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DNF #1
Duke 3D #1
Jan Satcitananda, on 14 September 2018 - 02:44 PM, said:
Yes, I always use profiling to search for places to optimize. Slab column rendering eats up most of the processor time 
Do you know why?
How about porting Duke 3D to my new engine? "Make Duke levels playable in a game powered by my Brahma engine"
#61 Posted 14 September 2018 - 03:01 PM
Do you know why?
#62 Posted 14 September 2018 - 03:19 PM
icecoldduke, on 14 September 2018 - 03:01 PM, said:
Do you know why?
There are excess slabs processed in multithreaded mode, and the slab geometry calculation is not optimized. My vision for a new algorithm is like this:
1. Determine which columns can be seen within the rendering portal
2. Build a (sizx+1)*(sizy+1) grid of screen x coordinates and z + reciprocals for each visible column.
3. Use this data for precise rendering of only visible slabs with minimum overdraw.
#63 Posted 16 September 2018 - 09:40 AM
All comments here are about technical stuff, so I feel that mine is a bit useless, but I just wanted to congratulate you for all your work! Not only for your new engine but also for the LNGA mod and that bike code from SkyTown TC.
However, porting Duke 3D to your engine doesn't seem to be the best way to show all the new features. Maybe taking inspiration from Duke 3D to create a new game will be better.
However, porting Duke 3D to your engine doesn't seem to be the best way to show all the new features. Maybe taking inspiration from Duke 3D to create a new game will be better.
#64 Posted 16 September 2018 - 09:51 AM
Perro Seco, on 16 September 2018 - 09:40 AM, said:
All comments here are about technical stuff, so I feel that mine is a bit useless, but I just wanted to congratulate you for all your work! Not only for your new engine but also for the LNGA mod and that bike code from SkyTown TC.
However, porting Duke 3D to your engine doesn't seem to be the best way to show all the new features. Maybe taking inspiration from Duke 3D to create a new game will be better.
However, porting Duke 3D to your engine doesn't seem to be the best way to show all the new features. Maybe taking inspiration from Duke 3D to create a new game will be better.
Thank you much mate, comments like yours keep me motivated to improve my later work. Well, if nobody likes another Duke game idea, I'll build up a team of artists/mappers and make my own using my tech.
#65 Posted 17 September 2018 - 02:15 AM
Jan Satcitananda, on 16 September 2018 - 09:51 AM, said:
Thank you much mate, comments like yours keep me motivated to improve my later work. Well, if nobody likes another Duke game idea, I'll build up a team of artists/mappers and make my own using my tech.
I don't think it's that people don't like the idea of a new Duke game, it's that it would be legally problematic.
#67 Posted 24 September 2018 - 09:49 PM
Follow the IndieDB page about the engine! I'll post my updates, articles and further plans there.
https://www.indiedb.com/engines/brahma
Now working on a new voxel format to replace KVX. Recently wrote to Ken about voxel support in my engine, he's ok about supporting KVX files, but since I need more features than just pre-lit static voxels, I've decided to develop a more elaborate format called BHV (Brahma's Voxel).
https://www.indiedb.com/engines/brahma
Now working on a new voxel format to replace KVX. Recently wrote to Ken about voxel support in my engine, he's ok about supporting KVX files, but since I need more features than just pre-lit static voxels, I've decided to develop a more elaborate format called BHV (Brahma's Voxel).
#68 Posted 28 September 2018 - 11:26 PM
All new features are tested on original Duke levels and other Build maps, converted to my format on runtime. My map editor is too raw to be really useful. Better to show than to say =) Just worked on my true vertical look emulation:
https://youtu.be/XeLJf_0-PKk
Want to make collision detection (finally) and 3D sound ambience, and release it as a tech demo which requires only your duke3d.grp to work, so you could try it yourself on various machines.
https://youtu.be/XeLJf_0-PKk
Want to make collision detection (finally) and 3D sound ambience, and release it as a tech demo which requires only your duke3d.grp to work, so you could try it yourself on various machines.
This post has been edited by Jan Satcitananda: 28 September 2018 - 11:33 PM
#70 Posted 30 September 2018 - 10:51 AM
MusicallyInspired, on 30 September 2018 - 06:56 AM, said:
Nice. I like the slight reflection on glass windows too!
