![Voxelgitter](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/Voxelgitter.png)
In
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for th ...
, a voxel represents a value on a
regular grid
A regular grid is a tessellation of ''n''-dimensional Euclidean space by congruent parallelotopes (e.g. bricks).
Its opposite is irregular grid.
Grids of this type appear on graph paper and may be used in finite element analysis, finite volume ...
in
three-dimensional space
Three-dimensional space (also: 3D space, 3-space or, rarely, tri-dimensional space) is a geometric setting in which three values (called ''parameters'') are required to determine the position (geometry), position of an element (i.e., Point (m ...
. As with
pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the smal ...
s in a 2D
bitmap
In computing, a bitmap is a mapping from some domain (for example, a range of integers) to bits. It is also called a bit array
A bit array (also known as bitmask, bit map, bit set, bit string, or bit vector) is an array data structure that c ...
, voxels themselves do not typically have their position (i.e.
coordinate
In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The order of the coordinates is sign ...
s) explicitly encoded with their values. Instead,
rendering systems infer the position of a voxel based upon its position relative to other voxels (i.e., its position in the
data structure
In computer science, a data structure is a data organization, management, and storage format that is usually chosen for efficient access to data. More precisely, a data structure is a collection of data values, the relationships among them, a ...
that makes up a single
volumetric image).
In contrast to pixels and voxels,
polygons
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
are often explicitly represented by the coordinates of their
vertices (as
points). A direct consequence of this difference is that polygons can efficiently represent simple 3D structures with much empty or homogeneously filled space, while voxels excel at representing regularly sampled spaces that are non-homogeneously filled.
Voxels are frequently used in the
visualization
Visualization or visualisation may refer to:
*Visualization (graphics), the physical or imagining creation of images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message
* Data visualization, the graphic representation of data
* Information visualiz ...
and analysis of
medical
Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...
and scientific data (e.g.
geographic information system
A geographic information system (GIS) is a type of database containing Geographic data and information, geographic data (that is, descriptions of phenomena for which location is relevant), combined with Geographic information system software, sof ...
s (GIS)). Some volumetric displays use voxels to describe their
resolution
Resolution(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Resolution (debate), the statement which is debated in policy debate
* Resolution (law), a written motion adopted by a deliberative body
* New Year's resolution, a commitment that an individual mak ...
. For example, a cubic volumetric display might be able to show 512×512×512 (or about 134 million) voxels.
One of the definitions is:
Voxel is an image of a three-dimensional space region limited by given sizes, which has its own ''nodal point'' coordinates in an accepted coordinate system, its own ''form'', its own ''state parameter'' that indicates its belonging to some modeled object, and has ''properties'' of modeled region.
This definition has the following advantage. If fixed voxel form is used within the whole model it is much easier to operate with voxel ''nodal points'' (i.e. three coordinates of this point). Yet, there is the simple form of record: indexes of the elements in the model set (i.e. integer coordinates). Model set elements in this case are ''state parameters,'' indicating voxel belonging to the modeled object or its separate parts, including their surfaces.
[
]
Etymology
The word ''voxel'' originated analogously to the word "
pixel
In digital imaging, a pixel (abbreviated px), pel, or picture element is the smallest addressable element in a raster image, or the smallest point in an all points addressable display device.
In most digital display devices, pixels are the smal ...
", with ''vo'' representing "
volume
Volume is a measure of occupied three-dimensional space. It is often quantified numerically using SI derived units (such as the cubic metre and litre) or by various imperial or US customary units (such as the gallon, quart, cubic inch). Th ...
" (instead of pixel's "picture") and ''el'' representing "element";
[
] a similar formation with ''el'' for "element" is the word "
texel
Texel (; Texels dialect: ) is a municipality and an island with a population of 13,643 in North Holland, Netherlands. It is the largest and most populated island of the West Frisian Islands in the Wadden Sea. The island is situated north of De ...
".
