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Quake Editing Digest Volume 1 : Number 1
quake-editing-digest Wednesday, 6 March 1996 Volume 01 : Number 001
Re: reference library design/mdl file formats
Re: release of id tools/was: Quake data structures
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From: Bernd Kreimeier <Bernd.Kreimeier@NeRo.Uni-Bonn.DE>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 13:55:32 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Re: reference library design/mdl file formats
>> warning on still changing file formats
> This is the reason why I write QEU as a library of generic routines
> for loading and saving files. If anyone uses this library for a
> program, it will be easy to upgrade to any new format, because only a
> few things will have to be changed in the library and most of the
There are two important aspects to remember in designing a portable
reference library for QUE and other tools:
a) keep in mind the interactive editing specific needs for
Constructive Solid Geometry-compliant data structures.
This too will be worth the additional work in the end.
I recommend looking at the references given on the
"recommended readings" page (see below): the books
by Martti Mantyla and Ian Ashdown, in particular,
featuring half edge representations.
b) keep in mind the specific needs involved with near-realtime
rendering. We might or might not succeed in writing some
(even non-texturing) 3D preview this time, but you definitely
won't be able to integrate any such beast with a modeller/editor
as long as your data structures are focused on being dynamically
only (adding/removing vertices etc.), without taking
efficiency into account.
Two additional remarks: for radiosity-style calculation of lighting/shadow
maps, I definitely recommend taking a close look at the HELIOS sources that
are now publically available, written by Ian Ashdown. As for slow but
doable 3D preview, I recommend looking at the Mesa library. Both referenced
on the "overview of resources" page, which, like "recommended readings", is
cross-referenced now at
http://www.nero.uni-bonn.de/~dn/q-sup/
the Quake Developers Support pages.
b.
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From: Bernd Kreimeier <Bernd.Kreimeier@NeRo.Uni-Bonn.DE>
Date: Wed, 6 Mar 1996 13:39:17 +0100 (MET)
Subject: Re: release of id tools/was: Quake data structures
> On Mon, 4 Mar 1996, Tom Lees wrote:
>
> > > id 'said' that they will release their map-editor, for
> > I would be interested to know if they are planning to release the source
> > for their editor too: I think they also 'said' that they would release
> From: jschuur@flash.globalnews.com
>
> i seem to recall dave taylor or someone else from id saying they
> wouldn't release their editor after all since they didn't want to get
> tech support mails for it. they might change their opinion again, but
> things don't seem to be as certain as they were (or were they ever? ;)
That about sums it up :-).
Let me try to end this discussion: id will do as they choose. They might or
might not promise, write, release "Official Specs", they might or might not
release editor sources, they might put them under one License or another,
might even sell them to other companies, might put them under NDA.
If you want to know for sure, ask id or wait. Period.
I remember very well the same questions on "Official DOOM Specs". There is
no reliable flow of information, and no consistent support, and we cannot
not depend on either. Just as id cannot depend on us.
If you are going to write an editor or utility, that is *your* choice.
You are not working for id. Do not expect any favors, nor offer them. Do
what you want to do, for your own reasons. Protect your property or don't,
and let id protect theirs. Take your own risks, waste your own time. You
could either do business or have fun, but not both. You want a deal? Sign
a contract.
This discussion is idle speculation, and will *not* make a difference.
b.
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"Being paranoid does not mean They aren't out to get you."
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End of quake-editing-digest V1 #1
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