# Open Van Buren: reconstructing the Fallout 3 tech demo engine

> Open Van Buren reconstructs the Fallout 3 Van Buren tech demo as a native C++17 Linux engine using the user's own game data. It parses archives, maps, models, animations, effects and Pawn/Small scripts, with documented format findings and a playable first pass of the tutorial content.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: Game
- Category: Independent reconstruction cases
- Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-08
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/sulkytroll/open-vanburen>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/sulkytroll/open-vanburen/blob/c92fb956ec1080e4fae41069aac8afe545e7d1dd/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/open-vanburen-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/open-vanburen-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/open-vanburen-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** A copy of the Van Buren tech demo is required; game assets are not included.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires Linux, OpenGL 3.3 or newer, CMake 3.16 or newer, a C++17 compiler, SDL2, GLEW, FreeType and OpenAL Soft.
- **Limits:** The project is a playable first pass with known gaps.
- **License:** Licensed under MIT.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/sulkytroll/open-vanburen/blob/c92fb956ec1080e4fae41069aac8afe545e7d1dd/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/sulkytroll/open-vanburen/blob/c92fb956ec1080e4fae41069aac8afe545e7d1dd/docs/AMX_FORMAT_FINDINGS.md>
3. <https://github.com/sulkytroll/open-vanburen/blob/c92fb956ec1080e4fae41069aac8afe545e7d1dd/docs/G3D_FORMAT_FINDINGS.md>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.