Roomba + Doom = Doomba
This is a classic example of a marriage between strange and wonderful. Coder Rich Whitehouse has found a way to generate Doom maps with the movement data provided by his Roomba. The result: Doomba. Using Rich’s Noesis software, a Roomba’s Clean Map system’s raw data can create a basic floorplan for a Doom level, for example. Whitehouse posted an image on Twitter showing a very bare-bones version of the process.
Let’s break down what some of these terms are. The Noesis software is something that allows users to preview and convert various formats of models, animations, and images. Full disclosure, I don’t understand very much tech stuff, but if I understand this correctly, Noesis can import assets and manipulate them. The Clean Map is a report that a Roomba can provide that details the statistics of its cleaning routine. That means the spacial coverage, areas of concentration, and duration of the cleaning job are available to users. By plugging the Clean Map data into the Noesis software, Whitehouse is able to make a digital layout of the Roomba’s routine.
But is it practical?
It should be noted that Rich Whitehouse has only tested this software on his own Roomba model, the Roomba 980, so it might not work on all models. The process is not a walk in the park either. Doomba is more of a proof-of-concept creation than a practical tool for game design. This means that users have a lot of work ahead of them if they want to use it correctly. Even if the data is implemented properly, the result could be something that Doom cannot even handle. Noesis itself appears to have made some very successful creations. Whitehouse has made many fan games using assets from titles like Final Fantasy VII.
Even though this process is limited, what do you think about it as a creative idea? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: PC Gamer