3D Construction Kit

3D Construction Kit, is a utility for creating 3D worlds. It was developed by Incentive Software (using their Freescape 3D engine) and published by Domark. The kit was released in 1991 on the ZX Spectrum, Acorn Archimedes, Amstrad CPC, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, PC, and Commodore 64/128.

Incentive Software had released several games using the Freescape engine prior to the release of the 3D Construction Kit (Driller, Darkside, Total Eclipse & Castle Master), but with the 3D Construction Kit, it gave users the opportunity to create their own games and virtual environments.

The kit had a very simple graphical user interface, allowing users to create and manipulate objects within the game's 3D environment. Primitives such as cubes, cuboids and pyramids could easily be created and edited, scaled and placed in to the 3D world.

For the more advanced game/environment, 3D Construction Kit also allowed for the addition of conditions, using the very simple-to-program Freescape Command Language (FCL). Sensors, animations and interactivity could be added with very little programming knowledge. Elements such as proximity sensors triggering events, and the ability to activate switches in order to open doors, made the worlds created within 3D Construction Kit come to life with freedom not seen before in computer games.

The software also came with a 30-minute video tape, featuring an introduction and a tutorial presented by Ian Andrew, the original designer of the Freescape system.

Due to the success of the 3D Construction Kit, a sequel was released in 1992. Transparent objects could now be created along with rounded objects such as flexicubes and spheres, which were not possible in the original 3D Construction Kit. Users could also add their own sounds and music to their creations using the sound effects editor is also an improvement, allowing players to add sounds and music to their virtual creations.