport of the game to MS-DOS.[52] [53] [54]
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: id Software looking to shorten dev cycles, stop building new engines for every game . Christopher . Grant . August 9, 2011 . Joystiq . AOL . https://web.archive.org/web/20110828160010/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/09/id-software-looking-to-shorten-dev-cycles-stop-building-new-eng/ . August 28, 2011 .
- Web site: Technology Licensing: id Tech 2 . September 17, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091108191715/http://www.idsoftware.com/business/idtech2/ . November 8, 2009 .
- Web site: Quake 2 Source Code Review 2/4. Fabien. Sanglard. September 16, 2011. fabiensanglard.net. July 29, 2023. Dynamic linking provided numerous advantages: [...] Full native speed for mods, no need to rely on QuakeC and Quake Vitual machine..
- Web site: Quake 2 Source Code Review 2/4. Fabien. Sanglard. September 16, 2011. fabiensanglard.net. July 29, 2023. Dynamic linking provided numerous advantages: [...] More capabilities to mod makers, the entire game could be altered via game.dll..
- Web site: The making of Quake 2. Rory. Milne. March 1, 2019. pcgamer.com. July 29, 2023. We also had light bouncing—simulated radiosity—so every corner of the world had some lighting..
- Web site: Quake 2 Source Code Review 3/4. Fabien. Sanglard. September 16, 2011. fabiensanglard.net. July 29, 2023. Contrary to Quake1, Quake2 used radiosity and colored light during the precalculation..
- News: Quake 2 Source Code Released Under the GPL . Chris . DiBona . December 22, 2001 . Slashdot . September 4, 2016 .
- Web site: Quake 2 Sources Released. Eric. Foster-Johnson. January 24, 2002. July 15, 2024. Computerworld.
- Web site: Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 35: The New Stories. Hamish. Wilson. November 13, 2023. July 16, 2024. GamingOnLinux.
- Web site: Building a Retro Linux Gaming Computer Part 35: The New Stories. Hamish. Wilson. November 13, 2023. July 16, 2024. GamingOnLinux.
- Web site: D-Day: Normandy: Un Juego FPS para Linux basados en Quake2. Jose. Albert. 2024-08-18. Ubunlog.
- Web site: D-Day: Normandy: Un Juego FPS para Linux basados en Quake2. 2023-11-12. 2024-08-18. Laboratorio Linux.
- Dolinsky . Sergey . Открытые бета-тесты декабря . . 2008 . 250 . 142 . Gameland . Russian.
- Warsow . . April 2008 . 4/2008 . 7 . Romanian.
- Web site: Liam . Dawe . Quetoo, a free and open source FPS is looking to get on Steam . GamingOnLinux . February 8, 2017 . February 7, 2023.
- Web site: Liam . Dawe . Based on the classic FPS Warsow, the new Warfork is now live in Early Access . GamingOnLinux . August 19, 2019 . February 8, 2023.
- Web site: Sun Microsystems. JDK 6u10: Jake2: Quake II in Java. The Jake2 applet example shows the future of game distribution over the Internet. Jake2 is a port of id Software's Quake II to the Java platform developed by Bytonic Software. (...). With the new Java Plug-In, it is now possible to deploy the game directly into the web page with full hardware acceleration and rock-solid reliability.. July 27, 2023.
- Web site: Play with your eyes. Joystiq. Ross. Miller. August 3, 2006. July 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20080203110106/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/03/play-with-your-eyes/. February 3, 2008.
- Web site: O'Reilly Media. Q24j: Jake and Java-gaming Viability. November 28, 2005. This is a great show of 3D prowess. Things like this, as well as the Narya 2D open source engine from ThreeRings really are starting to at least show Java can serve as a first-class gaming platform. More than that, just having seen all the… *cough* horrible code in games before, having things like Java's threading model, network and database support might really make it a BETTER platform for a lot of forthcoming games than C.. July 18, 2009.
- Web site: Implementation of a service platform for online games. January 2004. July 15, 2024. Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop on Network and System Support for Games. ResearchGate. Anees. Shaikh. Sambit. Sahu. Marcel-Catalin. Rosu. Michael. Shea.
- Web site: Quake2xp final 2018 version is available for download, adds lots of modern graphical features. August 19, 2018. July 15, 2024. John. Papadopoulos. DSOGaming.
