Quake Army Knife

Infobox Software
name = Quake Army Knife



caption = Screenshot of QuArK's map editor.
developer =
released =
latest_release_version = 6.6.0 Beta 1
latest_release_date = release date|2008|05|06
latest_preview_version =
latest_preview_date =
programming language = Delphi and Python
operating_system = Microsoft Windows
platform =
genre = level design tool
status = Active
license = GPL [http://quark.planetquake.gamespy.com/features.php3 The Official QuArK website - Features ] ]
website = [http://quark.planetquake.gamespy.com/ quark.planetquake.gamespy.com]

QuArK (aka Quake Army Knife), is a free toolkit and environment for developing 3D computer game levels for a large variety of popular games, mostly first-person shooters using engines similar to or based on the Quake engine by id Software.

Overview

QuArK has been named in reference to the quark fundamental particle and is released under the GNU General Public License. It has the ability to directly edit maps and can import, export and convert models, sounds, textures and various other game assets. It is also possible to move or change dynamic game objects without the need to recompile the whole map which makes finetuning of details much easier and quicker.

QuArK is a brush-based editor, featuring an interface similar to Windows with respect to selection and manipulation of items, with flyover hints and other forms of in-program documentation. QuArK also offers a 3D textured view, where it is possible to see how the map or model will look in-game. This view can be rendered with a build-in software renderer, Glide, OpenGL or DirectX. It has three modes: wireframe, solid color and textured, and supports transparency and lighting in OpenGL mode.

Along with support for most games based on engines developed by id Software, it also has support for other game engines such as Source, Genesis3D, 6DX, Crystal Space, Torque [Cite book | author=Finney, Kenneth V. | authorlink= | coauthors= | title=3D Game Programming All in One (Course Technology PTR Game Development Series) | date= | publisher=Muska & Lipman/Premier-Trade | location= | isbn=1-59200-136-X | pages=] , and Sylphis 3D.

QuArK initially started out as a Delphi program called "Quakemap" in 1996. The current version is written in Delphi and Python. There were plans to make a C++ version of QuArK (called QuArK++), but development on that project has stopped. It is possible to add plugins, written in Python, to extend the capabilities of the editor, or to make changes to the official Python files to alter the way QuArK's functions work. More information about this can be found in the [http://quark.planetquake.gamespy.com/infobase/ QuArK Infobase] .

Packages

The official package can be downloaded from the [http://quark.planetquake.gamespy.com/ main website] .

[http://www.skinhat.com/3dpack/ 3D Development Pack] is a custom installer to allow people to quickly and easily develop a 3D game using QuArK. It combines QuArK, Lazarus and GLScene.Note: The version of QuArK used in this package is not up-to-date.]

[http://www.skinhat.com/Quark/ Quark For GLScene] is an install for QuArK that includes [http://www.osmanturan.com/ OpenBSP] as the default compiler and doesn't need Quake installed.

The Garage Games website offers a custom installer, which will install QuArK with some additional files so it's ready to go and configured for Torque: [http://www.garagegames.com/docs/tge/general/ch09s02.html Torque Game Engine Documentation] .

References

External links

* [http://quark.planetquake.gamespy.com/ Official QuArK Website]
* [http://sourceforge.net/projects/quark Download QuArK at SourceForge]