The mathematical mystery inside the legendary '90s shooter Quake 3
8 days ago
- #Programming
- #Algorithm
- #Quake3
- Game developers in the 1990s faced limited computing power, requiring highly efficient coding.
- Quake III Arena (1999) was a groundbreaking multiplayer first-person shooter with lasting industry impact.
- The game's code included an ingenious algorithm for calculating the inverse square root efficiently.
- The algorithm used a 'magic number' (0x5f3759df) to minimize computational steps via the Newton-Raphson method.
- Open-source release of Quake 3's code revealed the algorithm, sparking curiosity and analysis by experts.
- Chris Lomont's 2003 research identified a slightly better magic number but couldn't trace the original's derivation.
- Greg Walsh is credited with introducing the magic number, though its exact origin remains unknown.
- The story highlights the extraordinary effort in 1990s programming to optimize performance with limited resources.