- Web site: New features showcased for the Quake 2 HD graphical overhaul mod, q2xp. John. Papadopoulos. DSOGaming. April 24, 2022. July 16, 2024.
- Web site: How to run Quake II on Windows 7/8 . . Wes . Fenlon . October 9, 2014 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: How to run Quake II on Windows 7/8 . . Wes . Fenlon . October 9, 2014 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Quake 4 in Quake 2 does exactly what it says on the tin. . . Rick . Lane . February 21, 2022 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Quake 4 in Quake 2 Demake is now available for download . DSOGaming . John . Papadopoulos . February 16, 2022 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Quake 2 Evolved Beta1. Marcel. Klum. December 10, 2002. July 16, 2024. Neowin.
- Web site: Quake II Evolved Doomed?. Steven. Parker. December 17, 2002. July 16, 2024. NeoWin.
- Web site: Quake 2 Evolved brings old-skool to new hardware. Wil. Harris. November 23, 2005. July 16, 2024. Bit-Tech.
- Web site: Quake II Evolved. Martin. Brinkmann. November 21, 2005. July 16, 2024. ghacks.net.
- Web site: Liam . Dawe . Quetoo, a free and open source FPS is looking to get on Steam . GamingOnLinux . February 8, 2017 . February 7, 2023.
- Web site: Quake2World Goes Into Beta With Nice Graphics. Michael. Larabel. 2012-04-01. 2024-08-09. Phoronix.
- Web site: A Quake 2 Game Might Get Ported To Linux. Michael. Larabel. Phoronix. January 7, 2016. July 16, 2024.
- Web site: Alternate Quake II game engine Yamagi Quake II adds optional Vulkan support . GamingOnLinux . Dawe . Liam . June 16, 2021 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Yamagi Quake II project page . Burmeister . Yamagi . July 29, 2023.
- Web site: Quake 2 - Source Ports . . March 27, 2022.
- Web site: Quake II: Quad Damage Review . August 18, 2017. Gaming Pastime . July 29, 2023.
- Web site: How to run Quake II on Windows 7/8 . . Wes . Fenlon . October 9, 2014. October 9, 2014.
- Web site: Quake 2 Gets A Vulkan Renderer 21 Years After Release . Larabel . Michael . December 20, 2018. . December 20, 2018.
- Web site: vkQuake2 on GitHub. GitHub. December 19, 2022.
- Web site: A Battle For Good Open-Source Game Graphics?. Michael. Larabel. April 26, 2009. July 16, 2024. Phoronix.
- Web site: Alien Arena 7.65 To Bring Huge Renderer Enhancements. Michael. Larabel. 2012-11-30. 2024-08-09. Phoronix.
- Web site: Alien Arena 2008 v7.0 released. March 7, 2008. July 16, 2024. Graymur. Game Watcher.
- Web site: Alien Arena – 'Quake' for Linux. Kev. Quirk. July 7, 2012. July 16, 2024. OMG Ubuntu.
- Web site: QFusion Game Engine Advanced With New Features. Michael. Larabel. 2013-06-15. 2024-08-09. Phoronix.
- Web site: Raytraced Quake II makes me want to buy a ludicrously expensive new graphics card. Alec. Meer. January 18, 2019. July 15, 2024. Rock Paper Shotgun.
- Web site: Quake 2 RTX – Official PC Minimum System Requirements + New Screenshots. May 4, 2019. July 15, 2024. John. Papadopoulos. DSOGaming.
- Web site: How to run Quake II on Windows 7/8 . . Wes . Fenlon . October 9, 2014 . July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Quake 2: First Person Shooters at Their Best. Simon. Royal. May 31, 2016. July 15, 2024. Low End Mac.
- Web site: Quake Gets Universal Binary. Brad. Cook. March 19, 2006. July 15, 2024. The Mac Observer.
- Web site: Classic Games: Quake. August 1, 2003. July 15, 2024. Neale. Monks. MyMac.com.
- Web site: Porting Quake II to MS-DOS pt1. Virtually Fun. neozeed. May 2, 2015. July 15, 2024.
- Web site: Q2DOS – Quake II pro DOS. Sledge. August 17, 2023. July 15, 2024. High Voltage.
- Web site: Meet the superfans who spent a decade bringing Daikatana back to life. Luke. Winkie. February 16, 2017. July 15, 2024. PC Gamer.