The term ''hypervoxel'' is a generalization of voxel for
higher-dimensional space
In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a mathematical space (or object) is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus, a line has a dimension of one (1D) because only one coord ...
s.
Rendering
A volume described as voxels can be visualized either by direct
volume rendering
In scientific visualization and computer graphics, volume rendering is a set of techniques used to display a 2D projection of a 3D discretely sampled data set, typically a 3D scalar field.
A typical 3D data set is a group of 2D slice imag ...
or by the extraction of
polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
iso-surfaces that follow the contours of given threshold values. The
marching cubes
Marching cubes is a computer graphics algorithm, published in the 1987 SIGGRAPH proceedings by Lorensen and Cline, for extracting a polygonal mesh of an isosurface from a three-dimensional discrete scalar field (the elements of which are sometim ...
algorithm is often used for isosurface extraction, however other methods exist as well.
Both
ray tracing and
ray casting
Ray casting is the methodological basis for 3D CAD/CAM solid modeling and image rendering. It is essentially the same as ray tracing for computer graphics where virtual light rays are "cast" or "traced" on their path from the focal point of a came ...
, as well as
rasterisation
In computer graphics, rasterisation (British English) or rasterization (American English) is the task of taking an image described in a vector graphics format (shapes) and converting it into a raster image (a series of pixels, dots or lines, whi ...
, can be applied to voxel data to obtain 2D
raster graphics
upright=1, The Smiley, smiley face in the top left corner is a raster image. When enlarged, individual pixels appear as squares. Enlarging further, each pixel can be analyzed, with their colors constructed through combination of the values for ...
to depict on a monitor.
Incremental error rasterisation
Another technique for voxels involves raster graphics where one simply raytraces every pixel of the display into the scene, tracking an
error term to determine when to step. A typical implementation will raytrace each pixel of the display starting at the bottom of the screen using what is known as a y-buffer. When a voxel is reached that has a higher y value on the display it is added to the y-buffer overriding the previous value and connected with the previous y-value on the screen interpolating the color values. There is a major downside to voxel rasterization when transformation is applied which causes severe
aliasing
In signal processing and related disciplines, aliasing is an effect that causes different signals to become indistinguishable (or ''aliases'' of one another) when sampled. It also often refers to the distortion or artifact that results when a ...
. The advantage was the ability to rasterise using cheap integer calculations on a
CPU without
hardware acceleration
Hardware acceleration is the use of computer hardware designed to perform specific functions more efficiently when compared to software running on a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU). Any transformation of data that can be calcula ...
.
''
Outcast'', and other 1990s video games employed this graphics technique for effects such as
reflection Reflection or reflexion may refer to:
Science and technology
* Reflection (physics), a common wave phenomenon
** Specular reflection, reflection from a smooth surface
*** Mirror image, a reflection in a mirror or in water
** Signal reflection, in ...
and
bump-mapping and usually for
terrain rendering
Terrain cartography or relief mapping is the depiction of the shape of the surface of the Earth on a map, using one or more of several techniques that have been developed. Terrain or relief is an essential aspect of physical geography, and as su ...
. ''Outcasts
graphics engine was mainly a combination of a ray casting (
heightmap
In computer graphics, a heightmap or heightfield is a raster image used mainly as Discrete Global Grid in secondary elevation modeling. Each pixel stores values, such as surface elevation data, for display in 3D computer graphics. A heigh ...
) engine, used to render the landscape, and a
texture mapping
Texture mapping is a method for mapping a texture on a computer-generated graphic. Texture here can be high frequency detail, surface texture, or color.
History
The original technique was pioneered by Edwin Catmull in 1974.