Yes, the portal system with a secondary buffer allows such partial reflections. Not every modern engine can do multiple semi-transparent reflections without serious speed penalty, and in Brahma it works like a charm. I'm yet to implement fresnel reflections for full realism though.
Otherwise, I'm having some success in creating reflective water, but so far it's just a flat reflection without any perturbations, like a glass surface. Maybe if I could couple a dynamic heightmap with a dynamic reflection map, and also render what is beneath the surface with a vertical shrink due to refraction, I would get realistic looking pools of water. But heightmaps are still a work in progress, and I didn't even touch reflection mapping so far. Correctly rendering water surface from below is another story...
#72 Posted 03 October 2018 - 03:05 PM
TON, on 03 October 2018 - 11:13 AM, said:
Spoiler
That water doesn't even have reflectivity, as far as I can see, just slightly distorted refraction. My water already correctly combines reflected with refracted layers and even tries to do total internal reflection seen from below the surface. I just need to make the process automatic, make such reflections appear on all boundaries between spaces with different index of refraction. My maps can define IOR and other physical properties for groups of sectors called subspaces.
The screen wapring effect from LNGA was slow as hell, because each row had to be rendered separately. My goal is to produce some fake distortion for refracted part based on a heightmap. A heightmapped water with dynamic perturbations is what I aim for.
#73 Posted 24 October 2018 - 11:17 AM
Awesome. Can it do enemy sprites as 3d voxels too? I always hated 3d models but the sprites are pretty lame with mouselook on on retro games 
Also, will this engine have multiplayer support? I always wanted to create my own retro style game, but I suck at programing and the modern engine editors suck and I always went back to mapster.
Is this similar to mapster in the creation of the maps?
Also, assuming I do my own levels, own sound and music and whatnot, could I release it commercially on steam and so on for free or you must buy a license?
Also, when will it be finished so it can be used to create games on it?
Also, will this engine have multiplayer support? I always wanted to create my own retro style game, but I suck at programing and the modern engine editors suck and I always went back to mapster.
Is this similar to mapster in the creation of the maps?
Also, assuming I do my own levels, own sound and music and whatnot, could I release it commercially on steam and so on for free or you must buy a license?
Also, when will it be finished so it can be used to create games on it?
This post has been edited by pacman: 24 October 2018 - 11:27 AM
#74 Posted 25 October 2018 - 06:17 AM
pacman, on 24 October 2018 - 11:17 AM, said:
Awesome. Can it do enemy sprites as 3d voxels too? I always hated 3d models but the sprites are pretty lame with mouselook on on retro games
Also, will this engine have multiplayer support? I always wanted to create my own retro style game, but I suck at programing and the modern engine editors suck and I always went back to mapster.
Is this similar to mapster in the creation of the maps?
Also, assuming I do my own levels, own sound and music and whatnot, could I release it commercially on steam and so on for free or you must buy a license?
Also, when will it be finished so it can be used to create games on it?
Also, will this engine have multiplayer support? I always wanted to create my own retro style game, but I suck at programing and the modern engine editors suck and I always went back to mapster.
Is this similar to mapster in the creation of the maps?
Also, assuming I do my own levels, own sound and music and whatnot, could I release it commercially on steam and so on for free or you must buy a license?
Also, when will it be finished so it can be used to create games on it?
You can use voxels for all the level decoration, objects, or characters (enemies and NPCs) if you want. Models will be supported too, and I'd recommend using meshes for enemies, since they are easier to animate.
Certainly I'll add multiplayer support, it's just the underlying framework not ready for managing TCP/IP connections. Note that Brahma engine is built on top of NipSys64 framework, and LNGA as game base will be an extension of Brahma engine.
Now the LNGA map creator is the only means to make maps from scratch, it's very handy, but still incomplete and has no proper GUI. Of course, one can import Build maps, but the feature set will be limited.
The engine is proprietary and must be licensed for creating commercial games. But at the moment, I must program any game directly into the engine project, and my teammates can only supply other content (maps, sounds, textures, voxels). That way, we can develop indie games. The next version of the engine will have static libraries and header files, so other developers could buy the engine and program their games themselves. So you'll have to wait for the next engine version if you want to make your own games.
