QuArK Glossary
Updated 1999-04-05

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Glossary index


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Please send new additions and/or corrections to decker@post1.tele.dk.

. (File-extensions)

.BSP
(binary) A compiled level for the FPS-game. See also bsp and build tools.
.EXE
(executable) An executable program.
.MAP
(text) A ASCII-file containing information for the build tools, how they should produce a .BSP file. A .MAP file is typically generated by a map-editor, and it can be edited using a standard ASCII editor.
.MDL
(binary) A Quake-1, Hexen-II or Half-Life 3D-model with frames that represents different animations. They are not interchangeable between the different games!
.MD2
(binary) A Quake-2 3D-model with frames that represents different animations.
.PAK
(binary) A container/package file, which contains other types of files in an internal directory structure. Quake-1 was the first FPS which used these types of files. This is the enhanced version of an .WAD file.
.QC
(program source-text) See QuakeC.
.QKM
(binary/text) QuArK map file.
.QRK
(binary/text) QuArK data file. Can contain all kinds of data. Is saved in either binary- or text-format.
.WAD
(binary) A container file, which contains other files, sometimes only a specific kind of files. Wolfenstein 3D was the first FPS which used these types of files. A .WAD file can not group files into an internal directory structure, use .PAK files instead.
.WAL
(binary)
.WAV
(binary) A sound file.
.ZIP
(binary) An compressed archive of files. See http://www.winzip.com.

A

Add-on
A .QRK file which consists of usefull data, typically new entities and/or textures.
Arg
See argument.
Argument

B

Brush
See polyhedron.
Brush Subtraction
BSP
See Binary Space Partitions. ('BSP' is also the name of another map-editor.)
Binary Space Partitions
[BSP] A matematical method of storing 3D objects in a 'space', so when viewing from some point in 'space', only visible objects are drawn to the viewer, instead of drawing everything, even objects that is behind or hidden from the viewers point of view.
Build tools
Programs that are needed to create (compile) a file which will contain the final map. They are commenly known as; QBSP.EXE, QBSP3.EXE, VIS.EXE, QVIS3.EXE, LIGHT.EXE, QRAD3.EXE and QCSG.EXE, but that all depends on the FPS-game. There are basically three steps in the build process, after the map-editor have created a .MAP file;
1) convert a .MAP file to a .BSP without vis/light information,
2) vis (visibility) the produced .BSP file, to optimize in-game drawing,
3) light the .BSP file, so it won't appear complely dark or fullbright.

C

Capture The Flag
[CTF]
Classname
Compile
(map/level) The action that must be performed to create a file of the map which the FPS-game can understand as a level. Typically this includes execution of one or more build tools.
Console
In most id Software licensed games, you can bring down a console, in which different commands can be typed to perform actions which will affect the game. In most FPS-games, to bring down the console, press the key that is just below the ESCAPE-key on the keyboard. On US-style keyboards its the ~ (tilde) character.
Converge
When an 2D/3D-object is converge, you can draw a straight line through it, and it can enter the 2D/3D-object many times on its route through, and leaves it just as many times. The opposite of converge is convex.
Convex
When an 2D/3D-object is convex, you can draw a straight line through it, and it enters the 2D/3D-object only one time on its route through, and leaves it only one time. The opposite of convex is converge.
Cube
See polyhedron.
CTF
See Capture The Flag.

D


E

Edge
Edges
Plural of edge.
Entities
Plural of entity.
Entity
An FPS-game entity, is an object which the player can interact with. Most entities are monsters, weapons and moving doors. Some entities are used to light the level as if you placed an invisible light-bulb in a spot. Other entities, like doors, require that it has some polyhedrons connected to it.

F

Face
Faces
Plural of face.
First Person Shooter
[FPS] (-game). QuArK (v5.8) currently supports these FPS-games; Quake-1, Hexen-II, Quake-2, Heretic-II, Half-Life and Sin.
FPS
See First Person Shooter.

G


H


I

id Software
Software company. Creator of Wolfenstein 3D, the DOOM and Quake games and 3D-engines. http://www.idsoftware.com.

J


K


L

Leak

M

Mailinglists
(editing mailinglists) A specialized e-mailing list, which only those who subscribe to it can receive/send messages. For QuArK there exist these three mailinglists; QuArK-News, QuArK and QuArK-Python. To subscribe, go to the forums-page on http://www.planetquake.com/quark/, and follow the directions from there.
Mod
See modification
Modification
[MOD] A modification can be a total conversion or partial converstion of the original game-flow and/or game-rules. Some modifications are commercial (Official mission packs) others free from the internet (E.q. Capture The Flag, Team Fortress and many many others).

N

Negative Poly
Newsgroups
(editing newsgroups) A selection of Usenet newsgroups, in where you can discuss map-editing for the FPS-game you're developing. Currently there are these newsgroups in relation to QuArK; rec.games.computer.quake.editing and alt.games.half-life.editing. See also mailinglists.
Noclip
A FPS-game console command, allowing the player to fly freely around, even through solid walls. This is commenly used when examine a map for errors or secrets. Some FPS-games might have a different command than NOCLIP, which performs the same thing.

O


P

Partial conversion
[PC]
PC
See Partial conversion
Plug-in
Polyhedron
Most basicly its a solid cube which is convex. A polyhedron consists of at least 4 faces so they create a 3-sided pyramid, and up to several hundred faces which probably will be something like a sphere. Synonyms that are commonly used for polyhedrons are; brush, cube.
Project
A QuArK project can consist of several maps, models, sound-files, graphics-files, etc.

Q

QuakeC
[.QC] (language). A program-language which Quake-1 introduced. It controls the flow of the game, its rules. MODs/TCs/PCs for Quake-1 are coded in QuakeC.
QuArK
Quake Army Knife

R


S

Specific

T

TC
See Total conversion
Team Fortress
[TF] A teambased multiplayer game, which expands the Capture The Flag concept with unique features like; specialized playerclasses, multiple and/or different map objectives. Team Fortress exists only for Quake/QuakeWorld. See also http://www.teamfortress.com.
Team Fortress 2
[TF2] A commercial game, based on the same concept as Team Fortress, but greatly expanded. See http://www.sierra.com.
Team Fortress Classic
[TFC] The same as Team Fortress, but for Half-Life.
Texture
Textures
Plural of texture.
Total conversion
[TC] A total conversion is a complete change of game-flow and game-rules. There are new levels, weapons, models, sounds, graphics and it might even not be the FPS-game you used to know. An example of a TC is 'Quake Rally', though it uses the Quake-1 program it is actually a racing game. See also Partial conversion, Modification.

U


V


W


X


Y


Z