What was the first ever FPS?

[YoshiM]

This is a question that's on the Xbox IGN boards and it is an interesting question. What WAS the first FPS? So we are on the same page: I'm talking you control a player character PERSON (not a tank or space ship) in a 3D environment where you need a quick trigger finger.

Already games like Wolfenstein 3D and Catacombs of the Abyss were brought up, but I know there has to be something that came out before then. Phantom Slayer came to mind for the CoCo (1982), but does anyone else have any other ideas?

[chadtower]

Berzerk!

[Raedon]

Ultima Underworld was the first full 3d dungeon crawler.. I'm pretty sure Wolf3d was the first First Person Shooter.. I was big into the computer gaming back then and there was nothing like a FPS before Wolf3d.

[Scoots]

I'd think AD&D Treasure of Tarmin for Intellivision would have to be an early example.

[Raedon]

Wouldn't that make games like Bard's Tale or Wizardry be classified as FPS's? The enviroments are a pseudo-3D, built on 2D tiles that are rendered once from one view.

[Scoots]

In Bard's Tale though, you can't avoid encounters and it opens up a separate battle dialogue. In AD&D the fighting is real time, just like a "standard" FPS (Goldeneye, Doom, etc).

[BenT]

I was big into the computer gaming back then and there was nothing like a FPS before Wolf3d.

... Except the EGA Catacomb 3D, also by id Software. ;) But yeah, as the OP said, you could probably go much further back to find the "first" FPS-like game. I'd say Catacomb is the start of the "modern" era of FPS, though.

[hydr0x]

mh not sure about this, depends on how u define fps and if graphics(pseudo-3d,3d) do make any difference

[YoshiM]

As stated on the thread I read, the person stated "ever" so that includes the "psuedo 3D".

As for "FPS" pretty much anything that contains similar gameplay to Wolfenstein 3D or Doom : first person perspective, manuevering 3-D corridors, requiring fast trigger fingers, and the fact that the character the player controls is at least humanoid (human or robot, really doesn't matter) and not a vehicle. Other wise tanks sims/games (like say Battlezone) could be seen as "FPS" games.

I have a hard time swallowing that the concept of the modern FPS (as defined above) didn't come until Catacombs. I'm going to fire up some CoCo games to see if they count as FPS's. Can any Commodore people in the hiz-ouse think of any titles that fit that description on that platform? I'm almost positive there were games that were at LEAST close.

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Wolfenstein 3D dudes!!!!!!! and that´s all...
(I love when i kill Hitler)

[Tetsu]

how about Faceball 2000? I think it precedded duke 3d by a year or so, no?

[TheRedEye]

how about Faceball 2000? I think it precedded duke 3d by a year or so, no?

Sure, but who said anything about Duke Nukem 3D?

[Griking]

This is a question that's on the Xbox IGN boards and it is an interesting question. What WAS the first FPS? So we are on the same page: I'm talking you control a player character PERSON (not a tank or space ship) in a 3D environment where you need a quick trigger finger.

Already games like Wolfenstein 3D and Catacombs of the Abyss were brought up, but I know there has to be something that came out before then. Phantom Slayer came to mind for the CoCo (1982), but does anyone else have any other ideas?

How about the Starpath game Escape From the Mind Master for the Atari 2600?

[Arqueologia_Digital]

This is a question that's on the Xbox IGN boards and it is an interesting question. What WAS the first FPS? So we are on the same page: I'm talking you control a player character PERSON (not a tank or space ship) in a 3D environment where you need a quick trigger finger.

Already games like Wolfenstein 3D and Catacombs of the Abyss were brought up, but I know there has to be something that came out before then. Phantom Slayer came to mind for the CoCo (1982), but does anyone else have any other ideas?

How about the Starpath game Escape From the Mind Master for the Atari 2600?

[imghttp://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_EscapeFromTheMindmaster_2.png[/img]

Good example...i forgot this game

[YoshiM]

This is a question that's on the Xbox IGN boards and it is an interesting question. What WAS the first FPS? So we are on the same page: I'm talking you control a player character PERSON (not a tank or space ship) in a 3D environment where you need a quick trigger finger.

Already games like Wolfenstein 3D and Catacombs of the Abyss were brought up, but I know there has to be something that came out before then. Phantom Slayer came to mind for the CoCo (1982), but does anyone else have any other ideas?

How about the Starpath game Escape From the Mind Master for the Atari 2600?

[imghttp://www.atariage.com/2600/screenshots/s_EscapeFromTheMindmaster_2.png[/img]

Good example...i forgot this game

Wow, so did I. In fact, I don't think I ever played it.

[Sylentwulf]

Realistically I'd have to go with wolfenstein 3-D.

Technically, if you argue all day about it and bitch moand, piss and groan, who knows. you could probly make a supportive case for pong with the argumentative freaks around here.

[Ed Oscuro]

Catacomb Abyss was the first ever texture mapped FPS, programmed by John Carmack in a week or so in a programming battle against John Romero no less. It's not that far from Wolf 3D; it's slow and odd but it looks just the same as Wolf 3D in terms of technology.

There are always those Dragon Quest type games, but this is the FIRST game of this type.

Check it out, I think you still can download the actual game (shareware, but oddly it's the exact same thing as the full version o_O) here:

http://www.classicgaming.com/catacomb/

(edit)

Darn, you people need to know how to spell Catacomb Abyss.

Now there are older things, all the way back to that earliest Richard Garriot game with its Dragon Warrior type engine, but I don't see how "walls that show up" make a game a first person SHOOTER, see? You have to be able to launch stuff at enemies or otherwise maim them from a distance. IS that possible in this Atari game?

[YoshiM]

Okay, did some digging. Found the game Dark Side for the C64 by Incentive Software back in 1988. Seems slow as hell, but it has the basic fundamentals of what an FPS is. You can check it out here: http://www.lemon64.com/?mainurl=http...php%3FID%3D633

In a nutshell, you can move about in a 3D environment (including up, your character has a jet pack), look up or down, shoot while walking or stop and aim your weapon and pick up a shield power up (that I found anyway) which is essentially your life. I didn't get into the game too much so I don't know if you can get additional weapons.

Phantom Slayer is crude (4 directions, no power ups, instant kill when touched by enemy, no real control over aiming) but *could* be considered a grand relative of the genre. Not really a twitch game considering the platform, but you there is a bit of anxiety there when you hear the pulse tone going faster (meaning a phantom is near) but you don't know which corridor its in before its too late. To answer Ed's question on this game: yes you can maim the phantoms from a distance and yes they still come at you as you try and mow them down. When they take enough hits, the screen turns red and the phantom disappears. Chalk up one kill.

[Scoots]

Now there are older things, all the way back to that earliest Richard Garriot game with its Dragon Warrior type engine, but I don't see how "walls that show up" make a game a first person SHOOTER, see? You have to be able to launch stuff at enemies or otherwise maim them from a distance. IS that possible in this Atari game?

AD&D Treasure of Tarmin (1983) still fits your description. You're just "shooting" weapons other than guns.

[Tetsu]

how about Faceball 2000? I think it precedded duke 3d by a year or so, no?

Sure, but who said anything about Duke Nukem 3D?

Doh! I meant Wolfenstein, not Duke 3D. Hope that makes more sense(?)