Texture mapping ...
polygon
In geometry, a polygon () is a plane figure that is described by a finite number of straight line segments connected to form a closed ''polygonal chain'' (or ''polygonal circuit''). The bounded plane region, the bounding circuit, or the two toge ...
engine used to render objects. The "Engine Programming" section of the games credits in the manual has several subsections related to graphics, among them: "Landscape Engine", "Polygon Engine", "Water & Shadows Engine" and "Special effects Engine". Although ''Outcast'' is often cited as a forerunner of voxel technology, this is somewhat misleading. The game does not actually model three-dimensional volumes of voxels. Instead, it models the ground as a surface, which may be seen as being made up of voxels. The ground is decorated with objects that are modeled using texture-mapped polygons. When ''Outcast'' was developed, the term "voxel engine", when applied to computer games, commonly referred to a ray casting engine (for example the ''
VoxelSpace'' engine). On the engine technology page of the game's website, the landscape engine is also referred to as the "Voxels engine". The engine is purely
software
Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.
At the lowest programming level, executable code consists ...
-based; it does not rely on hardware-acceleration via a 3D
graphics card
A graphics card (also called a video card, display card, graphics adapter, VGA card/VGA, video adapter, display adapter, or mistakenly GPU) is an expansion card which generates a feed of output images to a display device, such as a computer moni ...
.
[Voxel terrain engine]
", introduction. In a coder's mind, 2005.
John Carmack also experimented with Voxels for the ''
Quake III
''Quake III Arena'' is a 1999 multiplayer-focused first-person shooter developed by id Software. The third installment of the ''Quake'' series, ''Arena'' differs from previous games by excluding a story-based single-player mode and focusing prima ...
'' engine. One such problem cited by Carmack was the lack of graphics cards designed specifically for such rendering requiring them to be software rendered.
Comanche
The Comanche or Nʉmʉnʉʉ ( com, Nʉmʉnʉʉ, "the people") are a Native American tribe from the Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the federally recognized Comanche Nation, headquartered in La ...
was also the first commercial
flight simulation
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and the environment in which it flies, for pilot training, design, or other purposes. It includes replicating the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they rea ...
based on voxel technology.
NovaLogic used the proprietary
Voxel Space
Voxel Space was a voxel raster graphics rendering engine invented by Novalogic developer and vice-president of technology, Kyle Freeman. The company was issued a patent for the technology in early 2000.
History
The original Voxel Space engine w ...
engine developed for the company by Kyle Freeman (written entirely in
Assembly language
In computer programming, assembly language (or assembler language, or symbolic machine code), often referred to simply as Assembly and commonly abbreviated as ASM or asm, is any low-level programming language with a very strong correspondence be ...
) to create open landscapes. This rendering technique allowed for much more detailed and realistic terrain compared to simulations based on
vector graphics
Vector graphics is a form of computer graphics in which visual images are created directly from geometric shapes defined on a Cartesian plane, such as points, lines, curves and polygons. The associated mechanisms may include vector display a ...
at that time.
Gallery
3D rendering of a micro CT scan of a piece of dried leaf..ogv, 3D rendering of a µCT scan of a leaf piece, resolution circa 40 µm/voxel when viewed at the full size
Ribo-Voxels.png, A (smoothed) rendering of a data set A data set (or dataset) is a collection of data. In the case of tabular data, a data set corresponds to one or more database tables, where every column of a table represents a particular variable, and each row corresponds to a given record of the ...
of voxels for a macromolecule
Data
A voxel represents a single sample, or data point, on a regularly spaced, three-dimensional grid. This data point can consist of a single piece of data, such as an opacity, or multiple pieces of data, such as a color in addition to opacity. A voxel represents only a single point on this grid, not a volume; the space between each voxel is not represented in a voxel-based dataset. Depending on the type of data and the intended use for the dataset, this missing information may be reconstructed and/or approximated, e.g. via interpolation.
The value of a voxel may represent various properties. In
CT scans, the values are
Hounsfield units The Hounsfield scale , named after Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, is a quantitative scale for describing radiodensity. It is frequently used in CT scans, where its value is also termed CT number.
Definition
The Hounsfield unit (HU) scale is a linear tra ...
