cub3D - Ray-Casting Game Project

Project Purpose

The cub3D project is inspired by the iconic first-person shooter Wolfenstein 3D, the first FPS game ever developed. This project aims to introduce and explore ray-casting principles by building a dynamic first-person view inside a maze, where the player navigates through walls and avoids obstacles.

What is Ray-Casting?

Ray-casting is a rendering technique used in early 3D games to create a pseudo-3D perspective. It involves casting rays from the player's viewpoint and calculating intersections with walls to determine their position and render them accordingly.

Project Requirements and Conditions

The project requirements are as follows:

• Implement a first-person perspective rendering using miniLibX library.
• Display different wall textures depending on wall direction.
• Set distinct colors for floor and ceiling.
• Take a .cub file as input to configure the map layout, wall textures, and colors.
• The program should run smoothly and handle window management seamlessly (minimizing, closing, etc.).
• Use specific controls for player movement and interactions.

Development Steps

1. Validate the Map

Check if the map meets all requirements:

• Must be fully enclosed by walls.
• Only specific characters allowed: 0 for empty space, 1 for walls, and N, S, E, W for player start positions with orientation.

2. Initialize miniLibX Library

Set up miniLibX for window creation, graphics rendering, and handling keyboard events.

3. Parse Information from the Map File

Parse map information from the .cub file to extract wall textures, floor and ceiling colors, and map layout.

4. Divide the Window into Blocks

Render each section of the window as a block based on the map structure and set the player's initial position.

5. Calculate Ray Distances

Calculate ray distances for vertical and horizontal lines, determining where rays intersect with walls and selecting the shortest distance.

6. Render Walls

Render the walls wherever a ray hits by calculating the wall height and applying the appropriate texture based on the wall's direction.

7. Draw the Minimap

Render a minimap in the upper left corner of the screen, showing the player's position within the map.

8. Additional Details

Add extra UI elements like a crosshair, weapon graphics, and a health bar for a more immersive experience.

Game Controls

• Move Forward: W
• Move Backward: S
• Move Left: A
• Move Right: D
• Rotate Left: Left Arrow
• Rotate Right: Right Arrow
• Sprint: Shift
• Exit Game: ESC

Fire Hazard Feature

Avoid stepping into the fire area! If the player enters a fire zone, they will lose health, and a red flash will blink on the screen as a warning.

Running the Game

To compile and run the game:

1. Compile the project with:

   make

2. Run the game:

   ./cub3D map.cub

Note:

You can have fun by modifying the map as you like!! Just open the map.cub file and add/remove elements.

More updates are coming ...