Customer Reviews

The Duke Nukem 3d Level Design Handbook (Duke Nukem Games)

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4 star:		(1)
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This book is far from perfect. It also is probably best directed towards the journeyman programmer (you don't have to be an expert, but neophytes will have to stretch). All in all, it's an excellent resource for undertstanding, modifying, and using the Build Engine for Duke Nukem. I'm using the Build Engine as a 3D Design tool for a summer computer camp for 8-10 year old kids. It IS a bit clunky and quirky - you've got to understand that the Build Engine was the tool used internally by the 3D Realms folks for designing their games - it is NOT meant to be a production level end user tool. That being said, you can still jump in and design your own levels pretty easily. Just pay attention, ok?

I've played Duke Nukem 3D since I was 12, and I have been designing levels for it since I was 12 (I'm 18 now). I'm not a computer nerd. I got the book when I was 12 and learned how to design very detailed and creative levels as well as monsters, new artwork, weapons, and even made a few TC's (Total Conversions). If it can teach a 12 year old how to do that, it can teach anybody...

You need to buy this book. DN3D was one of the most original 3d shooters, and there is still quite an active Build community even now, 6 years later.

Also, my level is on the CD. So it's a must have.

This book has helped me very much in making my levels. I got Duke 3D back when it came out and I've been using it ever since. This book starts with simple editing techniques and moves on to more advanced editing techniques which is good for beginners.

I love this book! I spotted it in a store and my eyes lighted up! Now I could create my own levels! The book is easy to reference and read, and has great pictures explaining how do create anything your heart desires! The CD also includes some great user-created levels that helped inspire me to create my own levels! All my friends have this book or they aren't my friends anymore! Go get it! Wahoo!

While this book is better than the Build documentation (pretty much anything could be), I expected more from the officially authorized level editing guide. The book is rife with errors, and some of the step-by-step instructions were obviously never tested because they don't work. (Try tagliaferri's instructions for creating a swinging door - you'll end up with an inoperable mess.) Plus some information is missing, some is buried in odd places, and there's no index, making it difficult to locate things. It's still an OK book, but it could have been much better.

It told me how to basically do everything you can in build. The book told how to do special effects that ca not be understood if you read the build document that came with Duke3d. I wish they had a version of the book for Duke Atomic. I learned about 2 things from this book that I never knew how to do. Most of if I learned myself.