, giving the opacity of material to X-rays.
[Novelline, Robert. ''Squire's Fundamentals of Radiology''. Harvard University Press. 5th edition. 1997. .] Different types of value are acquired from
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves ...
or
ultrasound
Ultrasound is sound waves with frequency, frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing range, hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hea ...
.
Voxels can contain multiple
scalar
Scalar may refer to:
*Scalar (mathematics), an element of a field, which is used to define a vector space, usually the field of real numbers
* Scalar (physics), a physical quantity that can be described by a single element of a number field such ...
values, essentially vector (tensor) data; in the case of
ultrasound
Ultrasound is sound waves with frequency, frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing range, hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hea ...
scans with B-mode and
Doppler data,
density
Density (volumetric mass density or specific mass) is the substance's mass per unit of volume. The symbol most often used for density is ''ρ'' (the lower case Greek letter rho), although the Latin letter ''D'' can also be used. Mathematical ...
, and
volumetric flow rate
In physics and engineering, in particular fluid dynamics, the volumetric flow rate (also known as volume flow rate, or volume velocity) is the volume of fluid which passes per unit time; usually it is represented by the symbol (sometimes ). I ...
are captured as separate channels of data relating to the same voxel positions.
While voxels provide the benefit of precision and depth of reality, they are typically large data sets and are unwieldy to manage given the bandwidth of common computers. However, through efficient compression and manipulation of large data files, interactive visualization can be enabled on consumer market computers.
Other values may be useful for immediate 3D
rendering, such as a surface
normal vector and
color
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associ ...
.
Technologies to extend voxels into 4 and 5 dimensions of data are under investigation.
Uses
Common uses of voxels include volumetric imaging in medicine and representation of terrain in games and simulations. Voxel terrain is used instead of a
heightmap
In computer graphics, a heightmap or heightfield is a raster image used mainly as Discrete Global Grid in secondary elevation modeling. Each pixel stores values, such as surface elevation data, for display in 3D computer graphics. A heigh ...
because of its ability to represent overhangs, caves, arches, and other 3D terrain features. These concave features cannot be represented in a heightmap due to only the top 'layer' of data being represented, leaving everything below it filled (the volume that would otherwise be the inside of the caves, or the underside of arches or overhangs).
3D computer graphics software
* ''
3D-Coat'' offers a voxel sculpting mode.
* ''
Blender (2.81+)'' allows one to create a voxel-like effect by Quad Remesh (with Quadriflow algorithm) or Voxel Remesh (with
OpenVDB).
* ''
Cinema 4D (R20+)'' allows one to create a voxel-like effect (with
OpenVDB).
* ''
ZBrush'' uses its voxel-like Unified Skin technology for the DynaMesh and other tools. It makes a smart pixel which is called a "pixol".
* Mega Voxels is a free-to-use voxel editor developed by Go Real Games, LLC to design 3D models using voxels.
*
Voxel Builder', an online open-source playground based on ''
Babylon.js
Babylon.js is a real time 3D engine using a JavaScript library for displaying 3D graphics in a web browser via HTML5. The source code is available on GitHub and distributed under the Apache License 2.0.
History and progress
It was initially r ...
''.
Computer games
* ''
3D Dot Game Heroes'' uses voxels to present retro-looking graphics.
* ''
7 Days to Die
''7 Days to Die'' is an early access survival horror video game set in an open world developed by The Fun Pimps. It was released through Early Access on Steam for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X on December 13, 2013, and for Linux on November 22 ...
'' is a voxel-based open world survival horror game developed by
The Fun Pimps Entertainment.
* ''
Ace of Spades
The Ace of Spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) is traditionally the highest and most valued card in the deck of playing cards in English-speaking countries. The actual value of the card varies from game to game.
Design
The orn ...
'' used
Ken Silverman
Ken Silverman (born November 1, 1975) is an American game programmer, best known for writing the Build engine. It was most notably utilized by ''Duke Nukem 3D'', ''Shadow Warrior'', ''Blood'', and more than a dozen other games in the mid- to la ...
