terminus/README.md

Terminus

A multiplayer 3D first-person shooter you can play in your terminal. Players connect via SSH to experience real-time multiplayer FPS action with wandering NPCs.

Current status:

Vision

Terminus is a multiplayer terminal-based FPS inspired by Wolfenstein 3D. Players connect via SSH and experience real-time 3D multiplayer gameplay rendered using colored ASCII characters and ANSI escape codes. The game features dynamic lighting, projectile physics, player visibility, wandering NPCs, and multiple maps - all running at 30 FPS in your terminal.

Quick Start

# Build and run SSH server
go build
./terminus                # Default maze.map on port 2222
./terminus cave.map       # Open caverns map

# Connect from another terminal
ssh -p 2222 localhost

Controls

• W/A/S/D - Move and strafe
• Q/E - Turn left/right
• SPACE - Shoot fireballs (visible to all players)
• ESC - Exit

Multiplayer Features

• SSH Server: Connect via ssh -p 2222 localhost
• Player Sprites: See other players as large green @ symbols
• Shared Projectiles: Fireballs shot by any player are visible to all
• Wandering NPCs: Blue ◐ sprites that move randomly around the map
• Up to 10 Players: Concurrent multiplayer support

Current Status

• ✅ Phase 1 Complete: Local single-player with raycasting engine, projectile system, and dynamic lighting
• ✅ Phase 2 Complete: SSH multiplayer server with player visibility and shared world
• ✅ Phase 3 Complete: NPC system with wandering AI and multiplayer synchronization
• 🔮 Future Enhancements: Combat system, advanced enemies, and interactive elements

Technical Features

• Raycasting Engine: True 3D perspective with Z-buffer depth testing
• Dynamic Lighting: Fireballs cast light on nearby walls
• Sprite System: Players, NPCs, and projectiles rendered as 3D sprites
• Thread-Safe: Proper mutex protection for multiplayer state
• Real-Time: 30 FPS gameplay with delta-time movement
• Map System: Support for multiple map layouts