Whenever this is brought up, there's usually some programmers who get pretty anal about the exact definition. I think, for example, Minecraft should not be called a "voxel" ("volumetric pixel")...
Whenever this is brought up, there's usually some programmers who get pretty anal about the exact definition. I think, for example, Minecraft should not be called a "voxel" ("volumetric pixel") game despite the world clearly being presented in a voxel-like format (and I have a feeling Cube World might be similar). I think this actually goes back to when "voxel engines" were a legitimate thing in large-ish games the last time I remember this happening was Outcast, in like 1999. It's a completely different rendering technique, grossly incompatible with how graphics cards did polygonal rendering (even though today, you should be able to do all kinds of crazy stuff with geometry shaders and whatnot?).
The last notable "true" voxel project I recall was the original beta version of "Ace of Spades" from ~2011, a PvP first person shooter that allowed players to dig tunnels and build forts. It was...
The last notable "true" voxel project I recall was the original beta version of "Ace of Spades" from ~2011, a PvP first person shooter that allowed players to dig tunnels and build forts. It was later picked up by Jagex (the Runescape people) and converted into a more conventional Minecraft-style renderer.
The voxel version used Ken Silverman's Voxlap engine, which is apparently still available in source form, though I haven't kept up with any of his more recent work.
Amusingly enough, I deleted the line "Maybe you should ask Ken Silverman" in an earlier comment in this thread because I figured nobody would recognize the name.
Amusingly enough, I deleted the line "Maybe you should ask Ken Silverman" in an earlier comment in this thread because I figured nobody would recognize the name.
I actually read the article after reading your comment. You're right, this is not quite accurate, and the characterization of Minecraft's graphics as voxel-based is the most egregious error....
I actually read the article after reading your comment. You're right, this is not quite accurate, and the characterization of Minecraft's graphics as voxel-based is the most egregious error. Minecraft's blocks are absolutely not the smallest discrete visual elements because everything that is not block-shaped is generally smaller than a block.
I would also take issue with calling 3D games "vector-based" for a number of reasons. Number one is that they are typically not represented by vectors, even if you are just talking about raw polygon data.
I don't think that most voxel engines are based on drawing polygon boxes. That is a very mathematically complex operation. The reason why voxel engines came to being is because they are very easy to render. That being said, I don't have the know-how to explain any further.
It's definitely not just a million little cubes because that was impossible back then and the whole idea of these engines was being able to render fairly large environments efficiently. The...
It's definitely not just a million little cubes because that was impossible back then and the whole idea of these engines was being able to render fairly large environments efficiently. The resulting engines had a very specific, "messy" kinda look to them where you couldn't see any polygons but huge, floating pixels smoothly scattered all over the landscape (often mixed with normal polygonal rendering for characters and buildings and whatnot).
I wanted to post this earlier but only just now found the link: There's a fairly recent indie project called Voxel Quest which looks like an authentic (and kinda breathtaking) modern take on voxel rendering. I kinda want this to become a thing!
Whenever this is brought up, there's usually some programmers who get pretty anal about the exact definition. I think, for example, Minecraft should not be called a "voxel" ("volumetric pixel") game despite the world clearly being presented in a voxel-like format (and I have a feeling Cube World might be similar). I think this actually goes back to when "voxel engines" were a legitimate thing in large-ish games the last time I remember this happening was Outcast, in like 1999. It's a completely different rendering technique, grossly incompatible with how graphics cards did polygonal rendering (even though today, you should be able to do all kinds of crazy stuff with geometry shaders and whatnot?).
The last notable "true" voxel project I recall was the original beta version of "Ace of Spades" from ~2011, a PvP first person shooter that allowed players to dig tunnels and build forts. It was later picked up by Jagex (the Runescape people) and converted into a more conventional Minecraft-style renderer.
The voxel version used Ken Silverman's Voxlap engine, which is apparently still available in source form, though I haven't kept up with any of his more recent work.
Amusingly enough, I deleted the line "Maybe you should ask Ken Silverman" in an earlier comment in this thread because I figured nobody would recognize the name.
I actually read the article after reading your comment. You're right, this is not quite accurate, and the characterization of Minecraft's graphics as voxel-based is the most egregious error. Minecraft's blocks are absolutely not the smallest discrete visual elements because everything that is not block-shaped is generally smaller than a block.
I would also take issue with calling 3D games "vector-based" for a number of reasons. Number one is that they are typically not represented by vectors, even if you are just talking about raw polygon data.
I don't think that most voxel engines are based on drawing polygon boxes. That is a very mathematically complex operation. The reason why voxel engines came to being is because they are very easy to render. That being said, I don't have the know-how to explain any further.
It's definitely not just a million little cubes because that was impossible back then and the whole idea of these engines was being able to render fairly large environments efficiently. The resulting engines had a very specific, "messy" kinda look to them where you couldn't see any polygons but huge, floating pixels smoothly scattered all over the landscape (often mixed with normal polygonal rendering for characters and buildings and whatnot).
I wanted to post this earlier but only just now found the link: There's a fairly recent indie project called Voxel Quest which looks like an authentic (and kinda breathtaking) modern take on voxel rendering. I kinda want this to become a thing!