's Voxlap engine before being rewritten in a bespoke
OpenGL
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. The API is typically used to interact with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardwa ...
engine.
* ''
Amok'' uses voxels for its environments.
* ''
Armored Fist 3
''Armored Fist 3'' is a tank simulation video game developed and published by NovaLogic in 1999.
Gameplay
It uses voxels, volumetric pixels, for in-game graphics, much like other Novalogic games such as ''Delta Force'' and the '' Comanche'' s ...
'' is a computer game made by
Novalogic that used voxel-based rendering technology.
* ''
Blade Runner
''Blade Runner'' is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick' ...
'' is a video game that used voxels to render characters and artifacts.
* ''
Castle Story
''Castle Story'' is a sandbox and real-time strategy game developed by Sauropod Studio. Funded through crowdfunding website Kickstarter in 2012, the game launched in September 2013 in early access, and was fully released in August 2017.
Ga ...
'', a castle building Real Time Strategy game in development, has terrain consisting of smoothed voxels.
* ''
Cloudpunk
''Cloudpunk'' is a cyberpunk adventure game developed by German developer Ion Lands and published by Maple Whispering Limited for Microsoft Windows on April 23, 2020. It was released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 15, ...
'', a cyberpunk adventure game, is almost entirely voxel-based.
* ''
Comanche series'', a series of computer games made by
NovaLogic that used the
Voxel Space
Voxel Space was a voxel raster graphics rendering engine invented by Novalogic developer and vice-president of technology, Kyle Freeman. The company was issued a patent for the technology in early 2000.
History
The original Voxel Space engine w ...
voxel rasterization for terrain rendering.
* ''
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun'', ''
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2'' and ''
Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge'' are computer games made by
Westwood Studios
Westwood Studios, Inc. was an American video game developer, based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded by Brett Sperry and Louis Castle in 1985 as Brelous Software, but got changed after 2 months into Westwood Associates and was renamed to Westw ...
that used voxels to render most vehicles.
* ''
Crysis
''Crysis'' is a first-person shooter video game series created by Crytek. The series revolves around a group of military protagonists with " nanosuits", technologically advanced suits of armor that give them enhanced physical strength, speed, ...
'', as well as ''
Cryengine 2
CryEngine (stylized as CRYENGINE) is a game engine designed by the German game developer Crytek. It has been used in all of their titles with the initial version being used in ''Far Cry'', and continues to be updated to support new consoles an ...
'' and ''
Cryengine 3
CryEngine (stylized as CRYENGINE) is a game engine designed by the German game developer Crytek. It has been used in all of their titles with the initial version being used in ''Far Cry'', and continues to be updated to support new consoles and ...
'', use a combination of
heightmaps and voxels for their terrain systems.
* ''
Cube World
''Cube World'' is an action role-playing game developed and published by Picroma for Microsoft Windows. Wolfram von Funck, the game's designer, began developing the game in June 2011, and was later joined by his wife, Sarah. An alpha version o ...
'', an
action role-playing game
An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.
Definition
The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...
, features procedurally generated voxel landscapes.
* ''
Delta Force
The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), referred to variously as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), "The Unit", or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), Task Fo ...
'' is a computer game made by
Novalogic that used the in-house
Voxel Space
Voxel Space was a voxel raster graphics rendering engine invented by Novalogic developer and vice-president of technology, Kyle Freeman. The company was issued a patent for the technology in early 2000.
History
The original Voxel Space engine w ...
rendering engine.
* ''
Dual Universe
''Dual Universe'' is a first person based space simulation sandbox massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by the Paris-based game development studio, Novaquark.
It is reported to combine elements of ''Eve Online'' and '' Star ...
'' is a single-shard universe MMORPG game that uses voxels to build spaceships, civilizations, and space stations.