#75 Posted 25 October 2018 - 09:40 AM
Jan Satcitananda, on 25 October 2018 - 06:17 AM, said:
You can use voxels for all the level decoration, objects, or characters (enemies and NPCs) if you want. Models will be supported too, and I'd recommend using meshes for enemies, since they are easier to animate.
Certainly I'll add multiplayer support, it's just the underlying framework not ready for managing TCP/IP connections. Note that Brahma engine is built on top of NipSys64 framework, and LNGA as game base will be an extension of Brahma engine.
Now the LNGA map creator is the only means to make maps from scratch, it's very handy, but still incomplete and has no proper GUI. Of course, one can import Build maps, but the feature set will be limited.
The engine is proprietary and must be licensed for creating commercial games. But at the moment, I must program any game directly into the engine project, and my teammates can only supply other content (maps, sounds, textures, voxels). That way, we can develop indie games. The next version of the engine will have static libraries and header files, so other developers could buy the engine and program their games themselves. So you'll have to wait for the next engine version if you want to make your own games.
Certainly I'll add multiplayer support, it's just the underlying framework not ready for managing TCP/IP connections. Note that Brahma engine is built on top of NipSys64 framework, and LNGA as game base will be an extension of Brahma engine.
Now the LNGA map creator is the only means to make maps from scratch, it's very handy, but still incomplete and has no proper GUI. Of course, one can import Build maps, but the feature set will be limited.
The engine is proprietary and must be licensed for creating commercial games. But at the moment, I must program any game directly into the engine project, and my teammates can only supply other content (maps, sounds, textures, voxels). That way, we can develop indie games. The next version of the engine will have static libraries and header files, so other developers could buy the engine and program their games themselves. So you'll have to wait for the next engine version if you want to make your own games.
Do you have any vids or screens of the map editor? can u make it similar to build?
I hope to see multiplayer before eduke32 does
This post has been edited by pacman: 25 October 2018 - 09:41 AM
#76 Posted 25 October 2018 - 10:06 AM
pacman, on 25 October 2018 - 09:40 AM, said:
Do you have any vids or screens of the map editor? can u make it similar to build?
I hope to see multiplayer before eduke32 does
I hope to see multiplayer before eduke32 does
No videos or screens so far. I'll make some when the editor will become usable enough. It will have some similarity to Build editor, but having more utility for handling multilevel constructions, namely extensively using boolean operations in three dimensions to build level geometry. Also my engine supports multi-instancing, so any material could be replicated on various surfaces with no memory overhead. The editor should be aware of this and 'fork' materials (patterns+samples) on demand. Another complication is that several sectors can share the same floor/ceiling surface, what is very useful for rooms-over-rooms, saves memory and increases rendering speeds too.
The editor should be equipped with profiling/optimization tools as well, because framerates highly depend on how well the map is designed and optimized, or how well it makes use of engine optimizations.
I'll try making some multiplayer sessions next year, so stay tuned.
#77 Posted 26 October 2018 - 06:14 AM
Jan Satcitananda, on 25 October 2018 - 10:06 AM, said:
No videos or screens so far. I'll make some when the editor will become usable enough. It will have some similarity to Build editor, but having more utility for handling multilevel constructions, namely extensively using boolean operations in three dimensions to build level geometry. Also my engine supports multi-instancing, so any material could be replicated on various surfaces with no memory overhead. The editor should be aware of this and 'fork' materials (patterns+samples) on demand. Another complication is that several sectors can share the same floor/ceiling surface, what is very useful for rooms-over-rooms, saves memory and increases rendering speeds too.
The editor should be equipped with profiling/optimization tools as well, because framerates highly depend on how well the map is designed and optimized, or how well it makes use of engine optimizations.
I'll try making some multiplayer sessions next year, so stay tuned.
The editor should be equipped with profiling/optimization tools as well, because framerates highly depend on how well the map is designed and optimized, or how well it makes use of engine optimizations.
I'll try making some multiplayer sessions next year, so stay tuned.
