Dominic Szablewski, an accomplished engineer and game developer known for projects like Voidcall and Quake VR, dives into the legacy of the iconic WipEout game. He shares insights on rewriting the game after a source code leak, highlighting the balance of nostalgia and modern programming challenges. The discussion also covers the appeal of low-level programming in C, innovative memory management techniques, and the complexities of adapting classic games to contemporary platforms. Szablewski's journey reflects a deep passion for both gaming and game development.
Dominic Szablewski's rewrite of the WipEout game illustrates the challenges of modernizing legacy code while ensuring cross-platform compatibility.
The original WipEout's innovative design and aesthetic not only set a standard for 3D racing games but also influenced its cultural significance in gaming history.
Deep dives
The Legacy of Wipeout
Wipeout, released in 1995, is a significant futuristic racing game that showcased the PlayStation's graphical capabilities and combined fast-paced gameplay with a distinct artistic flair and licensed electronic music. Initially perceived as a cultural phenomenon, the game's unique style set it apart from other racing titles such as F-Zero, offering a grown-up vibe and a fully 3D environment. The game allowed players to race in hovercrafts, steering through intricate tracks while being accompanied by cutting-edge electronic music. Its impact on gaming culture is profound, as it captured the imagination of many players during its time and influenced future racing games.
Dominic's Journey and the Rewrite Project
Dominic Zabluski, an engineer, game developer, and hacker, embarked on a remarkable journey to rewrite Wipeout after the game's source code was leaked in 2022. With a background in various programming languages and a passion for retro gaming, Dominic first reverse-engineered the game data format and later initiated the complete rewrite to ensure broader compatibility across modern operating systems. His new version compiles to Windows, Linux, macOS, and WebAssembly, allowing a new generation to experience this classic game. Dominic's previous projects and hands-on experience illustrate his commitment to reviving and modernizing this iconic game.
Challenges with Source Code and Development
The investigation into the leaked Wipeout source code revealed a convoluted structure filled with inefficiencies and dependency issues, making it a challenging task for Dominic to navigate. He noted that the original code relied heavily on Nintendo's design, creating infinite loops for each game state, which complicated the flow of the program. The code quality made it difficult to implement improvements, necessitating a complete rewrite to enhance its maintainability. Dominic's approach involved abstracting the rendering process, allowing the game to adapt to various platforms while ensuring a cleaner, more efficient codebase.
Future Aspirations and Developments
Looking ahead, Dominic acknowledges the potential for further improvements and enhancements to the Wipeout rewrite, even as he reflects on his development journey. Suggestions included refining the physics engine for frame rate independence and integrating advanced graphical effects, such as dynamic ship lighting and more forgiving collision mechanics. While currently focused on optimizing the game, he expressed a desire for potential collaboration with larger entities like Sony to produce a polished remaster of Wipeout for modern audiences. Dominic is also pursuing other projects, such as a C version of the Impact game engine, showcasing his ongoing commitment to exploring game development and programming.
WipEout is a futuristic racing game that was originally released in 1995 for the PlayStation. The game fused fast gameplay, striking art direction, and licensed electronic music. It was a cultural phenomenon and an early showcase for 3D graphics in console gaming.
Dominic Szablewski is an engineer, game developer and hacker who has released projects such as Voidcall, Quake VR, and Q1K3 which is a 13 kilobyte version of Quake written in JavaScript.
A version of the WipEout source code was leaked in 2022 and Dominic created a nearly complete rewrite of the game that compiles to Windows, Linux, macOS and WASM.
Dominic joins the podcast to talk about the project.
Joe Nash is a developer, educator, and award-winning community builder, who has worked at companies including GitHub, Twilio, Unity, and PayPal. Joe got his start in software development by creating mods and running servers for Garry’s Mod, and game development remains his favorite way to experience and explore new technologies and concepts.