* ''
EverQuest Next
''EverQuest Next'' was a planned massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), meant to be the successor to ''EverQuest'', ''EverQuest Online Adventures'' and ''EverQuest II''. The game was in development by the Daybreak Game Company, ...
'' and ''EverQuest Next: Landmark'', cancelled MMORPGs by
Sony Online Entertainment
Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in ...
, make extensive use of voxels for world creation as well as player generated content
* ''
Hexplore
''Hexplore'' is a 1998 role-playing video game developed by Heliovisions Productions and published by Infogrames Multimedia. It was released digitally on December 20, 2019 by Piko Interactive on GOG.com.
Premise
Set in 1000 AD, the player exp ...
'', a multi-player role playing game, uses a voxel engine allowing the player to rotate the isometric rendered playfield.
* ''
Hytale
''Hytale'' is an upcoming sandbox game by Hypixel Studios. Production began in 2015 by developers from the ''Minecraft'' multiplayer server ''Hypixel'' with funding from Riot Games, who later bought the studio in 2020. The developers are aiming t ...
'' is a RPG Sandbox voxel-based game which gets developed by
Hypixel Studios and gets funded by
Riot Games
Riot Games, Inc. is an American video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organizer based in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in September 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill to develop ''League of Legends'' and went on t ...
, release date is set to 2023 at earliest.
* ''
Master of Orion III
''Master of Orion III'' is a 4X turn-based strategy game and the third in the ''Master of Orion'' series. ''Master of Orion III'' was developed by Quicksilver Software and published by Infogrames Interactive on February 25, 2003.
Backstory
In ...
'' uses voxel graphics to render space battles and solar systems. Battles displaying 1000 ships at a time were rendered slowly on computers without hardware graphic acceleration.
* ''
Medieval Engineers
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
'' is the second voxel-based engineering game by
Keen Software House
Keen Software House is an independent video game developing company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The company was founded by Marek Rosa in 2010.
Keen Software House's technological know-how and proprietary VRAGE game engine has allowed the c ...
inspired from medieval technology.
* ''
Minecraft
''Minecraft'' is a sandbox game developed by Mojang Studios. The game was created by Markus "Notch" Persson in the Java programming language. Following several early private testing versions, it was first made public in May 2009 before being ...
'' is a
sandbox video game that uses voxels to store terrain
data
In the pursuit of knowledge, data (; ) is a collection of discrete values that convey information, describing quantity, quality, fact, statistics, other basic units of meaning, or simply sequences of symbols that may be further interpreted ...
, but does not use
voxel rendering techniques. Instead it uses
polygon rendering to display each voxel as a cubic "block".
* ''
Miner Wars 2081
''Miner Wars 2081'' is a six degrees of freedom action-survival space-shooter simulation game produced by Keen Software House. The gameplay offers a choice of single player, co-op, and deathmatch multi-player. The game is set in the year 2081, ...
'' is a 6DOF open world game made by
Keen Software House
Keen Software House is an independent video game developing company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The company was founded by Marek Rosa in 2010.
Keen Software House's technological know-how and proprietary VRAGE game engine has allowed the c ...
that uses its own VRage voxel rendering engine to let the user deform the terrain of asteroids allowing tunnels to be formed.
* ''
No Man's Sky
''No Man's Sky'' is an action-adventure survival game developed and published by Hello Games. It was released worldwide for the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows in August 2016, for Xbox One in July 2018, for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Se ...
'' is a space exploration game consisting of procedurally generated star systems containing explorable planets, moons and asteroids made up of voxels. The voxel engine allows for both terrain destruction and creation.
* ''
Outcast'', is a third-person action computer game made by former Belgian
video game developer
A video game developer is a broad term for a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large ...
Appeal, with landscapes rendered by a voxel engine.
* ''
Phase Zero
''Phase Zero'' is an unreleased Action game, action-Shooter game, shooter video game that was in development by Hyper Image Productions and originally planned to be published by Atari Corporation on a scheduled September 1995 release date exclusi ...
