Happy Birthday Wolfenstein 3D [May 05, 2017, 09:14 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the release of the original Wolfenstein
3D on May 5, 1992. This not actually 3D shooter was a breakthrough at the
time, and there's
an interview on Gamasutra where Tom Hall reflects on some design lessons he
learned while directing development of id's first hit game. He also shares some
development anecdotes such as the following aside about how they put in the
technology to animate wall textures and then forgot to use it:
[FASCINATING SIDE NOTE FROM HALL: "Off-topic, one sad story was this -- Wolfenstein actually had animating wall textures. From early on. The scene is this: we were making a cool FPS in a crazy short time. We had an outside artist helping on art, and the art wasn't turning out very good. A flickering torch wasn't well done. We parted ways. And then, WE FORGOT TO USE ANIMATING WALLS. At all. They could have really added to the atmosphere and been used for interesting things.... but, well, we had so much to do and simply forgot."]
Jivaro wrote on May 6, 2017, 11:13:Too bad id Software couldn't have both. I'd love to search and hide dead bodies in FPS version.
The original "Castle Wolfenstein", a top down game on the Apple IIe, was responsible for my interest in Wolf 3D. I don't even know if the two games are related in any way other than name...but I do remember that at the time "young teen me" was super pumped to be down "in" the action instead of looking at it from the top down.
Speaking of the Wolfenstein legacy, RTCW mainstreamed (Quake) Team Fortress and set a standard for all future FPS multiplayer titles.
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Beamer wrote on May 5, 2017, 19:57:Twas in the day.Slick wrote on May 5, 2017, 13:29:Bumpy wrote on May 5, 2017, 13:21:
Ahh..the joy of running along side the walls pressing the space bar.
I often expected that moving block of wall to reverse then trap and kill me. That gameplay trap they didn't do, least not any Wolf3D that I played.
OMG this. Proper secrets. Even tallied at the end of the level right? Or did they only introduce that in Doom?
Is running down every single straight line in the map, hitting space on every single wall, really a "proper" secret?
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Cutter wrote on May 6, 2017, 00:33:
I miss the days of shareware games. *sniff*
Me too! Now we live in a world where publishers sell seasons passes of mystery content for almost as much as the base game, at launch.
Remember how much fun we had at Bethesda's expense for their ridiculous "horse armor" DLC?
"...and now with sports. The Cointen Spinky Whompers flumped the Floing Boing Welfencloppers, 70-fluff to 40-flabe. At the tone, the time will be 26 railroad."
The original "Castle Wolfenstein", a top down game on the Apple IIe, was responsible for my interest in Wolf 3D. I don't even know if the two games are related in any way other than name...but I do remember that at the time "young teen me" was super pumped to be down "in" the action instead of looking at it from the top down.
Dang. I remember playing it on my IBM PS/2 model 30 286 10 Mhz PC! :O
Happy 25! this was one of the first pc games i played when it came out, and i was 7 years old at the time
I miss the days of shareware games. *sniff*
"There was no downside to cocaine. Period. If you have a chance to try it, I strongly recommend it." - Corey Wolfhart, Futureman
Get Psyched!
Slick wrote on May 5, 2017, 13:29:Bumpy wrote on May 5, 2017, 13:21:
Ahh..the joy of running along side the walls pressing the space bar.
I often expected that moving block of wall to reverse then trap and kill me. That gameplay trap they didn't do, least not any Wolf3D that I played.
OMG this. Proper secrets. Even tallied at the end of the level right? Or did they only introduce that in Doom?
Is running down every single straight line in the map, hitting space on every single wall, really a "proper" secret?
-------------
Music for the discerning:
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http://www.painkillerrecords.com
Music for the discerning:
http://www.deathwishinc.com
http://www.hydrahead.com
http://www.painkillerrecords.com
I remember playing this on my Grandpa's computer. He and my dad couldn't play it because it made them dizzy. I felt like I had a super power or something.
I've replayed it recently and the level design was still impressive. I know it's "just" mazes, but a few levels you really feel the character of each map.
The internet had to come along and ruin everything
I've replayed it recently and the level design was still impressive. I know it's "just" mazes, but a few levels you really feel the character of each map.
BobBob wrote on May 5, 2017, 18:27:
Why did life seem so much better in the 90s?
- People strived to be informed and educated.
- Television shows and movies had intelligent dialogue.
- Jobs were plenty, there wasn't enough people to fill positions.
- Companies believed in customer satisfaction.
- Life felt prosperous, hopeful, and free spirited.
For example: Back in those days, I used to fly NY (Upper East Manhattan) on a regular basis. I remember voluntarily giving up my plane seat, a couple of times - due to overbooking - but only because I was offered first class on the next flight and given a $500+ credit.
The internet had to come along and ruin everything
We're all as old as dirt. Congratulations, old school Wolf 3D crew, you made one of my first real PC game addictions. 
Slick wrote on May 5, 2017, 18:08:Kxmode wrote on May 5, 2017, 15:36:
25th anniversary? I did nazi that coming!
That is not funny, anne frankly I'm offended. These Nazi jokes are taking me out of mein kampfort zone, we should probably gestoppo right now.
You really had to concentrate to hitler that joke reich out of the camps.
"...and now with sports. The Cointen Spinky Whompers flumped the Floing Boing Welfencloppers, 70-fluff to 40-flabe. At the tone, the time will be 26 railroad."
Why did life seem so much better in the 90s?
- People strived to be informed and educated.
- Television shows and movies had intelligent dialogue.
- Jobs were plenty, there wasn't enough people to fill the positions.
- Companies believed in customer satisfaction.
- Life felt prosperous, hopeful, and free-spirited.
For example: Back in those days, I used to fly to NY (Upper East Manhattan) on a regular basis. I remember voluntarily giving up my plane seat, a couple of times - due to overbooking - but only because I was offered first class on the next flight and given a $500+ credit.
This comment was edited on May 5, 2017, 19:49.
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IMO this game was a very important milestone for PC gaming. Before Wolf 3d I don't think PC's were taken seriously as gaming machines. Sure there were lots of PC games before but...
Perpetual debt is slavery.
Kxmode wrote on May 5, 2017, 15:36:
25th anniversary? I did nazi that coming!
That is not funny, anne frankly I'm offended. These Nazi jokes are taking me out of mein kampfort zone, we should probably gestoppo right now.
25th anniversary? I did nazi that coming!
"...and now with sports. The Cointen Spinky Whompers flumped the Floing Boing Welfencloppers, 70-fluff to 40-flabe. At the tone, the time will be 26 railroad."
WOW, 25 years? Happy Birthday Wolfenstein 3D!
I remember downloading this from a BBS and was immediately mesmerized and enthralled. That is when my PC gaming addiction all started.
Yes, I feel old now too.
I seriously can't believe this got past Carmack!
Wolf3d had Kill %, Secret % and Treasure % at the end of each level, along with an average at the end of the game.
I have been playing through the new DOOM lately, and some of the secret hunting in that has me feeling the nostalgias. The old school vibe of the game is just incredible.
I have been playing through the new DOOM lately, and some of the secret hunting in that has me feeling the nostalgias. The old school vibe of the game is just incredible.
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