quake/articles/1997/art-1608

Path: mantis!not-for-mail

From: "Chainsaw"

Newsgroups: rec.games.computer.quake.announce,rec.games.computer.quake.misc,rec.games.computer.quake.quake-c,uk.games.computer.quake

Subject: Evil Dead TC Design Specification

Date: 9 Dec 1997 14:23:59 -0000

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Approved: quake@mantis.co.uk

Message-ID: <01bd033b$8d542e20$759475c2@matt-s-computer>

Hey,

I mentioned this a little while back. Anyway, here it is. All interested

parties, please contact me.

Evil Dead T.C.

Design Specification v. 1.0

Overview

To make a total conversion of the Quake II game based on the Evil Dead

trilogy of films. The game will be stage based akin to the structure of

the movies.The goal is to create a cinematic experience, one which will

recreate the dark humour of the films, while still being an enjoyable

playing experience.

Plot

This will remain sketchy at the moment. I'm not sure if it's worth making

the first

two films into individual episodes, or turning them into one episode. I'll

probably

do the latter, as parts 1 and 2 are basically the same film.

Anyway, as everyone who has seen the movie nows, the plot, such as there

is, revolves

around a group of characters in a hut, finding the Book Of The Dead, and

unleashing the

undead, who possess bodies. In the game, this will be a cinematic event,

with cut scenes

and "tasks" to do (like coercing your girlfriend into the shed and cutting

her up). It will

not be too action specific due to the films very nature, you won't be

attacking much - it

will more be a case of survival and the cut-scenes adding great atmosphere.

It's difficult

to explain exactly what I have in mind......

Later episodes in the game will be more action orientated as you are

transported back in

time and face the Army Of Darkness, as well as an evil replica of yourself.

All I can say is watch the films, you'll get the idea.

History

Despite Quake being a totally expandable experience, and the number of

total

conversions announced for it, very few have appeared, despite the year and

a

half that has gone by. Many are still in development, and the release of

Quake II will render most of these obsolete.

It is understandable - the very complexity involved with some of these

projects

was vast. There is also, of course, a lead in time, where the tools

required are

too rudimentary and still being developed, and then the learning curve.

With

Quake II this may well be a longer period due to the difficulties inherent

with .dll's.

Quake C was a simple language to use - anyone could sit down and play with

a few

variables, note the differences, and come up with something fun. With Quake

II

using .dll's, you have Windows to worry about, and a lot of people who used

Quake C

will struggle.

The next id project, Trinity is some 18 months away. To this end, the Evil

Dead TC

will follow a somewhat unusual schedule, designed to get a working version

out

very quickly after Quake II and the relevant tools are available. After

this,

updates and expansions will follow, allowing the user to play the game, and

hopefully

gettign more people involved with the project.

Quake II

At this time, only the Quake II test version has been released, though the

full

game is imminent.

Using Quake II as the source, we have a wide range of features available to

us.

Using a 3DFX card allows mip mapping and transparency effects - we should

use

this to it's full advantage. For example, when outside of the hut you could

use

the transparency to create a rolling fog effect for atmosphere.

The list of features needed to be added to the code may well include stuff

already

in the game - if so, great, it leaves us with less work. This list will

include two

sections - those necessary for the basic Evil Dead TC premise, and those

desirable

effects that will be added AFTER the first public release.

Code Expansion

Necessary Code:

Two weapon screen:

Quake II allows players to use weapons on either left handed or right

handed.

In keeping with the film, we need to allow two weapons on screen

simultaneously,

namely a weapon of the users choice, along with either a chainsaw (in

episode II)

or an iron fist (in episode III). In deathmatch, these will be

interchangable.

I don't believe this will be too hard to implement, though control may

take a

while to find the optimum settings.

Camera mode:

Our TC will feature cut scenes, where the camera will pan out to look on

specific

action based on events from the film. For example, at the beginning of

episode II

the camera will pan out to your characters face as his hand becomes

possesed, and

follow you into the kitchen as you chainsaw it off. It is impractical for

these

crucial elements to be "playable", but with a versatile multiple camera

system,

we can have superb cut scenes really setting the scene. THe camera should

be able

to pan and zoom (easy using FOV), with the possibility of giving it a

focus option.