'' is a 2002 unreleased
action
Action may refer to:
* Action (narrative), a literary mode
* Action fiction, a type of genre fiction
* Action game, a genre of video game
Film
* Action film, a genre of film
* ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford
* ''Action'' (1980 fil ...
-
shooter
Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, Bow and arrow, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or Blowgun, blowpipe). Even the acts of launching Flamethrower, flame, artillery, Dart (missile), darts, ha ...
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
for
Atari Jaguar
The Atari Jaguar is a home video game console developed by Atari Corporation and released in North America in November 1993. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it competed with the 16-bit Sega Genesis, the Super NES and the ...
, with landscapes redered by the engine
Voxel Space
Voxel Space was a voxel raster graphics rendering engine invented by Novalogic developer and vice-president of technology, Kyle Freeman. The company was issued a patent for the technology in early 2000.
History
The original Voxel Space engine w ...
.
* ''
Planet Coaster
''Planet Coaster'' is a construction and management simulation video game developed and published by Frontier Developments for Microsoft Windows. It was released worldwide on 17 November 2016. Frontier had previously worked in the amusement par ...
'' is a 2016
construction and management simulation
Construction and management simulation (CMS),
sometimes also called management sim or building sim, is a subgenre of simulation game in which players build, expand or manage fictional communities or projects with limited resources. Strategy vide ...
developed and published by
Frontier Developments
Frontier Developments is a British video game developer founded by David Braben in January 1994 and based at the Cambridge Science Park in Cambridge, England. Frontier is known for developing amusement park Construction and management simulation ...
which uses a voxel-based terrain editor.
* ''
Resogun
''Resogun'' is a voxel-based side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Finnish developer Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. The PlayStation 4 game was ...
'' is a 2013 voxel-based side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Finnish developer
Housemarque
Housemarque Oy is a Finnish video game developer based in Helsinki. The company was founded by Ilari Kuittinen and Harri Tikkanen in July 1995, through the merger of their previous video game companies, Bloodhouse and Terramarque, both of which ...
.
* ''
Roblox
''Roblox'' () is an online game platform and game creation system developed by Roblox Corporation that allows users to program games and play games created by other users. Created by David Baszucki and Erik Cassel in 2004 and released in 20 ...
'' uses voxels for terrain.
* ''
Robocraft
''Robocraft'' is an online vehicular combat game developed and published by Freejam Games. The game is set on different planets, with players constructing robots to fight with and against others in battle. The game features contained garage bays ...
'', a vehicular combat game in which players build combat machines out of voxels and premade components
* ''ScrumbleShip'', a block-building MMO space simulator game in development (as of 2017), renders each in-game component and damage to those components using dozens to thousands of voxels.
* ''
Shadow Warrior
''Shadow Warrior'' is a series of first-person shooter video games that focuses on the exploits of Lo Wang, a modern ninja warrior who fights through hordes of demons. The original series is made up of one game, '' Shadow Warrior'' (1997), and t ...
'' and ''
Blood
Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the c ...
'' use
Build engine
Build Engine is a first-person shooter engine created by Ken Silverman, author of ''Ken's Labyrinth'', for 3D Realms. Like the Doom engine, ''Doom'' engine, the Build Engine represents its world on a 2D computer graphics, two-dimensional grid usin ...
for first-person shooter game voxel rendering, instead of
sprites, as an option for many of the items pickups and scenery. ''
Duke Nukem 3D
''Duke Nukem 3D'' is a first-person shooter video game developed by 3D Realms. It is a sequel to the platform games ''Duke Nukem'' and ''Duke Nukem II'', published by 3D Realms.
''Duke Nukem 3D'' features the adventures of the titular Duke Nuke ...
'' has a fan-created pack in a similar style.