How will be the actual coding part? I mean, something affordable for non-coders like editing .con files? or perhaps the awesome acs script language on ZDoom, very handy to add events on the maps, as in changing the music on a certain linedef, triggering a sound, changing lightning, pretty much anything your imagination can deliver, and it's pretty doable as a non-coder. I always wished build had something like this.
#78 Posted 27 October 2018 - 02:09 AM
pacman, on 26 October 2018 - 06:14 AM, said:
How will be the actual coding part? I mean, something affordable for non-coders like editing .con files? or perhaps the awesome acs script language on ZDoom, very handy to add events on the maps, as in changing the music on a certain linedef, triggering a sound, changing lightning, pretty much anything your imagination can deliver, and it's pretty doable as a non-coder. I always wished build had something like this.
There will be a controller system which defines logic for each map. The rest (items, switches, enemy behavior) must be hard-coded. Eventually I'll probably introduce some scripting language (unified with all my other projects), but not for this engine version, since I need a working solution for game making as soon as possible.
#79 Posted 23 February 2020 - 08:22 AM
Jan Satcitananda, on 27 October 2018 - 02:09 AM, said:
There will be a controller system which defines logic for each map. The rest (items, switches, enemy behavior) must be hard-coded. Eventually I'll probably introduce some scripting language (unified with all my other projects), but not for this engine version, since I need a working solution for game making as soon as possible.
any news? im still interested in making a retro fps game but cant find the right engine
#80 Posted 03 March 2020 - 11:15 PM
pacman, on 23 February 2020 - 08:22 AM, said:
any news? im still interested in making a retro fps game but cant find the right engine
I'm working on the engine on and off, planning to publish a test version sooner or later. I'm occasionally posting screenshots of my current work on the IndieDB page and on my Facebook. There are some important graphic enhancements to do prior to releasing something, namely more precise Z-culling of sprites and better heightmap rendering. Also I hope to refine a bit my collision detection as well, since no game can make it out without one.
#82 Posted 14 July 2020 - 04:18 AM
I've been getting a bit closer to a release lately, hoping to conduct some open testing this year. There's already facility to import the content from Duke3D, Shadow Warrior, and other Build games, as well as Doom's IWADs. Today took a new narrated video that showcases my latest development. Constructive feedback is welcome.
#84 Posted 28 January 2025 - 12:05 PM
I loved your initiative to create a new engine to run old games. Here's what happens... If the engine is really yours, that is, if it is not a mere adaptation of the Build Engine or if it is not based on it, if it is a totally independent creation, then theoretically you could commercialize it, without any problems with a lawsuit.
But under no circumstances can you commercialize the game Duke Nukem 3D with it included or, even worse, a modified Duke Nukem 3D. At most, you can try to adapt your engine to make it run on Duke Nukem (since it simulates the Build engine). This may work with the basic game, although it will certainly be incompatible with several mods. Especially the more elaborate ones that add features not included in the game.
Unless your engine also allows such adaptations.
But even if you commercialize your engine, people will have to have the original Duke Nukem game (DUKE3D.GRP), otherwise it would already be piracy. I recommend adapting your engine to the game, not the game to the engine! It seems to me that the community intends to focus more on Eduke32 (since it was created by members of the community and is more familiar with it).
Another thing, your engine would have to be compatible with the CON language, otherwise it won't run the game.
If you want to make the game run on this engine, you will have to adapt it to the game yourself. If I were a programmer I could even help you with this, but unfortunately programming is not my strong point, since I am still learning the basics of the CON language, more for making changes to the game for personal use. I would not be able to help you with the source code, since I don't know how this language works.
An alternative would be to make a specific version of Brahma for each game. For example, for games based on Build, make one that simulates Build. For Doom, make one that simulates the Doom engine, and so on. Since I see you're using Duke Nukem stuff in it, you could make a Brahma specifically for that, compatible with the CON language and the game's source code (otherwise it won't work either). I mean, not really geared towards a specific game, but towards the engine that a specific type of game uses (similar to Duke Nukem, similar to Doom, etc.).
