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Way back in 1977, the original Star Wars movie was released, and so began our battle against the Empire. Among many other amazing things, the film featured a computer-animated graphics sequence — in which a 3D model of the Death Star is shown to pilots who are about to attack it. I remember as a kid seeing that computer graphics sequence and thinking, “Wow, computers in the future can do 3D!!!” Although it looks dated now, it was state-of-the-art at the time, and quite frankly it’s better than some “computer” sequences seen in similar vintage movies like Alien. Here’s a rare bit of a tape in which the animator, Larry Cuba, describes how he made the sequence.
(Via Kottke.org.)
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I just want to be clear: I think Alien is a better movie than Star Wars, but Mother’s screen? Ridiculous. All right, let the nerd-fight begin.
posted by Chris Higgins on 11-9-2009 at 4:19 pm
Are you kidding? I get a wave of nostalgia seeing old computer screens like that. I wish more movies featured such retro CG effects. I think it adds a special charm.
I don’t know, maybe that’s just me!
posted by Greg Tatum on 11-9-2009 at 4:49 pm
Interesting; but that poor bastard.
posted by don on 11-9-2009 at 9:01 pm
I wish he would have mentioned what kind of computer he did that with.
posted by PartiallyDeflected on 11-9-2009 at 9:07 pm
That certainly was amazing, even now with GUIs to do it all for you, many people still can’t do that.
posted by Bakedpotatoes on 11-9-2009 at 10:13 pm
That was a DEC PDP11/45 16bit computer. I used to work for that company back then building these things. They had an optional graphics processor that could run things like the 2D moon lander game. We thought that was as cool as it gets. We couldn’t believe it when we read in a company publication that the Death Star graphics were produced on this equipment. I think That started a lot of us on the road to video game addiction!
posted by Matthew on 11-10-2009 at 4:50 am
Wow. Being that I am merely “savy” with computers (i.e. I can run the programs and do a bit of diagnostics and other such mildly geeky ilk that impresses my tech-deficient coworkers and bosses) but nowhere near smart enough to be an “IT Guy” – I was kind of surprised to see primitive, but functional correlations between his method and modern programs. Think about the time that guy could have saved with “Copy/Paste”!
I saw it as a very primitive PowerPoint presentation. The controls, rotation etc.
Initiate “Geek Challenge!” Let’s see a “modern” update pps.
Also, being the semi-geek that I am, I thought the stylus is lacking serious updating. What he was using and how he was using it doesn’t seem to have changed a whole lot to me. Sure, systems and hardware in that regard have “updated” with wireless and better touchscreens, but damn if the interface didn’t look REALLY familiar with “connect the dot” style lines al la “MS Paint”.
reCap: William Sleeting – sounds like a Pirate name!! ARRGH!
posted by roi_ratt on 11-10-2009 at 10:56 am
I don’t see why the stylus would require an update. The process of digitizing has been completely updated by laser digitization, which is orders more accurate than hand pointing with a stylus.
And I hate to say it, but even back when this video was made, Larry should have given it to a friend to edit. I think I fell asleep in the middle. This 10 min. video should have been condensed into 3 1/2 minutes, tops.
posted by bmulligan on 11-10-2009 at 11:20 am
An interesting comparison is the “computer graphics” in “Escape from New York.” They couldn’t afford to even do CGI, so the rendering of New York was done with a miniature model of Manhattan. It was painted black, and reflective paint was used to paint the “wireframes” of the skyscrapers.
posted by Miss Jane on 11-15-2009 at 5:09 am