The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
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Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#2In 1999/2000 I worked on my own Thief levels using the dromed editor - it was both really fun to work with, and utterly frustrating - in a time before open source engines - there were so many small annoying bugs in the editor that would cause it to crash, so you SAVED often and even learned to version files as it was easy to screw up.
But the geometry that could be created was stunning - from courtyards to cathedrals, levels allowed clever use of light and shadow.
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#3"Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri"
Oh my gosh, I remember that game. I picked it up at a computer swap meet, and it was awesome!
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#4Never played Thief, but I logged a lot of hours in Unreal, 1998. I was (and still am) amazed at how full-featured the software renderer was. I always wished I could peek at the code behind it.
If memory serves, the only thing my 3dfx Voodoo3 could do that software-only mode could not was surface reflections. Maybe something with colored lighting too, it's been a long time. Point is, it was a decent enough substitute for dedicated graphics hardware.
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#5Never played Thief, but I logged a lot of hours in Unreal, 1998. I was (and still am) amazed at how full-featured the software renderer was. I always wished I could peek at the code behind it. If memory serves, the only thing my 3dfx Voodoo3 could do that software-only mode could not was surface reflections. Maybe something with colored lighting too, it's been a long time. Point is, it was a decent enough substitute…
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Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#6People talk about the graphics, but it was the crescendo and decrescendo of guard sounds/singing/footsteps in Thief that made it one of the most immersive games I’ve ever played.
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#7Never played Thief, but I logged a lot of hours in Unreal, 1998. I was (and still am) amazed at how full-featured the software renderer was. I always wished I could peek at the code behind it. If memory serves, the only thing my 3dfx Voodoo3 could do that software-only mode could not was surface reflections. Maybe something with colored lighting too, it's been a long time. Point is, it was a decent enough substitute…
But I remember Unreal being unreachable for me at that time because I couldn't even dream of getting a graphics accelerator and it won't even start with out a one, or was it the sound card requirement that was the blocker?
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#85-hour interview with Sean Barrett where he also talks about the technical details of the Thief engine:
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#9Never played Thief, but I logged a lot of hours in Unreal, 1998. I was (and still am) amazed at how full-featured the software renderer was. I always wished I could peek at the code behind it. If memory serves, the only thing my 3dfx Voodoo3 could do that software-only mode could not was surface reflections. Maybe something with colored lighting too, it's been a long time. Point is, it was a decent enough substitute…
The guys in OldUnreal have access to the source code AFAIRemember. Epic gave them the source code so they can produce those patches. They also improved the UT99 engine I think.
Re: The 3D Software Rendering Technology of 1998's Thief: The Dark Project (2019)
#10People talk about the graphics, but it was the crescendo and decrescendo of guard sounds/singing/footsteps in Thief that made it one of the most immersive games I’ve ever played.
It had a physically based sound engine I think?