Game Development Giant

Carmack also did not expect that Jester would set such a development model for his development team, which was completely different from other game companies he knew.

But the point of what he was going to say was not here, so after a slight apology, he continued: But after thinking about it for a few days, I feel that when making 3D games, it must be done before development. A formed engine, rather than making the engine during the production process. When I was thinking about how to complete the most basic ability of the 3D engine, which is the smooth operation of 3D graphics, I was thinking if the traditional method could not be completed. If there are too many object surfaces to be drawn, can I change my thinking, that is, can I let the computer draw less surfaces each time, like putting a blindfold on a horse, for example, when drawing a walkway, omit For the floor and ceiling, only draw the walls on both sides. Using perspective, they are just two simple trapezoids.

After saying this, Carmack's eyes lit up.

Jester's eyes also lit up, and then dimmed. He knew that Carmack's idea was very good. He had also heard his subordinates think about how to complete smooth and fast-paced 3D images on PC before. It has been proposed, but the programming difficulty required to do so is too great, and the final result is nothing. But Carmack just smiled and said in a very calm tone: I can only say that I have thought of a method, but in terms of solving it, it is only half completed. But what I can be sure of is that according to this idea of ​​mine, it can definitely be completed. On the PC platform, 3D images can be run smoothly.

Hearing what Carmack said, Jester instantly became happy. This news was also very unexpected for him. He knew Carmack's talent, but he still couldn't believe that a man who was less than eighteen years old, and could only be said to be a teenager, had completed countless procedures. A problem that engineers can't solve even if they think hard.

Did you think of it alone? Jester's tone was filled with surprise that could not be concealed.

Carmack nodded: Yes, myself.

Jester hesitated for a moment, but he still asked with some worry: Can you tell me how you did it? You know, Carmack has not joined Mars Entertainment yet, and Jester is like this Ask the question. Obviously it was inappropriate, but as a game designer, Jester really wanted to know how Carmack solved this problem. Jester heard Carmack explain. He also listened very carefully. While listening, he couldn't help but sigh for Jester, and when he heard Jester talking about this ray tracing algorithm. He was even more itchy and wanted to ask Carmack to explain to him immediately how this ray tracing algorithm works.

But when Carmack talked about the difficulty of adding characters to the 3D world. He became even more careful and serious.

You know, a complete three-dimensional world requires 3D models not only for buildings and objects, but also for characters. Even more than ten years later, Jester knows that many domestic 3D games claim to be 3D, and many buildings It's all done with 2D textures.

The solution is to simply draw images and animations that represent these characters. In fact, Garrett's Galaxy Captain produced by Vergen can already dynamically scale the image according to the distance between the player and the target. Size, although this is a bit difficult, it is not a difficult problem for me. After combining the techniques of polygon reduction, ray tracing, and dynamic scaling, I can already make a complete and smooth It’s a three-dimensional world.”

Carmack finished with a smile and waited for Jester's question.

After listening to Jester's explanation, Jester found it difficult to make a choice. From what Carmack said just now, he knew that the man in front of him wearing a pair of glasses looked shy, but The extremely arrogant young man is no different from the king of programmers in his memory. You must know that it is such a person who has completed the entire engine production of DM with the power of one person. With such ability, Jester is simply Unheard of.

However, precisely because of this, it was somewhat difficult for him to give Carmack an accurate position that would allow him to fully display his talents.

Carmack is a free-spirited person, and Mars Entertainment is a formal company after all. Although Jester's policies for employees in the company are very relaxed, there are still rules after all. Later, Carmack was encouraged to resign and start a new company. company, because he felt that working in the company was not free. In fact, Software magazine had given Carmack a high degree of freedom at that time.

Even after Carmack finished programming the smooth scrolling of the scroll, his boss saw it. His boss immediately said that he should register a patent for his creative software. Then Carmack immediately yelled at his boss. Suddenly, and his boss could only leave in disgrace, because his boss knew how powerful Carmack really was.

Even with this freedom to scold his boss without any punishment, Carmack resigned in the end. It can be seen that his nature is a person who does not like to be restrained.

Although he could rely on the impression left on Carmack when he was a child to let him work in his company, this was not a long-term solution. After thinking for a long time, Jester decided that instead of In this case, it would be better for him to directly set up his own independent studio. However, doing so may also cause criticism in the company. After all, Carmack is only a seventeen-year-old child and has not made even a single contribution to the company. If you contribute, you can set up your own studio. Those of us who have made countless contributions to the company, why not?

I know that John Carmack is the best game programmer in the world, a genius who can create an unparalleled 3D engine by himself, but others don't know that.

Therefore, after careful consideration, Jester asked: If I arrange manpower for you and have people work with you...

But before Jester finished speaking, Carmack said simply and directly: I don't need an assistant. If the assistant's level is not enough, it may slow down my progress. If I complete my previous ideas by myself, , it will take about four weeks, no more than six weeks at most, to complete a first-person perspective 3D engine.”

Carmack's words were so categorical that there was no room for Jester to argue.

However, Jester still wanted to give it a try. He continued to say earnestly: There are several chief programmers in our company who are very high-level. Maybe they can reach the level you want?

This time, after Carmack heard Jester's words, he hesitated slightly, and then reluctantly said: Okay, but you need to interview me in person. If you meet my requirements, you can work with me. Jester was relieved at Carmack's compromise. In fact, in his memory, Carmack was extremely conceited and proud of his skills, but he was not a difficult person to interact with. He also had countless IDs. People in the gaming industry dream of joining.

Jester smiled and said.

Your idea about the 3D engine just now really touched me. I am also very interested in using the engine you created to create an unprecedented game. Since you said that the current function can only create first-person 3D engine, then I plan to make a first-person shooting game, what do you think? After Jester finished speaking, he looked at Carmack carefully, hoping to see something on his face, but obviously, , Carmack let him down.

Carmack just smiled indifferently, then he looked at Jester with a surprised look and said: Actually, when I was making the engine, I was thinking about what kind of games such an engine can make. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would create a new type of first-person game controlled by the player, but I didn’t think much about the idea of ​​a shooting game.”

Jester knew that in addition to being an excellent programmer, Carmack was also a good game designer, so he took the initiative to ask him what he thought about this kind of first-person game that had never appeared on the market. , do you have any good suggestions? Of course, Jester, who is familiar with later games, knows nothing about first-person games, especially shooting games. It can be said that his understanding of this type of game is better than other people in this era. Human beings are simply out of reach.

Carmack also wanted to talk to Jester, the game designer he most admired, about his ideas for designing a game. Although he had only made a few games independently before, most of them were published in magazines. The published code is just a small game, and now being able to talk about his own game in front of the best game designers in the world is such an honor. For Carmack, who paid for it himself, he is also flattered.