But your engine is still exciting! From what I've seen on your YouTube channel, this engine seems to support more modern rendering elements but without compromising the framerate. In engines for old games, I prefer voxels or something similar to 3D models, since they don't fit in the context of such games and look weird. It's like putting stuff from the Quake engine into Build, it doesn't fit! The same was made for Rise of the Triad in Winrott GL for 3D models, it doesn't fit! I prefer ROTT in voxels! Even if it was for Return of the Triad mod for Doom!
On the other hand, if the Brahma engine were free and compatible with Duke Nukem 3D codes, it would be interesting if the community used such an engine in addition to Eduke32.
For me, your engine already surpasses Eduke32 and Build in some aspects.
Good luck with the development of Brahma!
But under no circumstances can you commercialize the game Duke Nukem 3D with it included or, even worse, a modified Duke Nukem 3D. At most, you can try to adapt your engine to make it run on Duke Nukem (since it simulates the Build engine). This may work with the basic game, although it will certainly be incompatible with several mods. Especially the more elaborate ones that add features not included in the game.
Unless your engine also allows such adaptations.
But even if you commercialize your engine, people will have to have the original Duke Nukem game (DUKE3D.GRP), otherwise it would already be piracy. I recommend adapting your engine to the game, not the game to the engine! It seems to me that the community intends to focus more on Eduke32 (since it was created by members of the community and is more familiar with it).
Another thing, your engine would have to be compatible with the CON language, otherwise it won't run the game.
If you want to make the game run on this engine, you will have to adapt it to the game yourself. If I were a programmer I could even help you with this, but unfortunately programming is not my strong point, since I am still learning the basics of the CON language, more for making changes to the game for personal use. I would not be able to help you with the source code, since I don't know how this language works.
An alternative would be to make a specific version of Brahma for each game. For example, for games based on Build, make one that simulates Build. For Doom, make one that simulates the Doom engine, and so on. Since I see you're using Duke Nukem stuff in it, you could make a Brahma specifically for that, compatible with the CON language and the game's source code (otherwise it won't work either). I mean, not really geared towards a specific game, but towards the engine that a specific type of game uses (similar to Duke Nukem, similar to Doom, etc.).
But your engine is still exciting! From what I've seen on your YouTube channel, this engine seems to support more modern rendering elements but without compromising the framerate. In engines for old games, I prefer voxels or something similar to 3D models, since they don't fit in the context of such games and look weird. It's like putting stuff from the Quake engine into Build, it doesn't fit! The same was made for Rise of the Triad in Winrott GL for 3D models, it doesn't fit! I prefer ROTT in voxels! Even if it was for Return of the Triad mod for Doom!
On the other hand, if the Brahma engine were free and compatible with Duke Nukem 3D codes, it would be interesting if the community used such an engine in addition to Eduke32.
For me, your engine already surpasses Eduke32 and Build in some aspects.
Good luck with the development of Brahma!
This post has been edited by eniojr: 28 January 2025 - 12:08 PM
#85 Posted 27 May 2025 - 09:26 AM
eniojr, on 28 January 2025 - 12:05 PM, said:
I loved your initiative to create a new engine to run old games. Here's what happens... If the engine is really yours, that is, if it is not a mere adaptation of the Build Engine or if it is not based on it, if it is a totally independent creation, then theoretically you could commercialize it, without any problems with a lawsuit.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I agree with the point that we should maintain the authentic look of the game. As for the engine itself, I see no commercial perspective for it per se in the current situation on the markets. I'm currently in the process of developing a new high-performance renderer, and I think it will be the best choice to opensource my codebase, turning the engine into a pet project that could showcase my expertise and run various fan projects, including a possible Duke3D remake.
Speaking of adapting the engine to a game, a viable approach might be to emulate game's native engine using some sort of abstraction layers. The thing is, the original Duke3D code is buggy and hard to maintain, but we could have a complete bug-compatible port that runs the original code through a semi-opaque Build layer on top of the Brahma Engine. The other option is to reverse-engineer the game mechanics using the new engine infrastructure that will comply with my coding standards and offer more creative freedom. I think both approaches could be supported at the same time within my framework. This way or other, the user will need to supply the original DUKE3D.GRP to compile and run the game, because only the game code is free.