At a later date a Tomb Raider style chase camera could be added, but this

will pose

some real AI problems.

Scripting Language:

This will go hand in hand with the camera - we need to "direct" the scene,

telling

the game characters what to do. May prove tricky, but will probably just

result in

a call for specific animation.

Character AI:

The real tricky one, we will need some specific AI for the movie

characters, as

well as generic ones for the Army Of Darkness and the various minions in

Episode III.

Dismemberment:

This will go hand in hand with the AI. You can lop of limbs, and depending

on the

character, the limb may well start attacking you of it's own discord. Ever

been

chased by a hand? You'll also be able to get a legless zombie scrambling

after you,

pulling itself along the floor on using it's arms. Should be real cool

with blood

flying out of the wounds.

Wish List Code:

This section will remain largely uncompleted until all group members have

had a chance to

put forwards their ideas.

Cascading Fog :

I've got a great idea of how to do this.... make brushes for the fog, use

a fog

texture like the sky with transaparency, then set only these specific

brushes to

no-clip. I'm pretty sure this will be possible.

Wounds:

It would be cool if you could shoot a hole in a zombie, seeing right

through it.

You could then shoot something behind it.

Blood Splatter:

The blood splatters on the wall and stays there. Actually pretty easy with

multiple

textures, though can you change the texture on a brush mid game? I've got

a few other

ideas for this - the coolest would be blood that actually collects on the

floor, rising

with each kill, up to a certain point. If it could run like real water it

would be

pretty amazing - especially considering the monster PC you'd need to make

such an effect

plausible.

Help!!!

I'm after, at present, any help I can get. I've spoken about this to a

fellow fan who

has offered help, but more is needed. Specifically, anyone with .dll

experience would be

greatly beneficial - I'm gonna code myself, but any extra help is always

welcome.

Artists are needed, who can model characters with ALOT of animations - a

zombie will

have "limb-specific" animation, depending on how many of said limbs they

have left. This

could be alot of work, especially modelling the characters from the films.

And Henrietta!!

Texture artists are also needed, especially for those authentic character

skins.

I can probably handle the AI and music / sound effects myself.

A Little About Myself

Ok, I'm 24, bordering on 25. Pretty depressing feeling, that one. I used to

work for

Eidos, but calling that company a bunch of money grabbing arseholes would

be a compliment.

I currently work in satellite communications, as an embedded software

engineer.

Yep, I'm an avid game freak. I avoid playing too much internet death match,

because of the

stupid lag I get. See, I'm in the UK, and have to make do with a ping of

around 600.

Occasionally, I get it down to 400, but not often. As a result all you

American players

kick my arse with your pings of under 100. On a LAN though, I am the King.

Happy to

prove it to anybody out there!!!

As well as doing the Evil Dead TC, I'm going to be doing a pretty simple TC

which will

be called "Heavy Metal". You will select a character from a band,

accurately modelled,

and rather than shotguns and the such, you'll have guitars, which will

shoot music at your

opponents. So, rather than hear the bang bang of a nail gun, you'll hear,

say, the opening

riff to Sweet Child Of Mine. Powerups will be a various types and makes of

guitar, with amplifiers

to power them. Another example if a bass guitar, with a suitably powerful

amp, will cause

a disorientating effect (like being under water in Quake). Shit, maybe an

accoustic guitar

will play a Bon Jovi song and send you to sleep. Exploding snare drums.

Pretty much

anything will go - it'll be a good practice on QII to get used to the

.dll's - weapons

are never that hard to change. It's all gonna pretty mad and daft, and I'm

hoping

to have a load of famous music in the game. It'll be interesting hearing

someone firing

a "song" at someone else.

That's it. If you want to help, submit advice or just offer encouragement,

get in touch.

Cheers

The Saw