Origin of the sprites.

I've been wondering, for all the monsters in Duke Nukem 3D. How were they made? Since back then they didn't have advanced 3d modeling, I'm guessing they used clay figures or something.
Also, I wonder if the babes were made the same way, or were they real models?
Any thoughts?

[GodBlitZor]

They were 3D models that were digitised into sprites.

[Mr. Pink]

To add to what GodBlitZor said, they were highly detailed models with lots of polys. The tools were there to create the models, just not render them in real time in a game of that era.

[gt1750]

Originally Posted by GodBlitZor

They were 3D models that were digitised into sprites.

Yep. They did great work

[Nacho]

I wonder, are there enemies that they made but decided not to use. I don't mean sprited, but modeled, or had concept art done for.

[Treupp]

The only one I know is the scorpion pig tank, but it's sprited and already in the *.ARTs

[Hendricks266]

Don't forget the ORGANTIC (Organic Turret), but that was sprited, and had a little bit of crappy code. There are other unused sprites, like FEM8. FEM8 actually had complete code, but wasn't placed in any of the levels. H266MOD sometimes replaces the normal babes on the pole with FEM8, the impaled one, and adds a little bit of code so that if you press space Duke says "Damn." or some other death quote.

[Treupp]

Right, I forgot about the turret.

There are tons of unused art. There's even a pic depicting a Trooper seen from above... but what for? Map view?

[Telee]

Originally Posted by Treupp

Right, I forgot about the turret.

There are tons of unused art. There's even a pic depicting a Trooper seen from above... but what for? Map view?

That's for when you're flying above him with a jetpack.

Ok that makes sense. How about the babes or Duke himself?

[Rider]

I'd imagine they where 3D Models as well...

Actually... I'd like to see some more of 3DRealms' source models... the game is about 10 years old anyway...

*Puppy eyes*
Will you guys? Huh?

[Treupp]

Rider, AFAIK, none of the models in their raw form survived (or maybe I'm wrong) or we just don't know about it. What's left is a few rendered images, just like the Cycloid one.

[gt1750]

Originally Posted by 1334

Ok that makes sense. How about the babes or Duke himself?

Duke himself was also modelled (with that weapon you can see in the final pics and outros), but the babes most probably not. They don't need so many animation frames so I guess it was easier to do them straight 2D.

[GodBlitZor]

Originally Posted by Telee

That's for when you're flying above him with a jetpack.

wrong. In the original game duke had a "gps" like system that would show enemies on the map.

[Telee]

Originally Posted by GodBlitZor

wrong. In the original game duke had a "gps" like system that would show enemies on the map.

When you're flying your jetpack and look down at him, that's what you see. I'll try to get a pic.

EDIT: Just found that you're right, he looks like paper when you're above him. I don't know what GPS thing you're talking about though.

[GodBlitZor]

What I meant was, the map showed enemies on it. Similar to how it shows duke, thats it.

[Telee]

Originally Posted by GodBlitZor

What I meant was, the map showed enemies on it. Similar to how it shows duke, thats it.

In version 1.3d? Because on Atomic it doesn't show enemies on the map.

[Treupp]

Nope. It's a never implemented idea.

[GodBlitZor]

Atleast in any official versions.

[Treupp]

If I remember correctly, it's only the Trooper that has a top view.

[Phayzon]

^
Battlelord has one too

[Phayzon]

Originally Posted by gt1750

Yep. They did great work

*pic*

I take it 3DR doesnt have the actual models anymore, or we'd have a (more?) complete HRP.

[GodBlitZor]

They could have them, btu I doubt theyd release them to us.

[Phayzon]

Wonder why not..?

[GodBlitZor]

Who knows, but IIRC theyd be useless for the HRP because of their insane polycounts.

[Nacho]

Persoanlly I would love for someone to make a Duke Nukem 3D upgrade with updated sprites instead of models.

I still prefer them.

[gt1750]

Highly improbable. Most people who want updated graphics prefer models. I enjoy creating 2D art (I've never learned 3D) but I surely won't enjoy doing 47 frames for one enemy. Creating and animating a low poly model is probably easier than modeling and posing a high-poly one or doing the frames straight 2D.

[Hendricks266]

Here is a list of all of the map sprites. Notice that they only did the Ep. 1 enemies (minus RECON) and then stopped. They also made some generic sprites. The descriptions of the generic icons are guesses.

• Tile #1400-1403 - APLAYERTOP - Duke Top Sprite
• Tile #1705 - LIZTOP - LizTroop Top Sprite
• Tile #1845 - OCTATOP - Octabrain Top Sprite
• Tile #2061 - PIGTOP - Pig Cop Top Sprite
• Tile #2686 - <unnamed> - Battlelord Top Sprite
• Tile #2452 - DUKEICON - An African American Duke, which is supposed to be used to mark where Duke is. WTF? This goes right along with the unused African American Duke sprites somebody found in DN1!
• Tile #2453 - BADGUYICON - A skull, which is supposed to be used to mark where enemies are.
• Tile #2454 - FOODICON - A red cross, which might be supposed to be used to mark where (atomic) health and\or inventory items are.
• Tile #2455 - GETICON - A nuke icon, which might be supposed to be used to mark where weapons, ammo, and\or inventory items are.

[Nacho]

Could you post pictures of the top view sprites?

I wish the babes had mutiple angles....

[Treupp]

So go see some live on a street

[Hendricks266]

Look in the .ART files or Build\Mapster32.