 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2011) |
| Alpha Waves | |
|---|---|
 European cover | |
| Developer(s) | Infogrames |
| Publisher(s) | Infogrames (International) Data East (North America) |
| Designer(s) | Christophe de Dinechin |
| Platform(s) | Atari ST, Amiga, DOS |
| Release | August 1, 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player (DOS), multiplayer (Atari ST, Amiga) |
Alpha Waves is a 1990 3D[1] game that combines labyrinthine exploration with platform gameplay. It combined for the first time full-screen, six-axis, flat-shaded 3D with 3D object interaction (like bouncing on a platform). Alpha Waves was an abstract game with a moody, artistic presentation, named for its supposed ability to stimulate the different emotional centers of the brain with its use of color and music. The game was awarded the Guinness Book of Records title for First 3D platform game.[2]
It was developed initially for the Atari ST by Christophe de Dinechin, and later ported to the Amiga and DOS. The DOS port was done by Frédérick Raynal, a notable game designer who would go on to develop Alone in the Dark and Little Big Adventure. He has said that his work on Alpha Waves was a major inspiration for the 3D engine for Alone in the Dark.[3][4] The PC version was also localized in North America by Data East, and retitled Continuum. Infogrames may have also published their own version in the US under the original title, and it was also released as a part of no less than two Infogrames compilations, on which it retained its original name.
In November 2012, Christophe de Dinechin released the complete assembly language and GFA BASIC development tools source code for the Atari ST version.[5] There is also a started PC port in C++ on SourceForge by the original author.[6][7]
- ^ Dinechin, Christophe de (17 January 2013). "Is it worth disputing the title of "first 3D game on a PC" to John Carmack?". Grenouillebouillie.wordpress.com.
- ^ "Guinness World Record for First 3D Platform Game".
- ^ "Adventure Europe". www.adventure-eu.com. Archived from the original on 13 March 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "The Making of: Alone in the Dark - Edge Magazine". www.next-gen.biz. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ "cc3d.free.fr/Alpha-Waves.zip". Cc3d.free.fr. Retrieved 2017-08-19.
- ^ Dinechin, Christophe de (9 November 2007). "The dawn of 3D games…". Grenouillebouillie.wordpress.com/. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
- ^ "Alpha-Waves / Continuum". SourceForge.net. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2017.