DN3DS – Creative Freedom… Again

11Mar/094

DN3DS – Creative Freedom… Again

So I've encountered a problem regarding the topic of creative freedom of which I discussed a bit in an earlier post.

If you've any memory of the first level in Duke Nukem 3D, you surely remember that there was a cinema (movie theatre) there.

I'm trying to build it, but I can't decide on whether or not to stick to the original design (or lack thereof) or if I am to alter it a whole lot. The problem is that the cinema in the original game is simply a big room with a bunch of seats placed on the floor. When doing it like that, it does not only look bad, but it also doesn't offer much in terms of interresting level design.

As seen in embedded image, I've tried two approaches; one being that of the original and one of a more interresting looking/playing type.

Personally I like the other design more, but I'm not sure if I stray too far away from the original if I do. One "problem" though with the new design is that you can't see the doors in the back very well. But then again, maybe that's not a problem.

I feel I'll have to leave this area for now and work on something else untill I've decided for certain.

What do you guys think?

Which is better?

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David Lundvall
March 11th, 2009 - 21:34

Without a doubt, I think the more modified version is better. It makes more sense and looks way more interesting. I don’t think you should be afraid to take on your own approach. Making an exact copy is just work.. Make it “your” way will be more fun, atleast that what I would think.

The thing with the doors in the second image, if you decide to go with that design, is something that you will have to fix. It’s not okey to have hidden doors. And since you have decided on this approach you shouldn’t feel so forced to keep the exact measurements.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it should work in Left 4 Dead. So it should not only be true to the feel and look of Duke, but also be fun and play good in Left 4 Dead.

Good luck!
Lasse Järvensivu
March 12th, 2009 - 13:30

Go for the second version. Don’t forget that the developers/designers for DN3D might had to cut down on poly count or something else alone those lines. Back then the hardware wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now, and perhaps they reasoned “Well maybe it looks odd, but I think no one cares”. Or maybe their meeting halls looked like that and that was their only inspiration? =)
Arcade
March 12th, 2009 - 13:41

@Lasse Järvensivu
Funny thing, DN3D doesn’t even have real 3D, so I don’t know if there’s any polygons in it.

Thanks for the feedback.
Lasse Järvensivu
March 22nd, 2009 - 10:00

@Arcade

Define “Real 3D”.

Anyway, I am sure that the more building blocks they use, the slower the rendering process would take (otherwise, everyone would use their engine for complex scenes?). I wouldn’t want to call our traditional way of rendering “Real 3D” either, just to be a definional pain in the ass Polygons are not volumetric and the rendering is done per-triangle, not reverse-raycasted as you’d expect in “real” life.

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