* ''
Shattered Steel
''Shattered Steel'' is a mech simulation game released in 1996 by BioWare for MS-DOS, and later ported to Mac OS by now-defunct Logicware. It is notable for the deformable terrain effects, and for being BioWare's first developed game.BioWarBiowa ...
'' featured deforming landscapes using voxel technology.
* ''
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
''Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri'' is a 4X video game, considered a spiritual sequel to the ''Civilization'' series. Set in a science fiction depiction of the 22nd century, the game begins as seven competing ideological factions land on the planet ...
'' uses voxel models to render units.
* ''SkySaga: Infinite Isles'' is a voxel-based sandbox MMORPG, being developed by Radiant Worlds and published by Smilegate.
* ''Space Engineers'' is a voxel-based sandbox game set in space, developed and published by
Keen Software House
Keen Software House is an independent video game developing company based in Prague, Czech Republic. The company was founded by Marek Rosa in 2010.
Keen Software House's technological know-how and proprietary VRAGE game engine has allowed the c ...
* ''Starbase (video game), Starbase'', a voxel-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in space, being developed and published by Frozenbyte.
* ''StarMade'', a voxel-based sandbox game set in space, developed and published by Robin "Schema" Promesberger.
* ''Subnautica'', a voxel-based survival game set on planet 4546B, developed and published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment.
* ''Teardown (video game), Teardown'', a voxel-based game featuring fully destructible environments, developed and published by the studio Tuxedo Labs
* ''The Sandbox (2012 video game), The Sandbox''
* ''Trove (video game), Trove'' is a voxel-based MMORPG with building elements, developed and published by Trion Worlds.
* ''Vangers'' is a computer game uses voxels for its two-level terrain system.
* ''Vox (game), Vox'', released in 2012, is a voxel based exploration/RPG game focused on player generated content.
* ''Voxatron'', a computer game produced by Lexaloffle, is composed and generated fully using voxels.
* ''Werewolf vs. Comanche, Werewolf'' is a computer game made by
Novalogic that used voxel-based rendering technology. It was originally bundled and shipped with the ''Comanche 2'' game although they were two separate games.
* ''Worms 4: Mayhem'' uses a voxel-based engine to simulate land deformation similar to the older 2D Worms games.
* ''Minetest'' uses them for Graphics pipeline#Concept, rendering nodes
Editors
While scientific volume visualization does not require modifying the actual voxel data, voxel editors can be used to create art (especially 3D pixel art) and models for voxel based games. Some editors are focused on a single approach to voxel editing while others mix various approaches. Some common approaches are:
* Slice based: The volume is sliced in one or more axes and the user can edit each image individually using Raster graphics editor, 2D raster editor tools. These generally store color information in voxels.
* Sculpture: Similar to the Digital sculpting, vector counterpart but with no topology constraints. These usually store density information in voxels and lack color information.
* Building blocks: The user can add and remove blocks just like a construction set toy.
There are a few voxel editors available that are not tied to specific games or engines. They can be used as alternatives or complements to traditional 3D vector modeling.
Extensions
A generalization of a voxel is the ''toxel'', or temporal voxel.
This is used in the case of a Four-dimensional space, 4D dataset, for example, an image sequence that represents 3D space together with another dimension such as time. In this way, an image could contain 100×100×100×100 toxels, which could be seen as a series of 100 Film frame, frames of a 100×100×100 volume image (the equivalent for a 3D image would be showing a 2D cross section of the image in each frame). Although storage and manipulation of such data requires large amounts of memory, it allows the representation and analysis of spacetime systems.
See also
* Maxel – material element
* Pixel – picture element
* Plane partition
* Resel – resolution element
* Sparse voxel octree
* Texel (graphics), Texel – texture element
* Tixel - tactile element
* Tomography
* Volume mesh
* Volume rendering
References
External links
*
Fundamentals of voxelization"Archived"
{{Authority control
Video games with voxel graphics,
3D computer graphics
3D imaging
Articles containing video clips
Cubes